Good morning, everyone! We are all very happy (and indeed somewhat relieved) to have finally revealed Schiehallion, and opened subscriptions to the 10 Years in the Making club, in the brand-new-look webshop that we’ve been working on behind the scenes.
Yes, my feet have actually left the ground in that photo – it is no mean feat to get my wonky self to levitate, let me tell you – and this image certainly conveys something of the collective excitement around here in this week of launches of so many significant projects that the whole KDD team has been working on so hard for such a long time: and there’s still People MAKE Glasgow to come at the weekend!
Today I thought I’d show you my new Doocot – the first test sweater we knitted in Schiehallion after the yarn arrived – a soft and cosy garment that I immediately loved inordinately.
Doocot is a popular and often-knitted pattern that I originally released around this time of year a couple of years ago. Worked from the top down, it is a really simple, and super-comfortable knit, with a few interesting details, such as slipped-stitch ribbing and sleeves that puff out slightly from the cuffs.
The sweater has a really comfortable wide, cropped shape. . .
That I find equally great for throwing on over long loose dresses, or pairing with high-waisted trousers.
I love sweaters that sit on or above the waist, but know this style is not for everyone. . . .
And surely one of the things that’s so great about top-down knitting is being able to adjust a sweater to a length and style that really suits you? Over on Ravelry you can see examples of more than 250 projects where knitters have made Doocot and done just that.
It also makes me really happy that many knitters use this pattern as a basic template for creating top-down sweaters to their own taste and design.
Doocot is one of my own favourite basic knits.
And it’s really nice to have a Schiehallion version to wear this autumn!
You can find the Doocot pattern on Ravelry, or as a kit or standalone download in the new-look KDD shop (um, did I mention the shop had a brand new look?).
KDD & Co 
Hi,
On the 10th September I ordered a subscription to the 10 years in the making club. My order number is 57006 and payment has been taken from my account, I am concerned that I have not received a confirmation email as promised at this email address. Could you please send one?
Thank you,
Lois Taverner
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Hi Lols – sorry to hear that – could you email us at info@katedaviesdesigns.com and we can chase this up for you
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That is great. Thanks, Kate!
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This is one of my favourites among your recent patterns, but unless I am being dim the kits only provide the option of this colour? Unfortunately, that shade of pink is not flattering on me at all. It would be great to substitute another colour in the kit. Are you considering packaging with another shade? (Of course, I know that one can purchase the yarn separately!)
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Hi Stephanie, we can make up a kit for you in any shade you choose (so you can get the kit discount on the yarn!) – its just that it gets more difficult to manage online products the more options there are – just email Mel at info@katedaviesdesigns.com
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That is great. Thanks, Kate!
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Ok, I am a total American – how do you pronounce schaehallion? I love the colors and how soft it looks and can’t wait to knit something for myself! Thanks for all you do, you are such an inspiration jumping, patterning, and dealing with Banana Bob.
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I love your new look website, congratulations!
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Congratulations on the unveiling of all your new enterprises this season. As an American, I would so love and appreciate some pronunciation help for the Scottish words used in your patterns/books. You’d be laughing continuously as I sit and attempt a lot of silly sounds to go with the words and I know they aren’t even close. In admiration ……
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Kate, I love your Doocot with the cord slacks, would you be able to mention were to get them please?
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I fear I have a bit of a corduroy obsession, Cynthia . . . this pair are from Toast.
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Thank you Kate, I agree with you about corduroy.
Cynthia
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I love the new wool and all the colours. You look so cheerful in the picture made me smile. When you write patterns do you have someone who vets them for ease of following the instructions? I am knitting a fashion gansey and the underarm gusset instructions made no sense to me. After undoing it twice the brain finally clicked in but I must say with no chart/ visual they weren’t the easiest instructions to follow and there was no Melanie! Response from designer for help not the same as Melanie. I know it is really had to write instructions in general and just wondered how you approached the problem. Take care
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I think that having a lot of experience writing for clarity (as a teacher) helped me develop an approach to writing patterns for handknitting. I spend a lot of time thinking about making instructions as simple as possible for knitters of all abilities to follow, and am aided in that endeavour by Melanie (who helps me develop the patterns and test knits everything) and by a tech editor (who checks the pattern for readability, as well as making sure everything adds up!). As you’ll have found, in so many respects, a Melanie makes everything easier!
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I love this !! Will it be one of the re-worked patterns in your subscription “10 years in the Making” , as I have purchased this …..
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I love this pattern but have never knitted it yet. Sweaters that sit above the waist are all very well if you have a waist! I have grown a tad portly with advancing age and the style only emphasises this. I always admire your trim-ness, which was mine in youth but no longer unfortunately. You can wear anything and look marvellous. But maybe a very ample version to pop on over something else this winter would work, I’m very tempted.
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I totally agree ! At least with top-down sweaters they’re easy to adapt for those of us for whom a cropped style is not flattering ;-)
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