Esk Knitwear

The featherish sound of snow falling across the UK must be music to the ears of knitwear designers - after a very summery autumn, and a not exactly cold Christmas, at last their woolly scarves, hats and gloves are in high demand. Esk Knitwear, based in the Esk Valley in South West Scotland* is a family-run factory with a long history of producing garments for world-famous designers - this is their own collection, which has lots of fancy stitch-work (think cable-knit etc), the right amount of chunkiness for warmth and a good colour palate of neutral and earthy colours with splashes of intense reds and oranges.

Esk Knitwear makes a range of jumpers (see pic of mustard-coloured cashmere), cardigan-jackets (see pic of the Navy Gansy jacket which I covet, though fear it would make me look v bulky), body warmers, ponchos, scarves, gloves and some excellent looking wellie-socks which would look fabulous on those lucky girls with long long legs, and cashmere bedsocks. (An essential for me, even in high summer. And they have to be red).

*not to be confused with the Eskdale valley in the Lake District from which you can access Hardknott Fort, one of my very favourite places in the world.

Mrs Osborn goes on a spree: Selvedge Autumn Fair: winter woolies from Gabrielle Vary, Esk Valley, Romney Marsh Wools

The Autumn Selvedge Fair was a delight, in the lovely St Augustine Church Hall just off the Archway Road, N6

Gabrielle Vary, based near to Brighton, makes shawls, scarves and cushions - all in a deliciously edible palette of colours perfect for Autumn. Everything is designed and made by Gabrielle herself.

I succumbed to temptation and bought the quince-y coloured shawl below - I love the fact that Gabrielle made the very shawl, which I am wearing right now, herself.

Esk Valley knitwear from Scotland

One cannot have enough stripy gloves

Romney Marsh Wools, Kent

Throws, rugs and cushions in natural shades are made in a distinctive textured twill weave from Romney sheep fleeces by this family owned business - the family has been keeping Romney sheep for six generations

Romney Marsh Wools also produce a skincare range - 

I tried a bit of the lanolin hand and body lotion with some trepidation as I don't like greasy lotions that linger on the surface of my skin. But this was lovely and was absorbed quickly (probably because I have dry lizard skin), smells good too.