Peak Years of Production 1996-2001
Dyeing silk scarves – 1997
Moving from the Vulcan Studios in Oakland, CA to a single family home in Vallejo, CA, Rebekah also began working with rayon boucle yarn and knitted a line of rayon scarves that became a Younger Knits staple for the next 15 years. Here she is handpainting dye on the scarves in the narrow laundry room which became her dye studio for the next 3 years.
Younger Knits Rayon Scarves – 1996
An assortment of dyed rayon scarves by Younger Knits These colorful tuck stitch scarves were perennial best sellers for Rebekah.
Rayon Tunic – 1996
For years Rebekah had been collaborating with Hawaiian designer, Anne Namba, who Rebekah first met at Obiko, Sandra Sakata’s art to wear gallery, in SF back in 1991, As Anne looked to include more knits in her line she asked Rebekah to design a dressy tunic using rayon boucle. Rebekah over-dyed the rayon at the sheer hem and cuffs to create a subtle ombre effect. This design and variations remained part of the Younger Knits line for the balance of her career. It is available as a pattern for home machine knitters today.
Enso Meditation Tunic – 1996
As black was a basic and could not be overdyed, Rebekah began discharging it by painting on bleach freehand and stopping the process with hydrogen peroxide. At first, Rebekah painted “Japanese” characters but quickly learned after attempting the character for “water” and finding out it said “oven”, that it was better to keep her designs abstract. This tunic with an enso is an exception. While not a word character, the symbol is often used in Zen calligraphy as a meditation aid.
Rayon Ribbon Vest and Scarf – 1997
Rayon machine knit with dyed ombre and drop stitches Tuck stitched rayon boucle scarf with dyed ombre . Featured on the cover of Ornament Magazine 1999.
Spiral Scarf – 1996
This scarf received a Niche Award in 1999 from Niche Magazine for knitted fashion accessories.
Tribal Shawl – 1997
This shawl knit in rayon boucle that was discharged won an honorable mention Niche Award in Knitted Accessories in 1997 from Niche Magazine.
Slant Bottom Tunic – 1997
Knit rayon tunic and scarf featuring handpainted discharged designs.
Patchwork Wrap 1- 1997
Hand-dyed and discharged cotton/rayon blend pieced wrap.
Cotton Long Vest – 1997
Production design cotton vest with hand dyed ribbed lapel and pockets.
Ordination Set – 1997
This rayon set was designed in 1997 and later worn by me at my ordination as a minister of Unity of the Spirit in 1999.
Linen Dyed and Discharged Tunic – 1998
In 1998, I began experimenting with linen yarn and resist calligraphic designs hand painted on a completely dyed garment. These sweaters were far more time consuming to make, so were too cost prohibitive for my ready to wear line.
Linen Discharged Tunic – 1998
Working instead with the black linen yarn, I could easily discharge a design drawn freehand around the garment.
Ruched Linen Dyed Sleeveless Tunic – 1998
As I experimented with the sheerness of linen fiber, I formed an asymmetrical hem by picking up rows of stitches below the current row to create mini-hems (ruching). This created both shaping and texture simply in the garment.
Yin Yang Sweater – 1999
As I looked for ways to use linen yarn that was not as sheer, I began combining it with a smooth rayon yarn and later bamboo. I used a plating stitch which places one yarn consistently to the front or back of the fabric. I emphasized the 3D effect of the stitch by using contrasting colors. I also played with the sheerness by creating dropped stitches for a peekaboo effect. The plating and dropped stitches show up in several Younger Knits designs over the following years. The resulting fabric wed the best of both fibers, the stability of linen and the softness and drape of rayon or bamboo.
Mantra Long Jacket – 1999
In 1999, I began combining smooth and boucle rayon yarns for a denser fabric with sheer stripes created by removing one strand, These garments were then overdyed in pieces to create gradations of color at the lapel and cuff. A new closure solution also was found with the use of hairsticks to pin the jacket closed anywhere on the garment, making it more versatile for various body types. This also allowed for a very clean and minimal garment.
Mantra Short Vest – 1999
Like the Mantra Long Jacket the vest was designed to be knit side to side with sheer stripes and over-dyed with a gradation of color at the hem. By combining the colored rayon boucle with a black strand of smooth rayon, a textured look was possible, as well. The closure was created by using beads on cord threaded through holes in the narrow hem and then tied together for a loose double breasted effect.
Patchwork Poncho II – 1999
This patchwork wrap became an iconic Younger Knits design, showcased on show posters, in articles and exhibited in an Art to Wear retrospective in San Francisco in 2005 at the Legion of Honor Museum and included in the show’s extensive catalogue, “Artwear: Fashion/Anti-Fashion” by the curator, Melissa Leventon.
Shibori Discharged Slant Tunic – 1999
I began experimenting with shibori discharge techniques in 1999, pleating the fabric and applying bleach in a variety of ways.
Ornament Magazine Cover Article – Winter 1999
This article was an extensive interview written by Chiori Santiago about my work and life.
Rebekah in Studio 1999
This picture was taken in my studio space in our home in Vallejo, CA. I am sitting at one of my knitting machines with the seminal kimono piece and a painting by me that incorporates a photo of the kimono in the composition. This image was taken for the Ornament cover article on me and my work in 1999.
Mantra Long Vest with Shawl Collar Sweater – 2001
The longer version of the Mantra Vest is coupled with an all rayon sweater with a convertible shawl collar that could be worn closed in a variety of ways using a hair stick closure. For a couple years, Rebekah placed more emphasis on creating sets of garments that could be mixed and matched for a professional women’s wardrobe.
Shibori Set – 2001
A rayon slant bottom tunic with matching skirt. Each was discharged by wrapping the fabric around PVC pipe, pleating and then painting it with bleach.
Shibori Coat – 2001
Rayon coat with dyed gradation and shibori overdye with handmade stick closures.
Patchwork Wrap III – 2001
Pieced dyed and shibori discharged knit cotton/rayon yarn.
