Reddit reviews Highland Knits: Knitwear Inspired by the Outlander Series

I’m a knitter and those garments pull me right out of the eighteenth century.

Chunky garter stitch cowls, shrugs and wristwarmers? Those were all the rage in the early aughts.

Vintage patterns are just the opposite. The further back you go, the more fine-gauge the handiwork. And really old knitting, like what would be period-appropriate for the show? You’re unlikely to see any shaping whatsoever, let alone mirrored decreases and increases that don’t leave holes. Some of the pieces look circularly knit, too, which would be unlikely for the period.

Aran-style cable knits are a relatively recent embellishment. Late nineteenth century at the very earliest. Ditto stranded colorwork, though thankfully the show doesn’t go there. (Even though it’s the technique most closely associated with Scotland. \^.\^ The Shetlands, Fair Isle. Cables are more of an Irish thing. Or that’s the colorful folklore, Irish fishermen braving the waters in cable patterns passed down through the ages, each intricate braid associated with a particular family, so if their unrecognizable bloated bodies wash ashore they can be identified by their cables—bullshit, but it’s a good story.)

Lace would be more plausible, but unless you’re going for chunky lace which I have to say, usually doesn’t look so hot, then you’re talking fine-gauge knits again, something the costume designer seems to be allergic to. :þ

Actually, the real reason is time. I remember reading her admit as much. Production schedules have pressing deadlines, and chunky yarns knit up quick. So she sacrificed authenticity for expediency, which, fine. But I think it’s problematic that the garments don’t differ much from what you’ll find in early issues of Interweave Knits or Knitscene or on Knitty or something.

Interweave actually put out a magazine entirely devoted to Outlander, and the funny thing was how similar the patterns were to their usual fare.

One more thing, the color, or lack thereof. Here’s a great piece I read a while back going into that, along with the costuming in general—particularly those oh-so-tasteful modern tartans designed just for the show. The takeaway? Eighteenth-century Scots were peacocks. They abjured restrained neutrals in favor of bold, clashing colors, the more eye-searing the better. That preference would likely extend to knitwear as well.

It's from Interweave Editors and can be purchased on Amazon!

I got it as a gift when my knitting mother-in-law discovered I'm a huge fan of the books (and now the show. :) ) Apparently you can also buy kits with the patterns and the recommended yarns.