New patterns

Lynne from Calon Yarns asked me to design some patterns to sell, and we had the launch last Saturday. The patterns were not actually ready (problems with the printer, they said 6-8 days, but it's more like 14. Grr!) so instead people could pre-order them - but the samples were there so they could have a prod and a squeeze. I'm please to say that we sold three patterns. I couldn't believe it: we walked in to the shop and I saw my name on a sign "Patterns by local designer Andrew Williams". I'm a published knit patterner!

Bedwen means 'birch tree' in Welsh. Easy cables with a little flare at the base, so it sits on your neck nicely. It's knitted with Patons Fab Big, a lovely mega chunky yarn that's 100% acrylic, but really soft. It's very reasonably priced too, £4.50 for a 200g ball and that's enough to make a cowl and two large crocheted flowers. Each of my new patterns comes with a free bonus pattern - either a little crocheted thing, or a cute wristband.

Draig means 'dragon' in Welsh. It's crocheted with DK yarn using the crocodile stitch, but as I'm Welsh, I prefer to think of it as dragon scales. I think it would be nice in a thicker yarn, and would be much quicker to make too.

Igam Ogam (pronounced: ee-gam oh-gam) means 'zig zag' in Welsh. It's knitted in DK yarn (but can easily be made using a different weight) with a simple k2, p2 repeat, but every two rows the repeat is changed which creates the zig zag - first one way, then the other, and then back to the original direction. The pattern has instructions for making a long cowl, and a short, normal-sized version.

Onnen means 'ash tree' in Welsh. I made up this cable pattern and it reminded me of the bark of a tree, the colour of the test knit (a beige Wendy Mistral, sadly now discontinued) also made me think of as ash tree. This knits up really quickly on 8mm needles, I made this one while watching two episodes of Game of Thrones. A very nice Christmas knit.

The patterns should be with me on Friday the 7th of October, so Calon Yarns will be fully stocked with the patterns by next weekend. Some people very kindly bought the patterns anyway, as a pre-order kind of thing. I can't tell you how excited I was! The patterns can be bought from Calon Yarns, 380 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff. They are £3.50 each. Bargain.

So what's next then? Well, my friend Nina has asked me to knit a poncho in mega chunky as a Christmas gift for her sister (she'd been eyeing up the one I made Nina a few years ago), so that's my next pattern: The Ostrich Plume Poncho (I know, I know, but I can't help it, I love that lace pattern!)

Happy knitting!