According to website study.com ‘There were many goddesses of fertility in mythology, but there could only be one Great Mother of the Gods…. In Roman mythology…. she’s called Cybele, the universal mother of not only the gods but also of all humans, animals and plant life. Referred to as the Magna Mater, or Great Mother, she was the personification of Mother Earth.’

Once again the name given to my latest design by The Knitter magazine, issue 155, has taught me something new!

When designing, I like to play around with yarns and stitches, and it’s always satisfying to be able to use the two most basic stitches – knit and purl – in an interesting combination. I’m particularly pleased with this latest design as it comprises just those two stitches, but when knitted in a 2 colour stripe in the round, in alternating rows of 3, not only is the textile fabulously stretchy, but the garment is actually reversible! (see images below)

I used the same stitch and stripe combination for my design Valda hat and cowl (see images below) from winter 2019, available to buy on Ravelry.

Cybele was knitted using Juniper Moon Farm Patagonia Organic Merino Sport weight in a gorgeous turquoise and ivory. The combination of yarn and stitch gives the garment a wonderful sculptural quality that I hope to explore in future designs.