Who doesn't love a good May Day celebration? This month we have taken inspiration from the blooms, colours and joyous exultation of this fun festival to mark the coming of spring. And this year, we have a feeling we need this convivial fete more than most, after one of the longest, coldest winters for a while. We are currently searching for and enjoying every little drop of sunshine we can absorb and some of the gloriously pretty, colourful projects we have this month are beginning to help us celebrate the spring and thaw properly.
We all know that the weather could continue to be changeable at this time of year, so it is always a good idea to have a lightweight wrap or shawl close to hand. Our cover project, the May Bloom Wrap by Carmen Heffernan, uses gorgeous lace, florals and vibrant shades all hooked in a linen-mix yarn to create the perfect wrap for spring. While some of the embellishments, accessories and home decorations inside this issue, like Alessandra Poggiagliolmi's cute, quick-to-make brooches, Sue Maton's stunning and highly patterned bag and Hattie Risdale's beautiful garland, will add a little bit of lasting colour and cheer to an outfit or room on even a dull day.
If you are too worried about a sudden chill to wear open-toed shoes just yet, Vicki Brown takes you through the basics of hooking socks in our feature on page 33. The accompanying patterns are delicate and summery enough for wearing with your clogs or sandals until the weather gets warm enough to do without.