Tea and knitting go hand in hand, so when I needed to come up with a design for our Nordic themed knitting retreat, a cosy seemed the obvious choice! My current cosy is also looking very much the worse for wear, so I’ll admit to a little personal motivation as well…

If ever you are in need of a refreshing turn around some gardens in Cardiff, the ones at Insole Court are perfect. They were the pride and joy of Miss Violet Insole (1883-1932) who was a keen horticulturalist and renowned for the alpine and iris gardens she cultivated in the grounds. Violet won medals for several of her iris varieties, and amon...

The Journey Cowl represents a true journey for me, both literally and figuratively. In producing Cartref Yarn, Jennie and I travel from our homes to a mid-Wales British Wool depot to select the fleeces we need. We drive them to the mill for processing, then return to pick the finished yarn up and bring it home to dye. Until the yarn is sold, it...

My three kids take the train to school, and the walk from the station takes them along the Ash Path. It’s a good 15 minutes on foot, and they catch up with their friends as they go. The central cable that runs from cuff to fingers represents the path, and the split diamond cable is the kids winding their way along it to school. The gorgeous ‘Gl...

These socks were inspired by the cheerful fabric bunting that we made for the Knit Tea Retreats. There’s a little bit of fun at the top of the leg, and the rest is soothing plain vanilla all the way, with a contrast heel and toe. They would be a perfect project for knitting on the go or at knit nights.

What I have been asked for the most, when working on the Owl About Yarn stand at festivals, is a plain beginner sock pattern. Knitters loved my fancy socks, but didn’t feel ready to tackle anything other than a vanilla one for a first attempt. So here it is, as requested!

Jennie and I wanted to dye up some exclusive yarn and design a pattern each to celebrate our very first Knit Tea Retreat in Cardiff 2018! I was inspired by our logo to create this simple beanie hat with an easy, all-over daisy stitch pattern that shows the yarn to its full glory whilst still being interesting to knit. It’s long enough to fully ...

Something like 6 times a year, I pack a bag and head off to a yarn show to work on the stand of my best friend, Jennie, of Owl About Yarn. We stuff every last inch of space in her car (dubbed The Party Bus) with yarn, fibre, grid wall, and snacks and hit the road for a long weekend. Whilst I love the shows themselves, I must confess that the jo...

The whole Harry Potter story starts the night that Lord Voldemort kills Lily and James Potter, and gives Harry his scar. The ramifications of that failed curse run through all the books and shape the lives of its characters. Mirroring that fateful event, the Curses Socks start with a lightning zig-zag pattern, running into a lace path for the l...

Hiraeth (here-EYE-th) is a Welsh word, with no direct English translation, but is commonly understood to mean a longing for one’s homeland. More than simple homesickness, it encompasses a yearning for a physical place, its inhabitants and way of life, and one’s own place within it. After many years living on Barry Island with my family, I have ...

I live just 5 minutes walk from the beaches of Barry Island, on the south coast of Wales. With three children and a water-loving Labrador, many of my happiest memories are of time spent together on the sand, having a paddle and a picnic. The main beach has two rows of brightly-painted beach huts which were begging to be made into a sock design!