Silk roadBlacker Yarns’ new Samite is a lustrous blend of BFL and Shetland wool with recycled silk
4ply & DK options; £24 per 100g. www.blackeryarns.com
Clover’s PRO Takumi fixed circular bamboo needles are a joy to knit with, thanks to their tapered tips, smooth polished finish, seamless joints between needle and cable, and flexible rotating cord to avoid kinks. Available in sizes of 2-10mm and three cable lengths.
Find stockists at www.clover-mfg.com
DEVON DELIGHTS
The long-awaited third volume of John Arbon’s in-house book, The Annual, is finally here! The team at the Devon spinning mill has packed Issue Three with knitting patterns and an interview with designer Marie Wallin, plus recipes, puzzles, local walks, and chats with the ‘Mill Folk’. Patterns include a gorgeous hap shawl, a wrap and a blanket, mitts by Marina Skua, and a scarf by Fay Dashper-Hughes. £15; www.jarbon.com 01769 579861
AUTUMN ARAN
ColourLab DK has been a huge hit for West Yorkshire Spinners - and now it has been joined by a new aran-weight version just in time for autumn. It’s a versatile yarn spun from pure British wool, in a palette of 14 warm, handsome shades including tweed options - we particularly love the burnt orange, racing green and slate grey tweeds.
Jenny Watson has designed a book of 12 patterns using ColourLab Aran. Life & Style has modern colourwork and cable jumpers for women, a cosy cardigan with pockets, three heirloom blanket designs, relaxed sweaters for men using simple texture and colourblock patterns, and a cabled scarf and hat. Yarn £6.95 per 100g, book £12.95; order or find stockists at www.wyspinners.com
Davaar
by Kate Davies & Tom Barr
Be whisked away to Davaar, the tiny island in the Mull of Kintyre, with this evocative book from Kate Davies. Along with knitting patterns inspired by the colours and textures of the island, it has essays on Davaar’s history, and stunning landscape photography by Tom Barr.
Garment projects include a smart cabled sweater, and a neat cardigan with gansey-style texture patterns. A joyful palette of colours is used for the stranded yoke on the ‘Painted Cave’ pullover.
The same shades are used for a Fair Isle hat, mitts, and ‘Mini Minke’, a kerchief decorated with lace and multicoloured stripes. The full-size ‘Minke’ shawl uses the same lace motifs, worked in blue
