Well I am just back from Cork and had a fantastic time.
This trip I stayed in Monkstown, a little village I was not familiar with at all.
Rainbow over Monkstown 
Great choice – the staff at the Bosun were amazing, they could not do enough for us and were super friendly. The food was awesome and the hotel was spotless (thank you Lilian). No doubt a pattern will be coming soon named after this little gem in Cork.
Dinner and no I didn’t finish!! The Irish coffee was Theresa’s!!
As always, I had time to think about new designs and got lots of inspiration from the water and views as I always do. We also went for dinner to Eileen’s, one of our customers, and Kitty (her sister and also a knitter) joined us. Her table layout was amazing – so much so I got ideas from her placemats – that’s how my thinking goes!!
Eileen’s beautiful placemats and a refreshing, clean dinner!
Speaking to Eileen, I realised there is a need for bigger sizes. She loves my designs and as her grandchildren are getting older they are outgrowing available sizes. She was saying she would need to look around for another designer to suit. Hang on!!! I love my customers and don’t want them going anywhere!! So more bigger sizes are in the pipeline – I don’t want you going anywhere as we are all a wee family on DBD!!
The team are busy with testing designs suitable for Christmas so you will be seeing lots of red and white (Cork colours incidentally) and many berry shades. Yep, it is that time again and we need to be prepared.
“Mark” latest Aran design just off needles.
Finally, I am delighted to announce that Jayne has officially joined the DBD staff and will be looking after orders and taking amazing pictures of knits – so excited with all her ideas. She is so talented and absolutely hilarious so I am just ecstatic she is on board.
Oor Jayne!!
“Liam” one of Jayne’s favourites and her own knit!
I hope you like my very first “blog”!! I wasn’t sure what was required so winged it!! Now I am told I will eventually be doing a Vlog – I had to google it – oh no, the diet begins!!
Donna xx
Loved our evening together Donna. Great to hear bigger sizes coming soon.
I do listen!! I even featured your gorgeous placemats on blog!! xx
Made me smile. Glad you had fun. I’m part way through Annemarie. This is for my youngest granddaughter expecting her first and my fourteenth great grandchild. Can’t keep up 😂😂
Wow, what an enormous family!! Must be fabulous though xx
I enjoyed reading this.
I too need bigger sizes to knit.
My 1 grandson loves red and I adore this pattern. I am new here and I order from Canada so I appreciate the ability to download your patterns. I am knitting one inblue and will send you photo once completed.
Hi Velma, welcome. Yeah, I don’t know why everyone doesn’t download as they would save a fortune on postage, particularly ladies from overseas. Yes the team love seeing customers knits so look forward to them xx
Fantastic blog really cheered me up sitting with broken foot , I love all your patterns keep getting asked for mammys love . Bigger sizes would be great x
Oh I hope you get better soon. I write loads of stuff on Facebook but and chat page but feel we need a central point for everyone to have a heads up about what is going on. I am learning!! xx
Wow Donna, brilliant idea setting up a blog. My very first time using one. It was lovely catching up with you again. Can’t wait to see the new patterns. K
Stephen has been on at me for ages to do one to engage with customers. First for me too and Im loving chatting to people – I do like to talk xx
Loved the blog and it’s lovely features. Also loved the new design Mark in the beautiful red. Also loved Jaynes favourite Liam. Delighted you are going to do bigger sizes too. So happy and thankful for your beautiful patterns.
Thank you Janet xx
Absolutely loved your blog! Was so interesting to hear about your holiday and it was great that you could visit some of us knitters!!!! Look forward to your next blog!!!😍
Thank you Elizabeth. I plan to get out and about more as restrictions have eased and I love meeting all you knitters. I am planning a trip to Galashiels very soon and will update on where I plan to go xx
Love the blog Donna and hearing about your travels, especially as we are in our sixth lockdown here in Melbourne Australia.
I am tackling my first if your patterns and might I put in a request for an “easy” pattern for those of us who knit at the end of the day and are perhaps a little older and not such talented knitters. Perhaps you already have one in you collection you could direct me to? Keep up the good work.
Thank you and wow, 6th lockdown!! I try to simplify my patterns as much as possible but I would say Willow, Drakes Pool, Eugene, Kinghorn, Theresa, Amelia Anne, Claire, Emily, Hannah, Stephen and Robin are all easy enough to chill and knit with. If you are not sure whether a pattern is tricky or straight forward, just email us and we will guide you in the right direction – that’s what we are here for – Donna xx
Loved your first blog and over the moon bigger sizes are coming soon. Can’t wait. Thank you.
I appreciate you saying so. Yeah there seems to be a demand so I am up for it! There are several on website in bigger sizes and some in testing but Eileen as clear on more choice!! xx
Happy to do them xx
Hi, what a beautiful place, I would love larger sizes too. My grandchildren range from 2 months up to 21 years
I absolutely love your designs, easy to follow, great finish and gorgeous colours.
Great first blog look forward to your next, may I add that whenever I have had a question this lovely lady always answers promptly.
thanks
It is gonna be a busy Winter!! xx
Definitely pleased to hear you plan to produce larger sizes
I love the designs but only have 1 grand-daughter to knit for so am in need of patterns that go beyond age 3
Can’t wait to see what great new designs you will produce – I like a challenge so the fancy cabled ones always attract my attention !
It will be a challenge designing bigger sizes but like you – I love a challenge xx
Loved your blog, so interesting, places and people it certainly cheered me up. Love the fact that your designing bigger sizes, hope you’ll have some with raglan sleeves. Looking forward to your next blog, it’s great, thank you Donna xx
Thanks Jane. Yep all sorts in pipeline xx
Hi love the blog and patterns I would like to download your patterns but like me perhaps we don’t know how to and my first pattern I was going to download I did not know how to find it on my iPad xx
Hi Pauline, thank you for your comments, we really appreciate people taking the time to review our service. I have sent you an email with an explanation of how to download the patterns. Please contact us if you have problems in the future as there is a team of us waiting to help. Annmarie
Hi have not long found you have already brought 6 patterns and the lovely pink flower embellishments. Have knitted so far Mason a nice and easy knit. Just finished Grace that took a little longer made it in white and put the pink flowers on it made the hat added the pattern from top to the coat on to this .It was made for anew baby girl I finished it a week before she was born still waiting to give to her. Found out a couple of days ago she’s been called Grace. So very fitting I should have chosen to make it. Only problem you have so many lovely patterns don’t know what to do next have a baby boy to knit for next due in a couple of months. Not to keen on knitting with chunky or Aran by love so many of them patterns I may see if I can do them in DK. I often change something in a pattern to my liking.
Hi Linda! Hope you are enjoying the new DK patterns and re-formats! Great to hear that you’re being creative with the patterns and making them your own! The embellishments were beautiful, we’ll need to see if we can get another big order in with the lady who made them again soon!
I have bought a good lot of patterns from u I loved doing the last set
cardi n hat is very elegant looking forward to seeing baby in it
Hi Helen! Hope you’ve been taking pics and submitting them into the monthly competitions! Chance to win free wool and patterns! Thanks for your support!
Hi. I’ve just found your site and your beautiful patterns. I’m.planning on knitting Max for my baby grandson, although it’ll be a bit big for him!
I’m living in County Cork, myself and it is a beautiful part of the world. I’ve been here almost 20 years and it was Home as soon as I set food in the place. Glad you enjoyed your visit.
Thanks for all the wonderful patterns!
Ger
Hi Ger, thanks for your lovely words! Hope your grandson grew in to the ‘Max’ you knitted for him!! 🙂