Following her success, Di moved to St Andrews, opening a knitting shop there with a second outlet in Perth. Today, her studio is in a cosy, restored stone bothy in Largoward, on the East Neuk of Fife.
Di Gilpin is a designer, maker, and wool lover who works from her charming studio in Fife. She uses her own Lalland Lambswool, made in Scotland and finished in Yorkshire. This lightweight yarn offers excellent stitch definition and is perfect for Fair Isle, Gansey, lace, and cable knitting. It can also be used with two strands together to create Aran weight wool.
When Di isn’t in her studio, she enjoys traveling around the Scottish countryside. The gorgeous textures and colours she sees often inspire her work. She likes to research the history and folklore that influence her designs. Di’s team is vital to her business. Sheila Greenwell helps develop patterns and manages the knitting group.
Di has created a new type of yarn called Saorse. It’s made from 80% fleece from Claddach Farm and 20% cashmere. The yarn is a light golden colour with a lovely texture.
Di grew up in Yorkshire and came to Skye in 1983, planning a six-month stay. Little did she know, that visit would change her life. At 23, she was teaching near Warwick when an accident led her to take time off. She and her boyfriend camped until they found a ruined croft to live in.
Life on Skye was simpler, but Di still needed an income. Having always knitted, she continued taking orders from friends all over Scotland – doing everything by letter since they didn’t have a phone. What was meant to be a temporary stay on Skye soon turned into an unforgettable, lasting adventure.
From these humble beginnings, Di’s knitwear business grew, leading her from a croft to couture catwalks.
Following her success, Di moved to St Andrews, opening a knitting shop there with a second outlet in Perth. Today, her studio is in a cosy, restored stone bothy in Largoward, on the East Neuk of Fife.
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What’s really lovely is the fact that when you make something and gift it, then that piece becomes part of somebody’s family and life.
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