Last week we issued the final pattern in our Bluestocking club
Sarah Scott – the talented author of novels which, among other things, explored the socially transformative effects of a utopian all-female community – joined designs inspired by other eighteenth-century bluestockings . . .
This scholarly knitting club has been such fun! It’s been wonderful for Nicole and I to share the inspiring stories of eighteenth-century women with you, and we have been overwhelmed by the level of your engagement: to date, over three hundred pairs of bluestockings have been shared as part of our knitalong, and several club members have already knitted multiple pairs of a single design, or, in some cases, are in the process of whipping up a full set of bluestockings!
Our own local bluestockings – Gill, Mimi and Samira – have done sterling work, modelling the club designs . . .
Tom lent his feet for a bluestockings blog post . . .
We’ve heard from talented contemporary bluestockings like Marina Moskowitz, Natalie Warner and Aoibhe Mc Lysaght about their own lives of scholarship and making. . .
. . . and explored the colourful history of socks and stockings through our Sock of the week series
All of us are feeling excited about the book that is forthcoming from our local printer in just a few weeks time! Alongside all the club patterns, the book includes essays from a range of expert contributors . . .
. . . and is lavishly illustrated throughout, with original eighteenth-century images . . .
The Bluestockings book offers an exciting, in-the-round combination of material history, contemporary making, and early feminism, and is a truly beautiful volume which we all feel very proud of producing!
The book will be shipped out to club members in a few weeks time, and those of you who weren’t part of the club will also be able to purchase it then, either from the KDD shop or your local yarn or book store. We are also planning a couple of events – both online, and in-person – to launch the Bluestockings book – so please do watch this space.
I’d like to thank the whole KDD team for their hard work on this project – with a special shout-out to the always-wonderful Claire. We hope you’ve found this project as much of a joy to be a part of as we have, and that the bluestocking book and patterns bring you many happy hours of knitting and reading!
Thank you all for being a part of this.
KDD & Co 
Just come back from touring Scotland in our motorhome, including a stay in Milarrochy Bay near you Kate, to find my beautiful Bluestocking book waiting. What a thing of beauty it is. Such a fabulous mix of literature, history and craft. I LOVE it. I have finished one of a pair of the Elizabeth Carter socks but got distracted because I’m knitting tge Harewood Hap for a gift. I have every intention of knitting all the socks in the book and would highly recommend the John Arbon yarn as it’s a delight to knit with. I’m a very happy knitter today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have loved this club and am making socks again after a long hiatus. I may even get brave enough to try one of these beautiful patterns. Thank you, Kate and team. This has cheered a good deal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
After 6 pairs and still two on the needles I am not sure if I can remember making socks in any other way. I learned a lot, gained quite a bit of yarn to keep me knitting for quitetissimi tempi. Having studied 18th c. Caricatures I enjoyed the historical background. Inspiring. Indeed I made two patterns for myself with your toe up construction. I also loved the little conversations with knitters from all over the planet. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This has made for enjoyable summer knitting and inspiration I may only gotten through the first 3 pairs so far but will definitely continue onward through all 7. Thank you for the experience! And stories, jayne
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, thank you!
LikeLike
Great photographs, again! I want to be part of your happy bunch!
I can’t find the blog entry about the Sarah Scott Stockings. :-( Can someone help me?
LikeLike
Hi Tamara, the Scott newsletter was sent out on Sunday. If you are having trouble finding it, please email us at info@katedaviesdesigns.com
LikeLike
I have really enjoyed this club, finding its mixture of knitting and essays a delight. So often craft is subservient to ‘art’ and it is so great to see it treated an equal footing (see my joke there?). unfortunately I have only managed one blue stocking to date as an impending grandchild is taking up all my knitting time currently. However, several of the designs are planned as Christmas gifts for friends and family and I am looking forward to getting the string on the sticks in the next few weeks. thanks to the Kate Davies team for a thoroughly enjoyable few weeks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. The linking of our craft to history, art, and culture is one of the great assets of reveling in the work of Kate and Tom.
LikeLike
To Kate, Nicole, and all the KDD team, this has been the most wonderful club, perhaps my fave! As always, the designs are gorgeous, and what really delighted me is all the history, scholarly research, political cartoons and sock of the week. Kate, you are much more than a knitwear designer and I enjoy the fruits of all your labors. Thank you! thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So looking foreward to my book. This has been an amazing historical ‘ride’. These women were extraordinary. Loved all the essays.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This club has been a complete pleasure. Thank you to the KDD team and colleagues and especially to Kate for the designs, interviews, essays, blogs and video presentations. I’m looking forward to seeing the book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you to all involved!
This has been so fun and I’m very excited to hold the book in my hands. I’ve said this before but I’ll say again, it has been a fun learning experience. Finishing up my Elizabeth Carter stockings at the moment.
Lucky ladies to shoot in the shepherd’s hut! Even luckier, the owner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful club. I so loved all the essays and I love history and this really filled my little mind. Hopefully, I will knit some socks too!! Thanks oodles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you to Kate Davies and the entire KDD team for creating this fabulous club. Scholarship while making and in the making; what an intriguing concept. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the time and look forward to completing all 7 of the socks and/or stockings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must say I think this has been the best club to date. Many thanks to all involved. I’ve so enjoyed it and look forward to knitting my own socks from the patterns. Can’t wait for the book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I missed out on the club, but I’m planning to order the book once it’s released. Gorgeous patterns, there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad I joined the Club. Every essay has been a welcome discovery. Soon now I’ll have the book in my hands, and in my own time (as always!) socks on the needles. Thanks again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos. Well done all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you to the KDD team for this wonderful club. I loved the patterns and enjoyed knitting the ones I did. I tried to keep up, I got 2 socks done and started the next one.
I would love to be part of another similar club. Keep up the good work.
LikeLike
thank you KDD-team, It was fun and interesting to read all the stories, also the many historical illustrations were fun and interesting and often surprising. I am happy I ordered the paper-book,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoyed the whole club immensely, love the patterns and the essays too, looking forward to the book! Thanks for taking us along in the world of these inspirational women.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This club has been such a pleasure to be part of. The patterns are gorgeous and as all your patterns are, very knitterly, by that I mean, they take me out of my comfort zone. I will have learnt new skills even if as a not very skilled knitter, it takes me some time to figure them out, they are always worth the effort.
I’m working on my second Catherine Macaulay sock and can’t wait to get them on my feet. The essays have been so interesting and the book looks beautiful. Congratulations to all the team for yet another fantastic achievement.
An afterthought, having missed the early online lecture is there anyway of accessing it?
Many thanks again.
LikeLike
Thank you Kate and the team, the Bluestocking Club has been a welcome distraction during our winter Covid lockdowns, and I look forward to knitting more of the sock patterns in future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks Kate and crew for this wonderfull, inspirational and historical blue stockings journey!
I enjoyed every minute of it.
Looking forward receiving the book. I will then start knitting the socks.
Wish you all a lot of new knitting inspiration..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kate:
I have absolutely loved every pattern and every article in this series! I’m sad it’s over but am so excited about the forthcoming book! E-mails are wonderful and quick but there is nothing like holding the book in your hands.
Love this type of scholarly work and am so looking forward to what you have for us in the future.
Rebecca Hammond, MD
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have loved this Club and the patterns and look forward to receiving the book. Bravo to you all for all your research and hard work.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve loved it!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you all so much for a wonderful project, I bet it turned out to be even more work than you expected but I hope you are proud of what you have produced. I for one will be working my way through most of the patterns and the chance to read up on so much history makes it a fascination journey.
Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, I’ve absolutely loved all of the Bluestocking Club, and, for me, the knitting is still to come, so, it will continue. The patterns and essays have been bright spots to look forward to.
Looking forward to whatever comes next 🙃
LikeLike