“M’anam-sa a’ dèanamh tàimh riut/ a’ lorg sìth am measg an stoirm” --”Dan”, Catriona NicGumaraid bho Re Na H-Oidche
“My soul makes its home with you/ seeking peace amid the storm” -- “Song” by Catriona Montgomery from The Length of the Night

As knitters we often express love in our knitting, and I’ve always believed that when two people fall in love and embark on a life together, they need a blanket. Something to wrap up tight in on a cold night. I named this pattern after the beautiful Scottish Gaelic poem quoted above which expresses more beautifully what it is to find the person you want to make a home better than I ever could. The old shale pattern reflects the waves crashing in a storm from the poem.

This blanket is made from hard-wearing native wool, spun at a local mill. It’s beautiful and functional and will last through a lifetime of not very careful use and abuse. It is an object to be lived in and with, like love itself. It is made from the center-out and so the size is ultimately up to you. Make it until you’re happy with the size or you run out of yarns. The gauge is also flexible. Use your favorite yarn and adjust the needle size to one that creates the density you like.

ERRATA: When working the first repeat of the increase chart (that is right after casting on and knitting one round) do not follow the charted Line 1 (yo, k1, yo), instead Knit 3 into 1 stitch. Every other repeat should be completed as charted, this will be amended in a re-released on the pattern pdf soon, 31 December, 2015