Yarn

Issue 5, Spring / Summer 2024

204 pages

Articles:

• Weaving The Edinburgh Seven: Dovecot Tapestry Studios work with Christine Borland to celebrate the first women to matriculate at a British university.

• Variegations on a Theme: Uist Wool has a passion for the natural colours of fleece.

• Fair Isle on Fair Isle: Barkland Croft takes knitting traditions back to source.

• Flock To Sock: Glenesk folk museum in Angus is rediscovering kilt hose.

• A Delicate Future: Shetland lace knitting is on the red list of endangered crafts.

• Reviving Textile Talents: Creation Mill tackles isolation and supports textile skills in Dumfries and Galloway.

• Crafting Maths: Knot Unknot: The abstract art behind knitting and crochet.

• Charting Age-Old Seas: Photographs from The Wick Society inspire gansey designs. A tribute to Gordon Reid.

Patterns:

Knitting:

• Myrtle Waistcoat by Rebecca Clow, The Creabea

• Pathfinder Top by Kelly Ordemann

• Isla Top by Sylvia Watts-Cherry, With Cherries On Top

• Common Blue Shawl by Solveigh Lass-Evans, Iolair Yarn

• Cluny Cowl and Wrap by Alison Mayne, Knitrospective

• Da Slockit Light Shawl by Elizabeth Williamson Knitting

Crochet:

• Kin Jumper by Fay Dashper-Hughes

• Lammermuirs Crochet Top by Samira Hill, Eildon Hills Designs

• Gothic Wrap by Merrian Holland, Mezzacraft

Other craft:

• Peg Loom Mat by Sunshine Stewart, At Birkhill House

Issue 4, Autumn / Winter 2023

188 pages

Articles:

• The first tartan mill to be established in the Highlands for decades, Prickly Thistle seeks answers to today’s issues from the past.

• V&A Dundee worked with Glasgow micro-weavers, Vevar, to explore their tartan design and create a limited edition piece: a modern interpretation steeped in Scottish textile legacy.

• With inspiration from across continents, Ripples Crafts has been based in the northwest Highlands of Scotland for 15 years.

• Centuries of history provide design inspiration for textile conservator Sara Wolf.

• Lammermuit Wool: the story of a small and friendly flock of Shetland sheep in East Lothian.

• Kiltmaking is culturally significant for Scotland, but did you know it is an endangered skill?

• A short history of Sanquhar knitting.

Patterns:

Knitting:

• Heather And Hops Hairst Jumper by Katt Weaver

• Charles III Sanquhar Mitts and Cowl by Ruth Robinson

• Diamond Twist Socks by Sara Wolf

• Sallochy Bay Shawl by Emma Vining

• Sma’ Glen Beanie Hat by Louise Mossom

• Wheatfield Jumper by Karie Westermann

• Coorie Cardigan by Sylvia Watts-Cherry

• Dovecot Socks by Nic Corrigan (machine-knit socks, with hand-knit instructions)

Crochet:

• Gorse Top by Samira Hill, Eildon Hills Designs

• Droman Hat by Merrian Holland, Mezzacraft

• Sunset Song Top by Marta Mitchell

Issue 3, Spring / Summer 2023

204 pages

Articles:

• Adopting the Viking Mantle: Shepherdess and artist Meg Rodger of The Birlinn Yarn Company is inspired by past and present in the Outer Hebrides.

• Source Material – Strands of Memory: Two makers, Jeni Reid and Lynne Hocking, are inspired by linen with results that are both worlds apart and close to home.

• A Woven Heritage: Second only to agriculture, linen production was the major Scottish industry in the 18th Century.

• Historical Fibres, Future Networks: From exhibitions to walks and dolls, exploring heritage and developing links between art, design and Scotland’s linen industry.

• Weaver of Weather: Designer Ange Sewell, of Weft Blown, weaving her own path in West Kilbride.

• The Fruits of Friendship: How a collaboration based on friendship and diverse businesses led to new yarn range, Bearford Originals.

• Sewing the Seeds of Change: Hands on engagement with flax at Edinburgh College of Art.

• Improvised Designs and Mindful Making: A reflection on materials and creativity by artist Gaelle Chassery.

Patterns:

Knitting:

• Thonnan Top by Katt Weaver, Heather and Hops

• Carstramon Top by Maddie Harvey Designs

• Sea Pink Top by Solveigh Lass-Evans

• Seeded Fern Wrap by Meg Rodger, The Birlinn Yarn Company

• Lèana 2-colour brioche shawl by Samira Hill, Eildon Hills Designs

• Robach Shawl by Alison Mayne, Knitrospective

Crochet:

• Machair Tank Top by Merrian Holland, Mezzacraft

• Twine Bag by Merrian Holland, Mezzacraft

• Dunnet Head Hap by Fay Dashper-Hughes

Magnolia Cowl from woven pin loom square by Ange Sewell, Weft Blown

Issue 2, Autumn / Winter 2022

212 pages

Articles:

• Di Gilpin: a retrospective on the career - so far - of knitwear designer and Scottish textile advocate.

• The Princes Trust Future Textiles programme: with specifics from The Library of Knit, a Knitwise project which Di Gilpin worked on culminating in an installation in the arboretum of Dumfries House in Ayrshire.

• The origins of Tartan: commemorating the 200th anniversary of Gorge IV visit to Edinburgh in 1822.

• The Silly Sheep Fibre Company: story of yarn from a croft on Shetland and their adventures with several sheep breeds.

• Jennie Howes, SkyBluePink Designs: evolution of a life in crafting from learning as a child through to operating a shop in Berwick-upon-Tweed, teaching crafts and selling hand-spun yarn.

• Black Isle Yarns: story of a small yarn producer who gathers fleece from smallholdings on the Black Isle and hand dyes the spun yarn using natural plant dyes.

• Woven Identities: Tartan meets Koru by Maori artist Mitchell Manuel: an exploration cultural heritage and symbolism inspired by Scottish ancestry, based on the autumn exhibition at the Smith Gallery in Stirling.

• A view of New Zealand from emigrating Scots via the Diaspora Tapestry.

Patterns:

Knitting:

• Dullieach yoked jumper by Lucy Hague

• Aggie the Highland Cow intarsia jumper by Sylvia Watts-Cherry

• Portmoak Moss beanie hat by Louise Mossom using Jamiesons of Shetland Spindrift

• Moness shawl by Maddie Harvey

• Bemersyde shawl by Samira Hill

• Harris the Highland Cow toy by Kirsten Bedigan

Crochet:

• Eildon Woods yoked jumper by Samira Hill

• Droman jumper by Merrian Holland

• Dunkeld slipper socks by Marta Mitchell

Rainbow Ram Embroidery sampler by Susie Finlayson

Issue 1, Spring / Summer 2022

180 pages

Articles:

• Short History of Scottish Textiles: A run through the History of Scottish Textiles illustrated with some of the panels from The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

• Newburgh Handloom Weavers: From South Uist to the Scottish Borders and Fife, Newburgh Handloom Weavers are producing handwoven bespoke tweed on looms with a story.

• The Native Sheep Breeds of Scotland: Steeped in more than 6,000 years of history, Scottish sheep are an interesting flock.

• The Story of Iona Wool: The story of how single origin Iona Wool came to be created.

• The Border Mill: What do you do when you have more alpaca fleece than you can hand-spin? Set up a new mill in Duns in the Scottish Borders.

• Stitching Loyalty: An 18th century embroidery making a statement of loyalty to the exiled Stuart royal family.

• Dovecot Studios produce a tapestry woven masterpiece from a masterpiece of a masterpiece.

• Learning to Spin: Some of the experts in and around Scotland share their advice on learning a specific craft.

Patterns:

Knitting:

• Cowl (in large and small sizes)

• Sleeveless Vest

• Triangular Shawl

• Versatile Tabard

Crochet:

• Summer Top

• Waterfall-front Cardigan

• Fingerless Mitts

Crewelwork sampler by Susie Finlayson, suitable for beginners