With massive thanks to Nic, my superb art and production editor, this image shows the cover of Colours of Shetland fresh from the presses! WOOHOO! We really are nearly there now – the bookshop will open on December 3rd, and in case you were in any doubt about the general excitement round here, I’ve created a countdown in the right sidebar. Just 7 days to go!!
The cover of the book features a design about which a few of you have been asking — the Scatness Tam.
This tam is inspired by the landscape and architecture of Old Scatness — a fascinating archeological site in Shetland’s South Mainland (that you’ll be able to read more about in the book).
Like the site, the tam blends Pictish and Viking influences from wheelhouse-inspired crown:
. . to side motifs which are based on Viking leatherwork moulds found on the site.
I’ve used 8 of my favourite shades of Jamieson and Smith jumperweight to create a really richly-coloured hat which echoes the autumnal landscape of Shetland’s South Mainland.
Some of you have been enquiring about shade numbers and yarn quantities. I’ve now started adding patterns from the book to Ravelry, and you’ll find all the relevant shade and yarn information listed there, with each individual pattern.
The Scatness tam features FC58 – a shade whose ‘recipe’ contains the largest number of colours in the J&S palette, FC38 – a glorious, deep rust – and FC12 – a complex golden green.
I’ll be back tomorrow to show you the other design in the Scatness ‘colour story’. Till then . . .
Very excited that there will be complementary writing on Shetland history etc in the book. I really love this aspect of your work. I find the way you combine your academic background with your knitting really inspiring and adds a fascinating dimension to your work. Congrats! :)
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Uimitoare creatiile tale! Felicitari!
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I have enjoyed the pictures of all your patterns, especially where you have photographed them. (I am partial to Shetland as I raise a flock of the sheep here in the States.) I was wondering how old the wheelhouse is.
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Beautiful! Here’s some music to go with it for fun. http://youtu.be/pR3g_WbtefU
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That tam is Candy !!! No… wait… BETTER THAN CANDY !!! You have a way of making the wild places look as they are modelling for you, and I’m downright excited for you and this success !
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I really am counting the days until I can order the book. You have a fabulous eye for great color and designs.
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Ohhh! The tam (will have to look the work up on the dictionary to understand all its meaning!) with those colors and that design, and whta to say about that dress. It is wonderful! I agree with someone that said the seventh picture is awesome. I love it. the landscape, the hat, dress, and you are enjoying it. Congratulations!!
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Absolutely brilliant…. I wish you every success and joy for the launch of your book. I think a copy is going to be winging its way to the bush over here very soon!!!
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Can’t wait to get a copy. Beautiful.
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Dear Kate,
I can only imagine how proud you must be seeing the actual pages of your book for the first time.
What a happy time this must be for you! And for the rest of us too ofcourse, as most of us can hardly wait to press the order button for your book. The hat pattern makes me ridculously excited for the book to be published.
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Kate!
I did a terrible thing!
I am currently knitting Sheep Heid
I just got to the patterning YIKES I kept the original pattern and scrapped the one you sent with the colour names on the graphs!!!!
Would you PLEASE re-send it to me I can’t believe I did that!!
oh oh oh
Scatness is so beautiful
thanks for your help
Donna
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Thank you! Now we can enjoy the waiting.
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I am waiting to purchase my book! I hope you have enough copies and will sign them all!
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Getting very excited about seeing this book – yippee!
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Thank you very much for putting the yarn information on Ravelry – I shall be ordering the yarn for the shawl in readiness for the arrival of the book…
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The tam is fantastic and so is that dress! They both look great on you.
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[swoons]
So happy to see more information on this beautiful tam…after Snawheid, it will be the very next hat to get on my needles!
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Its beautiful, can’t wait to buy it either! I love the colors, and the way you design. The book shall be a precious addition to knitting books. And, to my special books!
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Lovely :) Can’t wait to buy it!! You look great…as usual…your dress is amazing…
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Oh my word! Only all my fave colours in one place…but I would love those, now wouldn’t I? I’m SO looking forward to your book. I’m buying it for business purposes, obviously. (Ahem)
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Beautiful, love it :-)
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I think I must make that tam…….nice dress too
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The book is on my Christmas list…….can’t wait!
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Wheelhouses! Autumnal colours! Beautiful dress! It’s almost too much..!
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You must have had such a fine time modelling for your book. You look like you are enjoying yourself and are so happy with the surrounding landscape.
It’s a life, eh?
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That seventh photo is stunning! The tam really completes the rest of the outfit . . .
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oh gosh!! you know we’re all going to be wearing your tammy this winter!!
Count down is right. I want to be first in line to get your book + make that tam.
x-x-x-x-teri x-x-x-x
Parkdale, Oregon
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Absolutely beautiful, I can’t wait to get started.
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I’m doing finger exercises so I’ll be all ready to click away on the 3rd.
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Ooh, exciting!
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