Summer Study Abroad - Experimental Fashion Knitwear

College
Central Saint Martins Level
Previous experience required

This course offers a taster of the BA Fashion Design with Knitwear at Central Saint Martins.

Course introduction

This course will suit students with a very creative design aesthetic in fashion and those who wish to develop and specialise in knit and other related fabrics. It will offer a taster of the BA Fashion Design with Knitwear at Central Saint Martins. You will be shown how to initiate ideas via your sketchbooks and how to explore your research and develop fashion and fabric designs from it. With a series of workshops covering techniques such as machine and hand knitting, crochet, embroidery and smocking you will be encouraged to design and produce a range of fashion and fabric ideas. You will learn how to edit your work and where to concentrate your technical abilities. You will be supported by professional technicians.

Dates and fees

Date: 30 June 2025 - 17 July 2025

Application deadline: 12 May 2025

Cost: £2,500

Time: Mon - Thu / 10am - 4pm

Duration: 3 weeks

Location: Granary Sq

Apply now for Summer 2025.

Entry requirements

English requirements

You should be proficient in written and spoken English and be able to participate in group discussions and make presentations. As a guideline we would expect you to have an English language level equivalent to IELTS score of 6.0. A certificate is not required.

More information on English language requirements and equivalencies.

Academic requirements

Students applying for this course are expected to be independent and highly motivated, preferably having completed one year at university (undergraduate-level study). Previous experience in the subject area is required for this course.

Course details

On your 3-week Experimental Knitwear Design course at Central Saint Martins you will dive into research methods and design processes, developing a strong sense of fashion knitwear, creating individual design ideas, and learning new technical and more advanced domestic machine knit skills.

Week 1 is focused on research skills. You will learn the basics of the knitting machine and start initial design developments from your research.

Week 2 focuses on development skills, experimenting and extracting ideas from your research to apply to your final design ideas. You will gain some advanced knitting machine techniques to incorporate into your project.

Week 3 will hone your construction skills, and how to communicate your project ideas. You will focus on making one final garment (or one ‘look’).

In the evenings and weekends, you can explore and soak up what London has to offer as a backdrop for inspiration. On the last day of the course, you will present your final garment(s) as part of a salon installation / live catwalk.

You may also consider accessories and styling elements to convey your concept and overall vision at the final showcase. Be ambitious! You will be surprised by how much you can achieve in just 3 weeks.

Credits

This course is the equivalent to 4 US style credits.
If you’re planning to claim credit towards your degree, be sure to check with your home institution before you apply.

Tutor information

Liberty Rose Yates

Liberty Rose is a fashion designer renowned for unique, handcrafted clothing and accessories that emphasise individuality and creativity.

Graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2016 with a degree in fashion design with knitwear she then went on to design freelance knitwear for fashion brands such as Parisian brand Casablanca. In 2020 Liberty founded her own fashion brand Studio Seventy which is a 70’s inspired womenswear label heavily influenced by vintage 70s interior.

Alongside running her brand, Liberty also does up- cycling. She takes vintage designer items and repurposes them into new styles and sells the 1 of 1 pieces on her website.

Off the back of upcycling, Liberty then decided to start teaching sewing / upcycling workshops which she plans to grow and develop in 2025.

Why choose Experimental Fashion Knitwear?

During this intensive three-week course you will:

experience a taster of taster of the BA Fashion Design with Knitwear course at Central Saint Martins.
learn from tutors who are practicing artists, designers and communicators; benefit from access to specialist facilities at one of UAL’s six Colleges.
meet like-minded individuals from around the world!
get involved in UAL life through social events and activities.
All courses are assessed and you'll receive a record of study at the end of the programme if you wish to request credit from your home institution.

Materials

Please bring with you to the first session:

Needle and thread
Pencils
Ruler
Scissors
Tape measure

We will supply sketchbooks and a selection of yarns. Items can also be purchased from the college shop.

Summer Study Abroad Award

We offer a Summer Study Abroad Award for all of our 3 week Summer Study Abroad courses.

To be eligible, you must be 18 years or older, hold an offer to join one of our 3 week Summer Study Abroad courses, and be enrolled on an undergraduate degree programme outside the UK.

The award covers the tuition-fee only and depends on you successfully enrolling for the course. Our cancellation policy still applies.
Award winners will be asked to take part in promotional activities to promote Summer Study Abroad, including social media posts and takeovers, and blog writing.

Find out how to apply.

'Normal World', Gabriella Engdahl, 2021 BA Performance: Design and Practice, Central Saint Martins, UAL, Gabriella Engdahl, Normal World

Summer Study Abroad accommodation

Book to stay in 1 of UAL's halls of residences.
Image courtesy of UAL

Student story: Vivian Li, Experimental Knitwear

Vivian chats to us about her experience studying knitwear in London as a Study Abroad student at Central Saint Martins.
Study Abroad Summer Fashion Show, image by Jieying Shao

All Summer Study Abroad courses

Study from 3 to 8 weeks on one of our summer programmes.
Design Management SSA

Visas and immigration

Check which visa you need and start planning your travels!