Tag Archives: yarn

Of Kate Davies, Sir Harry Lauder and Memories

How can I put a knitting, yarn designer like Kate Davies and a singer of Scottish Songs like Sir Harry Lauder in the same sentence as Memories?  Let me share a story:

Shetland Oo – a wonderful view of the wool industry and people of the Islands!

To properly begin;  I have been a fan of Kate Davies for quite a while.  I have a few of her books and I have always enjoyed her blog posts.  Late last fall Kate started talking about a new yarn, a fingering weight tweed made with 70% wool and 30% mohair.  It is called Milarrochy Tweed and she was going to introduce it as a club, The West Highland Way Club!  There would be yarn, patterns, essays about the West Highland Way and eventually a book.

Worthy

I was hooked!  I love tweeds (more about tweeds here); I love mohair – one of my favourite fibres; and I loved the concept!  So I gifted the club to myself for Christmas.

The lace shows so much better in the lighter colours!

My original club package was lost in the mail.  It is still lost in the mail!  But Kate and company sent me a new package (excellent customer service) – it arrived a couple of weeks ago!  I liked the yarn well enough to order a sweaters worth and will be ordering more!  You know how I love Purple!  I now have enough Milarrochy Tweed in Gloaming, a purple, to knit a sweater!

Worthy

One of the unexpected bonuses of the club was that Kate had added a small design competition to the club.  Design a hat using her yarn – I love design and competitions so I was hooked again.

I was only going to make one hat!  Really!  The first hat was all planned, colours, style etc. and I was happy with the plan.  Lace bands and Fair-Isle bands, and a classic Fair-Isle Crown; because of the wait – I named the hat Worthy!  As in the yarn being Worthy of the Wait!  Once the yarn arrived I sat down and got to work knitting.  And Oh, what a nice crisp yarn it is to work with!

While I love the results from my first hat, I was disappointed that the lace details did not show.  I should have known better!  So I had the pattern test knitted in a lighter colour and different yarn and I am much happier with how the lace shows.  I couldn’t use Milarrochy Tweed as I knew the background colour I needed would never arrive in time!

But then there was this colour in my package!  I have just finished knitting my second hat for Kate Davies hat design competition with that colour.

Milorrochy Tweed in the Gloaming colourway

This last week has been a week of knitting – no surprize there – and memories of my Granny, all starting with this one colour of yarn – Gloaming.  Gloaming is a gorgeous purple tweed, crisp and neppy and quite beautiful.

I have spoken of my Granny Baptie a few times in my blog.  I have spoken of both my Grandmothers and their influence in my life.

My Granny Baptie (her maiden name was Clark, and she grew up in Lochgelly) came over from Scotland when she was 16. It was 1916. My Grandfather was already here and working the coal face in a local mine.  Her courage astounds me!

My Grandmother’s favourite song was and remained through most of her life Roamin’ through the Gloamin’ as sung by Sir Harry Lauder.


Roamin’ in the gloamin’ on the bonny banks o’ Clyde
Roamin’ in the gloamin’ with my lassie by my side
When the sun has gone to rest
That’s the time we love the best
Ach, it’s lovely roamin’ in the gloamin’

I’ve seen lots of bonnie lassies travelin’ far and wide
But my heart is centered now on bonny Kate McBride
And altho’ I’m no’ a man who throws a word away
I’m surprised mysel’ sometimes at all I’ve got to say.

One nicht in the gloamin’ we were trippin’ side by side
I kissed her twice and asked her once if she would be my bride
She was shy, so was I, we were baith the same
But I got brave and braver on the joumey comin’ hame

Last nicht after strollin’ we got hame at halfpast nine
Sittin’ at the kitchen fire I asked her to be mine
When she promised, I got up and danced the Hielan’ fling
I’ve just been at the jew’llers and I’ve picked a nice wee ring

She would hum or sing that song whenever she was working, or happy or sometimes just because!  She even gave me a copy of one of his records when I got my first record player!  My favourite song was a rollicking drinking song called a “A Wee Deoch-an-Doris”.

Roamin’
Roamin’

When I received the yarn, I held that colour in my hand, with the name “Gloaming” on the band, and a wealth of my Granny’s memories came back to me; of Sir Harry and Roamin through the Gloamin; of heathers and thistles; of climbing out back windows to run off to dances; of shortbread and peat and all the memories my Granny would share.

So I designed and knit a second hat.  This one called Roamin’.  It has all of my Granny’s memories in one small piece.  It is really for me and all those who dream of visiting the “Old Country”, as my Granny called it, at some point in the future.

Fascinating reading and wonderful patterns.

Thank-you Kate for creating the yarn that inspired this walk down my memories.

Happy Knitting

Lynette

PS – if you are interested in the Shetlands and the textile history of the Islands you will need to check The Vintage Shetland Project by Susan Crawford!

Worthy worked in a different yarn with a much different colourway!

Fall Knitting

Blue Monday Lace.
Blue Monday Lace.
First swatch - not the right yarn - but the idea will work!
First swatch for the Retreat – not the right yarn – but the idea will work!

Well really, Fall knitting is no different from knitting at any other time of year!  It just seems different because it is “Fall”.  It means we can wear our new knits immediately – no waiting for the season to change – the time is now!

For me Fall is all about knitting and designing – many projects, both knit and design start at this time of year – usually more projects than I finish.

And in no particular order!

Whales Tale - Sweater Back is complete!
Whales Tale – Sweater Back is complete!

First off – I have finally finished Blue Monday Lace.  This shawl is for me and is knit from yarn from the Great White Bale – the third lot – the Kraemer Experiment!  I love it!  The yarn feels like silk velvet and the Delica beads are the perfect accent.  I know only have one batch of Bale yarn left, enough for a short sleeve sweater! – but there are rumours of a new Bale project – I want to participate!

The Retreat – the design has been decided – the yarn as well.  Those of you waiting for the e-mail it won’t be long now!

Salish Sea Collection – Cowichan Inspired Sweaters – I have finished 2 backs now and will have the third done by Tuesday this week!  Then I will need to finish all three sweaters – small, medium and large!

Poster Bison Cap - this sample has been knit with Buffalo Skies - but the sample in the store has been knit with Rimu - both are fabulous!
Poster Bison Cap – this sample has been knit with Buffalo Skies – but the sample in the store has been knit with Rimu – both are fabulous!

I am very happy with the results – I think that you will be too!  Back number 2 is “Whales Tale”.  And that sweater when it is done will be for me!

Poster Bison Cap – the pattern is done and is sized for baby to adult!  The response to this pattern when friends and customers saw the baby set  really surprized and please me – I am already working on a couple of other ideas along the same line!

Scrap Vest for Logan – is more than half done – It will go into the Christmas Box!  What fun just letting the colours flow from one to the other without worrying about matching – luckily Beth doesn’t

Logan's Scrap Vest.
Logan’s Scrap Vest.

worry about colours for boys or girls – just colours are all about fun!

I am working on a couple of ideas for the Buffalo Wool Co. right now – a dressy little sweater with a lace yoke – knit with Sexy and Sexy With a Silver Lining.  This will be a fitted number with no or negative ease and knit from the top down.

I am really loving the way this is coming out – the contrast between the glittery lace yoke, knit with Sexy with a Silver Lining and the solid stockinet body in Sexy – the possibilities are intriguing!

Top Down Sexy
Top Down Sexy
Not enough yet!
Year of Making Squares – my squares to date. Not enough for my blanket yet!

The Year of Making only has a couple of months left in it – we have over 24 squares published and still more on the way!  Have you checked them out yet?

I have a couple of other projects on the way for the Buffalo Wool Co – I will keep you informed!

Koigu 7 has just been releases this last week.  Have you seen it yet?  We have it at Mad About Ewe.  I have a couple of designs in it!

Emily and I went to Knit City this year – to hear Clara Parkes speak on the Friday Night – she was talking about the Great White Bale.  Clara is a wonderful speaker, very engaging.  I felt like I was listening to a friend speak.  I had a wonderful time and got one of my books signed.

Undyed Silks from SanJoSilk
Undyed Silks from SanJoSilk

Saturday morning we went to the market!  I scored some yarn at the market – some truly incredible silks, from SanJoSilk.  All undyed – some for painting and a deep, dark laceweight that is strictly for knitting!  I was avery happy woman!

And then we went to Granville Market – to Maiwa!  A supply store of intriguing bits and bobs, information on knitting, dyeing and other needle works.  What an experience!

Amzing Silk/Linen Blend.
Amazing Silk/Linen Blend.

 

What a Day!

What a start to the Fall!  There are still two months to come!

I think that I am tired just looking at my plans for the Fall!  Are you like me – to many projects, not enough time – but loving every minute of the chaos?!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

Below are some Details from Blue Monday Lace Shawl.