The Story of Two Crochet Designs – Journal of Scottish Yarns

Buy the Cùl Mòr Cardigan crochet pattern now! Ravelry: Cùl Mòr Cardigan pattern by Merrian Holland

This is a bit of belated post and it seems like an age ago that I started working on the designs featured in the very first issue of The Journal of Scottish Yarns.  It was published at the beginning of June and I’m only just getting round to reflecting on the process so that I can tell you all about my contribution. The act of writing this post is partly for my own benefit to document my journey but also with the hope that you might want to support this fabulous project!

How it Started

Back in October 2021, I received a message via my website from Susan, asking if I’d like to design something for a new publication which focused on the textile industry in Scotland. My name had been passed to her from a Ravelry friend Emily, who is also a knitwear designer and tech editor. She explained that this new, quarterly magazine would be a mix of articles and projects, all focused on Scotland. Susan had seen my Twinkling Granny Squares Sweater and wondered if she could commission a crochet garment design using motifs and Scottish yarn. We arranged a Zoom call and right away I felt like I hit it off with Susan and was inspired by her warmth, enthusiasm, pride and love of all things yarny …and Scottish! Excited to start, and with a relatively short deadline, I immediately went online to research some Scottish yarn producers.

Brief

The brief for the designs in the first issue was quite loose – I was asked to design a crocheted garment with motifs, inspired by the colours of a Hebridean Beach– sea, sky, sand, gorse and heather.

Yarn

I had already partly formulated a cardigan design in my head using a simple variation of a granny square and “random” colour placements. It didn’t take me long to settle on J C Rennie Supersoft 4ply as my choice as it ticked all the boxes for the brief and my own personal requirements for yarn:

1. Natural fibre – 100% lambswool.
2. Made in Scotland!
3. Good yardage.
4. High quality.
5. A large range of beautiful colours that fitted the brief.
6. Great value (considering all of the above).

Once I’d selected the colourways and started swatching, I was delighted by the colours and texture of the J C Rennie Supersoft 4ply – the yarn seemed to embody the spirit of the Scottish Highlands that I fondly recalled from trips over the years. The resulting fabric was also perfect for the lightweight cardigan design I had in mind. Gently rustic but with a surprising amount of drape.

What’s in a Name?

The cardigan design is called Cùl Mòr, a twin summited mountain in the Scottish Highlands that I hiked up with my then boyfriend. Click here to read more and hear how it’s pronounced. The first sample I made for the journal features colours that evoke memories of that magical trip – Light Grey (Putty 221), Mustard Yellow (Cummin 262), Turquoise (Fauna 457), Green (Asparagus 185) & Blue (Teal Dust 1525).

Style & Fit

The Cùl Mòr cardigan has been designed as a loose-fitting, easy to wear piece with a waterfall opening. The lambswool Supersoft 4ply is lightweight, yet warm and has optional button loops so you can wear it with the fronts closed for extra warmth if needed. Available in a range of sizes with finished bust measurement from 96cm/37.75 inches to 176cm/69.25 inches. The length of the body and sleeves are easily customizable by adding extra motifs or half motifs.

Crochet Skill Level

Although there are a lot of motifs involved, the making of which require a certain level of ambition and commitment, I feel this crochet pattern is actually quite easy. The main motif is simple enough – an easy to memorise, slight variation of the traditional granny square. The fronts, back and sleeves are rectangles of motifs, which are all joined in the main colour using the “continuous granny stitch join” technique. This is an easy technique to master and I even have a video tutorial here which while not specific to the Cùl Mòr cardigan, does explain the basic principles.

For the larger sizes, there is some under arm shaping using a series of granny stitch “wedges” – granny stitch short shows if you like – to avoid the huge kimono effect sleeves that often come with poorly graded designs.

Join us for a CAL (Crochet Along)?

Susan and I have a CAL planned! I’ll be on hand to help with any pattern queries… it will be fun and there will be prizes…are you interested? We’ll be announcing the guidelines soon.

I myself will be making another version of the Cùl Mòr but instead of a random colour sequence, I’m going to use the same order of colours for every motif!

Spin Off Design – Loch Maree Fingerless Mitts

At some point, well into the design process of the cardigan, Susan asked if I’d also be able to contribute a smaller crochet design to the journal. I had already become a little intrigued by the way the central motif of the Cùl Mòr looked like a little flower so I started experimenting for a motif with that… and soon enough the Loch Maree fingerless mittens were born. I am ever so proud of these – needing only a small amount of J C Rennie Suppersoft 4ply yarn (leftovers from your cardi?!), the motifs are made first and then the main body of the mitten is crocheted sideways. The mitts have a proper, shaped thumb gusset that is added in once the main part of the mitt is completed. Only a small amount of sewing is required for seaming and then the mitts are finished with some slip stitch surface crochet.

I am a big fan of fingerless mitts as they are surprisingly warm and very practical with our constant smart phone use!! Have you ever made or worn fingerless mitts? If not, I would encourage you to give them a go!  

A Crochet Pattern Publication with a Difference

I was so delighted when I finally received my hard copy of the Journal of Scottish Yarns. It’s such a beautiful book with interesting articles …lots of space given to the knit and crochet instructions with minimal condensation of my original draft patterns and many beautiful photos showcasing the cardigan, including a version of the design in a different colourway. I love the vibrant version that Susan’s sister crocheted in black, pink, yellow and green, giving a stylish retro vibe.

And There’s More

The Journal features another crochet pattern by Samira Hill – Cullen, a lovely vest top that I will also be making and I’ve already swatched for!

There are 4 lovely knitting patterns – a tabard, a tank top, a cowl and a shawl.

As well as one embroidery project.

Fascinating articles, all beautifully illustrated/photographed:

• A short history of Scottish textiles.
• Susie Finlayson’s personal story as a stitcher of The Great Tapestry of Scotland.
• Newburgh Handloom Weavers – making bespoke tweed.
• 6,000 years of sheepy history (my favourite article in the journal!).
• The origins of Iona Wool.
• The Border Mill – it started with alpacas!
• Embroidery and the Jacobites.
• The Dovecot Team – creating a tapestry from a painting.
• Advice on learning to spin.

There’s also a lovely interview of Susan on the Heather & Hops Vlog where you get to hear more about it and also see my designs in action! https://youtu.be/qxDpcFcDdfs

Get Your Copy

I really hope you are inspired to buy a copy of Susan’s first publication which promotes many small businesses and designers! Here are some lovely things others have said about the publication:

This is scholarly, intelligent, interesting and visually amazing. There are also beautiful patterns. A download code is included.

Janice C

I love the paper quality, colour plates and the composition of each page. The first article on the amazing and exciting project – The Great Tapestry of Scotland, in Galashiels, provided detailed information about its creation. As to the patterns – for me, those beautiful garments are aspirational. Thank you for a wonderful journal about a particular aspect of Scotland.

Yarn Issue 1 – Spring / Summer 2022 [print & digital] — YarnJournal

Win a Copy

Can’t afford to buy a copy right now? Don’t worry, I have a spare copy to give away to one lucky newsletter subscriber! And I will ship worldwide! If you already have a copy…don’t worry – I will send you Issue 2 instead, when it’s out!

To enter the draw, you just need to do 3 things (If you haven’t already!):

1. Sign up to my newsletter (scroll to bottom of post).
2. Follow me on Instagram or Facebook .
3. Follow Susan’s Instagram page for Journal of Scottish Yarns.

Winners will be drawn at random and will be notified via the email address you’ve used to sign up to this newsletter. Closing date for the draw is 30^th September 2022.

What’s Next?

As you may know from my last newsletter, I am all about crochet these days, having given up my previous job to pursue my crochet dreams. And luckily there’s definitely an Issue 2 and it will include a design from me! All I can tell you now is that I’ll be using Jamieson’s of Shetland DK yarn for a cosy sweater.

Thanks for reading, and as always, if you have any questions or feedback, I’d love to hear from you.

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