Lissy Hatfield is undertaking Masters in Textiles at the Royal College of Art after graduating from her BA at Manchester School of Art. Specialising in knitting she focuses on subverting people’s perceptions of knit, traditionally used in a fashion context. Lissy’s main focus is on interiors, lighting products and architectural spaces.

While focusing on a sustainable approach, the slow hand craft processes of her work make her objects intimate and focus on the audience’s well being and mood. Using unconventional mixed media materials to knit with or use within her knits allows Lissy to continue pushing the boundaries of knit and opening it up to new industries.

Her current collection looks at deep breathing as a coping mechanism reduces anxiety in public spaces after Covid-19. Using wire she knits structures that expand and contract like lungs to mimic people’s breath. The project titled Breathe 1, 2, 3, 4 explores the context of space and how knit could be an impactful way to create an installation, Pavillon or sculpture to discuss mental health and advocate breathing techniques Lissy learnt while having CBT when experiencing her own mental health issues.

Visually inspired by sound waves and the first signs of spring Lissy has created knitted structures that let light and shadow play with negative space and ties to link between continuous breath and the continuous line of the knitted yarn.