Over the last few years I have designed garments based on a range of themes. This is always an interesting and challenging way to work, as it involves both research and the projecting of the imagination into different eras and places. However, I also have many design ideas that fly in - unbidden - from out of the blue. As you will see, they usually make their appearance when doing any number of things that have nothing to do with knitting, such as walking on the beach, watching television, or standing in a ruined castle looking out over Loch Ness. I gathered together ten of these unrelated designs and was surprised to see that they formed a very cohesive whole.

I wanted the collection to be easily accessible to knitters of all abilities, while still providing garments which are beautiful and unusual. I therefore used a range of very classic shapes to display my ideas, some of which - Primavera, Grosvenor and Rosarie - can be easily attempted by someone new to the stranded technique. However I have included one very complex design - St Columba - which requires a lot of time and concentration, and is intended for those who like a challenge.

The 3 Ply designs - Lavoisier, St Aula and St Columba - can be worked in any of the colours in the Hebridean range. For the stranded colour designs I have created a very different mood for each garment, from the breeziness of Primavera to the subtle, heathery Strathglass; glowing Rheingold; warm, lush Firebirds, and rich, dark Rosarie. There should be something for everyone, and I hope that knitters will enjoy making them just as much as I have.

Firebirds

As a child I was always captivated by the legend of the Firebird, so I decided to draw some Firebirds of my own for this girls’ cardigan. I gave my neatly rounded birds a slight touch of vanity, as they turn their heads around to get a better look at their curled tail feathers. Above and around them are leaves which curve to match their bodies. As they are Firebirds I used colours which have a hint of flame about them - Clover, Wild Orchid, Sundew and Corncrake. For the background I placed them in a rich garden of Machair, Bogbean, Lapwing and Calluna. The topmost leaves above the birds are also worked in Machair with a Calluna background and this helps to carry the repeat upwards. As well as being visually powerful enough to satisfy a modern girl’s idea of fashion, this is also a practical garment in terms of length and colour. It is ideal for occasions that require a touch of formality, while still allowing the wearer freedom of movement.

Available in children's and adult sizes.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.

Glen Albyn

Glen is a Scots word for a valley, but a glen differs from a strath by having steeper, more treacherous sides and a narrower floor. The most famous of the glens must be the Great Glen, also known as Glen Albyn, which slices the Scottish Highlands in two from coast to coast. It also contains Loch Ness, which is Scotland’s largest and most notorious freshwater loch. On a promontory in the loch stands the magnificent ruin of Urquhart Castle. Both castle and surrounding glens have an eventful past, for they were bitterly fought over by the Lords of the Isles and the Stewart kings. The islanders were eventually fended off, but not before they had stripped the castle of everything of value. In those times, fine clothing was just as valuable as jewels and plate, so here is a mysterious, jewel-like design that would definitely have been carried off by the marauding Islesmen. It came from out of the blue as I stood in a tower of Urquhart Castle and imagined the swords and claymores ringing, and is intended for those who do not mind attracting attention on special occasions.

I drew stylised open lilies for a wide bottom border and graceful curling leaves for the main body repeat. The colours I chose partly for their high contrast, but also for the magical aura they create together. The pale Solan Goose and Kittiwake show up the Sundew, Golden Plover, Selkie, Limpet, Erica and Clover perfectly. As the swatch turned out to be so dramatic I decided on a quite simple shape for the garment, which also means it is fairly easy to knit. I have made it available in two different lengths. For myself I made the cropped version which sits nicely on the hips, while the classic version is for those who prefer a longer garment. There are many different outfits which work beautifully with Glen Albyn, though I found that a plain dark-grey evening dress let the garment shine out wonderfully. It would make a perfect going-away outfit for a new bride, but I find it also looks great - and attracts just as much attention - with a pair of blue jeans. It is photographed near Glen Albyn, amongst the native trees that make up the last vestiges of the ancient Forest of Caledonia.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.
Please note that only the cropped version is displayed, the length differences are described in the product details.

Grosvenor

As the Leo scarf has proved such a useful all year garment - it spends summer draped over my landing banisters - I decided to design a shorter scarf in a more masculine style. Grosvenor is a name of antiquity meaning ‘Great Hunter’. I have always loved heraldic art and so I created this strong design - a modern classic worthy of the great hunters of long ago. I drew a crowned falcon and a hound supporting two shields, each bearing a powerful but simple emblem - the cross of St George and the fleur de lys of France. For the pattern repeated up the scarf, I drew a larger central fleur de lys, flanked by a tracery of roses. I wanted the colours to be powerful but warm, so for the falcon and hound I used a background of Kittiwake and Solan Goose with Spindrift. For the foreground I used the darker, regal shades of Shearwater, Carrageen, Red Deer and Red Rattle. To bring a good definition between the borders and main pattern, I reversed the foreground and background colours. This versatile design can be worn by men and women, which is fitting, as both sexes followed hawk and hounds with enthusiasm. The scarf even looks good wrapped around a child. It is warm as it is made in the round, forming a double layer of knitting.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.

Lavoisier

As any parent knows, the dressing of energetic young children (especially the male variety) can a thankless task which leaves all concerned in an irritable and fragile state. Bearing this in mind I have designed a 3 Ply sweater especially for such children. I made a bottom border of geometric cables with a touch of curve to them instead of a rib. This means that it can be worn over any type of outfit without interfering with the way the clothes hang underneath. For the main pattern I designed a light but crisp, elongated diamond pattern in twisted stitches on a stocking stitch background. The sharp lines are softened to match the bottom border with two stitch cable crosses which give an elegant twist to the side of the diamonds. I have also added two curved lines of pearl stitches to bring up the smooth texture of the background. The neck and cuffs are simple and non-restricting.

This garment has been well road-tested by my son Thomas (in Spindrift) and my neighbour Jordan (in Summertide). I have found that Lavoisier is particularly useful when a child is in a hurry to get outside. It can be easily lassoed over the swiftly passing boy and his arms whisked into the sleeves with minimum fuss. The boxy shape means there is no need for traumatic sorting of the clothes underneath. In addition it is a cosy but light garment which does not impede play. Despite the garment’s practical nature, it is very sophisticated. So much so that my mother commented that the pattern has the kind of rational elegance that would have made beautiful wallpaper for an 18th Century salon. That is how a doodle from out of the blue came to be named in honour of Antoine Lavoisier, 1743-94.

Available in any colour of Hebridean 3 Ply.

Man's Lavoisier

The man’s Lavoisier is an exact replica of the child’s version and is worked in Hebridean 3 Ply doubled to provide a striking, masculine effect for the ultimate outdoor garment. You see it here worn by Davy Maclennan of the Scottish band MeanTime. Their debut CD 'The Natives Are Friendly' was recently released to much acclaim.
A small amendment is supplied, together with the original Lavoisier patterncard.

Available in any colour of Hebridean 3 Ply.

Primavera

I find that a wrap is both an attractive and a practical garment to have. It can be used as a furnishing; thrown over an active child at the cold end of a day at the beach, or elegantly wound over arms and back for an evening out. The other great advantage is the ease with which it can be knitted, as there is no need for shaping. I decided to use the stranded knitting technique for this particular design so that it would be light but also warm and wearable. For the main motif I drew a vine with exotic open flowers and then made a small pattern consisting of full suns and flower buds to intersperse between my vines. I wanted to make this design fresh and breezy so I used the deep blue Mara and Storm Petrel combined with Witchflower and Strabhann to give a cool sea background. The pattern has a high contrast worked in the soft tones of Spindrift and Fulmar, with Corncrake adding a subtle burnished gold to the outer leaves of the flowers. The colour and pattern of the finished wrap give the effect of summer light and sea foam dancing on water. Despite having a cool, calm look, Primavera is also very cosy and is ideal for making through the winter months.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.

Rheingold

One day beside the Rhine, three gorgeous water nymphs were teasing Alberich - a Dwarf King from the underworld - when he caught sight of their Rheingold beneath the flowing river. The Rhinemaidens told the dwarf that the gold could give him power to rule the world, but to get it he would have to renounce love forever. He had been pursuing them with such ardour that they never thought he would accept their offer, but he did and made off with the Rheingold before they could do anything about it. Thus begins Wagner’s Ring Cycle, and a whole saga of conflict and destruction. Only when the gold is returned to the Rhinemaidens is the natural balance restored, and a ray of hope falls upon the world.

As I watched a televised production of Das Rheingold there came from out of the blue, an idea that will bring a golden glow to any occasion. I created a vertically banded tunic with a wide neck, as this is a very adaptable shape. For the main pattern I sketched a sun with beaming rays looking over a graceful flower with curving leaves and stem. For the narrow contrast panel I invented some delicate motifs to complement the principal flower. For the background I chose the glowing sunshine colours of Whin, Golden Plover and Sundew, with the pattern delicately portrayed in Sea Ivory, Machair, Pebble Beach, Spindrift and Solan Goose. The background and pattern colours are reversed in the narrow contrast bands to create a lengthening and slimming effect. Just the thing to put the light back into the life of a disconsolate Rhinemaiden.

Rheingold Wrap

If you need a break while driving from the north down to Glasgow or Edinburgh, then Dunkeld is an ideal place to stop and stretch your legs. The cathedral is a wondrous blend of Gothic and Norman architecture, built in stages between 1260 and 1501. Its grounds slope down to the confluence of the Tay and the Braan and it is surrounded by hills. The tranquility of the site masks a turbulent past. The Reformation post-1560 was not kind to the cathedral, and worse was to happen in the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689 when Cameronian troops loyal to the Scottish government fought Jacobite Highland rebels. The government forces set up an impromptu fortress in the cathedral, used pews as barricades and melted down part of the lead roof for use as shot. They won the day but then fire swept through both the cathedral and most of the town. The cathedral has been partially restored but just the shell of the original nave survives – a magnificent reminder of former glories. These gothic walls are suitably dark and there are dark, old yew trees along one side. But the sky shows through the pointed, glassless windows and light shimmers and dances up from the River Tay. There is such an interplay of light and dark that it is impossible not to be inspired with ideas for colour schemes. Standing there by the river, I thought you can just as easily have Taymaidens as Rheinmaidens, so I used one of the new colour ideas in my Rheingold design.

Rosarie
(Rosaraie de l’Haye)

Outside the studio windows there are many rose bushes, planted and tended by my mother, who is an avid gardener. Because of the frequent gales she has chosen the tougher varieties such as the Rugosas, and one of them is Rosaraie de l’Haye. On a whim from out of the blue, I found myself sketching it one day, and then playing with the drawings until they almost became abstractions. This is the result.

Rosarie is an elegant and sophisticated design which is ideal for smart occasions, or dressing up a simple outfit for an evening out. I re-drew my large, geometric roses which I then worked into a dramatic all-over pattern. It stands out beautifully in Poppy, Red Rattle and Clover on a Kelpie and Calluna background. The slim shape and square neckline enhance the pattern while still making it comfortable and easy to style. It can be chic with trousers and fitted top, or more romantic with a long flowing dress. It is also an ideal beginner knit, as it uses only five colours and the shaping is relatively simple. For the more experienced knitter it is a quick but beautiful garment to make, either for yourself or as a present for a close friend.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.

St Aula

This design is for those who like to venture outdoors when the weather is less than warm but still want to look their best. As it is made in Hebridean 3 Ply in the stranded style, it is very cosy, and the hood adds extra neck and head warmth in a chill wind. I drew a simple but very definite abstract repeat which stands out clearly and pleasingly, but is also easy for the knitter to follow. St Aula can be made in two different lengths: cropped (as worn by Donna in Selkie and Sea Ivory) or classic (worn by Morag in Clover and Bog Bean). This is an ideal garment for breezy walks and hiking holidays, and is a good design to personalize with your own colour choice.
The design was photographed on Gress Beach, which is perfect for peaceful walks and is also adjacent to the remnants of St Aula’s Church.

Available in any colour of Hebridean 3 Ply (state background colour first, followed by pattern colour).

St Columba

This design is my own version of my favourite style of architecture - medieval gothic, or the perpendicular style. I have always loved the clean and delicate lines and long narrow windows of medieval cathedrals and castles, so I decided to work my own perpendicular knitwear. I started with twin vertical cables which twist tightly upwards and open outwards into a series of narrow diamonds. These diamonds open and close and cross over each other in an intricate pattern, brought out by the use of stocking stitch backgrounds which contrast with the main areas of purl. I have positioned the repeat so that the vertical lines form sides to the neighbouring diamond pattern, giving an unusual and complex effect which stands out very clearly on the simple body-hugging shape. Plain rib armholes and a deep rib neckline complete a very special garment. Depending on the colour chosen, this design can have numerous different moods, although the effect is never quiet, even when worn with casual clothing. The colourway shown is Sundew, which gives a vibrant effect.

This design was photographed at St Columba’s Church - also known locally as the Eye Church - which is semi-ruinous and surrounded by an old cemetery which looks out over the beach. It is situated on the narrowest part of the peninsula called Point, with the Minch on one side and Broad Bay on the other. The cemetery (where as a child I used to hunt the stones of my ancestors) is a wonderfully quiet and peaceful place. Perhaps this is because of the old legend stating that the souls of those buried between two seas rise straight to heaven and leave all their troubles behind them. The warrior on the wall is Roderick, a chief of the Macleods who was buried in the church circa 1400.

Available in any colour of Hebridean 3 Ply.

Strathglass

There are many occasions that call for semi-formal dress, so I designed a garment that is completely suited to such a mood. I decided that a medium length cardigan would be ideal, as it can be worn with trousers, dresses or skirts. It is also a simple but smart shape which can be worn open or closed. For the pattern I invented some curved and pretty birds to perch demurely around the garment. These change direction at the centre back and centre sleeves, and the manner in which the birds meet back to back at these points is very much a feature of the design. I used the pale, subtle colours of Dulse, Pebble Beach and Driftwood for the birds, in order to keep the decorous mood, and added a touch of Wild Orchid for the feet. I then set them on a warm moorland to add strength and contrast, using Crotal, Tormentil and Red Deer as the background. I added a narrow band between the birds for which I drew delicately rounded flowers in the same colour scheme. Strathglass is a striking garment with a calm and serene air. It is flattering to young and old alike, and being neither casual nor completely formal is well suited to many occasions, from family gatherings to evenings out.

I styled my Strathglass with a long silver skirt and forties-style mauve hat and beaded bag, which makes a perfect wedding outfit. You see it here photographed outside the old Free Church of Scotland at Fasnakyle, which stands beside the River Glass. This river runs through a broad, flat valley, or strath as the Scots say, and so the area is known as Strathglass.

Available in Hebridean 2 Ply in colours as shown.