Middleton

“After an hour or so the upward flood of the tide held its breath for an elongated moment and then it changed direction and we were being pulled back the way we had come, down towards the meeting of river with sea…”

Threads-The delicate Life of John Craske. Julia Blackburn

Inspired by the Norfolk fishermen’s Gansey jumpers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Middleton is a nautically striped, side-buttoned jumper knitted in Italy from certified British wool.

This is the lightest of the British wool weight knits in my collection which makes it the perfect addition to a “seasonless” wardrobe. Knitted in my classic roomy silhouette, with a flatteringly curved hem and side button fastenings which can be opened to create side splits on a warmer day. The stripe has been cleverly engineered to continue over the shoulders and across the side splits with no bulky seams, creating a beautiful sense of movement in the piece which has become a simple but considered classic in the collection.

The over-sized buttons are made from natural corozo nut and match the Navy blue of the stripe.

The Middleton jumper takes its name from Sally Middleton a skilled Gansey knitter who lived in Upper Sheringham. She is the only woman known to have knitted a version of a Gansey jumper for herself because traditionally, the Ganseys were only ever worn by men. This piece is a celebration of her creativity and independent thinking!