Last summer I was delighted to get an e-mail from Kate Davies asking about a collaboration on a project she was working on with Janette Sloan. It turns out they had contacted 13 designers about doing 15 designs (they were each contributing one) for a new book to be published late 2019 – early 2020. Yes, I was a bit giddy, I have to admit. To be recognized by someone of Kate and Jeannette’s stature was a very thrilling moment for me.
Needless to say I said YES!!! And to boot, I got to work with a new yarn from KDD, Ard Thìr. It’s an Aran weight yarn, a blend of 60% Peruvian Highland wool and 40% alpaca. It’s absolutely impossible to tell you how divine it is! And my favourite weight of yarn!! I could go on but this isn’t a yarn review – although I will do one on here and in the show at sometime in the future.
The book is a collection of 15 designs, using this and another new yarn from KDD, Milarrochy Tweed. That is a 70%wool, 30% mohair yarn in a fingering weight. More information about both yarns are available on the KDD website, here.
I did say this was a book review, so I should get on that. But in reality, I don’t really have to say much here – except it’s a must have if you want to make your hands pretty and warm this winter – as Kate has released a series of promotional blog posts over the last 15 days for each of the patterns and designers. Each post shows a picture of the featured design and a bit of a bio about the designer behind the pattern. You can check out all 15 days and designs on the KDD website here.
In terms of my personal review, being unbiased and all, hehe, I would recommend this book to everyone! It has beginner patterns and advanced designs, it has a vast array of techniques in the different patterns, and it was created with love and a deep seated desire to heal through the collaboration of individuals as diverse as the patterns in the book. While many are talking about the rift that is happening not just in our community, but in all aspects of society in general – a rift that has been there for too long and is threatening to grow even wider – Kate and Jeanette are trying to do something about if by actively showcasing a diverse group of designers and their talents.
From working on this book and being introduced to the people I had not known before, I can tell you that I think the strongest selling point of this book is the community it has built – and hopefully will continue to do so through the readers – through it’s creation. When I look at the variety of the designs in this book and the variety of the designers that came together to collaborate on it, I not only applaud KDD for this brilliant idea and execution, but am filled with hope that we will overcome the challenges we currently face and will be stronger for it!
If you’d like to get your copy of the book, you can order a print copy here, which comes with a download link for a digital copy as well, or get the digital only version here. Personally, I can’t wait for my print copy to arrive where it will be treasured on my bookshelf for years to come!
Hugzzz 😎
