Nestled between the wild North Pennines and the rugged Fells of the Lake District, the tranquil Eden Valley lives up to its name. It is a beautiful and unspoiled bit of old-fashioned English countryside, where within a few miles you might encounter old Roman roads, majestic sandstone cliffs, mysterious stone circles, carpets of wildflowers, and picturesque villages which have endured since the time of the Vikings. It’s more than a little bit enchanted, and while it’s only a few hours from the bustle of the city, when the train pulls into Penrith station and you head for the old grey house in the rolling green countryside, it feels as if you’ve stepped outside of time. This is what makes it such a perfect setting for a retreat: a pocket of time where you can forget everything but the joys of friendship, long walks along stone walls, long hours knitting in front of the fire, and (of course) more than enough cake.

It’s a longstanding Curious Handmade tradition that I create a special design in honour of each Country House
Retreat. The Fibre Company has been our generous and loyal sponsor since the very first retreat, sharing their gorgeous yarns and their passion for honest, luxury fibre with us each time. This time, I’ve created a very local sort of shawl, using their lustrous Cumbria fingering and the sample was knit (of course) in the Eden Valley colourway. This triangular shawl was inspired by the friendships that have been struck and deepened on each retreat and in the whole Curious Handmade community. A body of stockinette, alternated with a scattering of eyelets makes for easy knitting over cups of tea. A beautiful knot stitch detail pays tribute to the bonds of friendship forged between like-minded makers, whether we can steal a few days together in the Cumbrian countryside, or if we connect through the miracle of the internet. A generous ribbed border finishes the design: a smart modern twist on a classic, cosy shawl

SIZE
Medium

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
152cm (60”) diameter across top edge
51cm (20”) neck to bottom edge

YARN
The Fibre Co. Cumbria Fingering
60% Merino, 30% Masham, 10% Mohair, 300m/328yds per 100g skein, 2 x 100g skeins
Colour: Eden Valley

OR
Approximately 160g of fingering or sock weight yarn totaling approximately 480m/525yds.

NEEDLES
4mm (US 6), 100cm (40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)

NOTIONS
Tapestry needle
1 stitch marker

GAUGE
19 sts/30 rows = 10cm (4”) in garter stitch after blocking