About
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My name is Maya Sar-Israel and I am a graduate student from Shenkar College of Design and Engineering in Ramat Gan, Israel, specializing in knitting in the Department of Textile Design.
Since I was young, I have been drawing and sculpting.
When I discovered the world of knitting, I was instantly attracted to it.
Knitting makes me feel calm and allows me to express my imagination through colors and textures.
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Bachelor’s degree summery: Textile design
During my first year I have studied general and different aspects of the textile industry and textile world. Various courses signified a strong starting point to an open and creative mind.
I have focused on drawing, animation, getting familiar with the material and gaining experience in my chosen skills- Weaving, Printing and Knitting.
After my first year I had to choose what to specialize in for the following three years between the three options- Weaving, Knitting or Printing.
Knitting was my first choice for the next 3 years.
During my second year of studies, I learned about the domestic knitting machine. I have studied and mastered the various techniques and methods of using the machine.
During my third year of studies I studied the art of knitting with industrial machines- Flat knitting machines and round machines.
I studied the machines characteristics and simultaneously learned how to style using the Fully Fashion method- shaped designs with no stitches and cutting with industrial and domestic machinery.
In addition, I took a hand knitting course and knitted an article of clothing.
My fourth year was dedicated to working on my final project.
For my project I have chosen to explore and to be inspired by the human body.
Throughout the year I developed and created various knitted textile elements.
A common ground to my projects
Most of my work is defined by large scale and unsaturated color.
When confronting a project I start by feeling the material, understanding its DNA and through the material I begin to learn how to observe the final product. My initial sketch starts with the material and then applied to drawing.
Why knitting?
Since I was very young I was inspired by my grandmother, who use to knit on her free time.
I was enchanted by her creations and by the calm that surrounded her while knitting.
The intricate world of knitting has always made me curious and today I strive to master this profession with the inspiration of my grandmother, and to incorporate modern techniques and styles.