Here is another yoke – Frost at Midnight.
One of the things I’ve become interested in recently is the idea of the yoke as jewellery. Knitted yokes not only behave in much the same way as a necklace – decorating the shoulders, framing the face – but they have a close relationship with beaded necklaces as well.
Photograph courtesy of Greenland.com
This is a Greenlandic beaded collar, or nuilarmiut. Knitted yokes and nuilarmiut have an intriguingly reciprocal relationship which I have spent some time researching. You can read more about this in one of the introductory chapters of my book.
Frost at Midnight in no way aspires to the beautiful graphic complexity of the nuilarmiut, but it does use beads to transform the knitted yoke into an elegant necklace.
Frost at Midnight is knitted in Scrumptious laceweight – a silk / merino blend from my friends at Fyberspates. The yarn has a beautiful sheen and drape, but is also really strong and durable. Its the ideal yarn for beading, as well as for creating a luxurious little cardi. Knit at 7 sts to the inch, most sizes can create this garment with just two skeins of Scrumptious, making it a surprisingly economical garment.
The beading, of course, is quite involved, but the rest of the knitting in this cardigan is very straightforward, with some neat finishing details, like these turned picot facings.
Mel is modelling Frost at Midnight with slight negative ease, but because the yarn drapes so beautifully it can also be made with a few inches of positive ease as well. (Detailed information about sizing, fit, and ease accompanies all of the patterns in the book)
Finally, the name. The shimmering beaded trees that surround this yoke seem to be captured in frost on a cold winter’s night, and Frost at Midnight is the title of one of my favourite poems by S.T. Coleridge. Coleridge’s poem is addressed to his son, who sleeps quietly in his cradle next to the reflective poet. It ends with these marvellous lines:
Therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee,
Whether the summer clothe the general earth
With greenness, or the redbreast sit and sing
Betwixt the tufts of snow on the bare branch
Of mossy apple-tree, while the nigh thatch
Smokes in the sun-thaw; whether the eave-drops fall
Heard only in the trances of the blast,
Or if the secret ministry of frost
Shall hang them up in silent icicles,
Quietly shining to the quiet Moon.
All of the patterns are delightful! I can’t wait for the book. I thoroughly enjoy reading about each one. Today I kept reflecting on this particular one, specifically in order to correctly pronounce nuilarmiut. Could you please help by writing it out phonetically? Have tried the internet without success.
You should be very pleased with your work!
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Absolutely beautiful!
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Beautiful! I’m an unusual sort, I love laceweight sweaters. Just so light and wearable!
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Oh my! You got me with this one. It’s beautiful. How would it affect the fit if I made it to fasten all the way down?
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simply beautiful!
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You are a master. This is beautiful. I don’t know if I would do the beads, but the style of the cardigan is elegant on its own.
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It’s really interesting to use beads for the yoke, this cardigan is so elegant i really love it. I have to queue this Frost!!
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Beautiful design, with a beautiful inspiration.
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What a stunner! I swore off ‘holiday sweaters’ years ago, but this one says holiday with finesse and elegance. I’ll be making several: each of my three daughters will get one and of course I’ll make one for myself. Love that they’re knit with laceweight yarn, making them perfect as dressy, indoors sweaters. Gorgeous!
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wow. Just wow. You are truly amazing. Such beauty in the simplicity of this.
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This is stunningly beautiful.
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Breathtaking sweater and beautiful poem….thank you for unleashing your talents and creating something wondrous – just lovely. Happy knitting!
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Absolutely gorgeous!
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Kate…your designs are beautiful and the simplicity in them, make them shine.
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Very elegant, Kate! I love it! This design is timeless.
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Oh my. That is amazing
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Absolutely stunning!
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I’ve been intrigued by this sweater since that long ago teaser pic.
It is first on my must knit list for 2015.
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Love this cardigan! Can’t wait for the book to come out and try my hand at colorwork!
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The essence of wonderful simplicity
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Oh my Rosa, look at the third sweater for her new book: amazing!
C
Sent from my iPad
>
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Kate, the you have named this beautiful design so well. I really admire the way in which you’ve incorporated so many lovely details into a feminine silhouette that has a very contemporary twist on traditional “dressy” cardigans.
Do take a bow…bravo!
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Kate, each design is better and better. To be honest, I’ve never knitted yoke in my life, as I thought this shape is not flattering on me, but you are tempting me to try. This simple, elegant cardigan is calling my name. I hope the book will be shipped worldwide.
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This sealed the deal for me too! But please Kate, don’t say the beading is “quite involved” or you risk scaring people off of kitting this lovely sweater….I am inexplicably drawn to knitting beaded things, and it really just requires patience, as you can’t just blithely knit along but must stop to place a bead. Admiring how each one looks amidst the stitches takes a little more time! But the end result is sooooo worth it!
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I agree with Anne, above. It’s rare to see a collection where each design is worth a “Wow!” I might finally have to learn how to do beaded knitting.
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Jewellery indeed…and yet another challenge….bring it on Kate!! Fabulous.
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I am amazed by each new design……can’t wait to see the next one :)
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This one seals the deal, I must have this book!
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Beautiful!! I’m really, really looking forward to seeing all these designs together in the book, congratulations on your work on it so far!
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I need to make this, it’s gorgeous!!!!!!
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Beautiful – can’t wait for the book
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That is extraordinarily pretty, delicate and flattering. It would suit any face, or size of wearer. I love it. It’s one of those items that you react to instinctively as soon as you see it. I couldn’t tell you exactly what it is about the yoke, that makes me love it, so I think it is the whole, if that makes any sense.
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I love your shapely cardigans, Kate. I can’t wait for your book to come out.
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Really love this design, and will be asking santa to bring me a copy of the book… altho I’m not actually sure I’ll be able to wait that long!
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A simply beautiful cardigan.
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Uh-oh, now I am going to HAVE to buy the book – there’s no escape. I was pretty certain from your first post on it, but now I have no choice. And, by the way, ‘therefore all seasons shall be sweet to thee’ is one of those great and endlessly quotable lines, isn’t it?
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What a pretty cardigan! I’m loving all the desigs so far. Looking forward to the book coming out.
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What a nice design! I love the idea of a beaded yoke.
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Truly beautiful Kate!
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Exquisite!
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Veery moving poetry.
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Oh wow, I’ve often heard said the phrase ‘my fingers are itching to make this’. Finally I feel it. Twitching.
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I am now like a kiddie at Christmas every morning waiting to see if there’s a new yoke design for me to see! Just hope Santa brings me lots of lovely yarn this year! ;)
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Just delicate and beautiful.
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A beautiful delicate design. What a winner.
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it’s just wonderfull ! congratulations, you have done a great job
big hugs from one of your reader in France who is also so pleased to see things are getting better for you
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Reblogged this on myyarnhoard and commented:
Kate Davies, that’s a lady who knows when to quit. Nice simple elegance, love it
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