Wild and Woolly

Purple Rain

This beautifully packaged package arrived in the post from PurePurl, containing five luscious skeins of Dream in Color Classy.  Only 48 hours after ordering, I might add. This is Dream in Color's wonderfully thick and soft worsted (aran) weight wool, although it comes in sock and other lighter weight varieties, too. The colour I chose is a rich, deep purple called 'Purple Rain'. Can you guess which project I have earmarked for it?

 
I'm going to knit Melissa LaBarre's Tea Leaves Cardigan with it - it's very popular on Ravelry at the moment and I like the slightly vintage look of it. 

The colours of spring

 

Snowdrops and frogspawn in the Elan Valley, Wales.

Benbecula and other challenges

I have spent the weekend in the beautiful Elan Valley in mid-Wales. The main purpose of this weekend away was to run the 20-mile Round the Lakes Mountain Road Race (which I did on Saturday and got a very satisfying 'personal best'). The weather, which had been wet all Friday, cleared in time for the run, which meant that the 800 feet climb up to the 6 mile mark was rewarded with stunning views. The race follows part of the old Aberystwyth Mountain road, and the medieval 'monks trod', before undulating along the edge of the reservoirs built in Victorian times to provide the growing population of Birmingham with water.

I also took advantage of the beautiful surroundings to get some photos of my latest FO. You may remember that this is 'Benbecula' designed by Marie Wallin (pattern in Rowan Knitting and Crochet Magazine, number 46). It has taken me nearly a month to complete but the effort was well worth it. I love the finished item and it was the perfect thing to wrap up in for the weekend. The extensive cabling combined with the Rowan Felted Tweed Aran yarn mean that the fabric is dense and warm. The fact that it is sleeveless and wraparound extends its usefulness and wear-ability.