These lovely creatures greeted us. I can't remember their breeds, I think the brown one is a Zwartbles? They were super soft, and greasy. We also met the chickens.
Miss B rolled her sleeves up ready to set to work.
We had a lovely day out in Morecambe Bay.
I made it using some vintage cotton I found on Ebay years ago, by Bucilla, a 3 ply in pale beige and off white. I don't know when it dates from, I'd like to think the 30s, but more likely the 50s. It's one of the loveliest yarns I've ever worked with. It has a high twist, but is light, even though it is mercerised.
This is the ceiling of the hotel with the spiral staircase leading up to it.
The foyer and lounge area with the original rug.
We went to Brucciani's for lunch, another 30s gem, listed now and almost untouched ever since.
You can just see the mirror with ornate lamp above it.
Now I couldn't visit Susan without bringing some knitwear, in the off chance that she might photograph me in it. I have so many completed jumpers from both volumes now that I haven't had photographed. We managed one, but there are still lots to go.
Image courtesy of Susan Crawford
The Rose Jumper at last. Knit in the same yarn, in the smallest size. I'm very happy with the result. It seemed a little short at first, but has already dropped after just a few wears. That would be the silk.
Image Susan Crawford
Photographed outside Susan's front door, on a little stone wall filled with fragrant lavender. Everything was still in bloom.
Image courtesy of Susan Crawford
I also took a few shots of Susan with my camera, a Canon 500D, with a 50mm lens. (In fact all the shots apart from the ones by Michael Demetriou and the ones in and of the hotel and cafe, which were taken with my phone, or Gavin or Susan's phone), are taken with this lens.
Susan also took a few shots of a couple of her designs, Nancy, which is available now, and Asthall, which will be released soon. They will be part of a collection called Knits for a Cold Climate.
As I may have mentioned, lots of the jumpers are being re-knitted in Fenella and Excellana, so I also got to model one of the re-knits - Could Anything Be Prettier, which I completely fell in love with. No photos of that yet though. The fit is almost exactly like the original version in the book, light and airy in Fenella, in the dove grey shade Columbine. Of course after wearing that I had to buy some Columbine along with Marriner to re-knit one of my designs, Bebe Daniels. It was originally knitted in Matchmaker 4 ply which is no longer available.
Images Michael Demetriou
I think it is going to look lovely in those two shades. Got to finish a few things before that though.
Got my husband to take one of my boy and me on the old rusty gate opposite the front door. I was wearing my Blackberry Cardigan. It was so peaceful there, all we heard were the swallows above us, and the sheep bleeting in the field. The pigs got very excited if we went near them though, expecting food.
Filling up their water trough was tremendous fun.
Pottering.
Our last day, waving goodbye to the farm. He was so sad to leave.
So was I. Thank you Gavin and Susan.