2024 has been a bit of a wild ride!
We moved here, to our new home in wonderful Kintyre
Moving house is something I’m definitely in no hurry to do again. But I am SO happy to be here.
We published two very different books in 2024
In Colour at Work, edited with my dear pal Felix. . .
. . .we combined the exciting history of colour with contemporary chromatic practices . . .
. . . and brought along our friends to join the fun.
KDD’s second book was a huge project, whose development began 18 months ago, and whose delivery occupied most of 2024.
I really enjoyed researching my essays for this book (exploring the cultural contexts of Margery Allingham’s wartime and post-war novels) and it was a complete treat to to work with fellow Allingham superfans – Julia Jones, Veronica Horwell, Caroline Crampton and Imogen Robertson – providing new perspectives on this most interesting queen of crime. Tom and I also got to visit Allingham country, where we enjoyed many wonderful Essex walks, and discovered the delights of Tollesbury and its mysterious marsh.
I also produced an accompanying collection of colourful spring and summer knits. For me, the whole purpose of being a designer is to continually challenge oneself creatively – because honestly – what’s the point of more of the same? Mysterious Knits provided me with a great opportunity to explore new concepts, knitterly techniques and methods of construction. I made the most of this, and found the creative difference of this project incredibly rewarding.
I learned a great deal while working on the Mysterious Knits collection, and I love its many twists and turns. Which pattern is my favourite? Most definitely the Tiger.
It has been a big creative year, then, but, speaking personally it’s had its difficulties too. Migraines (for whose decline I continue to hold out perhaps vain hope in the approaching post-menopausal years) have become awful week-long soul-and-energy sapping affairs, and I worked so hard that, by October, I’d managed to make myself quite ill. But – though very burnt out and overworked – I was not depressed! Those of you who suffer from recurrent depression will understand why this feels like some sort of major achievement.
I end 2024 feeling incredibly grateful for YOU – our supportive friends around the world – as well as for my wonderful colleagues – Maylin and Claire, Kate C and Kendall – who have been especially amazing during these last few months when I’ve needed to take a wee step back. And nothing KDD does would be possible without Tom, my forever partner in creative crime, who joins me, with these two filthy beach bums, to wish you a very jolly, joyful, and creative 2025.
here’s to more adventures next year!
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It’s an anti depressant to see and open anything KDD. Thank Tom for the pics. The recent waves have put me over the moon.🌖
Keep resting your mind and body please.
Happy New Year, Kate, Tom, and all the wonderful people (and sweet labs) who work so hard to bring happiness to our knitting world.
I and a friend here in warm but wet Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, are still waiting for our Mysterious Knits books to arrive. It hasn’t helped that we had a postal strike for a few weeks. I do hope that we receive our books soon.
I have knit It Has a Bend in It and loved the unique construction. Truthfully, I have the sleeves to finish but just haven’t had the time to do that. When I get back home from a two week trip to Thailand in January, I’ll be ready to sit and knit while I reminisce about my trip.
My Scottish roots (Glasgow) thrill to Tom’s gorgeous photos. On my last trip there, I was sitting quietly on the tour bus and out of the blue I heard a voice in my head say “You belong here.” I was comforted by that.
All the best for the New Year. I wish you good health and lots more energy in 2025.
Linda H
Hi Linda, your book should definitely have arrived by now – do email us so we can check on your order (help@katedaviesdesigns.com). Enjoy your trip and haste ye back to Scotland!
Happy New Year! I loved doing the Summer of Mystery with you all this year — reading those Allingham books brought me back to a time I took my reading less seriously, and had more fun. Thank you!
Wishing you and Tom a very happy and healthy New Year. I am so pleased that the awful black fog didn’t descend. Love the picture of the beach bums and it would nice to hear their thoughts on the house move. Kind regards Eleanor
Happy new year Kate, to you and the whole KDD team.
V x
I’m a little late on this but want to let you know I so enjoyed the challenge of not knowing exactly where I was going with the mystery shawl. Not having the most flexible mind at times, I’m still amazed the square became the circle. My shawl has been in daily use here in Minnesota, USA, first by me and now surprisingly by my husband. I volunteered to make one for him and when I asked what colors he’d like, he of course said “these colors.” So I ordered a different color scheme for myself so I get to make another one. I’m looking forward to that lovely yarn’s arrival. Happy New Year to all of you at KDD.
Not depressed! The best thing. Happened to me when I recently finished my PhD. Completely exhausted but NOT DEPRESSED! Wishing you, Tom and the gorgeous dogs a very happy 2025 (do you think Bob might need an agent – he clearly has a stellar modelling career ahead of him!)
I wish you, Tom and your dogs a happy and healthy 2025!
I participated in the summer Mystery Knitting project. I thought I would receive a book at the end of the summer. It has not arrived yet. Please advise. Thank you. Paulette Staats
Hi Paulette, please email us at help@katedaviesdesigns.com and we can check your order
Wishing you (and those filthy beach bums!) all the best in 2025. The KDD creative community has been a wonderful boon to my own well-being. On to the new year, and more creative adventures for all!
Thank you, Kate and crew, for all you’ve done to make my 2024 joyful, challenging, and creative. Best of everything for all of us in 2025!
Thank you for the year-end wrap-up. So colorful and filled with inspiring words and knits, and beautiful photos. I finished my Cowal Cowl and it was lovingly received! I too suffered from migraines from age 40 until just about 3 years ago (at age 75). They do diminish after menopause but mine lingered on though not quite so debilitating. From Cape Cod, I wish you a joy filled, successful, and healthy 2025. Sue Sharpe
What a year! Thank you for sharing your ups and downs with us. Here’s to a 2025 with more balance, more peace, and less pain! ❤️
I have suffered for migraines for over 20 years. I finally found some relief from new medications. There are injections You can take once a month or pills you can take once a day. A Neurologist helped me with this. I live in the US, but hopefully there are doctors where you live that might be able to help you with these new medicines. They have been a real life changer for me.
I wish you all the best.
Thank you Kate for all the wonderful patterns, fascinating essays, beautiful photographs, and the introduction to Margery Allingham which have given me joy in 2024.
Hormonal migraine – me too – post menopause it ended , what relief , you too hopefully .
Ye gods, Trish, here’s hoping!
with all best wishes for the new year, fewer migraines and more filthy beach bum photos😊. Love the waves image, what amazing colours.
Wishing you health and happiness in 2025. Thank you for your lovely posts and creative energy even as you rest and heal.
Best wishes for the new year! <3