"Blow, blow, thou winter wind!"

The wind blows, the lightening flashes and the rain pelts the windows ferociously, the studio has been reorganised and is even lighter and airier than before, I have lit the woodburner up here for the first time and the effect is comforting, efficient and cosy - perfect for the day I have planned...finishing Mackenzie's sweater, writing up a pattern for a simple wee hat, snuggling up in my wingback chair and watching a movie while I knit another linen washcloth.

The hat pattern will follow shortly, but I'll tell you the story first...Mel McMillan sent me a sample of Woolganic yarn to try, and I am very impressed - this 100% wool yarn is incredibly soft and sproingy (that's a technical term!) and the colour range is much more sophisticated than the usual offerings, once I have finished my current crop of designs I will be experimenting with garments using this yarn for the Just Jussi range - but in the meantime I have designed a baby hat- which uses 25 grams of this DK weight yarn. I had an idea in my head of using the spiralling decreases necessary in a hat to create the organic bending of fern fronds - the Silver fern is a symbol of New Zealand, and the unfurling tip of the frond - the "koru" is a sacred symbol of creation and hope for the future - perfect for a baby!...my first attempt did not bend at all - the fern fronds sat stolidly, stubbornly straight - but I had my answer, the second attempt gave me the elements I was looking for, the fern fronds gently angling and terminating in 3 i-cord koru hence the name of the pattern.