This website features a selection of work created by Textile Designer Catriona McLaughlin, based in the beautiful, historic city of Edinburgh.

Profile

I produce my own collections and have been selling my knitted, stitched and felted accessories since November 2005.  I also welcome commissions and I can make bespoke pieces. If you are interested in any aspect of my work, you can get in touch via the Contact page.



I use high quality Merino lambswool in beautiful colours to knit my scarves (on my vintage mechanical knitting machine) which are then felted to make them luxurious and wonderfully soft. I sometimes use other natural or man-made fibres in my designs to spice things up and love doing both hand and machine knitting. 

Artist's Statement: Influences and Inspirations

My work is inspired by many things,things which fascinate me, such as vintage fabrics/prints, anything kitsch, pop culture, graphic prints, open structures (such as leaf skeletons, ironwork, cobwebs and lace vintage lace), traditional Scottish knitwear, intricate patterns and interesting textures. I love playing around with colour and pattern too.

Photographs I have taken of architectural forms, scaffolding, cranes, ironwork on Georgian townhouses, or just abstract patterns which have caught my eye are often used as a starting point. Even a visit to the glasshouses at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens produced interesting ideas (see photograph below). I have also looked at the collapsing framework of the old pier in Brighton for inspiration in the past.

                                                       (© C. McLaughlin 2005)

I explore the above themes with layering and graphic imaging, also experimenting with positive and negative spaces, colour, patterning, stitch, texture and different weights of fabric. I use various techniques to achieve different effects, for example hand and machine knitting, cutwork, perforation, needle-punching, embroidery and  felting.

             

I create handmade knitted accessories with felted lambswool and yarns I construct from found fabrics such as tulle, cotton, vintage lace and ribbons. I also like to use other fibres in my work, from natural (cashmere, cotton) to man-made (lurex, lycra/elastane, polyester).

My recent work has been influenced by a love of all things kitsch, retro graphics and growing up in the 80s. You'll see a lot of Space Invader aliens dotted about and even Ms. Pac-Man and some of the ghosties. I also find graphic patterns like those found in Op-Art continually mesmerising.

Achievements

(2010)

- Creations featured in the 'Space Craft' Exhibition at the Royal Exchange Theatre Craft Shop in Manchester

(2009)

- WildCat Designs was included in the June/July online Papernstitch exhibition
- WildCat Designs creations featured in the UK DIY Exhibition at the Turnpike Gallery in Greater Manchester

(2008)

- Began a new blog

- Started Wildkittens design line of knitted accessories for children

- Set up & began selling via an online shop at Folksy for the UK market

- Started teaching workshops at the Bead Shop Scotland

- Had designs featured in the Noise Festival Showcase in the Fashion & Textiles: Accessories & Jewellery category

- Exhibited with the Glasgow and Manchester Craft Mafias.

(2007)

- Set up an online shop on DaWanda for the European market (in French, German & English)

- Worked for handknitting yarn company Rowan as a Design Consultant

- First European & UK sales through etsy shop

- Exhibited at Prettycraftythings in Leeds (first show outside of Scotland)

- Exhibited with Edinburgh Craft Fairs

(2006)

- Established my first stockist, Flux, in Edinburgh

- Set up my online shop, http://wildcatdesigns.etsy.com/

- Designed and launched new website, http://www.wildcat-designs.co.uk/

- Established further stockists, Godiva and Blueberry Park

- First US sale through etsy shop

(2005)

- Exhibited work at the Velvet Boutique Design Fair in Edinburgh

- Awarded a Market Test Grant by the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust

- Took part in the New Designers graduate exhibition in London

- Had work featured in the June/July issue of International Textiles magazine

- Honours Final Year Degree Show featuring my collection of knitted accessories

- Took part in an exhibition of work in Galashiels, auctioned in aid of the Tsunami Appeal 

- Set up (and designed) my original portfolio website

CraftScotland

I now have a designer-maker profile on the CraftScotland Maker Directory