Ria Burns plans, designs, dyes and makes all the knitwear for her brand on vintage domestic hand flat knitting machines from her studio here in Bristol. She also manages the dye garden where she cultivates all the plants used in her dye baths.
Ria graduated from Batley School of Art with a first in BA Fashion Design, during this time she chose to specialise in knitwear. She then relocated to Bristol and freelanced as a knitwear designer before returning to studies and attending Bath Spa university in 2017 to undertake an MA in Textile Design. Ria’s eponymous brand of botanically dyed, British wool knitwear was conceived, researched and developed during her time in Bath and she launched it all in September 2018 with the help of a Crowdfunder campaign.
Ria is always happy to discuss bespoke commissions, and studio visits can be arranged by appointment to her studio in south Bristol. She teaches and gives classes/ workshops in machine knitting and natural dyeing in the Bristol area and online, and is available for delivering lectures and classes focusing on machine knitting and sustainable natural dyeing.
Visit Ria's website to see more and read some of the recent teaching and speaking engagements including Shetland Wool Week, Unravel Festival of Knitting and Stitch Fest South West.
Ria is an active and involved member of both the Heritage Crafts Association and the Knitting and Crochet Guild.
