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Having lived for the first seventeen years of my life in rural England, I still have a hankering for country life. I was able to indulge my nostalgia for all things rustic by choosing a pastoral theme for this Spring/Summer issue.
In the fashion pages you'll find "Green Pastures" (page 40), six simple, stylish knits in this season's most on-trend color, in shades ranging from soft sage to palest willow. They are perfect for those lazy summer days when only the most energetic among us want to do more than pick wildflowers or saunter gently over hill and dale. The season would not be complete without a picnic, of course, and Rosy Tucker has come up with the most perfect knitted accessories for outdoor living at its chicest (page 60). From a fabulous cutlery set to the smartest checked picnic rug and thermos cover, the projects are designed to appeal to a variety of skill levels. As readers of this magazine, you already know I love not only designing children's wear but also being able to participate in the photo shoots. For "Flower Children" (page 48), we photographed our gorgeous young models not in the English countryside, as you may have thought, but in a wonderful patch of wildflowers just around the corner from where I live in London. Planted for the Queen's Jubilee, this little garden has provided, since that special summer, a stunning splash of color against the urban backdrop. Designers have long taken their inspiration from the world of books and film, so it is not surprising that news of a remake of The Great Gatsby made us think of 1920s style: flirty pleats and long, lean silhouettes. New talent Natalie Smart came up with the perfect tennis dress and super-chic delicate sweaters that will let you channel your inner Daisy Buchanan (page 31). New yarns for spring include the stunningly beautiful Luxury Silk DK, which is used in "Simply Silk" (page 46)-two day-to-evening tops just right for your next vacation. Enjoy the summer and carry on sending in pictures of your knits; let me know too what you like (or don't like) about the magazine. |
