Dear Knitter,

To celebrate the long, light days of summer which we are now enjoying in the Hebrides, we are bringing you a new patterncard kit design. The Queen Anne's Lace cardigan and beret is inspired by a plant more commonly known as cow parsley, which bedecks our machair, crofts and roadsides during the summer months. The queenly name refers to the story of Queen Anne, a passionate seamstress, who pricked her finger causing a drop of blood to spill on to the lace she was working. The delicate lacy flower caps are tinged with pink at the centre and so it is easy to see how a small red dot on lace would bring to mind this beautiful flower.

I first designed my Queen Anne’s Lace patterns over thirty years ago and since I enjoy their presence every summer I thought it was high time to honour this gorgeous flower once more. This time I have designed a cardigan with a matching beret and worked the patterns and the colours to fit the mood of my Hebridean summer croft. You can see Sylwia wearing the Queen Anne's Lace here styled with a muted green skirt. You can find the Queen Anne's Lace patterncard kit here.