iola

I should probably begin by letting you know that Davaar is now available to pre-order! And perhaps by explaining why this book exists at all. . .

I have a bit of a thing for tidal islands, of which there are 17 in Scotland. In 2022, Tom and I visited several, including Oronsay, Eilean nan Gobhar, and – most notably – Davaar.

You can walk to Davaar across the causeway, or Doirlinn, which is accessible for a few hours each day at low tide.

Davaar is an interesting and very beautiful place, and Tom and I decided to stay on the island, in the structure that’s now known as The Lookout – one of several observation posts originally constructed around the Kintyre coastline during WWII for the use of the Royal Observer Corps (ROC).

We loved the lookout, with its jolly seaside decor and quirky features, including porthole, and internal hatch and ladder . . .

and we loved looking out from the lookout, spotting gannets and cormorants, seals and otters . . .

. . . watching fishing and sailing boats ply the Kilbrannan sound . . .

. . . and seeing the continual shifts in light and weather beyond the island’s famous Stevenson lighthouse.

You don’t encounter many people on Davaar. Ned and Toni, the island’s caretakers, live here, right beside the lighthouse, and there are a couple of holiday cabins further round the coast. You have to plan ahead for your visit, and bring to the island only what you need. Ned collects you and your belongings in his pick up (the island’s only vehicle), and carries you across the Doirlinn.

After a few days on Davaar, time really slows to the rhythms of the tides. There are lots of places to walk, around the island’s hilly summit and its rocky shores, with just the island’s resident sheep and feral goats for company.

It didn’t take long for this special place to really get under my skin.

I just loved Davaar. So did Tom. And so, we decided to make a book about it.

We returned to the Lookout . . .

Tom took some beautiful photos, I researched and wrote about the island’s history, and I knit up an island-inspired collection. Over the next few days, I’ll tell you all about this new group of designs . . .

Of which this is the first – Iola

In Scottish Gaelic, Iola is a name for a fishing ledge or fishing station

Iola’s stitch pattern recalls that of an old-fashioned, maritime Scottish gansey

But rather than a traditional navy blue pullover, I’ve featured the stitch pattern on a cardigan, with an intuitive, top down construction . . .

with twisted stitch panels over the back, sleeves . . .

… and fronts.

At this time of year, I like to wear my cardigans fairly neat and cropped, but you might prefer a looser and longer fit. This was the cardigan style preferred by our brilliant test knitters, Claire and Sarah, whose beautiful (and very different Iolas) I’ll show you at a later date.

You can see more photos of Iola on Ravelry.

Davaar is one of those books that, from start to finish, has been a genuine joy to work on. It’s the kind of collaborative project that sums up what Tom and I do best: evocative, place-specific photography, historical and cultural exploratory essays, and – of course – classic knitwear. We love the finished book – and hope that you do too!

Well, that’s all from me for now – I’ll be back tomorrow to show you another design, and tell you more about Davaar.