I LOVE Outlander! I’ve loved the books by Diana Gabaldon for years, and I’m totally in love with the Starz Mini Series (which is incredibly well done, small costume issues aside – huge, bulky knit cowls, I’m looking at you…)
But overall the details are perfect, the story is exceptional, and if you’re watching it, I want you to pay attention to the editing, which I think is first rate.
It’s not easy to do a time-travel type of thing and have it make sense. This mini series moves back and forth from 1743 to 1945 with a lovely grace and ease, the editing is in large part responsible for this excellent, graceful movement.
So I’m willing to forgive a decolletage that’s a bit too popping (poor Claire’s not terribly well endowed, so I’m thinking they felt they had to push her up farther than she probably would have been in order to appeal to modern eyes…) and some hand knits that look remarkably modern (it would be more likely that knitting was used to make stockings, caps, and smaller gauge garments based on the yarn that was being spun at the time) because I just LIKE the show so darned much.
Free Pattern
And because I like – no, LOVE – Outlander,
I’m in a generous mood and I’m gifting to everyone who wants my own version of the lovely capelet that Claire wears during the boar hunt episode.
However, I’m beginning to think that any SANE person would head for the hills when they see Claire coming near them, wherever she goes someone gets hurt, or sick, or has an accident and she is, almost magically, able to pop up with the correct diagnosis to save a life. A veritable encyclopedia brown of floral medicine.
Anyway, my version of the cape is a bit more involved than the original in the TV show. It has some cables, a short row, textured collar and a twisted cord tie.
And it’s blue. Aside from that, when you wear it, it will be just like being time-transported back to Jacobite Scotland and meeting a tall, beefy, red-haired handsome fellow with ice-blue slanted cat-eyes and a slow smile that warms the heart…
But I forget myself.
It’s modeled by a lovely young woman who was in my recent classes in Dallas. She agreed to model for me in exchange for a ball of yarn, and I think I got the better end of the deal. She’s absolutely lovely, AND she let me pile her hair on top of her head like Claire. What a champ!
Here’s the link to download the pattern.
Knit Along
I’d love to do a knit along of this, Kathleen and I would host it over at Ravelry, at the ModeKnit Yarn group. If you want to participate, go on over there (and for heaven’s sake, sign up for the group if you’re not in it yet!) and soon we’ll start casting on together and working through the techniques one by one!
I’m new at this knit along thing, so be gentle with me! You help me work through leading a knit along, and I’ll help you mistress the cool techniques in this great garment!