What happens when Inner Wild meets Faerie Magazine? 



 We talk about Outlander knits, the Outer Hebrides and being Hebridean in the Faerie Magazine Scotland / Outlander issue.

See Trouva's 2018 Trend Guide here. 

flashback to 2011

I thought I'd do a little 'Flashback Friday' thing on my blog with the intention of making it regular. I thought of this because every day this week someone has reminded me of something I made years ago.

It's been really lovely. For instance, a dearheart, Debra, found these pretty lace cuffs I made back in 2013 via the "sales" link in my etsy shop and asked me to make her a pair:


I made one pair, they sold, I forgot all about them and that was that. But I think I might make them a new listing now. {I'm making Debra's in lilac or rose shade, she's choosing now from the shade card.}

However, my official Flashback Friday this week is showing my 2011 Inner Wild tags {above} and some other lace cuffs and picot edge and cord ties cuffs I made using Rowan bamboo tape, {a yarn that's been discontinued, but which I love}.

fast forward to 2017

Writing about faux fur yesterday got me thinking about real fur darlings featured in Inner Wild photos.

So I thought it'd be fun to curate a little collection of my cats and dog who've helped me model some Inner Wild pieces over the years.

Let me introduce you to ...

Twinkle Star:


Seen here as a kitten modelling Inner Wild Lovey Warmers with me. And below, a little older, modelling the Inner Wild Moonshine Cowl.


Minkie MyLove, her mama, looking gorgeous with Inner Wild Woodcutter Warmers:




Tom, bringing out the 'Firestar' gold of Inner Wild Stag Warmers:


Indi, who felt her own inner wildness was being impinged upon by modelling Inner Wild Sandy Bluff Warmers:




and the big fella, my Malamute Bubba, who just made everything in my world more magnificent, including Inner Wild Wanderer Warmers and Inner Wild Wolfkin Capelet:

A little preview of Inner Wild Wintergreen Collection for this winter 2017/18. See more in my etsy shop. Some new things, some favourite things, all good things.

All my life I've knitted for all kinds of people from tiny premature babies to huge menfolk but I've never knitted anything quite as deeply soulful as The Shepherdess Capelet. 


This was my creation commissioned by Uist Wool and its Snàth contemporary craft in artisan yarns exhibition, part of a series of Outer Hebrides Hebtember '14 events.


You can see The Shepherdess Capelet, along with the stunning creations of six other Hebridean makers, at Uist Wool, Scotvein, Grimsay, North Uist 13 - 27 September 10am - 5pm.



Details:


Beautiful Uist deer shed antler buttons handmade by Mr Robert MacLeod, South Uist.


I collected these tiny rocks from the shore, Isle of Benbecula, tied them to the yarn and let them hang in the same way my Hebridean ancestors hung rocks on rope over the thatched roofs of their stone homes.


From staring at cones of gorgeous pure wool from Uist Wool to a few sketches to the final Shepherdess Capelet I could feel my ancestors behind me; mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, great aunties, who were all expert and practical knitters using the very same wool in the same place, influencing and guiding me through the many weeks of creating this project; a beautiful feeling.

Thank you to the gifted team of extraordinary people at Uist Wool.

Creative process

From these cones of glorious Uist Wool


to this


for this. {See more about Outer Hebrides Hebtember.}

First thoughts on what to make - tunic, capelet, tabard, dress, apron?


Decide on decorative capelet



Loving the idea of using irregular and various Aran knitting stitch panels, free-falling and loose and allowing an influence of traditional Maori Moa feather cloaks {I lived in NZ for 12 years}.

Made lots of cable panels and tried out different stitch patterns on different plys of yarn.













The Shepherdess Capelet, made with Uist Wool by a Uist woman in Uist.