Cairn Circles & the Caiplie Jacket - The Next Chapter in My Scottish Story

I started gathering references and developing moodboards, then worked with a fabric designer to translate those ideas into a design for cloth.

Rather than copying one particular piece of rock art, I wanted to create an interpretation of the different markings I'd researched, with circular motifs and connecting forms working together across the fabric. I knew quite early on that I didn't want this to become a conventional printed design.

One of the most important things I wanted Cairn Circles to have was a real sense of texture and depth. The original markings were made into rock, so I loved the idea of creating a fabric where the design was part of the material itself, rather than simply printed onto the surface.

I searched for different fabric options before deciding that a woven jacquard would be the perfect way to achieve this. With jacquard weaving, the design is created through the construction of the cloth itself. Different woven structures form the circles and connecting shapes, creating a beautiful contrast between smoother areas and more textured sections.

The finished Cairn Circles fabric is 100% cotton, woven exclusively for G&G in Portugal, with a substantial weight of 340gsm.

I love how the circular motifs catch the light and how the texture becomes even more pronounced after washing, when the fabric naturally softens and develops a slightly crinkled appearance. It's exactly the sort of tactile, interesting cloth I'd hoped to create.

The Natural Undyed version wasn't actually part of my original plan, but I loved the fabric in its natural state so much that I decided to include it. As Cairn Circles is 100% cotton, it also offers the opportunity to experiment with fabric dye and create your own colour.

To put this to the test, I used our new Oggi Olivewood Green machine-wash fabric dye on a 2.5-metre length of Natural Undyed Cairn Circles. I experimented with different amounts of dye, first using one bottle and then dyeing the fabric a second time to create a deeper shade.

The results were lovely, and I was really pleased with how evenly the fabric took the colour once it had dried.

I've written a separate blog post taking you through the whole experiment, including the washing process, dye quantities, the results and what I'd recommend if you're thinking of trying it yourself. 

As I was developing Cairn Circles and thinking about the weight, structure and texture I wanted it to have, I started imagining the kinds of garments it would be suited to. I absolutely love sewing jackets, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to develop a new G&G jacket pattern alongside it!

I wanted something relaxed and comfortable, with a lovely contemporary shape that would really make the most of the fabric. That was the starting point for the Caiplie Jacket.

Caiplie is a relaxed, hip-length, fully lined jacket with a subtle cocoon silhouette, slightly dropped shoulders and a wonderfully cosy high collar.

The shaped hem bands gently bring the fullness of the jacket back in, while the curved front seam lines incorporate two generous pockets. There's also an optional internal welt pocket, perfect for keeping your phone or other little essentials tucked away.

The collar can be worn standing up around your neck or folded down to create a softer lapel-style shape, and you can choose between statement buttons or sew-on snaps for the fastening.

Developing the Shape

Working with our pattern designer, we went through several samples to get the proportions just right. We experimented with different collar heights because I wanted it to feel substantial and snug without overwhelming the jacket. 

It also took a few attempts to get the balance between the fullness of the body and the shaped hem band just right, creating that relaxed cocoon silhouette without too much volume.

I really love the finished shape. It feels cosy and practical, but with enough interesting details to make it a rewarding sewing project.

Is Caiplie Difficult to Sew?

I think jacket-making can sometimes feel a little intimidating because there are more pattern pieces and construction stages involved, but that doesn't necessarily mean every individual step is difficult! For me, that's part of what makes sewing jackets so enjoyable. They're satisfying projects to really get stuck into, and the finished garment is something you can wear again and again.

I'd recommend Caiplie for a confident beginner who has already completed several dressmaking projects, or an intermediate dressmaker. The optional internal welt pocket is probably the trickiest technique, but you can leave it out if you'd prefer.

And to help you along the way, I've filmed a complete step-by-step sew-along video, included with the pattern, so you can follow the entire construction process with me.

The Caiplie Jacket PDF sewing pattern is available in UK sizes 4–32.

Bringing the Collection Together

I love how beautifully Cairn Circles works with our Wild Rowan and Afterlight fabrics, which we've used as contrasting linings in the Caiplie Jacket samples. That lovely flash of colour and pattern when you open the jacket really brings the whole Scottish-inspired collection together!

Although designed with Cairn Circles in mind, Caiplie would also work beautifully in wool, wool blends and boiled wool, and I can't wait to see the combinations you come up with.

Explore our finished Caiplie Jacket projects below, where you can shop the pattern, fabrics and haberdashery used to make each one, or pick and choose the individual items you need.

There was one final part of the story that made this jacket particularly personal to me. Caiplie is named after Caiplie Caves, on the coast of Fife in Scotland, close to where my dad's side of the family are from. I've been visiting the caves since I was a child, and they're somewhere I still love to visit whenever I'm back in that part of Scotland.

The caves have their own fascinating history, including historic carvings, and I loved the connection between this place that means so much to me and the wider inspiration behind Cairn Circles.It felt like the perfect name for the jacket.

The Final Chapter of My Scottish-Inspired Collection

It's been such an enjoyable creative journey developing these fabrics and patterns, from those first ideas inspired by Scotland's landscapes and ancient markings through to the finished garments.

I love that Wild Rowan, Afterlight and Cairn Circles each have their own distinctive character, but are connected by the same wider story. Seeing them come together in the Caiplie Jacket feels like a really satisfying way to complete the collection.

I hope hearing a little more about the inspiration and development behind these designs makes them feel even more special when you sew with them.

Most of all, I can't wait to see what you make!

Happy sewing!