Dear Knitter,

This year is a busy one for me, as you will see from the enclosed itinerary of exhibitions, festivals, holidays, shows and workshops. ‘My Life in Textiles’ (the retrospective exhibition funded by Chance to Create and the Welsh Arts Council) will continue its tour to the three Knitting and Stitching shows at Alexandra Palace, Dublin and Harrogate. So I do hope you will be able to see it somewhere along the line. If you can't get to the exhibition, the catalogue is available by mail order, price £4.

To complement the exhibition I have written a new book of knitting patterns. ‘The Classic Collection – 4 decades of hand-knit design’. It has been great fun taking iconic designs from 1969 onwards and making a selection of timeless wearable hand knits that I hope will continue on into the next decade to be long term favourites!

Some of the early designs such as Scotty, Prowling Cat, Mosaic and Navy spot are knitted using the original 4-ply Shetland wool, which is still being spun 40 years later by Jamieson and Smith in the Shetland Islands. Other designs have been re-worked and take advantage of the new soft luxury fibres produced by Rowan Yarns, such as Kid Classic, Siena 4-ply cotton and Silky Wool DK. Together with the patterns I have commissioned essays from leading industry professionals, which not only makes interesting reading but puts the designs in a historical and cultural context for all you fibre fans. I am already taking orders for advance copies of this new book, so do use the order form to secure your own copy.

Thank you for your continued interest and Happy Knitting!