WEAVING LIGHT
Jane Withers, the well-known designer behind Janie Knitted Textiles, is set to be a highlight of this year’s Contemporary Craft Festival, displaying her notable dip-dyed lampshades at the event next month. This sleek range is made from weaving wool braid onto lampshade frames, and was first exhibited at the London Design Fair in 2015. Since then, it has lifted off in the world of interiors, cementing Withers as a household name in textile design.
The lampshades are handmade using tubular braid constructed from British wool. As Withers explains, ‘although the technique of weaving onto a frame is not new, our lighting is a combination of influences of mid-century design, contemporary forms and the rural environment at our studio at Welbeck, Nottinghamshire.’
With her partner Michael, Jane has been knitting a luxury homeware range since 2005. Together they knit on hand flat knitting machines in their studio in Welbeck, using merino wool, linen and cotton, and are currently using yarns from UK suppliers only. You can see her signature dip-dyed lampshades at the Contemporary Craft Festival in Devon this June and if you’re inspired you can come to her Lampshade Weaving course at Selvedge next Saturday. To book your place, click here.
The Contemporary Craft Festival, 9-11 June, Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon,