While children girls once learned how to sew, knit and repair clothing from an early age, those skills have largely been lost. Aiming to resurrect the satisfaction of making your own clothes, Scottish brand Almaborealis launched Puzzleware, a line of kits that enable kids to fashion their own wardrobe.
A Puzzleware kit consists of panels of wool (made in Scotland using 100% Scottish spun wool), a blunt wooden needle and wool yarn. The sides of the panels are prepunctured, offering a built-in guide on where to stitch. Kits also include punched cards for learning four basic stitches.
Not needing a pattern eliminates a major source of complexity. It also allows children to construct a garment much like they would piece together LEGO, copying an example or letting their imagination run wild. If a design doesn't work out — or they outgrow it — they can pull out the stitches and start all over again.
Puzzleware is shortlisted for this year's Dezeen Awards in the wearable design category.
