Be a bold knitter!
Are you a newish knitter looking for an adventure into new techniques and different methods of construction that the knitting world has to offer but have yet to venture beyond the basics? If the answer is yes, I might have just the book for you. Bold Beginner Knits by Kate Davies will take your knitting to the next level. The idea behind this book came to Kate when her friend and beginner knitter Jane Hunter was looking to progress her knitting skills. There are six patterns altogether, and with each design, you will learn a useful new technique.
SKEP
Skep is a modular blanket. It is knit in Kate Davies Designs Àrd Thír - Camusdarach: 14 skeins and two skeins of each of the following shades: Ardnave, Firemore, Glamaig, Vatersay, Huisinis, Kiloran, Kintra, Luskentyre and Veyatie.
FOOTFALL
Footfall is an introduction to many of the principles and techniques of charted top-down shawl knitting. To knit Footfall, you'll need five skeins of Kate Davies Designs Àrd Thìr shown in shade Veyatie.
MIDSTREAM
Midstream is a versatile, textured shrug, knitted from side to side. Knit in one size it takes 15 skeins of Árd Thír, shown here in Kintra.
Kate has included helpful links for unfamiliar techniques in each pattern, and the patterns are well written and easy to follow, with no unnecessary jargon. You'll master the art of reading charts, construct a hat in the round, knit a top-down cardigan and a bottom-up sweater!
Downstream
Upstream is a simple top-down cardigan with raglan shaping. Finished bust (bands not overlapped): 36(41, 45, 50, 53)" This easy to wear cardigan should be worn with 5" of positive ease. Árd Thír in Camusdarach: 8 (9, 10, 11, 12) skeins and Vatersay: 3 (3, 4, 4, 4) skeins.
Corryvreckan
Corryvreckan will demystify knitting in the round. Use this hat for swatching, and practising your technique before knitting the Upstream Pullover. Three skeins of Árd Thír are needed for this project, it is shown in Firemore, Vatersay and Camusdarach.
UPSTREAM
All the techniques learnt knitting Corryvreckan will help you complete Upstream. Graphic waves adorn the yoke of this seamlessly-knit bottom-up pullover, following a surprisingly straightforward slipped-stitch pattern.
Upstream is intended to be a close-fitting pullover, so it is worn with zero ease. 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52)". Pick the size closest to your actual bust measurement. The yarn requires to knit Upstream is Kate Davies Designs Àrd Thìr in Firemore 10 (10, 11, 13, 14, 15) skeins, Vatersay 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 3) skeins and Camusdarach 1 (1, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins.
Kate Davies Árd Thír
Each design is knit in Árd Thír by Kate Davies Designs. An aran-weight yarn, its a robust and hard-wearing blend of highland wool and alpaca. It's a beautifully smooth and soft yarn; being an aran-weight it will work up quickly too so is a good choice for a beginner.
Whether you are new to knitting or not you will love making and wearing these six designs.
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