Wild and Woolly

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.

 
  
  

Cornish holiday

It is becoming a bit of a tradition for us to spend the February half term holiday in Cornwall. We always go back to the same village on the Lizard peninsula and, for the last few visits, the same thatched cottage on the sea front. There is something really comforting and reassuring about returning to the familiar. I love being by the sea 'off-season' - the wild blowy walks along the beach and cliff paths, exploring the cold clear rock-pools, warming up with blazing log fires at night (not, too, blazing because of the thatch!).

  

Walks at this time of year and in this part of the world tend to be very muddy. The kids were wise to wear wellies - I had chosen walking boots and so, much to their amusement, had to engage in commando style tactics to negotiate some of the hazards. This particular gateway was on our way back from Trellegast Barton Farm, otherwise known as Roskilly's. They do great food and cream teas in the 'Croust House' ('croust', from 'crust', is Cornish for a snack).

  
 Of course, there was knitting to be done - in particular the project I have undertaken for the Ravelympics. So far, I have managed to keep up to schedule and have finished half of Benbecula(see previous posts and Ravelry for details). It is turning out to be quite a challenge: lots of cables in every right side row, and the tunic length more than makes up for the fact that there are no sleeves. However, I am enjoying making it and I have enjoyed watching some of the Winter Olympics, particularly the snowboard cross and the skiing. We even, briefly, became curling enthusiasts, although this has waned since we got home!

My cosy fireside knitting corner in the cottage with Benbecula 'wip'

 So now we are back home and back to work and school. I have a couple of big 20 mile races coming up in preparation for 'London' in April. It's snowing again and not easy to force myself out the door to put in some miles. Perhaps I'll have a cup of coffee and do a few rows of knitting before I go...
 
  

Ravelympics

Today is the start of the Ravelympics. It's another caper started on Ravelry, to coincide with the Winter Olympics in Canada. Participants can join different teams (I'm in Team GB) and enter knitting projects in appropriate events. The idea is to knit while watching the sports and complete your projects during the two weeks of the Olympic Games. The project has to have sufficient challenge, so I have chosen to cast on for Benbecula by Marie Wallin from Rowan Magazine (number 47). It has lots of cabling and moss stitch so I have entered it for the Sweaterboard Cross and Cable Cross-Country events! I found the very patriotic zip up bag in Accessorize and it is perfect for holding circular needles, tape measure, scissors etc.

Benbecula by Marie Wallin (Rowan Felted Tweed Aran 726)

In fact, I shall be doing the first half of my Ravelympics in Cornwall, as we are spending half term in a thatched cottage by the sea. It has thick stone walls to keep us snug should it turn stormy and a huge fireplace. I am going prepared for plenty of lazing by the fire at the end of the day with the new Designer Knitting and Marie Claire Idées to read, plus a Henning Mankell thriller. A lady who lives a few cottages along the row, makes the most fantastic pasties to order and Roskilly's Farm is not far away for supplies of clotted cream for our scones! Just as well I am also packing walking boots and running kit, too...

Gypsy caravan on Roskilly's Farm, St. Keverne, Cornwall

I love Paris in the autumn

We spent a few days in Paris during half term, staying at a plain and simple hotel in Montmartre. Our bedroom was high up and on a corner and so had great views:

down to the cafe in the square below...

 

up to the dome of the Sacré-Coeur...

 

and even across Paris to the Eiffel Tower in the distance.

My all-time favourite meal is le petit-déjeuner, and there was the most wonderful breakfast to be had nearby at Coquelicot ('Poppy'), where the coffee is served in traditional bols, the bread is freshly baked and the honey is flavoured with poppy petals.

On the knitting front, I made two visits to La Droguerie which we stumbled on by chance (and very good fortune!). I was quite restrained (mainly because of the expense but also because of the queues) and just bought two books of accessory projects, Drôles et colorés mes accessoires signés: la droguerie and Mes accessoires signés: la droguerie - both full of gorgeous, colourful, simple but chic patterns for hats, scarves, gloves, hand-warmers, bags and some cleverly designed wraps and capes.

And I have an FO to show off. My Laurel tam from Jared Flood's Made in Brooklyn (see Ravelry and earlier posts) is finished just in time for the colder autumn weather that has set in  recently...

and here it is 'on', although a rather strange photo taken in the mirror..!

  
 
 

 
 

Autumn knitting and some sewing

For the last few days there has been a distinct chill in the air and, this evening, a slight whiff of bonfire smoke. Autumn is here and I love this season: even the longer evenings, if I am snug indoors and have some interesting knitting to keep me happy.

Coraline is well under way. I am about to start the sleeves, and I have bought the buttons ready for later. I am knitting it in Rowan Felted Tweed which beautiful to work with.  It has the alpaca content that Ysolda's Coraline uses for drape, but with some merino, too, which adds the structure that I like.

And to give myself some variety, I also started a quick to knit scarf using the Mirasol Hacho wool my Secret Pal (Lena) sent me from Sweden. The pattern works really well with the variegated blues and purples. The pattern is Wavy Scarf from Handmaiden.

When we were in France in the summer, I finally managed to visit a branch of the wonderful chain La Droguerie.  It sells wool, fabric (mainly in fat quarters and other set lengths), Liberty bias binding, buttons, beads, their own pattern books - all in an old fashioned-style shop with wooden counters and glass-fronted cabinets. I bought quite a few nice things, including a length of Liberty and some rick-rack binding to make a scarf. I'll show the results tomorrow!

Birthday Blog

Well, I haven't blogged for ages and I don't quite know what happened!  We went away on holiday in August and before I knew it we were back at school and I got caught up in all the things there are to do at the start of a new school year.  Anyway, today is my birthday and it seemed a good opportunity to sit down and take stock and catch up.

Hatty's picture of me blowing out my candles (count them!!)

Back in August we had a great holiday camping, first in the Swiss Alps, near to the French border, and then in the south of France - both places we know well and love going back to.

There was cool mountain air, steep climbs, picnics by rock pools with icy water to dip your toes in; wild flowers, butterflies, beetles; cheese, chocolate, coffee in auberges. Above all, it was quiet, peaceful and our hosts at the little campsite were warmly hospitable, as always.

The Alpes-Maritimes region of France was hot. So we explored less energetically - art galleries, villages with narrow shady and cobbled streets, markets that sold everything but most, importantly, food! And, being France, you can try before you buy.

And, I finally got to visit La Droguerie in Nice -  a wonderful old-fashioned emporium of wools, buttons, beads, trimmings, Liberty fabrics.  The length of time queuing for help and to pay were also old-fashioned but worth it, and I came away with stuff to make a Liberty scarf, a necklace kit or three and the Mes Accessoires Signes: La Droguerie book of patterns for scarves, mittens, bags, knitted flowers etc.  I think it is the yarn and colour choices which make the designs look so chic and 'French'.

And now last, but by no means least, I must thank my 'Secret Pal' (Lena) for all the beautiful packages she has been sending me from Sweden.  She really has a talent for picking out the perfect gifts. Here are the last two parcels:

there is beautiful Mirasol yarn (Hacho and Sulka), books about Swedish cookery and Scandinavian 'domino' knitting, a Henning Mankel thriller, a pretty notebook, divine chocolate in little mini bars. Thank you, Lena, so much - I have enjoyed everything and the beautiful cards which accompany eavh parcel!

Hooked!

After school last Thursday, Hannah and I drove up to Edinburgh.  By most standards, a slightly crazy idea but Hannah wanted to go to the Edinburgh University Open Day on Friday. I wasn't working on Friday and my Mum (who lives in Edinburgh) was more than happy for us to make a  long weekend of it. It all worked out really well.  The Open Day was a great success and I got to visit K1 Yarns in Victoria Street. It's a lovely little shop with all sorts of unusual yarns and a really friendly, welcoming atmosphere.  I bought some lovely wool from Orkney (St. Magnus DK), a mixture of angora and wool - soft!  There was a pair of wristwarmers made up with it on show, which Hannah really liked, so I bought the pattern.  Big snag - it was crochet.  But not to worry - I had done my crochet workshop at UK Ravelry Day, so I bought a pretty wooden Brittany hook and set about making them on Saturday evening.

 

Freyja by Vala, Orkney St Magnus DK in Charcoal

 

 

It was a simple pattern, only using double crochet and treble shells (English crochet terminology).  I found that crochet has a rhythm to it, different to knitting, which I enjoyed. So I'm hooked and looking to extend my repertoire!

Mothers Day

We spent last weekend in the Elan Valley in mid-Wales.  I was running in the Rhayader 20 mile Round the Lakes mountain road race on the Saturday and it was Mothers Day on Sunday, so we decided to make a weekend of it and stayed in a cottage from Friday evening until Sunday.  It was a perfect weekend and the cottage was remote and peaceful, a short walk from where the photograph below was taken.  Last year, when I ran the same race, it poured with rain and at the highest point (1600 feet) you could see nothing but mist and moorland.  This year, I had to buy a pair of sun specs before the start and the view from the top and around the lakes was spectacular.  Not a PB for me but the sunshine and the rest of the weekend made up for that.

 

 Garreg Ddu

On Sunday, Hatty and George had made me cards (Hannah didn't come with us):

  

We went for walks, sat in the sun, watched red kites circling overhead, rediscovered board games (Othello, Scrabble, the Game of Life), warmed ourselves by the wood burner stove.  I didn't do any knitting, although I had intended to start on a Thermis. 

Back home, my Trillium is going well now, although I did go wrong and had to frog quite a few rows.

 

The cotton, colour and nubby texture really appeal to me and I think it is going to be lovely and airy to wear in the summer.

And I've got to showcase Hatty's textiles project which she has just finished for her Textiles GCSE (exam). She's fifteen and designed and made this prom style dress (modeled by her big sister).  She screen printed stars on to the fabric, sewed on sequined stars, layered striped and net petticoats underneath, put in boning in the bodice, made cut-away shapes so that the under skirts would show through. Isn't it great?