As a yarn artist, I am primarily inspired by nature; what drives me is a passion for playing with colours and having fun with textures. In this blog I look forward to sharing with you the stories behind my nature-inspired blankets.
Heirloom Blankets to Treasure
My nature-inspired blankets are born from the wish to create something stunningly beautiful and unique, heirloom pieces to pass down through generations and enjoy for many years to come—a unique piece of art to treasure, enjoy and use daily, to admire and welcome in your home, enhancing your quality of life.
Nature-Inspired Blankets
I was thrilled to find a rock that perfectly resembles some of my shawls!
Behind everything I create has always been my deep connection to nature. I never cease to marvel at the everchanging colours and atmospheres which unfold hourly. Interacting with those changes is what makes me feel part of nature, but when I became mostly housebound, I really grieved that such a big part of my life had been taken away. Gradually I discovered ways to connect with nature from my house: being immersed in creating nature-inspired blankets which honour the natural world and my connection to it became one of my favourite things to do, and a definite therapy.
An Eye for Colour
In my nature-inspired blankets I have a passion for making totally unique pieces with colour gradients and subtleties that replicate and honour what we see in nature. My enjoyment and appreciation for colour increases every day. I love observing that what might look like one simple colour (like a green field) is in fact composed of thousands of colours that the human eye picks up on different levels, depending on the light, how tired we are, how receptive we are... even what our favourite colours are. For instance, being a lover of blues and greys, I spot them very easily where they might not be obvious to people who are not so fond of them.
A Passion for Texture
In the making of each nature-inspired blanket, I delight in using textures that are interesting, captivating, draw the eye and allow it to relax, attract the hands and are a pleasure to touch and wrap ourselves in. Every natural texture inspires me, so I am a perpetual student of new stitches, materials and techniques that might assist me in honouring these natural textures in my craft.
The Rocky Shore Throw
My Rocky Shore Throw is a tribute to the endless variety of greys we enjoy on the shores of the Scottish West Coast. I am totally in love with rocks and pebbles, love picking them up, touching them and collecting them. I really enjoyed honouring their textures by using different brands and sizes of yarns, different kinds of crochet hooks and a wide variety of stitches. Using pure wool for this throw added compelling textural interest and is a little wink to the sheep that often relax on beaches in Scotland.
The Winter Shore Blanket
My homage to the deeply soothing colours of a Winter ocean with its piercing cold wind and energising waves, where little white caps appear on top of each wavelette. You can see that detail in my blanket amidst the steely, stormy blues. The variety of stitches gives the blanket a wavy look that replicates the perpetual movement of the ocean. It is this kind of detail for colour and texture that makes me passionate about yarn art.
The Hebridean Sands Comfort Shawl
The Uist Wool company that creates this yarn was yearning to replicate the changes of colours in the Hebridean tides and sand. One of my favourite yarns to work with, I was deeply satisfied by the seamless changes of colours which perfectly complement my signature wave pattern. This beautiful comfort shawl is such a lovely way to be reminded of the stunning and moody Hebridean sands.
The Glowing Fire Comfort Shawl
In the colder months, I live by my glowing stove, and I wanted to create a shawl that would give the wearer the feeling of being soothed and warmed by a lovely glowing fire. The textures and colours of logs and peat burning and glowing in the stove is always an object of fascination to me, and I strived to honour that in my choice of yarns and stitches for this beautiful throw. I particularly love the elegant drape and the feminine look of it.
The Winter Waves Blanket
Man-made fibers, such as acrylic yarn, can have their advantage, especially for those who cannot tolerate wool or are intimidated by—unnecessarily—mystifying wool care advice (more on wool care in a future blog post). Being cheaper, man-made fibers can be a better choice for a smaller budget. By finding stitches that make the yarn work at best advantage, it is possible to make very beautiful blankets in man-made fiber. In this pure acrylic blanket, I wanted to make the most of the colour changes by texturing it in endless waves, a reminder of the Winter ocean that is never still. It is a soothingly warm and delightful blanket with rich and beautiful gradients of blues throughout.
Moving Towards Pure Wool Blankets
My passion for natural wool is multifacetted. First and foremost, I love the fact that wool keeps us warm in cold weather, and cool in warm weather. It is such an intelligent and responsive fiber, by far my favourite to wear, use and work with. From an aesthetics point of view, I love that this magical fiber has a way of changing colour depending on the level of sunlight, the time of day, the time of year, and has an array of wonderful textures—exactly like nature itself. And I really adore the smell of pure wool! It is therefore my preferred choice for making blankets.
Although the cost is significantly higher than for man-made yarn, I am convinced that this is a responsible investment for the long-term, as wool is extremely durable. When it finally expires, which could take lifetimes, it is completely biodegradable and simply returns to the earth to fertilise it beautifully. What's not to like! I am now taking the direction of working exclusively with pure Scottish wool. Having researched the very talented yarn producers that are right on my doorstep, I want to make the most of this incredible resource and keep my footprint on the earth as gentle as possible.
A Love Story
My nature-inspired blankets are labours of love, which build up slowly. I love every step of the designing and making process, I love sending them out into the world where they get enjoyed and enhance quality of life for their lucky owners. Each blanket is like the most loving and soothing hug.
My yarn art aims to remind us that we belong to nature. Each piece is an invitation to rediscover and enjoy that connection fully, a tribute to nature's unique and essential beauty, and therefore a tribute to our own unique and essential beauty. An invitation to honour ourselves and care for ourselves like the most beautiful garden. I wish you much enjoyment!
