About Colours of Shetland

With its beautiful photography, engaging writing, and signature hand-knit designs, Colours of Shetland will inspire you with the varied shades and hues of Great Britain’s most Northerly isles. 

From Edinburgh writer and designer, Kate Davies, comes a book that brings the creative process of hand-knit design to life in an exciting new way. In Colours of Shetland, Kate takes you on a northern journey, exploring wild and beautiful island landscapes through words, projects and pictures. Situated in the rich context of the Shetland places, wildlife, objects and people that have inspired Kate, each design in this book has its own engaging ‘colour story’ to tell.

Through the pages of this book, you will get a taste of the heritage that makes Shetland one of the world’s most knitterly destinations, and be inspired to knit with yarn that has a genuine connection to the landscape in which it is produced. Showcasing Jamieson and Smith Jumper Weight, the flagship Shetland yarn with a marvellously varied palette, each project features the clear instructions and attention to detail that are hallmarks of Kate’s designs.

Alongside ten original patterns that are a joy to make and wear, Colours of Shetland offers the hand-knitter food for thought and a feast for the eyes.

FAQ

Where can I buy it?
The book is currently exclusively available to purchase here, at the Kate Davies Designs online shop. Other bookshops and yarn stores  will stock the book from early 2013. The book is not available from Amazon. 

How much does it cost?
Colours of Shetland costs £14.99 GBP, plus shipping.

How can I pay?
You can pay for Colours of Shetland securely through this site by paypal, debit or credit card. Debit and credit card payments are administered by paypal, but do not require you to have a paypal account.

Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, Colours of Shetland can be shipped by airmail to anywhere in the world. A package containing a single book weighs around 500g and shipping is charged at cost. Shipping is discounted on multiple orders, but please do not order more than 3 books to help us cope with demand, and ensure your package  remains within the airmail weight limit.

Is the book available digitally?
Kate has designed Colours of Shetland primarily as a printed object, but the price of the book will allow you to access both print and digital versions. Kate has plans to produce Colours of Shetland as an e-book, and in the meantime, each printed copy contains a unique code to enable you to download the digital version when it becomes available. Kate currently has no plans to release the patterns as individual digital downloads. 

What yarn is used for the patterns in the book?
All of the patterns in Colours of Shetland are designed specifically for Jamieson and Smith Jumper Weight. This flagship Shetland yarn, with its beautifully rich and varied palette, is Kate’s all-time favourite yarn for colour knitting. You can buy it directly from Jamieson and Smith, Shetland Woolbrokers, as well as from a growing number of retailers around the world.

What is the size range of the patterns?
Kate’s garments are carefully designed to suit women of all shapes and sizes, and should fit anyone from a 30″ to a 50″ bust.

I’m a retailer. Can I stock the book?
Of course! Copies are now available for pre-order, shipping on January 11th. The minimum order is 5 copies. Please contact Kate for further details: kate@katedaviesdesigns.com

When can I find out more?
Kate will be releasing further information about the designs, together with themed posts and interviews with some of the people who have been involved in the book over the coming weeks. Keep your eye on her blog and follow her on twitter (@wazzag)

Colours of Shetland was made by:

Author and Publisher: Kate Davies

Photography: Tom Barr

Test Knitting: Melanie Ireland

Technical Editor: Jen Arnall Culliford

Art and Production Editor: Nic Blackmore

Distribution: Gordon Anderson