Fair Isle – KDD & Co

Colour by Ella

Shetland shades sing in harmony in the work of Ella Gordon

Terri Laura talks colour

colour personalities and practical steps to plan a pallette

knitting (and fitting) colourwork socks

how might a colourwork sock differ from one knitted in plain stockinette?

Good morning! We’ve now reached the half-way point in the Inspired by Islay club and I thought I’d catch up here by showing you the last three patterns I’ve designed. The collection has been created in four groups of three (each of which features a different style of knitting, and is inspired by a different…

Fair Isle in Whalsay

Are you going to Shetland Wool Week this year? If so, can I strongly suggest you set aside a day in your itinerary for a trip to the wonderful island of Whalsay?. The Whalsay Heritage Centre is currently hosting an exhibition of the island’s fair isle knitting that will, I assure you, really blow your…

Pop-up fair

By: Kate Davies Designs September 24, 2015

craft, Edinburgh, events, Fair Isle, knittingEdinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Repository and self aid society, treasure trove19 Comments

Are you in Edinburgh this weekend? If so, can I encourage you to pop along to the pop-up fair which is being held by my friends at the Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society on Saturday? I’ve mentioned the Society here many times, and as you know, it exists to provide financial support to…

a handmade wedding

Thankyou, all of you, for your lovely comments and congratulations! I thought you might appreciate hearing a little more about the handmade elements of our wedding. A few years ago, Tom decided to have a kilt made. His surname is Barr, and the tartan of that name is also associated with a popular Scottish soft-drinks…

The Fine Art of Fair Isle Knitting

By: Kate Davies Designs October 27, 2014July 21, 2016

Fair Isle, knitting, review, Shetland, Shetland Wool Weekcolourwork, dvd, fair isle, film, Hazel Tindall, knitting, review, Shetland, The Fine Art of Fair Isle Knitting, workshop18 Comments

You will have heard me mention distinguished Shetland designer, Hazel Tindall, many times on this blog. I first met Hazel three years ago, when I was lucky enough to take a workshop with her during Shetland Wool Week. Over the course of the class, Hazel shared her knitterly tips and techniques, talked us through some…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 124-160

Panel 140: Cumbernauld Well, this is my final post on the Great Tapestry of Scotland! I have really enjoyed revisiting my photographs, and thinking more about the tapestry, and your comments have also provided much food for thought. These photographs are, of course only snippets, and you’ll find much more thorough information in the two…

Machrihanish

I was very excited to have the opportunity to design the Machrihanish vest and always enjoy knitting for Tom, who is its recipient and model. Tom often bemoans the general lack of shaping, and poor fit of men’s garments, so I like to knit him things that are well-fitting. Men’s knitted vest patterns rarely include…

Gawthorpe – pattern release!

You may remember that, last Autumn, I spent a happy day visiting Gawthorpe Textile Collection with Debbie Bliss, Jane Ellison , Claire Montgomerie, and Emma Varnam We designers had been commissioned to produce designs inspired by items in the collection . . . we worked on them over the Winter . . . and today,…

three sweaters

I thought I’d show you my three new sweaters! First up is this lovely Fairisle yoke (bought for £16 on eBay). This is a garment of a kind that is still being made in Shetland, and that you can find in Lerwick today in shops like The Spider’s Web. I think its a lovely example.…

steeks and swants

Anatolia by Marie Wallin So, have you seen Rowan Magazine 54 yet? I finally got my hands on a copy yesterday and there are some wonderful designs in there. My two favourites are probably Anatolia by Marie Wallin – a beautifully luscious yoked sweater knit up in rich shades of Felted Tweed – and Sarah…