Inspired by Jen’s great Paraphernalias, I originally started these in Louet Gems Pearl and they were a disaster - the merino was splitty, the twisted purl stitches were tough on the yarn and I dropped a stitch while twisting cables and didn’t see it until rows later. Oy.

Onto plan B: Opal. I love Opal, let me count the ways: rugged wooly, great stitch definition. This yarn was a gift from Brooke, and has been waiting for the right pattern. I swore I had photographed it for my stash, but no; it looks like this - chocolatey, tweedy brown.

Of course, this means I have two pairs of brown socks on the needles, but all the cool kids are doing it this year.