Pattern Scout
The Cool, Scottish Knits of Di Gilpin
Midsummer, hot as fire in Nashville right now, leaves me craving a cool breeze and a need for a sweater.
Fortunately, an inventive knitwear designer has created a quick getaway to a place where the woolies are always a good idea.
Up top, Di Gilpin takes us to the island of Skye on the west coast of Scotland for her quick movie about ganseys, her take on a gansey, and beautiful views of a place where the temperature is a handknit-perfect 51 degrees (10 Celsius).
Of course, this movie sent me on a Di Gilpin adventure, during which I unearthed a number of spectacular things to contemplate.
First up, this blanket.
Only 4,767 yards of Rowan yarns required. 16 shades.
This is the Mondrian-Style Blanket from the 2005 Rowan book Scottish Island Knits. Now that I know how to do intarsia (thank you, A Year of Techniques), this will be a breeze. A fairly substantial breeze. Kind of a gale-force, sideways-rain breeze.
Next on the list of Di Gilpin amazingness, this beret.
Three shades of Di Gilpin’s Lalland Scottish Lambswool.
This is the Coda Beret. It requires about 24 times less yarn than the blanket, so I can imagine this beret actually coming into existence during my lifetime.
Graphic and modern. Pretty glorious.
This is the Coda Snood. The Fair Isle technique required to make this would be so easy, so fun—the vertical stripes mean very little aim is required to keep things moving. (We have some new wool mini skeins on the way in a few days that would be a joy to use for this.)
Finally, maybe a gansey is what we need. A gansey that somebody knitted especially for us. The Central Park Gansey, for one.
A sweater custom made for you? Why not?
Di Gilpin has a group of around 90 Scottish knitters who will knit you your very own lush and gorgeous Di Gilpin design, using Di Gilpin’s beautiful yarns. Her full range of beautiful cables and textures is available here.
I’m kind of lost for the Gruainne Frock Coat.
In this photo, it is 51 degrees.
I’m going to crank up the air conditioning and continue the dreamy dreams of the Isle of Skye.
Love,
Ann
PS The pattern for the Seol Tunic in the video can be found here.
I’m sorry — did you say wool mini-skeins? *drool*
I know!!! Off to try to shake yarn money into checkbook….
Beautiful scenery and gorgeous knits! Who could ask for anything more?
Very pleased you are featuring DiGilpin designs. I’ve been following her for many years. She designs beautiful lace patterns, as well. I no longer see the pattern post but my favorite shaw is her Sylph caplette that I knit several years ago. Tried to post a picture here of the caplette but could not. Completion was a tour de force as it was my first lace project and my introduction to her stunning and diverse designs.
Aaugh, senior moment! The yarn used was Sylph. The Di Gilpin pattern is Santa Ana.
Oh golly! That blanket! With the moss stitch breaking out amongst the stockinette. Love all of this! Frock coat! Custom gansey! SNOOD.
Is there a pattern for the lace gansey tunic?
Yes, definitely! Here you go: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seol-tunic
That tunic is really something, isn’t it? Wowza. I just perused the project pictures on Rav, which are helpful – I am so grateful to everyone who posts project pictures and notes! There are only 8 Seols listed to date, but I won’t be a bit surprised if that number should suddenly rise, you know?
And I just want to see the first 10 seconds of that video on a continuous loop. Even when I close my eyes.
What is a gansey?
Gansey….a sweater worn by Fishermen and hand knitted in a worsted 5ply wool to a tiny, dense tension of up to 54sts per 4ins…..filled with fantastic stitchwork and complicated patterns originating from each family or village along the coast of Britain and also many of the North Atlantic countries including the Netherlands (see the excellent books by Stella Ruhe). The construction is particularly magic…knitted seamlessly with gussets! Practical, utilitarian and yet absolutely beautiful……do check out the Moray Firth Gansey Project…..www.gansey-mf.co.uk …for some great samplers, patterns etc………just a starting point to that deep rabbit hole!!!!
Well that was a deep rabbit hole!
Such a lovely, relaxing post – makes me want to do nothing but knit and listen to the rain falling outside my window all day long! My little corner of Nashville (Lebanon) has been enjoying the rain and its accompanying slight drop in the temps :). Perhaps today will be the day I can finally begin my Granito!!!
I have that coat on my needles at the moment. In her yarn. Stunning doesn’t begin… Don’t even ask what it cost, even with a great exchange rate! Worth.It.
☺️☺️
We had a gansey workshop with Di on Skye in April. Her designs are stunning!
Hi Ann, thanks for your fabulous words! For those who love a challenge and intarsia,we have reworked the Mondrian blanket into an amazing Poncho…..Fano……which we made for the Strikkesfestival in Fano,, Denmark, last year……………Pattern coming out this Autumn!!!!
O M G, that beret. And that cowl, too.