HEBRIDEAN SEA SHAWL
As the first gales of the autumn roll in off the Atlantic, the Hebridean islands of the west coast of Scotland become awash with colour. The fast-moving clouds allow shafts of sunlight to illuminate the sea: an ever-shifting palette of turquoise, teal and blue.
A walk along one of the astonishingly beautiful Hebridean beaches is a treat for the soul. Having time just to be in the moment and to experience the peace and tranquillity of these beaches is something that will stay with you. Why not take the Hebridean Sea home – wrap yourself in a memory or in a dream of such a place, such a beach, where you can escape the stresses and duties of life?
The inspiration for this asymmetric, slightly curved shawl is the transition from beach to sea. The blocks of colour reflect the rhythm of waves rolling over the beach, changing in colour during incoming or ebbing tides, slightly lighter close to the shore and darker in deeper waters. The diagonal lines are inspired by the criss-cross pattern sometimes left behind by the receding sea and the braids resemble the white sea foam, dancing like white horses on top of the waves. I-cord cast on, I-cord edges simultaneously knitted with the main fabric and I-cord bind off give the shawl a professional, polished look.
ENLICHENED SHAWL
Lichens – what can I say? I love their beautiful colours and textures, I love their perfect partnership between two organisms, I love that they are an indicator of environmental health, and I love that they have been used to dye the world famous Harris Tweed©. But most of all, I love that they add a little “spice” to Scotland’s landscapes – you will find them mainly on (ancient) trees, high mountain rocks but also on rocks along the coast, even on manmade stone structures. As long as the air is clean, they can grow. Their symbiotic partnership between two species is fascinating: a fungus provides the body of the lichen, protecting the photosynthetic algae, which in return provides nutrients for the fungus to survive.
The Enlichened Shawl celebrates the more than 1700 lichen species occurring throughout the British Isles. The triangular shawl is knitted flat starting at the bottom and knitted up by increasing stitches every 2nd row. Repeated cable panels mirror the lichen structure and make up the central part of the shawl. The cable panels on the wings are separated by moss stitch and are more spread out. I-cord cast on, I-cord edges simultaneously knitted with the main fabric and I-cord bind off give the shawl a professional, polished look.
LEWISIAN SHAWL
A shawl to celebrate one of the oldest rocks on Earth: Lewisian Gneis. These metamorphic rocks are between 3.2-1.7 billion years old and you will find them in the North West of Scotland. I am a geologist by training and I love to walk on the hills and beaches in this part of the world. Being surrounded by these rocks from deep time helps me feel grounded, but they also leave me in awe knowing that they are part of a vast tectonic zone that stretches from Scandinavia through Scotland to Greenland and North America – they give an insight into the formation of the Earth.
These wonderful rocks are typically course-grained, banded and grey in colour with dark grey, pink or orange lenses or bands. With this palette in mind, the Lewisian shawl is knitted in two-coloured slip-stitch bands and stripes by interweaving the three different colours, although you knit with only one colour of yarn at a time.
I-cord edges are knitted simultaneously with the main fabric and the shawl is finished with an i-cord bind off.
Friendship
Nature
LIFELINE COWLS
A Lifeline
In knitting, a lifeline is a way to save your stitches if you make a mistake – an added piece of yarn that runs through every stitch of one row in case you need to unravel your knitting. But a lifeline can also be seen from a wider perspective. There are times when life unravels – something unforeseen has happened and we need time to adjust to the new situation. When life feels overwhelming, we need something that keeps us grounded and allows us to feel in control again: a lifeline. It could be the people around us - family and friends that help us though. It could be love, received from others or the love we give ourselves. It could be nature – being out for a walk and breathing in the fresh air.
The Lifeline Cowls are designed to help you – to remind you that difficult times will pass, with better times ahead. The cowls are there to snuggle into and keep warm, like a gentle hug around your neck. They can also be given to a loved one who might need a bit of love and support. These little gestures sometimes make a huge difference in someone’s life.
Knitting helps the troubled soul, so whether a Lifeline Cowl is for you or for someone else, I hope they will give comfort and eventually also happiness and joy.
Love
