me
My name is Kate Davies. I live in Edinburgh, work in Newcastle, and love research, writing, knitting, designing, hill walking, and allotment gardening in equal measure. I find that all of these activities have a creative and a critical dimension, and the best of possible worlds is one in which I productively combine them all.
my work
I’m a historical writer and academic specialising in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century literature, textile history, and material culture. As well as writing this, I produce features, articles, and photographic essays for Selvedge, Textile Perspectives, The Quilter, Yarn Forward, Sew Hip, Twist Collective , Rowan, The Knitter, and many other journals and magazines. I also enjoy designing knitwear.
my photographs
Since many of you have been asking, I use a Canon 400D for most of my photography. For close-ups and indoor shots I generally use my favourite lens: macro EF-S 60mm f2.8. However, when hill walking I usually carry my trusty canon ixus (lightweight, and less to worry about breakage-wise). So some of the landscape photography that you’ll see here is taken with the simple ixus.
get in touch
If you have a question about knitting, or about one of my patterns, please use the following address: wazzukiATgmailDOTcom.
If your query concerns my research or my writing, and you would like to approach me with a proposal or commission, you will find my contact details here.
Knitters: I’m ‘wazz’ on Ravelry. Come and say hello!
perhaps of interest?
Here are links to a few of my published features and photographic essays, as well as some material that you can download directly as pdfs. I’ll be gradually adding to this section as time goes on.
In the Steps of Jane Gaugain, and Jane Gaugain Edinburgh Walk, Twist Collective, Spring 2009. You can also download a map of the walk here.
Feature on tweed in the Scottish Borders (Sew Hip, issue 4, 2009) (text of my original edit).
Photographs only: Jeannette Sloan’s studio (for Yarn Forward, issue 10, 2008)
words only: Helle Jorgensen (Yarn Forward, issue 7, 2008)
Grateful thanks to Sew Hip and Yarn Forward for permission to reproduce these pieces.
ask first
Please contact me before reproducing or distributing any of my words, photography, or original designs in any format. . . Thankyou!
Note: the headgear is just a midge net. I was going camping.
Photo taken by my friend The Mule.
thanks for reading!
A wunderfull site, inspiring and refreshing.
Veronica
Hi Kate Just to let you know how much I enjoy your blog.
Pauline
Wonderful blog. May I link?
Hi,
Just a note to say how much I enjoy your blog.And to inquire where did you get your badge maker from?
I want to play too.
Thanks La
Hello!
A friend has just sent me a link to your site and I just wanted to say thankyou! It is so fantastic to read such postive things about our kits – and your photos are absolutley lovely too. I was hoping that you might agree to let me use the words and pics relating to your clothkits experience on our website as a testimonial? Or we could link to your blog. Or both! Let me know if this would be OK. Thanks again, and with the warmest of regards, Kay Mawer, Clothkits.
Quick witted and skilled – an admirable and highly enjoyable blog
Hello from Auroville in India, I had been googling for ‘large’ images of Goddess Cailleach and there I saw your photo ina grey dress with a red wool (?) wrap.
What a lovely beautiful blog… I have book marked you and I am going to visit often.
Where I live here in Auroville (a 40-year old intentional and international community), we have a textile unit called ‘Colours of Nature’ and they so so much of natural dyeing. Seeing your note on Indigo napkinks and all, I thought I should mention them to you.
much love and warmth from here.
priya sundaravallu
I have followed your work on Ravelry and by luck discovered your blog. I must say I really love you pictures – which I’m not going to steal – but definitely will be inspired by… and the way you combine everyday objects and art.
I used to be a PhD-student, but have recently decided to spend my time writing in a more personal tone. I’m now writing on art and literature as a freelance writer, and really enjoying my new challenging life.
In literature I’m especially interested in contemporary fiction by female writers, having an essay project on house and home with a special focus on the anti heroin, on women not wanting to fulfill traditional roles of womanhood. In visual arts I write mainly on contemporary art, delivering critics to my local paper on a regular basis, and also publishing in national arts magazines.
I’m looking forward to follow your blog writings and images.
Thanks so much for keeping this blog. I’m thoroughly enjoying every part of it; the quality of the writing, your interests, the craft items you’ve finished, the photographs.
Thanks much!
Hello I am from Spain. I like very much your work. I hope I could make your design of owls.Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Cramen
Hi Kate,
I’m still in awe for what opened in front of my eyes while browsing through your blog. All these beautiful creations, colours, and shapes. I have a question, though, what camera and lenses do you use ?
with best wishes – Wojtek
Kate,
I’ve been reading you blog…and I must say if I didn’t live so far away…I’d love to stop by for some tea!
As it is, I am from Ohio….USA however I have enjoyed your musings and photos from afar…
I’m not that much of a knitter anymore…alas, when the children were young I would knit their sweaters and hats…and now when I do have spare time I am painting watercolors or playing the fiddle…Irish and Scottish tunes!
The real reason I am writing you though is that I have a friend, whose daughter has just started a non-profit in Peru. It is all about the village women and their weaving!
I thought of you right away because it is a big mix of mountains, hiking, weaving and sharing…volunteering…
I thought you would enjoy the site for yourself or simply pass along the information to anyone who might want to share in the love of textiles…
I just think this is right up your alley!
The young woman who runs the non profit is
Kennedy Leavens…actually Mary Kennedy Leavens..but everyone just calls her Kennedy.
here is an excerpt:
Weaving is an integral part of Andean culture that has developed over the course of the past four millennia. From caring for and shearing animals to spinning the raw wool by hand, and from dying the yarn with native plants and insects to crafting elaborate textiles, the making of cloth permeates every aspect of Quechua life and tradition. Not only is cloth vital to warmth and well-being in the high, inhospitable Andean environment, but the exchange of cloth is an important part of the Quechua economy, and textiles are central to ritual and spiritual life. Weaving skills and the rich history that goes with them have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries, and the tradition continues today.
Quechua women weave llicllas to wrap around their shoulders, kaypinas to carry babies on their backs, chuspas for carrying coca leaves and ponchos to keep their husbands and sons warm. The imagery in these textiles is one of the most fascinating aspects of Andean textile systems, particularly in the Patacancha Valley. The Quechua culture has no written tradition and the language has no alphabet; in a way, weaving is the Quechua equivalent of writing.
Each pallay – a type of design made on the backstrap loom by picking vertical, or warp, yarns – has a meaning, and different pallay are passed down within families and communities through generations. The pallay of the weavers of the Patacancha valley are unique in the Cusco region in that the women of these communities weave detailed figures into their work, depicting sacred animals, historical events, and daily life. Their textiles and the designs incorporated into them are a way of telling stories, remembering histories and expressing identity and ideas.
Please see the links below to learn more about the step-by-step weaving process!
you will have to go to the web site for more
http://www.awamaki.org.
There are many ways to support Kennedy’s initiative, volunteering or simply visiting as they have set up eco friendly tours…or just writing with encouragement…
Enjoy.
Anita
annieoakely@aol.com
the name of Awamaki: It is a Quechua word meaning something like “hands together.”
Love the paper dolls design.
Would love to buy it and get started.
Cant seem to buy it through ravelry.
Help…….
Hi Kate
It was lovely to meet you yesterday at the woolfestival. I have read your blog for a while now (after being intruduced to it by Helen Lockhart) Should you visit the Borders again, let me know and perhaps we could meet for a cuppa. Anne
Kate,
I just stumbled upon your blog tonight!! It’s wonderful, interesting, inspires creativity — all the good things. I’m very happy to have found it and plan to read as much of it as possible over the next few days! While I’m thinking of it — I wanted to tell you about a textile/native costume exhibit titled, Writing with Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities. It originated at the U of Hawaii at Manoa and is now at the Chazen Museum at the U of Wisconsin in Madison which is where I saw it. I’m a “textile” person, too, and thought this show was a stunner! A real visual knock-your-socks-off!! Thought you might enjoy it, too.
All the best, Jamie (in Chicago)
http://www.hawaii.edu/artgallery/writingwiththread/en/Chinese-threads-en-01.html
01.html
I’m very glad I found you. Your blog was recommended to me.
Hello Kate
I really love the owl-sweater, Do you like to sent me the pattern by mail.
I’ll look nicely into the eyes of my parents and hope they will knit it for me.
Thanks! Rixt
The photos you use are beautiful. I love the ones of York & your daily walk shots.
I also love that owl sweater. Could you send me the pattern? Thanks!
Hello -I am a new knitter and love the pictures of the owl sweater on your site. Could you please send me the pattern?
Thanks, Melissa
I have been following your blog for several months, and I must say that it is one of the most enjoyable blogs I have ever encountered. I particularly enjoy your articles on textile history. Keep up the good work!
Hi Kate,
Small world! You might now remember me, my sister Rebecca and I came along to the Thurs evening knitting at K1 Yarns a couple of times over winter, and I chatted to you about my dissertation on Rachel Whiteread. I’ve graduated and moved back to Northumberland now. Anyway, I was just surfing the web and saw an amazing design for an owl sweater (famous now I think!) that’s obviously beyond my capabilities but something to aim for, and I sent the link to my sis who I know would love it. Then I took a look around your blog and realised it’s you!
This is just a long, rambly way of saying hello I guess, and I hope you’re well :)
Liking your blog very much after finding you on Dorset Cereals… I came a creditable fifth last month but now only have seven votes… hope you get the egg cosy, good luck!
Hello
Having never even finished a scarf, I feel your designs are way beyond me (for now!), but something to aspire to now we are heading towards winter? Who knows? Anything is possible…. I see that this has been asked before, but what camera do you use? No doubt the subject matter helps, but there is a vibrancy to the colours and a crispness to your shots that is really juicy!
Naomi
Wonderful Kate. Stumbled in from Dorset cereals site, Power to you in all your endevours.
P.S. My Mum would have loved the OWLS !
Dear Needled WordPress.
One of my subscribers has expressed an interest in obtaining the knitting pattern for the owl sweater, sweaterzzzz: http://needled.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/owls.jpg Please respond with a link to same, or the pattern if available.
Bye for now & thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
Diana Graham
Kate, I want to thank you for bringing to my attention the wonderful yarns produced by Jamieson & Smith. I received my sample book today and it is truly a thing of beauty. It’s so satisfying to know that they source their fleeces from Shetland farmers and crofters.
Dear Kate
Where did you get the shoes on your most recent blog – like you I’m a keen walker, but also always wear “comfy” shoes.
?
Accidentally stumbled across your site while looking up paisley patterns for a lecture!
The whole blog is very enjoyable and I did appreciate and feel for you in the piece about your experience of getting rid of your old Mac on freecycle. Some folk are right daft.
Must get back to writing the lecture (without distractions)
Hello
Y come from Belgium. your site is very interesting and beautifull. Your Owls sweat is lovely. Is het possible send me this pattern. Thank you very much
Dear Kate:
I am most interested in purchasing the owl pattern sweater. I would also like to know about where to purchase the buttons.
Please respond soonest.
I love the owl sweaters and all the work here.
I am from York, PA
I go to school at Temple and came across your blog through your Walking in Philadelphia post. Very nice, and I want to go knit something now.
Best wishes,
Amy