‘By Hand’ is a serial magazine produced by Andrea Hungerford. It is published  three times per year and until now has only explored locations around America that have developed their own unique ‘maker communities’ where people who love to make, love to learn to make, and love to support makers have found a common sense of purpose.

Each geographic area has its own characteristics and these influence the artisans who live and work there. Every issue of ‘By Hand’ is a place-based celebration of these individual communities of makers, focused primarily on the fibre and fabric industry, as well as highlighting artists in other media who share the same philosophy of functional beauty. Additionally each issue includes patterns, projects, photo essays, day trips, foodie excursions and other stories of aspects unique to the featured city or region.

Across the World, we are ‘making communities’, even where physical proximity isn’t possible, by sharing our stories and journeys and images with each other. 

TRAVELLING IN AND AROUND LONDON                     

In issue No.12 of the ‘By Hand’ Serial, we are taken on a hands on experience visiting London. This beautifully photographed book is full of wonderful retail shops to visit, workshops and classes to attend and outings and day trips to experience! Take a baking class at Bread Ahead, indulge all of your fabric fantasies at Liberty of  London and the Cloth House and learn how to sew with the experts at Merchant and Mills. Enjoy and observe the fundamentals of natural dying in the working studio of Botanical Inks. Stretch your legs and savor the sights and scents in London’s Kew Gardens, then hop a train and take a day trip to Brighton Beach or the medieval village of Rye. Lookbook #12 is a maker’s travelogue, and it invites you to use it to craft your own fiber and fabric trip of a lifetime!

The patterns and projects in By Hand Serial Lookbook #12 are the perfect opportunity to stretch your wings a little and try your hand at something new. All of the knitted and sewn projects are beautiful and functional. This is an opportunity to make simple, classic pieces that will become core staples in your wardrobe. Patterns from Andrea Hungerford and Hannah Thiessen include a quilted vest sewn from jacquard cotton; a classic knitted turtleneck to wear alone or as the perfect layering piece; and a lightweight cardigan with a soft mohair halo and carefully crafted details will carry you from Autumn into Winter. Knitting patterns also include a fabulous colorwork vest by Silvia Watts-Cherry, and a hat and scarf set with striking cables by Irina Pi. Sew a flattering lounge set in one Liberty of London’s vibrant floral prints, and try your hand at natural dyeing with small pieces of fabric (or wool) that you can sew into a handy dumpling drawstring pouch. They have even included a recipe direct from Bread Ahead’s English Teatime baking class!

With all these ‘Makers’ teaching their students with  kindness and encouragement and an emphasis on patient, careful work and exactitude best practise, they are learning the processes with joy and skill. These fibre and fabric Artisans source and gather their fibres with a focus of sustainability and are involved with the full production, the mills they work with and every step of the process from animal or plant to the finished fabric or yarn. This is all considered with care and with an eye toward the impact it has on the earth.The philosophy of making is changing as well. Emphasis is placed on not how many clothes you make, but rather on creating a core wardrobe of basic pieces that are made from beautiful quality cloth or yarn and that can be worn for years to come. This is the true meaning of ‘slow fashion’ – It is about how carefully you consider and select your materials and how thoughtfully you engage in the making process and how you enjoy and experience the journey.

Surprise visits to beautiful stores and Artisans and the interesting passion and philosophy behind the places visited in this maker’s travelog, will keep you engaged from cover to cover. I was unable to put it down, until the end!  

Features: Loop London & Florian Gadsby

Knitting Patterns: Classic Turtleneck, a lightweight cardigan, fairisle colorwork vest and a cabled  hat and scarf set.

Workshops: Natural Dyeing with Botanical Inks, Sewing with Merchant & Mills & Baking with  Bread Ahead.    

Shop Talk: Liberty of London & Cloth House. 

Outings and Day Trips: Kew Gardens, Brighton Beach & Rye, England.