“Anyone can cuddle, but only the Welsh can CWTCH.”

Cwtch: Snuggling and cuddling and loving and protecting and safeguarding and claiming, all rolled into one. There is an element of intimacy, earnestness and ownership in this Welsh word (recently adopted into the OED) that the closest English equivalents, “cuddle”, “snuggle” and “hug” lack.

A cwtch creates a private safe place in a room or in two peoples hearts. Cwtching is strong affection made manifest and can apply to lovers, or a parent and child.

I bought this yarn at Clare Wools in Aberystwyth, a village on the west coast of Wales. I was there with my husband, my mother, and my brother. We had just spent a couple of days in Cardiff, and were heading back to the north side of Wales to the village of Rhuddlan. As I was the official “cruise director” and navigator, we spent a couple of hours visiting this lovely village, had some lunch, found a bike shop for the husband to get a cycling jersey, and a wool shop for me. Huzzah!

I got the pattern for free along with the yarn. It isn’t on Ravelry, but can be downloaded from the Katia site.