I am in love with all things Scottish (including, believe it or not, haggis!). I listen to Celtic music while I work, I used to own 4 ball gowns that I wore to Scottish Country Dance balls (think Contra Dance with bagpipes and fiddles), and I swoon over men in kilts. Years ago, I attended a week-long Scottish Country Dance camp. During a break from dancing, a bunch of women were sunning on the dock at the lake, talking about relationships. One of the women said, “The problem is, I’m looking for a Jamie”. Without her having to say anything else, every last one of us knew she was referring to Jamie Fraser in Diana Gabaldon’s epic Outlander series. I had inhaled the book series as they came out and was thrilled when it was announced that it was going to be made into a television series. I subscribed to Starz just to watch the series. I’ve also read every single one of Lynn Kurland’s time-travel romances (most of them two or more times), all taking place in Scotland or England.

I should also mention that I’m a horsewoman. On my first trip to Scotland (still waiting for my second trip - some day!), I was able to arrange a horseback ride in the hills above Loch Ness. It was absolutely a dream come true and remains one of my favorite riding experiences.

So when our designer group started discussing cinematic inspirations for a collaborative project, my mind of course jumped immediately to Outlander. I pictured Claire racing across the lonely, windswept moors on horseback, dressed warmly against the elements, in colors that come straight out of the moor itself.

The Rannoch Moor Swing Coat was named for a boggy moorland of about 50 squares miles located in the Scottish Highlands. It’s lonely, desolate, and stunningly beautiful, and a place I want to revisit in every season. The coat is long enough and wide enough at the bottom edge that it covers the saddle and keeps you warm as you ride. The twisted knit panels that run down the front and back are textural evocations of cables and Scottish plaid.

The body of this coat is worked in one piece from the bottom to the armholes, then the back and fronts are worked separately to the shoulders. The sleeves are picked up and worked down from the armholes, with short-row shaping to shape the cap. The sides are shaped to give the coat an A-line shape, and there is a gusset in the center of the back to allow extra room in the hips.

The stitch pattern is presented in both written and charted formats.

Skill Level: Experienced

Skills Used: Twisted knitting, knitting in the round, increasing and decreasing, picking up stitches, German Short Rows

Sizes: XX-Small (X-Small, Small, Medium) (Large, 1X, 2X) (3X, 4X, 5X, 6X)

Finished Measurements: 28.5 (33, 37.25, 40.5) (45, 48.75, 53.5) (57.75, 60.25, 64.75, 68.75)“ bust, buttoned; intended to be worn with approximately 4” ease

Materials: Worsted weight wool: 1145 (1270, 1375, 1510) (1640, 1755, 1920) (2055, 2155, 2280, 2430) yards. Model knit in Heirloom Romney by Fancy Tiger Crafts (100% US romney wool; 114 grams / 200 yards): color #56 Malt.

Needles and Notions: One each size 8 (5 mm) circular needles, 16” and 29” long or longer, OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE; one set of five double-pointed needles (dpn) size 8 (5mm); cable needle; stitch markers; waste yarn or stitch holders; five 7/8” buttons

Gauges: In Stockinette stitch, 19 sts and 26 rows = 4”/10 cm, washed and blocked.
In Woven Pattern, 19 sts and 26 rows = 4”/10 cm, washed and blocked.