Knitting Wester Ross

Join Kate, Tom and their friends on a magical journey through the Scottish Highlands.

Wester Ross is sometimes described as Scotland’s last wilderness, but this extraordinary place—with its high mountains, spectacular lochs and magnificent coastline—has also been deeply shaped by its community and culture.

Here, Pictish artists carved their mysterious stones, Bronze Age settlers built innovative roundhouses, and resourceful smallholders shaped the landscape to the rhythm of the seasons, moving between the coast and summer pastures. Drawing inspiration from the objects, places and people of Wester Ross, Kate has teamed up with local writers Karen Buchanan and Jeremy Fenton to explore the rich human history of this landscape.

In Kate’s collection of designs, you’ll find a cosy cardigan paying homage to the Arctic convoys, a lace shawl whose border references an innovative use of shells as tools, as well as multicoloured jacquard patterns inspired by local industry and Gaelic songs. 

Kate pays tribute to the life of teacher and activist Kay Matheson with the iconic ‘Skirt of Destiny’, whilst talented guest designer Lucy Hague offers a stunning Pictish shawl featuring reversible cables. Illustrated throughout with Tom’s magnificent photographs, this book will make you want to pick up your needles and set off on a journey to Wester Ross.

13 patterns are included in the book
Contributors: Tom Barr, Karen Buchanan, Kate Davies, Jeremy Fenton and Lucy Hague.
136 pages. Designed and printed here in Scotland.