Bunker Mitts

I have always had a fascination with industrial clothing. I hounded my local army surplus at university and I am still digging through the rails of Emmaus in search of one of those blue factory jackets that will actually fit me. Lately, the obsession is fire fighter's clothing: I think I like the chunkiness of it, coupled with the worn look that comes with regularily being exposed to fire and water. Bunker gear is really expensive to buy, so it's not kept as new and pristine as other uniforms are and I love that.
I had noticed that the big jackets come with extendable cuffs with thumbholes in them and I was already planning on knitting my own version when my mother sent me the most amazing yarn in the post. The yarn was so amazing I couldn't leave the post office carpark because I was squishing it so much!
                                   

The yarn is by Skein, a company whose colours I have always admired but not had the funds to buy for myself, in the Midlands colourway. It's on the Himalaya DK base, and I just can't believe that it is discontinued!!

I think I have mentioned before how, as a yarn dyer myself, it is sometimes hard to find indie yarns that don't use the same bases as I use myself. We don't have many suppliers of undyed yarn here in the UK , so most dyers end up using the same bases. The Himalaya, however, is a completely different texture, and just that is a joy in itself. It is also the most gorgeous, silky blend of Merino and Cashmere, and happened to be the exact colour I had envisaged for my bunker mitts.

So instead of working on finishing nr 3 on my 12 UFOs knit-along like a good girl, I dropped everything and spent the weekend knitting up these very long, plain fingerless gloves, trying to use as much of the yarn as possible. My mother is a little disappointed at how plain they are, but I wanted to let the yarn do the talking, and also, I don't think fire fighters have much lace or cabling in their gear...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling Swedish

As the wind and rain are still relentlessly battering the UK, we battened down the hatches this weekend and retreated to the sofa with our cats, many pots of tea and Netflix.

I am currently in the process of trying out different Scandinavian yarns, amongst them Raggsocksgarn. Raggsockor (raggedy socks) are traditional, thick Swedish socks, knitted in aran-weight yarn typically plied in two different colours, adding to the raggedy, rustic effect.
As the yarn is so thick, the socks are really quick to knit up - I made both our pairs in the space of a week - and wonderfully warm to wear of course.

For the ultimate in Swedish chic, wear with clogs, although sadly I don't currently have any !

And continuing the Swedish theme, it was high time for Semlor! These sweet wheat buns filled with marzipan and whipped cream are eaten in the time leading up to Lent, while you can still enjoy all that is sweet and fattening in life.

 

 

And as it's STILL raining outside, the great big storm sale is extended for another 3 days until Wednesday the 13th of February - just enter STORMY14 at checkout for 20% off everything in the shop, including the gorgeous new Gower Wool :)

 



Stormy weather sale!

Well, since the forecast for Wales continues to look like this:

and that sort of weather isn't good for anything but staying indoors with a nice mug of tea and a knitting, we're having a stormy weather sale til the end of the week. A full 20% off everything in the shop, so get it while you can and enter STORMY14 in the coupon code window at check-out.

Stay warm! and dry!

New Embroidery Yarn set

New in the shop today: the Under the Sea collection.

A set of 8 hanks of embroidery wool suitable for crewel work and all kinds of free form embroidery, hand dyed in gently shifting colours on a blue theme - from deep indigo to vibrant turquoise.