Edinburgh – KDD & Co

Woolly Originals

place, pattern and colour combine in beautiful, original design

sock of the week no.3

Celebrating the world’s first sock knitting book, and its bluestocking author

The revival of my eighteenth-century balloon-o-mania was inspired after some recent walks around Clachan of Camspie and Milton of Campsie (just north and east of where we live) during which I discovered that that balloonist, Vincent Lunardi, landed in Campsie Glen at the conclusion of his second flight from Glasgow in November 1785. After wowing…

planning ahead

By: Kate Davies Designs October 9, 2017October 9, 2017

Edinburgh, Handywoman, writingBracklinn Falls, Edinburgh Yarn Fest, EYF, Handywoman17 Comments

Did you see that the Edinburgh Yarn Fest programme of classes and talks has been announced? As usual, Mica and Jo have put together an amazing programme, in which I’m really pleased to be included. I’ll be talking about my new book, Handywoman, on both the Friday afternoon and the Saturday morning. Handywoman covers a…

at EYF

By: Kate Davies Designs March 12, 2017March 12, 2017

Edinburgh, exhibition, textiles, yarnEdinburgh Yarn Fest40 Comments

Well, that’s the hard work of Edinburgh Yarn Fest over for another year! We took all the samples from Inspired by Islay with us, and many people mentioned what a difference it made being able to see my designs in person. . . . and to be able to browse through our books. Here’s Mel…

EYF snapshots

By: Kate Davies Designs March 22, 2016March 22, 2016

Edinburgh, events, knitters, knitting, textilesamazing knitters, Edinburgh, Edinburgh Yarn Fest, knitting57 Comments

A fantastic time was most definitely had by all at Edinburgh Yarn Fest. Here are a few pictures. If I seem to be somewhat maniacal and frazzled in these photographs, well, that’s because I was. . . The stand in quieter moments. A customer tries on Mel’s Deco cardigan. Meeting lovely folk from my Ravelry…

if you are in Edinburgh this weekend . . .

By: Kate Davies Designs March 17, 2016

Edinburgh, eventsEdinburgh, Edinburgh Yarn Fest36 Comments

. . . do come and say hello. We’ll be in the Corn Exchange on stand E5, with a shed load of Buachaille, books, patterns and kits. Things you might like to know: * All print patterns or books come with a download code for your Ravelry library. * We will have kits for Funyin,…

In the steps of Jane Gaugain

By: Kate Davies Designs March 11, 2016June 9, 2021

Edinburgh, History, Shetland, women, writingCarol Christiansen, Edinburgh, excellent women, Helen Robertson, History, Jane Gaugain, knitting, Roslyn Chapman, Shetland, Shetland Museum and Archives, textile history32 Comments

In the Steps of Jane Gaugain From the quiet restraint of the Regency buildings that line Edinburgh’s George Street, you would never guess that this, a century and a half ago, was the scene of a knitting revolution. Here the ladies of the city gathered to exchange “receipts,” compare their success with the latest stitch…

Braid Hills – reworked

Another new garment! Braid Hills is one of my favourite designs, and one I really wanted to return to. Some folk found the original pattern a bit tricky for a couple of reasons: I love the design, and really wanted to iron out these issues so that everyone could enjoy knitting and wearing this cardigan!…

The Braids

By: Kate Davies Designs March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

Edinburgh, landscape, ScotlandBraid Hill, Braid Hills, Edinburgh, landscape, Scotland18 Comments

As with many other woolly folk in Scotland, my thoughts and horizons are at the moment fixed on Edinburgh – where I will be in a couple of weeks time to attend Edinburgh Yarn Fest. I lived in Edinburgh for a decade, and it remains my all-time favourite city — not least because of its…

Pop-up fair

By: Kate Davies Designs September 24, 2015

craft, Edinburgh, events, Fair Isle, knittingEdinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Repository and self aid society, treasure trove19 Comments

Are you in Edinburgh this weekend? If so, can I encourage you to pop along to the pop-up fair which is being held by my friends at the Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society on Saturday? I’ve mentioned the Society here many times, and as you know, it exists to provide financial support to…

Great Tapestry of Scotland 60 – 92

There have been some interesting questions in the comments on my previous posts about the Great Scottish Tapestry. Elaine and Deborah asked what materials had been used in the creation of the tapestry – well, the stitchers used Peter Grieg linen and Appletons crewel wool throughout. Terry asked why it was called a tapestry at…

Port o’ Leith

Here is the third garment in my Edinburgh series – the Port o’ Leith gansey. This garment has twisted stitches and cables, that are reminiscent of maritime nets and rigging. It also features a deep, cowl-like collar, which is great for warding off North sea winds. . . . but which is also detachable, for…

Firth o’ Forth

By: Kate Davies Designs November 12, 2013November 12, 2013

design, Edinburgh, textilesEdinburgh, Edinburgh History, Edinburgh series, Firth o' Forth, History, Kate Davies, Kate Davies designs, Oysters, Robert Fergusson75 Comments

Ahoy from the Firth o’ Forth! This cardigan is the second in my series of my Edinburgh-inspired designs, and it is named after the important estuary that marks the city’s northern boundary. The Firth was a major feature of the decade we spent in Edinburgh: we lived in sight of it – just up the…

sunshine on . . .

Yesterday we had beautiful weather while we popped back to our old stomping grounds in North Edinburgh and Leith to take some photographs of two new sweater designs. I’ve been working on these patterns for a while now, and they form part of my Edinburgh series — garments inspired by my favourite places in the…

three sweaters

I thought I’d show you my three new sweaters! First up is this lovely Fairisle yoke (bought for £16 on eBay). This is a garment of a kind that is still being made in Shetland, and that you can find in Lerwick today in shops like The Spider’s Web. I think its a lovely example.…