“And a bird overhead sang Follow,And a bird to the right sang Here;And the arch of the leaves was hollow,And the meaning of May was clear.”~Algernon Charles Swinburne~ The dawn chorus of robin and song thrush, blackbird and wren. The sweet scent of gorse on the breeze. The clear blue of wild bluebells and a …
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Spring: longer days, lighter hearts
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Metamorphosis: Hecla Wrap design commission for Uist Wool
Being so close to my heart it was an honour and delight to create a new knitwear design for local mill, Uist Wool. The brief was to create a wrap and knitting pattern that would showcase the sublime, extra-long ombre gradient of an exclusive version of Uist Wool’s Astair laceweight yarn. And at the same …
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Ready for Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2021?
Are you a member of the worldwide Ravelry knitting community? Perhaps you’re taking part in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2021? Yay! Inner Wild is one of the independent designers taking part in this amazing annual event. What is it? Well, it includes some of these knitting patterns. And as the organisers say – it’s games, …
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Inspiration: running with the deer
Deer rush down from the mountains of Harris and the broad swathes of moorland drawn by the fresh, new growth of grass to soar over fences. And so it is with us humans. Deep inside we run with the deer; we too feel the machair sap rising and in the rhythm of the tide, the …
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Spring: awakening with nature
Rejoicing in the colours of Spring, brown grasses turning golden and lining the corncrake’s new nest. Rudely fresh green grass takes over slopes and flat meadows. Robust leaves of Angelica poke from bare earth and make olive feather shapes. Bright pink buds of crab apple trees burst open with pale pink white flowers. Homemade Harris …
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Metamorphosis: Ancestors Skirt
BEFORE I love winding skeins into balls around my hand. This is Malabrigo Arroyo in Pocion being every shade of beautiful on my Lykke Driftwood needles. A few years ago a dearheart called Laurie in the US asked via the Inner Wild Etsy shop if I might make her a knitted skirt. Laurie loved Ancestors …
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Metamorphosis: My Dreamy Friend Versatile
BEFORE: A skein is wound contemplatively into a plump, round ball like a little planet newly discovered. Malabrigo Rios, one of the world’s most beloved yarns, is ready to become …? AFTER: Ah, it wants to be all things to all people. And look here – it succeeds by becoming My Dreamy Friend Versatile. How …
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Autumn: grasses fall, we slumber, cosy
All is on the wane here; the long grass falls dry and soft yellow, sunlight is dimmed in the morning, the wind is colder. At the same time the bramble berries are bursting with plump ripeness and the Rowan berries shine red in the twilight as crows squawk in delight at them. We fall into …
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Inspiration: rough fibres and smooth bone
As the wind rises and the summer sunlight begins to fade my fingers are enjoying the rustic textures of Hebridean wool and minimally-processed Shetland wool pressed against deer antler bone and ram horn toggles and buttons. “The tactile delight of rough, rustic wool and smooth bone.” The flowing shapes of found deer antler tips, always …
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