We had a lovely day out in the Highlands today. Bruce loves a good walk up there – though, as you can see, he is not a fan of sitting still and posing for a photo.
Would you like to see what I’ve got on underneath that jacket?
Boreal — my new design!
Two years ago, just before Christmas, we were out walking on the same West Highland hillside. I spent several happy hours tramping through the snow, photographing trees and undergrowth, and marveling at their transformation in the frozen landscape. You can see those photographs in this post. I was particularly transfixed by the effects of snow on the branches of fallen trees . . .
. . . and I decided then that I’d like to knit something inspired by those West-Highland conifers and their snow-covered branches. Two years later, this is the result.
Boreal is knit in Artesano Aran, a well-spun, hard-wearing 50/50 wool-alpaca blend. It is one of my favourite aran-weight yarns, and is superb for Winter colourwork, as it makes a lovely dense, warm fabric. I knit this dress from it a couple of years ago, which is still going strong, and still looks great. There’s a good range of Wintery colours, so it was an ideal choice for this sweater.
Boreal is knit from the bottom-up, and uses a modified seamless yoke construction.
The sizing covers a 32″ to a 50″ bust. I’m wearing my sweater with a couple of woolly layers underneath, and about 2.5″ positive ease. It is really warm, exceptionally cosy, and quite possibly ludicrously seasonal.
It makes me feel jolly, anyway.
I’ve spent over a month working away on this sweater and its pattern, and I confess to being very pleased with the finished result in both knitted and written form. The pattern has been tech edited by the brilliant Jen-Arnall Culliford, and test knitted by the equally brilliant Melanie Ireland. I hope to show you some photos of Mel’s rather different Boreal sweater very soon! Anyway, if you’d like to make your own, the pattern is now available here or here.
It was so nice to be out in the hills today – I do love a good Winter walk. We had a grand one, and our day concluded with some suitable refreshment from what has to be one of the best places to buy beer in Scotland.
Slainte!
Beautifool fotoLovely photos. nature. jumper and mistress site!
LikeLike
This jumper is truly beautiful. Well done, Kate!
LikeLike
So beautiful! Bravo! Thank you. You continue to inspire in so many ways. It’s such a joy to be a part of this vast community that you have gathered around you, Kate. Truly an honor.
LikeLike
What a gorgeous sweater! I’m always amazed to see what you come up with – especially as the most I can knit is a tension square or maybe, if I really work hard, a scarf…. You may remember I had a subarachnoid haemorrhage in Feb last year – well, I have set up a “Different Strokes” support/exercise group and we have started training with an ARNI instructor. You have done amazingly well and probably don’t need this, but here is a link to the book that Tom, the founder of ARNI, has finally had published, just in case. http://successfulstrokesurvivor.com/ Take care and Merry Christmas.
LikeLike
I love this. absolutely love it.
LikeLike
What a gorgeous pattern ! Very graphic and poetic !
And about your last pictures … Yec’h Mad ! (as we say in Brittany !)
LikeLike
Congratulations on another great pattern. This sweater is just gorgeous. The pictures are beautiful and inspiring. I really do feel I have to knit this sweater ;)
LikeLike
Such a beatiful cheery sweater – so Scandinavian and very cute. I can see myself knitting this for my daughter actually…. What I want to know is when will you be publishing a whole book of your designs? Your patterns are way better than so many commercially established designers. I wonder if that pub sells Black Isle Brewery porter? I miss those ales…. x
LikeLike
Darling!
LikeLike
i just went to an “ugly christmas sweater” party this past weekend and was asked if i would ever knit my own. i said i only would if it was a classic, woolen jumper featuring reindeer or snowflakes or some other beautiful nordic print in beautiful colors. your sweater is along the lines of what i had in my head, only about 20 times more beautiful!
LikeLike
This is the first sweater design I’ve been truly EXCITED about in a long time! It’s so unique yet wonderfully wearable. Thank you so much for sharing the pattern! I can’t wait until my holiday knitting is finished so I can start my Boreal sweater!
LikeLike
What a beautiful sweater!
LikeLike
i love the photo with the snow caught in the branches. what country are you writing from? i’m from south africa and the thought of jerseys (beautiful) like yours makes me sweat at this time of year. i like the paradox. such a nice post
LikeLike
Beautiful work . . . I love these designs! Looking at them makes me itch to do some more fair-isle-type stuff :)
LikeLike
Gorgeous – this might just have to go on my (very long) to-do list!!
LikeLike
Good grief – Artesano is available at only ONE location in the whole US, and they don’t (yet?) have it in black either. I do so want to see this design in black and off-white. Thanks so much for bringing it to us – the photo of snow and branches that inspired it is one of my favorites. I’m glad to revisit Cold Snap as well and add my vote for a published pattern of it, but if you don’t want the hassle of converting that custom-fitted beauty into a wide size range, I don’t blame you!
LikeLike
Beautiful sweater but I am even more taken by Cold Snap. Any chance you and your clever tech editor could figure out a way to release that pattern to all of us who truly love knitted dresses and skirts?
LikeLike
Beautiful!
LikeLike
Nice design and great work!
LikeLike
That is, to quote Craig Revel Horwood, Fab-U-Lous! Love it. I’m already envisioning a wee one for my niece (purely on the grounds that I don’t quite have enough suitable yarn on hand to make one for myself yet).
LikeLike
I can’t wait to cast-on! I love the new pattern! A side note: I’m always extremely envious of the scenery you’re surrounded by! It leaves me longing to retreat from the city!
LikeLike
it is absolutely gorgeous, I love the smaller flakes here and there, so cute…
LikeLike
My heart always leaps a wee bit when I see on my feed that you’ve posted but when its a new pattern it almost races then, I see it and know my queue has grown again!
What a wonderful wintery knit!
LikeLike
Love Boreal, and the dress you made two years ago. I would be tempted to cast on for a sweater version of that dress today. (If I had the yarn. Time would not be an impediment, a sweater like that is worth missing sleep over.)
LikeLike
Oooh kate you’re so talented! It’s beautiful and certainly something i’d love to try in time for next christmas
xx
LikeLike
Lovely design Is it teal or deep teal ?. I have been looking at artesano page. I just need more time to knit. Thank you
LikeLike
I love the colour of that sweater! Beautiful.
LikeLike
Just amazing ! I love Winter too (in Austria, it would be a shame to not like him !) but I just can’t transpose my feelings in knitting ! Thank you so much !
LikeLike
I am very tempted to tweak this to make for my ten year old daughter. Especially given that it bears the name of a character from one of her favourite series of books – Philip Pullman’s ‘Northern Lights’. However I have sworn not to make her anything else at the moment given that, given the choice, she will always wear something disposable from Primark or M and S rather than something crafted by her mum. What will the teenage years be like?
LikeLike
Your jumper is stunningly gorgeous and it looks wonderful on you. You really are a fantastically talented knitter / pattern designer. I agree with Paula, it would be just the ticket for Sarah Lund to wear.
LikeLike
what a happy sweater! i love it. nicely done!
LikeLike
Another Kate Davies Knitting DESIGN TRIUMPH! I love the festivity of the design, and your wonderful description of the whole process of creating the sweater. It’s really inspiring to see the photographs which inspired the design, and I love the fact that the garment you have made is now perfectly suited to the purpose of taking the wintry walks in the Highlands which inspired its creation. Very META. HUZZAH!
LikeLike
Wow, what a beautiful design! I really love it. Can’t wait to knit this sweater.. But first I must learch to knit in two colours…
Greatings from Germany,
Steffi
LikeLike
I still have some hope that one day you’ll publish that “Cold Snap” pattern. :)
LikeLike
I love the scale of the snowflakes. It takes it away from being kitsch into something more contemporary.
And the skirt is from…?
;)
LikeLike
I think I recognise the skirt from past Cabbages & Roses lookbooks!
The jumper is gorgeous. I found your blog last week, and been slowly working my way through the archives – and it’s really making me want to pick up the needles again and learn some more complicated stuff. :D
LikeLike
It is enchantingly beautiful. You are amazing.
LikeLike
Beautiful! And Artesano Aran is one of my favourite yarns ever. Lovely to wear, and more importantly a joy to knit with. I just finished knitting a coworker a hat in it for Secret Santa actually.
LikeLike
Hi!
first of all sorry for my english!
Two summers ago me and my husband spend some time in Highlands, and was wonderfull, I can undersand why you enjoy on this mountains, in your blog I find some references to me: mountains (I’m geologist), knit (I’m a kniiter from 10 years ago) and, beer, of course.
Is the first time I writte in your blog, but seeing your picks I remember this land and this so polite people, thanks to keep all this to my memory again :)
marta
LikeLike
Hi Kate,
Absolutely love the festive sweater. Sooo cute! When will it be available on Rav?
Katrina x
LikeLike
How lovely it is to see you strolling down that path with Bruce. No leg brace, no stick just taking a walk in the hills. How far you have come Kate.
Lovely jumper too.
LikeLike
Totally gorgeous jumper! Better not let Sarah Lund see it. x
LikeLike
love this!! happy holidays!
LikeLike
Beautiful! You did a lovely job on this. I hope that someday I can create something so fabulous. I recently stumbled upon your blog and read your story. I will add you to my prayers for a continued recovery and so look forward to many more lovelies from you.
LikeLike
Wow! This is one awesome design.
LikeLike
I’m not sure if the sweater is distracting me from the scenery or the scenery is distracting me from the sweater, but I keep scrolling over and over! 100% stunning!
LikeLike
I love this sweater and think it would be very nice in black and white.
I love Bruce’s expression, too! The second photo is gorgeous.
LikeLike
I too want to make it in black and white!
LikeLike
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
My husband and I tramped about Scotland for a vacation, stayed at youth hostels and B&B’s, spent a day and a night on the Isle of Skye, rode trains, climbed Ben Nevis, and generally had a thoroughly wonderful time. I love reading your blog and enjoy all your photos. I always get nostalgic. You are an amazing designer. How you look at those pretty snow-covered branches and your brain produces such a striking sweater is mind-blowing. God has truly blessed you with rare talent. Keep up the beautiful work.
LikeLike
love to see the rendering of nature motifs, thank you.
love to mr. bruce.
LikeLike
I love it!!
LikeLike
It’s beautiful! I’ve been looking for a bottem-up knit, for a nice change after to much sewing-in of separate pieces. I love the colours, and I’m confused: Not usually into ‘seasonal’ sweaters, but it just does make me so very happy. :)
Also, Bruce does make a pretty model, whether he likes it or not.
LikeLike
Beautiful! This past summer I sent much of my accumulated sheep fleeces off to a small mill for spinning because I knew I wold not have time to spin it all. I’m thinking some of that yarn would work very well in your new pattern!
LikeLike
Gorgeous. I am not much of a sweater knitter but may buy this and use the design to make a wonderful cowl. Lovely work you ate truly a wonder. :-). Hiya Bruce!! Woof woof.
LikeLike
LOVE THIS! Your photos make it even better, seeing all that SCOTLANDISHNESS. Brilliant–thank you for this.
LikeLike
Really nice and just in time for the holidays too,
LikeLike
Oh Kate, I am speechless :) That is incredibly festive and beautiful!! xx
LikeLike
oh Kate! Like I said before it must be BEAUTIFUL inside your head!
LikeLike
I love this comment, and quite agree! Donna, I could not have said it better myself.
LikeLike
It is fantastic! What a gorgeous design.
LikeLike
Beautiful sweater and a lovely way to spend the day!
LikeLike
Beautiful design!
LikeLike
It looks fabulous – and may be the closest I get to snow this year!
LikeLike
Another stunning design, Kate. And what a great background for a photoshoot!
LikeLike
Stunning photography, and a beautiful design that does it justice!
LikeLike
I love your latest design. I do wish you would have saved this and the marvelous Funchal moebius pattern until after I’d finished all my holiday gift knitting. But perhaps I should see these as spurs to finish the gifts more quickly, rather than as small torture. Hmm. Perhaps your amazing designs are in fact signs that I should stop making gifts and knit solely for myself. Foolish me for not heeding the first sign of the moebius. Fear not, I shall listen now to the siren call of the Boreal. “Christmas in July” will be fine for family & friends. I need a new jumper.
LikeLike
Where, oh Where is that Real Ale Shop??!
Stunning jumper, love the design and the colour scheme.
LikeLike
Wow that is a gorgeous sweater! I love the colours and the echo-pattern and it looks wonderful on you!
LikeLike
Oooooh we know that little shop :) Thanks for the recommendation for Artesano Aran – I’ve been looking for a yarn for a special project.
LikeLike
what a gorgeous design-as usual, I wish my knitting was up to your designing. Would love to pop over and share a beer and a stroll with you
LikeLike
That’s gorgeous! Love to read about where the inspiration came from. And love the photos with snow on the mountains!
LikeLike
You know what? I’ve been thinking I need a Christmas jumper for a while, this could very well be it! Such a lovely winter design
LikeLike