YARN Issue 8 Autumn/Winter 2025

Issue 8 is all about cosy colour with stories of some strong Victorian women too! Plus Castlemilk Moorit and Scottish Blackface sheep, indigo dyeing at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens and contemporary artist Alice-Marie Archer on her knitted pieces as part of the V&A Dundee's Garden Future exhibition:

Knit Designs:

1. STRAIKEN VEST, EMMA MCLELLAN Corrugated rib creates a comfortable corset silhouette with endless colour possibilities. 
2. OXO JUMPER, LIZA LEWIS An all-over colourwork jumper knitted in thicker wool makes a quick and contemporary layer. 
3. TOWER HOOSE WALL BEANIE AND MITTS, LOUISE MOSSOM A multi-coloured beanie and matching fingerless mitts, inspired by artist Richie Collins. 
4. CANNA CARDIGAN, SAMIRA HILL A raglan knitted cardigan combines stripes and a slip stitch pattern. 
5. WHITEBEAM MITTS, SUE HOLT The textured leaves and berries of whitebeam trees are recreated on these elegant knitted mitts. 
6. DASHIKI PONCHO, SYLVIA WATTS-CHERRY Bold colourwork is inspired by a West African tunic with an embroidered neckline.

Crochet Designs: 

7. KIN CARDIGAN, FAY DASHPER-HUGHES An open-fronted crocheted cardigan designed to layer over winter dresses. 
8. MELROSE VEST, SAMIRA HILL This three colour V-neck vest is an ideal introduction to Tunisian Crochet. 
9. KIN CARDIGAN, FAY DASHPER-HUGHES An open-fronted crocheted cardigan designed to layer over winter dresses. 

Features:

1. ORIGINS OF THE CASTLEMILK MOORIT SHEEP The mysterious history of a sheep bred to decorate a country estate in Dumfries and Galloway. 
2. FROM KENYA TO CASTLEMILK Reviving rare Scottish sheep: Rebecca McLellan’s journey to rural life, championing Castlemilk Moorit sheep. 
3. BRINGING LOCAL WOOL BACK TO LIFE How Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear is using fashion as a force for good.  
4. THE VALUE OF  ‘SPARE TIME’ The Highland Home Industries movement grew out of turbulent times. 
5. REFRAMING ‘MEDDLESOME MILLIE’ Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland, was an advocate for the rights of craft workers and the preservation of textile skills and heritage. 
6. THE ORDINARY,' EXTRAORDINARY JANE GAUGAIN The life of a 19th century innovator who revolutionised Victorian crafts, blending business acumen, creativity and domestic respectability in Edinburgh. 
7. FROM SILKS OF GAUZE TO PAISLEY SHAWLS The famed textiles of Paisley, Scotland, through the 18th and 19th centuries. 
8. THE INDIGO PLOT: GROWING BLUE IN URBAN GLASGOW Sharing the magic of indigo dyeing, inspired by travels and experimentation. 
9. KNITTING NATURE Alice-Marie Archer’s living art blends creativity and science, crafting textiles that nurture plants without using soil.