Yarn - The Journal of Scottish Yarns Issue 7

Produced by Susan Anderson, Yarn - The Journal of Scottish Yarns aims to put Scottish textiles on the map by making connections, joining threads and promoting Scottish Textiles of all kinds through stories and design.

Each issue contains in depth articles exploring the many facets of contemporary Scottish Textiles, as well as the wealth and diversity of the history and traditions of textile materials and production across the country. 

Each issue also contains a selection of unique patterns for knitting and crochet. 

In this issue you’ll find more stories of Scottish textiles, past and present:

1. THE POWER OF THE LOOM Weaver of bespoke cloth, Sam Goates of Woven in the Bone, travelled from Scotland to Australia and back again, meeting old friends in the process.

2. TARTAN’S DAWN: GLEN AFFRIC AND THE GENESIS OF TARTAN Historically significant tartans, including the oldest true tartan dating from the rein of Mary Queen of Scots, recreated by a Perthshire mill.

3. REFUSE TO PUT YOUR CRAYONS BACK IN THE BOX Graphic designer turned yarn dyer Lisa Harland tells the story of how adversity led to a colourful venture

4. HISTORY ON LEGS ‘Like the red arrows’ is just one way Viking re-enactor Alexandra King describes her flock of Soay sheep.

5. LOCHCARRON: THREADS THROUGH TIME Weavers Lochcarron of Scotland are embedded in Borders textile heritage - via the Scottish Highlands

6. MEET THE MAKERS: SCOTTISH TEXTILE SHOWCASE Bringing far-flung Scottish textiles to Edinburgh visitors and sharing their stories along the way.

7. BALMERINO: WHERE THE SEA GRASS GROWS A new breed of sheep helping to regenerate land in Fife and proving that Scottish wool can be supersoft in the process.

8. LACE PANELS ON CHURCH ROAD A practical solution in Lerwick leads to a bit of yarn bombing and a homage to Shetland knitting.

Patterns:

1. SICCAR POINT CARDIGAN, MADDIE HARVEY, HARVEY KNITS An oversized, dropshoulder cardigan with a geometric pattern inspired by the geology of Siccar Point on the Scottish Borders’ coast.

2. TRASTAN SHAWL, JO BINT, SNOWY THISTLE KNITS Linear patterns and texture are created with simple knit and purl stitches to make a cosy DK weight shawl, perfect for layering.

3. SOPHIA LOUISA SCARF, SOLVEIGH LASS EVANS, IOLAIR YARN Versatile, narrow scarf with a simple cable texture, made with less than a skein of soft handdyed yarn.

4. DALERB JUMPER, ALISON MAYNE, KNITROSPECTIVE Textured yoke jumper with instructions for personalised shaping, inspired by the hazel roundhouse at The Scottish Crannog Centre rebuilt anew in Dalerb, Perthshire.

5. NUEL TOP, MERRIAN HOLLAND, MEZZA CRAFT Gaelic for cloud, this lightweight fluffy crocheted top has romantic ruffled sleeves.

6. SUNBURST COWL, JULIA BILLINGS, WOOLLENFLOWER An easy to knit and wear colourwork cowl with design inspired by maritime sunburst lichen.

7. MAP LICHEN OPEN CARDIGAN, SAMIRA HILL, EILDON HILLS DESIGNS A crocheted open cardigan designed to tumble down the back in elegant ripples, with wide floating sleeves and fully customisable sizing.

8. WINGLE SLEEVELESS HOODIE, JESS HAGHKERDAR Featuring topography on the shoulders pads and shaped with lots of short rows to create an elegant hoodie.

9. CATS PAW SHETLAND LACE TOP, SUSAN ANDERSON Named after one of three Shetland Lace motifs used in the yoke, this top knits up quickly using 4-ply yarn at a large gauge.