We were lucky to spend ten days on Belle-Ile En Mer, a magical island off the coast of southern Brittany. Fennel and marjoram growing wild on the side of narrow roads and, a few metres before the village where Claude Monet lived in 1886, we found a glorious meadow of wild flowers. It was the perfect backdrop for Angélique’s new beret which was knitted with The Uncommon Thread Meadow Grass colourway. It is such a vibrant shade of green (or is it yellow?) and TUT is as dreamy to knit with as ever. Her simple Liberty summer dress was made the day before we set off on our travels when I should have been packing, sorting, and cleaning instead. I clearly have the right priorities, wouldn’t you agree? ;-)

Alana Dakos’s patterns are beautifully presented with lovely graphics, clear photographs and easy-to-read instructions. Flawless; a joy to knit. I love this beret dearly and found the lacework so relaxing to follow. I clearly share Alana’s passion for leaves! This is an adult-sized hat which I knitted with smaller needles (2.5 mm instead of 2.75 mm for the ribbed rim and 3 mm instead of 3.25 mm) to fit my three-year-old daughter. It fits her like a dream.