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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.

Well you may also be interested then in another book called the Carmina Gadelica By Alexander Carmichael. I considered it when I wanted to learn about folklore, but it seems to be more focused on Celtic Christianity, whereas I was looking for more about the very old ways and folklore. The Silver Bough was good for that though. It does sound like it'll fit your interest! :)

If my husband got me the scarf I'd be thrilled. If she likes to cook the cookbook is a great choice. The other book you linked has good reviews, too.

If she has not read the series yet you could throw in the first book. If she likes to read she's going to love the series.

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons https://www.amazon.com/Bronze-Horseman-Paullina-Simons/dp/006185414X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=bronze+horseman&qid=1563033305&s=gateway&sprefix=bronze+horse&sr=8-1 it’s the best book I have ever read!! You will fall in love with it. And best if all, it’s a triology :)

I second the cookbook, if she enjoys cooking! I have it, the recipes are great, the pictures beautiful, and there are excerpts from the series with each recipe. It's fairly cheap at around $23 on Amazon and at other retailers.

So now we start a discussion on things totally not connected to the show, but possibly just as interesting. So Black Jack was an officer of the Dragoons, which were really heavy cavalry. In the 1740s the colonel of the regiment would determine what the dress and equipment of the regiment was, so even though an officer would have bought his own equipment, looked after the care of his horse and gear, etc, the type of weapon used was determined by the commandant. Cavalry officers would typically use a sword (or sabre) with both a thrusting edge and a cutting edge. While a thrusting point was almost a necessity when fighting against armored infantry, by the 1740s the cavalry would be fighting against unarmored infantry and a blade with a slashing edge would be more efficient from horseback, especially since a thrusting blade was more likely to get embedded in the target and possibly wrenched from the hands of the horseman. Plus the cutting edge provides a larger impact area, making an effective stroke more likely, particularly in a charge (and yes cavalry was still charging, and always did, even into WWII).

British Ordnance factories were turning out a variety of blades by the 1740s, even though standard cavalry swords probably arrived just a bit later, the most famous patterns being the 1796 heavy and light cavalry swords. The spadroon, by the way was more often an infantry sword, and BJR was definitely not an infantry officer.

By the 1740s the common cavalry officers sword started off using a modified Walloon hilt, which used a double shell guard, tapering down to a single bar. But the influence of various basket hilts also started appearing about the mid 18th century, and had a broad multi-bar knuckle guard with side finials, making it look almost like a basket hilt. With Army deployments in Scotland the influences of the Scottish basket hilt began making their way into English cavalry swords, leading to something that looked like a sort of bastardized basket hilt. The officers swords being more ornate probably resembled a basket hilt more closely, while the swords used by troopers had more open grills on the hilt.

Haven't seen the episode yet, and the hilt may be wrong, but I would take objection to the cutting/thrusting edge argument.

BTW here's a Horse Grenadier Officers Sword from around that era.

https://imgur.com/oJlc7HM

And a great book for sword enthusiasts:

https://www.amazon.com/British-Cavalry-Sword-1600-ebook/dp/B00KDJLW9Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506282751&sr=8-1&keywords=The+British+Cavalry+Sword+From+1600+martyn

But we digress from the woes of Frank and Claire. ;)

They are nice to look at but monsters to try and read from - the hardcovers are BIG and heavy books. So, if it's just for looking at, then sure.

Those two companion books I listed - those are full of neat things like how to pronounce things in Gaelic, family trees, essays about historical medicine and other research she did - also lots of pictures and such, so you'd want hardcopies - link

It was one of the short stories I think... I read it last year after stumbling upon it...lemme go find it... I'm pretty sure it was this one!

So you think that is a better book thank the one I linked?

Looks like $21.95 CAD? I'm not sure if that's a good exchange rate or not :)

I believe I listened to it on cd from the library. (Old school.) Looks like they have it on Amazon? https://www.amazon.com/Spiderwick-Chronicles-Lucindas-Ironwood-Mulgarath/dp/0739356151

Hahahaha, was curious about this lady so I looked her up. She wants $30 (!!!) for a self published book interpreting the symbolism and inspiration of Outlander, and it has a one-star review from DG saying everything is wrong. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/0786499524/R29C4M00CEJYTT/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_rvw_1?ie=UTF8&cursor=1

Seriously, can anyone publish anything these days?

Here is the link to the Collector's Edition

Definitely this book about the real life Lord Lovat

I know first season is available on Amazon Instant Video now. Probably have to wait until end of season to see the new stuff. (But then you can binge watch!)

If you are paying for Starz, they do have Starz Play.

For the lazy

There's a book written that has this kind of info - not sure if it's only through Seasons 1-2 or if it has later seasons too:
https://www.amazon.com/Outlanders-Scotland-Phoebe-Taplin/dp/1841658049

Ta-da! https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/outlander-main-title-theme/id903585323 or Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Title-Theme-feat-Yarbrough/dp/B00MJV5LXE

I'm not afraid to admit that every time I hear that song and the Firefly one.. tears come out of my eyes. Can't help it. They move me.

Do you have a copy of the Outlandish Companion? It provides most of what you are looking for, although you'll have to look stuff up instead of having a side-by-side. You'll probably want Volume II since you're just starting The Fiery Cross.