You may (or may not) remember that last year we organised one of our regular design competitions. The theme was “My Place” and the idea was that competition entrants design a shawl, hap, wrap, scarf, cowl, snood, kerchief, or other neckwear accessory in Milarrochy Tweed inspired by their “place” in the world – however they wished to interpret that phrase. We offered yarn support for the competition, and were thrilled to receive over 50 wonderful competition entries.
The KDD team had a very hard time when it came to judging the competition, but, after several discussions about our long-long list, and then our short list, we were eventually all very happy with the final selection of beautiful patterns, that had been created by designers from all over the world. The whole point of our design competitions is to support and amplify new talent, and to bring new designers to the fore and, as with our previous competitions (Warm Hands and Milarrochy Heids) the team was bowled over by the quality of the submissions, many of which had been produced by first-time designers.
The pandemic has made this a very weird time to be running a creative publishing and design company, but I’ve repeatedly stressed just how lucky we feel to be able to maintain the business at all given what many other small enterprises are going through right now. We are, indeed, extraordinarily lucky, but we’ve also had to manage a great deal of uncertainty over the past year with supply chain issues, production delays, and having to respond to very rapid and varied changes in policy and protocol. For us, like most other small enterprises, Covid has meant cancelling some projects, putting others on hold, and generally trying to find creative and viable ways of changing the parameters of our activities, simply to ensure that what we do remains possible. Things like photographing and producing a collaborative print collection are particularly tricky: because of restrictions here in Scotland, we can’t travel to locations beyond our local area, and, as individuals and colleagues, we’re maintaining a strict policy of completely separate working households – which means that all photographic shoots are conducted with just Tom and myself. This means no models (apart from yours truly) and no assistants. I’m not complaining (though you may be tired of seeing me in so many shoots!) but I certainly miss working with our always-refreshing pal Fenella, as well as talented models like Mimi and Samira who feature in Warm Hands.
Anyway, all of this is a prelude to saying that, due to these and other related issues, My Place is of necessity taking a rather different form than Warm Hands and Milarrochy Heids. That’s to say that, rather than producing a print collection, we’ll be introducing each designer and their individual patterns separately here, on the blog, every Wednesday for the next few weeks, as we move into spring. I really enjoy collaborative projects, and initially felt very disappointed not to be getting my teeth into planning and organising everything that goes into producing a brand new collection. That said, as time has gone on from our making this decision, I feel very excited about doing things a bit differently. Indeed, I feel it befitting to the particular theme of this project that this new digital format will give each designer the opportunity to introduce their contribution, and talk, in their own words, about their place, in a much more expansive and discursive way than would be possible within the tight confines of a print pattern collection.
So each Wednesday for the next few weeks, you’ll meet a new designer, here, and get to learn a little about them, their inspiration, their process, and most importantly, their place. Sitting here, in my own place – this place of hills, and lichen, and sheep, and robins, and (at the moment) foggy skies and snow, I’m really looking forward to expanding my horizons, virtually traveling around the world, learning about some other lives and landscapes, and hearing about how responses to different places has informed some wonderful designs.
So I hope you’ll join me, and the talented contributors to this project here, on the KDD blog each Wednesday, as together we explore their place.
And while reflecting on other places, I’d like to wish a very happy inauguration day to all our friends across the pond.
This is such a wonderful idea, Kate – the Ravelry thread was just stunning, I did not envy you having to choose! It helps mitigate the end of the 10 Years club.
LikeLike
thanks, Ann! Hope you enjoy the weekly posts.
LikeLike
How lovely! I love your posts and photography, it is like a digital deep breath in my inbox. Which leads to real deep breath, exhale, inhale of beauty and inspiration. I Loved your weekly post with 10 Years in the Making, and I am looking forward to discovering these. Thank you team KDD x
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many of us here (across the pond) are celebrating today. It’s feels okay to finally let the breath out that we’ve been holding. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait, and thanks for a lovely bonus to the most wonderful Wednesday here in the US!
LikeLike
Really looking foreward to those Wednesdays!!! Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for acknowledging the Yankees on our side of the pond, lolMy girlfriend suggested your site, so I could pass my time, having retired during CovidThought you might enjoy my view, from last week. Hood Canal, in Washington State.Ă‚Â Oh, and I was in Hawaii earlier this month, with my husband and my yarnSheila SalernoĂ‚Â
LikeLike
Blog posts and knitting aside – please may I use the photo of the robin as my cover photo on Facebook? It’s a fabulous photo among fabulous photos.
LikeLike
This sounds like a wonderful way to share all the places that have inspired the amazing designers and designs for My Place! The pandemic has certainly thrown up an incredible amount of logistical and supply issues for many, many businesses… but it’s also revealed how important genuinely nurturing online spaces and connectivity can be. This blog tour sounds set to make the most of both those things. Looking forward to traveling here x
LikeLike
Very excited. I wish I could knit faster though. So many beautiful patterns.
LikeLike
This is exciting!! Thank you so much.
I, for one, am looking forward to a wonderful new government!!!
LikeLike
Not all of your viewers voted for Biden, or is happy about his inauguration. Myself being one of those.
I am excited about the new collection, though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent something lovely to look forward to .Thanknyou.
LikeLike
Looking forward to the next few Wednesdays.
LikeLike
Reasons to be cheerful – Bruce Bobby Kate Tom and now – every Wednesday going forwards to spring – and all becomes bearable again. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be DAWNING!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m excited to see what lies ahead! Much like the just-completed inauguration here in the US, a new day is drawing and change can be good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very Good News !!! It feels so good to walk with you this new path! Even under these Brexit and pandemic conditions you stay productive, creative and confident! I am so happy to follow you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Despite being a true fan of actual, printed, hold-them-in-your-hands books, I’m glad you’ve decided on this way of bringing the collection to us. So much better than waiting indefinitely for public health considerations to change, when we’ve been looking forward to My Place for such a while. I continue to applaud the ingenuity of all at KDD.
LikeLiked by 3 people
It is always good to learn about other people, their place in the World, their influences, loves, inspirations. I for one love seeing you in the photo shots.
LikeLike
LEGGO L’INGLESE MA NON LO SCRIVO.
VI LEGGO E SEGUO CON GRANDE PIACERE E CURIOSITĂ , GRAZIE DI TUTTO ELEONORA da MILANO ITALIA
LikeLike
Grazie!
LikeLike
Fantastic
LikeLike
Looking forward to it.
LikeLiked by 1 person