Knitting and textile design: when tradition meets modern creativity

You've probably already felt this little magic: a few balls of wool, two needles, and suddenly... a garment comes to life in your hands. ✨ But have you ever thought that this simple act of knitting directly connects you to a wider world: textile design ?

At Knit-sis, we (Lenny & Louise) love exploring this connection. Knitting isn't just a hobby or an ancient technique; it's also a true playground for designers, a vibrant branch of textile design where tradition and modernity intertwine.

In this article, we explain how knitting is part of the history of textiles, how it nourishes contemporary creation and above all... how YOU can become a real budding textile designer , simply with your needles and a little daring. 🧶

What is textile design, and why does knitting have a place in it?

👉 Textile design is the art of designing and creating textile surfaces (woven, knitted, printed, embroidered, etc.) by playing with materials, colors and patterns.

In other words: every time you choose a mottled wool, vary your stitches or dare to use a colorful stripe, you are already in textile design!

We like to see knitting as the warm, DIY version of textile design: no need for a factory or complicated software, your needles become your paintbrushes.

Remember : Knitting is a vibrant branch of textile design, and each project is a unique work.

How knitting expresses itself in modern textile design

1. Colors as a language

A rainbow stripe, a pastel block or a black & white contrast… Colors tell a story.
👉 Concrete example: our sweater Strippie uses stripes to inspire joy, like graphic design applied to knitting.

2. Patterns and textures

Textile design loves to play with reliefs and repetitions.
👉 Example: with Marguerite , each openwork stitch becomes a modern, almost architectural lace.

3. Artistic influence

Art inspires textiles, and textiles inspire art.
👉 Our sweater Mondrian is literally a meeting of modern painting and knitting.

Remember : your needles are a real textile laboratory. Experiment with colors and stitches, and dare to mix and match!

Becoming a textile designer with your knitting: our simple tips

🌈 Playing with the palette

➡️ Tip: Place 3-4 balls of yarn in front of you, as if you were making a mood board. Get inspiration from a painting, a landscape, or an outfit you like.

🔀 Experiment with the points

No need to master 200 techniques. Alternate between jersey, garter stitch, openwork ... and you'll already have textures worthy of a designer fabric.

🧩 Take inspiration from everyday life

A tile, a curtain pattern, a retro poster... Anything can become a jacquard or knitted stripe!

➡️ To train, the sweater Splashie is perfect: fun color blocks, easy to put together yourself.

Remember : Textile design isn't just for professionals. Each piece of knitwear is a small, in-house collection.

Conclusion: your next project could be a textile work 🎨

Knitting isn't just a creative hobby: it's a real gateway to the fascinating world of textile design. By choosing your colors, stitches, and patterns, you become, in your own way, a textile designer.

So, ready to go from “knitter” to home textile designer ?
➡️ Discover our most creative models like Splashie , Mondrian or Strippie .

And if you want to receive our next design & knitting tips directly in your inbox (with exclusive surprises 🎁)…
👉 Subscribe to our Knit-sis newsletter now!

🔗If you want to go further, take a look at the website of the Museum of Decorative Arts – textile design section