Last week I was very fortunate to attend the 3rd Curious Handmade Country House Retreat in Cumbria. Deb and I travelled up together and arrived early, so we stopped for a wander around Penrith and of course we found a yarn shop! :)
At the retreat we were reunited with friends from previous retreats and soon had our knitting needles clicking.
We each received a basket with the kit for Helen's new kerchief design and Daphne of The Fibre Co generously let us choose the yarn for the pattern.
The next morning I decided to hike up Melmerby Fell.
The weather was gloriously sunny
and the birds were singing in the hedgerows as I walked by.
There was no one around, just the birds and the sheep.
It was a steep climb all the way up, with lots of stops for photos ... and to catch my breathe! :)
Finally at the top I placed a stone on the cairn.
Time to head back down again.
Stunning views all around.
A miniature landscape on a fence post.
A poignant memorial at the bottom of the walk.
Back at Melmerby Hall for some delicious spiced sweet potato soup,
before a walk in the gardens with friends.
Later there was a mini market and Elizabeth signed her book.
The food was wonderful throughout the week and after supper
we all sat in one of the rooms to knit and chat.
Elizabeth of Blue Bee Studio held a Working with Linen workshop on the second morning and kindly brought in some Quince & Co. Sparrow for us to work with.
This proved to be lovely yarn to work with and Elizabeth gave us lots of tips.
The idea is to make a Warm Springs Bath Mitt like this sample.
We continued to be very lucky with the weather,
which meant that we could pose in the garden with our Snowmelt Shawls. There were a lot of outtakes and laughter! ;)
We all posed for the retreat photo.
That afternoon I couldn't resist a trip out to Long Meg and Her Daughters, a Druids' circle nearby.
Just me and the sheep again.
Long Meg
Back at the hall I was in time for tea and cake
and a visit by a 4 week old Sprocker. It was love at first sight!
All too soon the retreat was over, just time for a few more stitches with friends
and then it was time to leave.
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