opera

It’s book launch day! And, for the final Warm Hands pattern reveal we are ending with a showstopper – the Opera gauntlets by Steve Malcolm. Jamaican-born Steve is an experienced and committed designer who is perhaps best known for his amazing cable patterns – but is someone who is generally hugely passionate and knowledgeable about all things knitterly.

After commissioning Steve’s fabulous design for the Warm Hands project last spring, the KDD team met up with him during his travels around Ireland and the UK. On a memorable day, after Steve picked out the yarn for his sample at KDD HQ, we all piled in the van and, with Sam at the wheel, drove out to the coast, ate some fantastic seafood, and finished the day (after Mel had gone home) with ice-cream and an evening walk by Loch Lomond.

Tom took these photos by Milarrochy Bay. Is it time to get the band back together?

Steve’s stunning design is centred around cabled panels which run the full length from elbow to hand against a background of 2×2 rib. The pattern is written for two sizes (to fit men’s and women’s hands), and there’s an option to work a much shorter gauntlet. . . but I personally love the style and drama of this longer length.

Here’s Steve to tell you more about himself and his design for Warm Hands.

“As a self-employed person, my days vary enormously. I spend a lot of time knitting, creating content for my blog and YouTube channel, and developing creative collaborations with my colleagues in the fiber arts. I also work in the film industry, where I can spend up to 15 hours a day in the production of a movie or tv show. I do lots of different things, and am always coming up with new ideas of what to do next – it’s no wonder that I don’t have a regular sleep pattern! As well as knitting, I love music (one day I’ll pick up my tenor sax again) and I love to cook – I find cooking very creative.”

“Knitting continually inspires me, and I don’t think there is an aspect of the craft I am not fascinated with – from socks and shawls, to sweaters and cardigans; from lace and cables to colourwork and textures. So many things can spark a new knitting idea for me. I have seen the waves of an oscilloscope or a math equation and thought of how multiple waves might intersect and intertwine to form a new cabled pattern; I have marvelled at spider webs and spent ages watching spiders weaving, thinking about all the amazing things that we can do with yarn.”

“When I was asked to design something for this book I was thrilled – and very happy that you and Jeanette were certain that you wanted something featuring texture. I immediately thought of a design I’d always wanted to knit with a suitable yarn”

“I really liked the idea of using cables along the entire length of the lower arm to not only symbolize security, but comfort and warmth as well.”

“I was also keen that the design be elegant as well as practical – something that could be worn in a variety of situations – an evening out at the opera as well as a Sunday afternoon stroll on a chilly autumn or winter day.” 

“I was pleased with the way the design turned out!”

So are we Steve! Thankyou so much for this beautiful pattern which completes the Warm Hands project.

Whew! I hope you’ve enjoyed the last couple of weeks of daily posts, in which you’ve heard from all our amazing designers. We start shipping books out today and, if you are at Vogue Knitting Live in New York this weekend, you might well spot Jeanette with a copy. We would all like to thank you for your support of our book — and we hope you enjoy knitting these wonderful patterns!

Links
Warm Hands book
Opera pattern page on Ravelry
Opera yarn pack
Steve’s website
Steve’s youtube channel

If you are a yarn store or bookshop and are interested in stocking Warm Hands, please contact Sam:
wholesale@katedaviesdesigns.com