Ciar

Good morning! It’s Making Light launch day, and time for the first pattern release! Hurrah!

Last year, on the street in Glasgow, I saw a woman wearing a commercially made pullover which I rather liked, whose body was divided between graphic colourwork and dark fisherman’s rib. This pullover reminded me very strongly of the glorious two-tone ski sweaters that are sported by Kirk Douglas and his resistance pals in The Heroes of Telemark (1965), but unlike the film’s neatly-fitting vintage ganseys, this garment had a lovely contemporary oversized shape. I managed to snap a photo of this stylish and cosy individual with my phone, and, a few months later, when our new Choffer yarn arrived, I had a go at designing my own hand-knit version of the machine-knit ski pullover I’d admired, in an attempt to channel the vibe of both Kirk and Byres Road. And so, meet Ciar.

Ciar is a supremely cosy winter knit, worked at 3.25 or 3.5 stitches to the inch (depending on the size you choose)

The pullover is worked with yarn held double, from the bottom up.

After working a deep colourwork panel in the round, you divide for front and back, and work each piece of the upper body separately, back and forth . . .

. . . knitting the upper body and shoulders in plush half twisted rib (which is a breeze both back and forth and in the round – much easier than brioche or half fisherman’s rib).

The back piece is worked longer than the front, to improve the fit around the neck and shoulders, which are shaped with short rows . . .

. . then a ribbed neckband is picked up and worked around the neckline, before being turned and secured to the inside . . .

. . . for a really neat, well-structured finish.

After the shoulders are joined, the sleeves are picked up and worked top down: first in the colourwork pattern, and then half-twisted rib.

Like the body of this pullover, its sleeves are oversized and roomy, allowing for the accommodation of several layers underneath. . . .

. . . which is definitely a good idea in cold winter weather, like the sub zero day on which these photographs were taken!

Ciar is a word which, in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic, means dusky, dark, or chestnut brown.

I understand that it’s a word that’s most often applied to dark brown horses: I’m not much of a galloper, but I was certainly doing my level best across the chilly beach on photoshoot day!

Ciar is the perfect descriptor for Choffer brown: a shade that’s both chocolatey and dusky. I’ve matched Choffer here with the Riach shade of Ooskit, which is a pale, putty-coloured neutral. These high-contrast shades work really well together in a two-tone palette that feels both warm and bold.

I love my Ciar!

If you like this pullover and fancy making one, we have Riach and Choffer yarn packs in all sizes in the KDD shop, and you can use your club discount when purchasing. Remember, though, that you can of course make a Ciar in any colour, and any yarn you choose. Alafoss Lopi, for example, would knit to gauge and make a gloriously cosy Ciar.

I know that many of you will be interested in the hat I’m wearing in these photographs: fear not, for this is one of your club patterns, and it will be released tomorrow, on Burn’s Night, which might give you a wee clue to its name (no, friends, – it is not haggis heid – but feel free to have another guess!)

If you’ve signed up for Making Light, your Ciar pattern will be winging its way to your Ravelry library or inbox as we speak. It always takes a few hours for the team to get everything set up on launch day, so don’t worry if you don’t see your pattern immediately: be assured it is on its way! Do join us in the KDD Ravelry group to chat about the club, and note that sign ups remain open for now, but will close around the end of this month: if you have a friend who would like to join us, please do let them know (bearing in mind that any new subs over the weekend will not go live until Monday, the next working day).

Happy launch day, everyone! We hope you enjoy the club.

I’ll see you tomorrow, with more about the hat.