We spent a couple of days in North Yorkshire, and took a walk up Whernside – one of the county’s ‘three peaks’. With its limestone pavement, familiar moorland flora and Victorian infrastructure, this is a landscape of which I’m very fond, and in which I love to walk. The Ribblehead Viaduct is such a spectacular piece of engineering, and we particularly enjoyed seeing the little aquaducts around which, higher up the moor, water had been diverted to accommodate the direction of the Settle-Carlisle railway line. After 8 miles and a very blustery summit, we treated ourselves to a hearty ploughman’s lunch in the always-welcoming Station Inn . . . this lunch inspired some discussion between Tom and I about the constituency and origin of the ‘traditional’ ploughman’s. Google revealed the intriguing, but perhaps unsurprising information that this ‘traditional’ pub fayre was in fact a 1956 invention of the Cheese Bureau, the same folk behind the 1970s cheese recipe books that I have on my bookshelf, and the coiner of immortal advertising slogans such as “great minds think cheese.”
Meanwhile, wedding preparations, such as they are, continue. Tom has made the cake, we have our rings, and I have knitted my thing (it is a cardigan, and I am very pleased with it)! I cast on a pair of kilt hose for Tom and am now steadily working away on those. The cardigan and the hose are particularly lovely and exciting to me as they are being knitted in our wool. That is to say that yes – we are making yarn. The yarn is 100% wool: it has been raised in Scotland, and has been expertly processed in Yorkshire (one of the reasons why we have been visiting that county so often of late). And the first things knitted from the yarn will be worn on our wedding day! I have been keeping the wool plans under wraps for many months and soon, at last, I will be able to say more about them. But for now I’d better get back to knitting those hose. . .
ooooooh, knitting wedding clothes from your own yarn! That definitely got a squee from me :-) Looking forward to seeing the photos and hearing more about the sheep and yarn!
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Congratulations and best wishes to you and Tom! And Bruce too!
Looking forward to seeing your wedding knitwear.
(Midway through my second Hap for Harriet. Lovely pattern – as always – and beautifully written. Thank you!)
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Now I know what the homestead was missing – sheep!
Best wishes for your approaching nuptials. Somehow the subjects of knitting and making a life together are totally analogous. You will make a warm and beautiful fabric together.
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Your own wool …. how wonderful!! I am looking forward to seeing the photos of your very special day!!
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You can’t see me, but I am smiling broadly at the thought of your own yarn knitted up in your wedding finery!!
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You and Tom are SUCH an inspiration! Can’t wait for the pics!
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Oh, Kate, I am so happy for you & Tom! I’ll love seeing your wedding woolies, and congratulations on your wool-making too! I’ve been wanting to make some kilt hose for my Plaidman, and think I should start soon — we just celebrated our 38th anniversary, and I’d like to have his hose ready for the 40th.
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can’t wait tp see pictures! (and to hear more about the wool project)
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As always, I am delighted by your posts and pictures. I always learn something new! Now I get to wish you a happy wedding day and wish all the best for you and Tom and Bruce in the years to come! Congratulations also on the wool project. Looking forward to reading the next installment!
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Thanks for the lovely photographs, Kate, and all best wishes for each detail of your upcoming wedding. Looking forward tot he blog posts and the YARN!! Big news!
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I am pretty sure the lady in the right of the photo is the actor Denise Coffey; who at 5he time appeared on a children’s TVs series called ‘Do Not Adjust Your Set’ an ITV production. She played the part of The Abominable Mrs Black.
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I’m so excited for you – for the wedding and for the wool. I don’t even knit, but I can certainly appreciate the work and the anticipation. Best of luck in both endeavors.
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Kate, I know you’ve lots of excitement coming up but wonder if you know of the soundscape and sculpture on a beach based on the story of Betty Mouat. It’s been touring Scotland and the final performances are on Eigg 6-9 August. We saw it today on St Cyrus beach and it was superb. While she’s adrift at sea she regrets not having her knitting and comforts herself reciting the colours of Shetland wool. It was a wonderful experience. Best wishes, looking forward to seeing the wedding cardigan.
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I just know you are bubbling over with excitement. It all sounds wonderful. Looking forward to hearing more and of course the photos you take are such a pleasure to look at. Lots of love and best wishes to you all
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Can’t wait to see what you have knit
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I don’t know which I want see more, the wedding sweater or the new yarn. Patience, patience she said wandering away muttering to herself . . .
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Congratulations Kate and Tom. I am looking forward to more details on the cardigan and hose. Yorkshire and Scotland, what part of the world is more beautiful?
My husband spreads curry paste on his cheddar grilled cheese! I don’t share those grilled cheese.
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Cheese curry…trying to imagine the texture of that is making me a little queasy. Better to think of wedding knitting–congratulations! The day will be even more special wearing garments made with love.
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So many happy and exciting things happening at once, Kate! I’m looking forward to the pictures from the wedding, and to hearing more about your new yarn venture.
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Kate – you and Tom are so inspiring – beautiful photos and exciting news! Thank you for including all of us.
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Wedding, and yarn in one post! So much big news! How exciting for you guys! I can’t wait to see and hear more! I hope the wedding day is perfectly lovely and I will raise a glass to you and Tom, for your health, wealth and happiness!
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Oh, my goodness! Be absent for a few weeks due to family stuff and nearly miss your wedding news!
I wish you and Tom every possible happiness in the knowledge that you two have made your own, collective happinesses so beautifully.
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Thanks for the memories. I climbed Whernside as a teenager with friends. The cheese advert reminded me of a Saturday job at the Milkmaid cafe in Leeds run by the milk marketing board where ploughman’s lunches and rarebits featured heavily. I hope you have a wonderful wedding day and best wishes for a happy life together. Look forward to the wool.
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http://www.food.com/recipe/mutter-paneer-indian-cheese-curry-173381?photo=55061
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Congratulations on your marriage and your yarn. Such good things.
In my next life, I think I might like to be Bruce. He’s got a pretty good thing going.
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Congratulations Kate and Tom and of course Bruce! This is wonderful news and am very happy for both of you. Great post today of the land scape, flowers and the stone wall. Best wishes on your union and your new business venture.
Another Kathy in Michigan.
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You’re making yarn?!?! And your wedding garments are the first thing you knit from it? Wonderful all around!
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Very best wishes to you and Tom! But what will Bruce wear?
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Oh my goodness, I’m so excited, you are Making. Yarn.?! Cannot wait to see the knitted wedding pieces… and I hope Tom’s been “feeding” the cake with a nice Scotch? ;-) Best wishes to you both.xx
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Wouaw ! Bravo !
That sounds exciting.
Félicitations for your wedding. I wish you and your future husband the best.
Also bravo for the wool and the wedding knitting 😀
Looking forward to seeing it.
Bise
Sandrine
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Whoo Hoo! A cardi and KILT HOSE! how wonderful as in full of wonder…….congratulations again :)
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I haven’t been to Yorkshire for quite a few years now, and your post has made me really want to go back! Always enjoyed my holidays there. I know what you mean about Victorian infrastructure – they did everything so well didn’t they! We drove past a sewage works recently and the main building on site is Victorian, and it’s such an attractive building! Only the Victorians would make useful things so decorative too. I love that.
Loving the sound of your own wool, can’t wait to see what you’ve made and of course, photos from your wedding!
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Your own wool! That is brilliant. That will be beautiful! Have a wonderful wedding day and happy knitting.
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Congrats!
How nice you have knit something for each of you for this special day.
What are you going to knit for Bruce?
love the photos of all your walking ventures :)
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Oh, Kate! This is so exciting! Congratulations on your new project! It must be a dream come true! Looking forward to seeing your yarn!
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I had to google cheese curry and found a ton of recipes – not sure I fancy them though! That viaduct is amazing. Can’t beat a nice bit of Victorian engineering. Very much looking forward to seeing the wool, and the mysterious things of it.:)
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All kinds of good news AND photos of Bruce. The best kind of post!
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Kate, you are such an inspiration!! Congratulations on the wedding and the wool! I´m so happy for you both and wish you all the best!
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Sending you the very best wishes for all your upcoming endeavors. I’m so happy to see things going so well for you both (and for that fine dog, Bruce). Congratulations on both the wedding and the wool.
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Oh… I should be squeeing over the wedding and the yarn line.. and really I am selfishly wondering how to get a poster-print of the ‘great minds think cheese’ ad. It cracks me up. And aligns perfectly with my personal attitude to that delicious dairy product.
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I’m so excited – your own wool! Can’t wait to be able to buy some!
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Congratulations! On the wedding, on the yarn, on everything! I wish you all things happy and wonderful!
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So excited for your upcoming nuptials. Love that Tom is making the cake. So sweet. I will look forward to a recap and photos! Enjoy!
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Congratulations on upcoming weddings. Look forward to seeing your knitted wedding ware. Also excited about your wool. Also, thank you for recommending the book H is for Hawk. Thorough enjoyed it.
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let me add my congratulations. may you and tom enjoy many, many years of ‘marital bliss’—
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Scotland is so beautiful. And your photos are lovely.
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Ooooo…..Kate&Tom Wool!!!! Can’t wait to hear all about it! xxx
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Sounds like new beginnings and very exciting times ahead for you and Tom & Bruce of course. Lovely photos as always.
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Dear Kate,
First and foremost I want to congratulate you and Tom with the upcoming marriage. I think that due to my holiday this news slipped my notice, but I’m very happy for you. Having knit the cardigan you will wear on that day, in your own wool, is very special and suits you well. Best wishes to you and Tom (and to Bruce and Jesus as well)!
Like everyone else I’m beyond excited to hear the news of you developing your own yarn. What a milestone for everyone involved! I’m looking forward to hear more about it.
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Oh my gosh… Kate Davies Yarn! I am so excited and can’t wait to hear more! Weddings are so special and I love how you are making it so personal. I can’t wait to see your garments. You are such a lovely stylist. My only question is, does Bruce get a special wedding outfit?
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I am excited for you about The Wool! And it is great to have two items from the wedding be the first! I have already resigned myself to the wool selling out before I get an order in. ;-)
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oh oh
x x x x
luv luv
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Such exciting developments! Thanks for the teasers Kate – I have a sense of your joy and pride and, like everyone else, I will look forward to the next revelation!
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OOOH! Your own wool. Can’t wait, and I hope our plummeting dollar improves before it’s available. I have memories of delicious ploughman’s lunches eaten while on a cycling tour of the lake district back in the mid-80s. It sounds as though this is a very happy time for you and Tom. Best wishes from Canada.
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Looking forward to trying your wool, and to see the pics of your D day :) all my thoughts are with you, for this very special time in your life! Lots and lots of love :)
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Congratulations!!
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Can’t wait!
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Happy, happy business development. Kate Davies yarn – obvious, exciting, exhausting. And yay for 8 miles up Whernside.
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I am not sure what I am most excited about, hearing more about your wedding or more about your yarn! OK, it is about your wedding… congratulations to you both. May the happiness and partnership you already enjoy continue to grow through the years!
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Congratulations! Can’t wait to see those hose! How lovely to have hand knitted garments as part of your special day. Each stitch a metaphor for the time you have spent knitting your lives together into this union. Many blessings to you both for many more stitches and many happy years to come!
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What a wonderful walk and you are as busy as ever Kate. I am not sure what I am more interested in your knitted wedding items or your wool? Wishing you the best on all up coming endeavors!
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So excited to hear about your wool! All the best for your wedding day. My partner and I have been together for 18 years and still haven’t got round to it – maybe one day!
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Kate, it’s always a good day when I see you’ve blogged, and today I needed a boost more than ever., so thank you. …. Your own wool!!!!! How fabulous! Can’t wait to try it. You are such an inspiration – I am off to plan a woolly workshop and spread the love.
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How exciting! Te wed in handknits from your own wool!!!
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WOW – I guess I thought you were married but a hearty congrats. my longtime soulmate and I married 3 years ago and it was fun to plan. We had a private ceremony in the mountains, our favorite place to be with only my folks in attendance and a pastor do the ceremony. then we had a nice reception the next month for friends at home. can’t wait to hear about the yarn – another big congrats on that venture. Doesn’t Rowan still spin a few yarns in Yorkshire?
Cheers for all the happy news in this post and thanks for the lovely photos too! Mel
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Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I also look forward to seeing your knitted wedding garments. My husband and I were together for 18 years before we decided to get married. The next day we registered our intentions and got married two weeks later, on the first day possible. It is a lovely thing to be married to my best friend. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your day. x
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I am really looking forward to seeing and squeezing your yarn! I love a bit of Limestone Pavement too.
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Congratulations!! I’m very curious to see the wedding cardigan and hose, made with your own wool! What a perfect symbolism.
I’ve recently finished my cardigan made with your Epistrophy pattern. It’s a fusion between your pattern and Christel Seyfarths nomade vest. I’m very pleased with the way it fits, so thank you for this pattern. (If you want to see it, I posted it on ravelry)
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Beautiful photos. Very excited about your yarn and happy to hear of the wedding plans. Can’t wait to see your knitted wedding garments.
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Hope you are planning to share all that lovely wool & if you are, that you have loads ready. Time to set up the shipping department again. Can’t wait to see the wedding knitting & pictures of the Great Day. Much luck & happiness to you both.
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As so many have said before me, congratulations on your up coming wedding! Your pictures in this post are beautiful. You and Tom look so happy, as I feel sure you will be for many years together. It is truly wonderful to have that opportunity to be together and enjoying that beautiful countryside. Its the enjoyment of the small daily things in life that make a life together so contented.
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I don’t ever comment, but can’t decide which comes first, “WEDDING DAY” or “MAKING WOOL?” so excited to hear about these latest adventures and to see them though your beautiful photography.
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So happy for you both! Just realized that I am smiling. You bring pleasure to so many of us. And now you have garments made from your own wool. Can’t wait to hear more!
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This all sounds incredibly exciting! Looking forward to hearing more about your yarn!
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So looking forward to seeing the Wedding cardigan & hose😊
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Hurrah! A Kate day… lovely.
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Congratulations once again and I will look forward to reading all about the wool, garments and wedding when we return from hiking in Norway. My finished Epistrophy sweater is going along. I finished it to an unexpected NPR radio segment on Monk…which was quite the coincidence! Actually sort of spooky. My wedding day was truly one of the my best days of my life. Happy day to you.
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Beautiful pictures .Good Summer.
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