What? You didn’t think I’d create a collection without a yoke?!
This jolly yoke pullover is one of my favourite designs in the Davaar collection, and its name is Painted Cave.
I finished knitting it in March, and we took these photographs during a visit to Davaar in April.
You can tell what time of year it is: the heather and bracken have died back to brown, but the gorse is starting to show yellow across the water at MacCringan’s point.
This sweater has not seen much wear yet this year. Yokes tend to be autumn garments for me.
So I’m really looking forward to wearing Painted Cave in coming months – because I just love it!
The maths of this yoke was interesting to calculate because of the large star. You need to squirrel decreases in, before and after the motif, and grade the shoulders across the range in the right proportion to accommodate these fairly large repeats.
All yokes have their challenges. I find all fascinating to work on – as well as, of course, to knit!
This colour scheme will now be quite familiar to you from the other designs in the Davaar collection. I personally love Lochan with anything, but if a palette of primaries is not for you, I’ll show you a version tomorrow which has a completely different feel.
The design is named after Davaar’s famous painted cave, originally created by Archibald MacKinnon. My research about MacKinnon took me from Glasgow to Birkenhead, from a nineteenth-century Hungarian celebrity to contemporary street art, from Wanamaker’s store in Philadelphia to the ordinary, vernacular spaces of Kintyre. I’m not someone who ever gets particularly attached to my writing, but sometimes I do write a piece I really enjoy, and really like. My essay about MacKinnon is one of those pieces.
I’ll think about Archibald MacKinnon and his painted cave as I enjoy wearing my new yoke this autumn!
The Davaar book is now available to preorder
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Oooh love it!
Does the new book have techniques to knit with 3 or more colours in a knitted row? I love this sweater but am not sure I could handle all the different colours.
There are only ever two colours used in one row in this pattern
So Fabulous! And that skirt!!! Can you tell us about it? please….♥
Beautiful sweater, and I’m excited to red your piece on MacKinnon. The mention of Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia really piqued my interest, as lunches with my grandmother in the beautiful Crystal Tea Room at the top of the store were a highlight of my childhood.
This is such a jolly design! Having the touch of yellow does give a nod to the gorse and accents the other yoke colors so very well.
I am extremely impressed by your way to incorporate the beautiful star into the yoke. I must admit that I have always like math and actually enjoy some of the challenging calculations that knitting can present. I always admire designs that have also met such challenges,
As always, best wishes to you and yours.
It is totally wonderful! Very Sami and I love it!
Yes! I love those colours
The brilliant colors of Painted Cave, set against the slightly muted scenery are just beautiful! I do enjoy a yoked sweater! I can barely wait to get the details on this, and I’m equally excited to read your piece on Archibald MacKinnon!
Such a beautiful jumper and i love the primary colours – this will be the one I shall knit for myself. Thank you again for a great post and beautiful pictures, I really enjoy seeing your post each day.
What a beautiful yoke. Now the decision is sister or sister in law😀 I would love you to design a unisex V neck jumper in the round. Can’t wait for the book. Take care
It is so nice to read every morning something about Davaar, a new stunning design and great pictures. I really enjoy it every day. Thank you!
Already looking forward to browse through the book.
I love Painted Cave – but the one thing I physically can’t tolerate is the high finish on the front neck. Is there a chance that you will design a yoke in the future with build-in short rows in the back?
there are optional short rows built-in on this design, for those who prefer them, as there are with all my yokes
Perfect! Thank you.
Gosh, another great one! The patterns in this book are just lovely. Each new one adds to my anticipation. Really looking forward to admiring the patterns in print (and knitting a few) and reading more about Davaar and around. I preordered the book before I’d even seen the patterns, partly because I am hoping to be in that part of the world next year (planning to take the ferry from Ballycastle (Northern Ireland) to Cambeltown.
the Kintyre Express! I fancy a trip on that myself
I am really loving the daily reveal of this book. The joy and love within and for this project is palpable- it must be amazing to have not only alignment in your vision, skill and execution, but to have that extend through Tom’s vision, skill and execution is exquisitely rare and beautiful to see. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful yoke Kate, I love that it’s a traditional star motif and that you’ve used the colours which run through this collection.
Will this be fairly straightforward to convert into a cardigan ?
yes! steek up the middle, and there you go. My Coinneach or Kaav yoke patterns will help if you have those.
Love the Painted Cave pullover, Kate!😍 I will be very interested to see your alternative colourway tomorrow! Well done with the maths; it must have been challenging. 🤦🏼♀️🧶