an absorbing project

Hello, everyone! How is the start of the year treating you? I didn’t mean to disappear there, but we have had a really busy (and extremely rewarding) few weeks working on our Argyll’s Secret Coast project. We’ve released four brand-new designs:

. . . we’ve explored different topics in our weekly journey around Argyll . . .

. . . such as the politics of maps and mapping . . .

. . . the shifting significance of water . . .

. . . Cowal’s early Christian topography . . .

. . . and the long story of human intervention and land use in Argyll, from prehistoric archaeology to contemporary afforestation.

There are so many different kinds of work involved in an interdisciplinary project of this kind.

. . . for me, designing, grading, knitting, pattern writing, styling and modelling . . .

. . . exploring Argyll on foot. . .

. . . reading and thinking, writing and editing.

I am idea-generator in chief, but it is definitely Tom’s work that binds this whole project together.

As well as taking pictures of all the knitwear, creating the design and layout of our patterns (and forthcoming book), working on recipe development (of which more later) and drawing maps (to which new locations are added during each week of the club), Tom has spent much of the past month out and about in all weathers, documenting Cowal’s landscape with his cameras. Sometimes Tom’s images illustrate what I (and the project’s other contributors) are talking about in our essays. . .

. . . and sometimes the images speak back to his own creative practice.

but whatever he’s photographing, Tom’s images bring our ideas for Argyll’s Secret Coast to life with real visual richness and complexity!

Tom has also made a few short films, to introduce club members to some of the places we are exploring.

Tom shot, produced and edited these short films – and the soundtrack is made by him (on his growing collection of synths) as well.

So many different kinds of creative work are involved with this project, and, perhaps especially because it involves being outside a lot (after a couple of years of restricted movement) Tom and I are finding Argyll’s Secret Coast incredibly rewarding to develop. We are also really enjoying working with a great group of collaborators – Michael and Stuart, Gilbert and Alex, Stephen and Fiona, Amelia and Rosee, Mel and Claire – all of whose different creative contributions are hugely appreciated.

All of which is to say, that our Argyll’s Secret Coast project is something that’s proving very absorbing and somewhat time-consuming; that in the past few weeks I’ve felt incredibly grateful for having this job which involves making fun and meaningful work with other creative people; that I’ve been thinking a lot about the generally rewarding nature of creative collaboration recently, and finally, that I’m hoping to get back to writing here a bit, as and when I can.

Now it’s time to get back to some pattern writing! Enjoy your Sunday!