So, as the kids say, I have some news. Connoisseur's Book of Silk Fragments - An album of twenty pages; silk, ramie, various metal threads; Japan, late 19th century; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA In recent years I have had to turn down several job opportunities relating to academic work on hand-knitting. I did not feel comfortable giving papers, writing academic articles, or chairing panels at various conferences as they related to knitted textiles, textile history, or hand-knitting. I have done these things previously, but I have increasingly felt I did not have the rig ..read more

On July 3rd 2022 a friend and I were caught up in a sudden, violent event in Copenhagen, Denmark. I was across to do research for my second book, and also took the opportunity to connect with family and friends. Copenhagen was my home for 12 years and it is always lovely to spend time in my former hometown. Unfortunately my friend and I were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I do not want to share the specifics of what happened. If you want to know, you can always google the date and the location: plenty of news coverage will pop up. Following the event, I received free crisis counselling ..read more

Yesterday I gave an interview to a journalist about the recent knitting (dot) com situation - basically two tech guys bought the knitting dot com domain and, like so many entries into the knitting marketplace before them, they had appeared to have much confidence and done very little research. But they had dropped 80K on a domain and that was newsworthy. You can read the article here. I’m cited briefly as a Scottish designer, writer, and knitter. I find that pretty amusing. Actually, I wasn't sure if I should respond to the journalist request, but I decided to go ahead. Here’s my brief intervi ..read more

Oh, all the best plans fall to pieces. After writing part one of my Everyday Wardrobe bullet journal use, I fell very ill and now I’m back on my feet all the natural daylight in Scotland has vanished. Roll on, Winter Solstice. In lieu of taking photos of my Everyday Wardrobe planning, I thought now would be a good time to take stock of 2021. We still have a few weeks left of this year, but I have experienced so much throughout this year that I want to reflect upon it. 2021 has been a very different year for me and one that I’ll think back upon in the years to come. I began 2021 in a pretty ba ..read more

I have long been obsessed with the idea of the Everyday Wardrobe - the idea of spending my making time on items I actually wear. Over on my Patreon, I have devoted no less than 16 entries to the art of thinking through what we wear, how we wear our clothes, and what we choose to wear, but today I’m back here on my blog to share my Everyday Wardrobe Journal with you. It’s a relatively new tool to me, but I’m so excited to show you my thought processes. The aim of setting up an Everyday Wardrobe Journal? It’s to guide me through my making year: it’ll help me remember what I need in my wardrobe ..read more

Mental health is something people find difficult to talk about, although it is getting better. When I mention that I am currently in therapy, people will ask me in a very gentle voice: are you okay? And I have to reassure them that I am actually okay. Therapy is making me a lot better than I’ve been my entire life. My husband tells me that I am less brittle than before and my friends tell me there is a calmness about me that I didn’t have before. Being in therapy does not mean I am broken, but rather that I am learning to be kind to myself and strong. I might as well tell you some of the reas ..read more

Recently I mentioned on social media that I am a new convert to bullet journaling. My bullet journal keeps me organised, focused, and productive which is no mean feat. I am a one-woman business and as a result I have a long to-do list every day. I have tried a lot of things: wall planners, digital calendar reminders, traditional planners, and dozens of notebooks. The bullet journal is the best tool I have found, and I am deeply in love. Let’s start with the basics: the bullet journal is an analogue method devised by NY-based designer Ryder Carroll. It’s a system for “tracking the past, organi ..read more

People can often be afraid of change; it feels scary or upsetting. I tend to view change as something positive, and it is with this mindset that I post this blog entry. Hello. Right now the cherry tree outside my kitchen windows is changing from green to the most delicate red you can imagine. The tree is forever adapting to changes in temperature and available sunlight. Looking at the cherry tree is cheering, whether it is the lovely cherry blossoms in spring or the beautiful autumnal leaves. I even find it cheering in the depths of winter as the bare branches stretch towards the sky with pro ..read more

Earlier this month I was asked to compile a list of 4-ply/fingering-weight yarns available in the UK and suitable for colourwork. I asked my Twitter followers for their favourite yarns, and the resulting thread was so wonderful that I decided to share the tips with you. Designing and knitting colourwork will always be something I love doing. Colour combinations are endless and it is so satisfying to see a colourwork stitch pattern begin to form. While it may look daunting to beginners, colourwork knitting has its own logic and rhythm to it. Through my years of teaching colourwork, I’ve learne ..read more

Some years ago the kind folks at Welsh yarn company Cartref sent me a small parcel with their brand-new yarn produced entirely in Wales. Cartref means “home” in Welsh and they had set out to create a yarn that embodied Wales. I made a swatch with the yarn and fell in love with its bouncy, yet robust mix of Welsh Mule and Welsh BFL. And now I’ve designed a sweater that feels like home too. Catterline (shop link) is inspired by the relaxed pullovers worn by artist Joan Eardley whilst painting in the Scottish fishing village of Catterline. The chevron stitch pattern mimics the brushstrokes Eardl ..read more