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Charl
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Charl
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Sustainability
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charlknits

Traceable & sustainable British knitwear with a story to tell.

🐏 In a quiet corner of the room sits my Brother

🐏 In a quiet corner of the room sits my Brother knitting machine, just below the window, from where I can hear the reassuring cries as the sheep while I knit. It feels like the wool has come full circle. Although my wool does not come from Warwickshire, it originates just 130 miles away in Yorkshire, close to the mill where it is spun into the beautiful, semi worsted yarn that I use in my collection. The yarn is a blend of Bluefaced Leicester, prized for its demi-lustrous wool and Masham, which has a long, lustrous fleece.

⛵ Over the past two weeks I have been knitting stripe patterns for my new spring weight scarves which I will be knitting up myself so that each one is slightly different. Over in my knitting workshops in the UK and Italy, the machinists and programmers are also working on my new jumper designs which will be ready very soon.

🧣 I look forward to sharing the new designs with you over the coming weeks, but in the meantime, whilst it's still cold and unsettled outside, I'll be up in that quiet corner knitting sunny scarves!

#lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #knitting #shopsmall #warwickshire #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #LookForTheShepherdsCrook #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes #greatbritishshoppingrevolution

🌦 How was your Bank Holiday weekend? 💧If it

🌦 How was your Bank Holiday weekend?

💧If it was anything like mine, it had to adapt to the ever-changing weather!

This time of year is so unreliable that it's very wise to dress in layers so that you can strip down or layer up accordingly. A scarf is the easiest way to do this as you can bundle it into your bag until you need it. As is so often the case, I was drawn to a timeless image from my favourite styling book "Even More Dash than Cash" by Kate Hogg and to this image which I remembered from my school days when I used to pour over every image in the book! The Scotch Fisher Girls who used to come to Yarmouth each year to process the herrings were also never without a scarf which they'd usually knitted themselves...

🧣 Don't go out without a scarf and a brolly this week!

#moredashthancash #katehogg #fishergirls #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #May #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #LookForTheShepherdsCrook #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes #greatbritishshoppingrevolution

🌾 Spring Refresh; my May newsletter guides you

🌾 Spring Refresh; my May newsletter guides you step by step through how to freshen up your knitwear using natural soaps and minimal water usage...

All you need now is a bit of sunshine 🌞

You can also read the full article in my latest journal entry, link in bio ⬆️

#handwashing #caringforclothes #May #naturalcleaning #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #LookForTheShepherdsCrook #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes

🌄 I hope your week has started well? 🌊 Yest

🌄 I hope your week has started well?

🌊 Yesterday I made the most of the last dry weather and freshened up my scarves with the @norfolknaturalliving Costal Walks range. (It smells divine and they also do a perfume!) All the scarves feel much bouncier and fresher with a beautiful lingering perfume!

🐏 For the rest of the week, I'm planning to start knitting more stripes in the beautiful coloured British wool which arrived last week...

#stripes #fresh #Britishwool #whattowearnow #imadeyourclothes #Bretonstripes #nauticalknitwear #lovedclotheslast #charlknits

🌅 Good evening from my tiny corner of Warwicksh

🌅 Good evening from my tiny corner of Warwickshire, where the light is fading now, the moon high, the birds are coming into roost and the sheep are calling to their lambs. We've had some lovely sunny evenings this week which I've made the most of from my desk in the corner of my new studio space. Although the sun is getting warmer every day, you still need a cardi in the evening!

☎️ How was your week? Mine's been busy with ideas, research, and lots of virtual conversations which I'm looking forward to continuing in person very soon!

🌞 Wishing you a sociable and sunny weekend!

#eveninglight #warwickshire
#lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes #greatbritishshoppingrevolution #generousape #designprocess

🌍 Today is #earthday2021 and I've been thinkin

🌝 Yesterday, back in my studio after a short br

🌝 Yesterday, back in my studio after a short break, I spent a few happy hours working on new stripe layouts as you can see!

⛵ It got me thinking about the history of the Breton stripe and its enduring appeal.

⚓ Did you know that "La Mariniere" as it became known, originated from the French Navy's striped uniform which stipulated that the stripe should have twenty - twenty one indigo/blue stripes and that each white/cream stripe should be twice as thick as the blue one? The number of stripes is supposed to represent each one of Napoleons Sea victories.

Interesting when compared with the "Navy" blue "Submariner" sweaters worn by the British Navy, a shade adopted by our native fishermen thereafter. It is believed that Lord Nelson gave this tone of blue its name.

More recently the Breton stripe was reworked by Coco Chanel (who interpreted the design as an emblem of freedom after the constrictive clothing of the Edwardian era), followed by Audrey Hepburn, Brigit Bardot and of-course Jean Paul Gaultier...

Narrow/ wide/ Navy on White/ White on Navy, I can't decide on my favourite - can you...?

#Bretonstripes #lamariniere #nauticalstripes #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes #Brityard

❄ Friday! And one of the last frosty starts, I h

❄ Friday! And one of the last frosty starts, I hope!

After 2 weeks of Easter Holidays spent catching up with dear friends and family in gardens, we're all rested and ready to begin the summer term, my favourite!

🌄 A big thankyou to @simon_grand2020 for these beautiful photos of sheep, the sunrise and the rapeseed flowers taken VERY early this morning!!

#lovedclotheslast #charlknits #vigourandskills #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism

🌤 Blue skies and a bit of out door designing!

🌤 Blue skies and a bit of out door designing!

#designprocess #behindthescenes #newstyles #workinprogress #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #wardrobeICONS #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes

🌤 Hello, how was your weekend? 🌱 I don't kn

🌤 Hello, how was your weekend?

🌱 I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm a bit in limbo at the moment; waiting for normality to slowly return, waiting for spring to FINALLY arrive so that I can wear my spring blouses and plant out my more delicate plants!

🌤 During a sunny moment on Saturday, we went for a walk through the fields to an alpaca farm near our new home. I didn't think there would be so many alpacas, all completely different shades to each other, unlike the sheep we're so used to seeing in the fields.

🐐 This is one of the special, rather beautiful qualities of alpaca yarn - it comes in all sorts of natural shades that are really saturated in tone. Once the animals are shorn, the fibre is sorted by colour ensuring a uniform shade. This means that you can use the yarn without needing to dye it, removing one more process. Just like sheep's wool is it anti-bacterial and temperature regulating but it tends to feel heavier and softer making the garments it is knitted into more draped, rather than bouncy like a wool knit. This is why I like to use both yarns in my collection because they complement each other beautifully offering shapes and handles that are completely different to each other. If you'd like to read more about these lovely, peaceful animals, there is a section on my website under the "Sustainability" header (link in bio).

⭐ Other news this month is that I'm really proud to have joined up with the beautiful British crafts website @vigourandskills who showcase the work of the very best British Makers, their website is absolutely gorgeous and the makers they showcase are truly inspirational. Watch out for more behind the scenes images and insights into my design process coming soon on their site...

#alpaca #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #wardrobeICONS #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes

🌱 Well, it's definitely been a gardening week,

🌱 Well, it's definitely been a gardening week, even though the weather hasn't felt very spring-like!

🌹 @francestophill makes gardening chic look effortless in her Codling cardi and vintage coat. Layering weights means you can regulate your body temperature as you carry out more or less energetic jobs and the natural qualities of the baby alpaca yarn means that it naturally regulates your body temperature!

🌻 I'm hoping to plant more flower seeds this afternoon if the sun comes out 🤞

#francestophill #gardening #loveyourgarden #babyalpaca #naturalyarns #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #wardrobeICONS #april #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes #madeinbritain #britishbrand

💚 A little-known fact is that fishermen were al

💚 A little-known fact is that fishermen were also farmers and gardeners.

🌱 When I was first researching stitches for my collection at the Cromer Museum, I was surprised to discover the "Flowerpot" design which was unique to Caister, Norfolk. I thought it was strange for a fisherman's Gansey to feature such an unrelated object, but I was wrong! I have since discovered that fishermen would farm and cultivate produce from their gardens to supplement their income from fishing and when the sea was too rough to go out in (which happened quite often) they would turn to their vegetables instead.

📷 This period photograph, taken by Olive Edis shows Mrs Middleton wearing her own adaptation of a Gansey jumper (a sleeveless waistcoat) standing in her cottage garden. A precious and rare example of a woman wearing a Gansey knit.

Image of Old Mrs Middleton by Olive Edis is courtesy of Norfolk Museums Service.

#fishermen #ganseys #gardeners #lovedclotheslast #charlknits #norfolkmuseumservice #april #Britishwool #knitwear #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #shoplocal #shopsmall #warwickshire
#newbrand #shopindependent #investmentfashion #slowfashion #foreverfashion #springfashion #intuitiveliving #repeatdressing #lookforthecrookmark #everydayactivism #whomademyclothes #whatsinmyclothes

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