Just back from Holmfirth

Is there a picture of the sweater on the Rowan site or in which pattern book is it? Upcountry is a great wool shop, isn't it? I had a wonderful time when I visited it, perfect place to blow your budget. :) DA

"DA" address/phone number for West Yorkshire Mohair Mills.

We're eleven miles, door to door, from there. There were lots of such places in this part of Yorkshire, indeed my great grandmother worked at the famous Salts alpaca mill and lived in Saltaire. Yorkshire folk have been steeped in the woolen industry for generations - from animal to clothing.

Sadly, now most mills are now used for other purposes - the huge one at Saltaire is a gallery for David Hockney's work, small industry and retail outlets.

There are still places like that - but most are outlets for imported and tourist/retail goods. We went in one yesterday - the 'Edinburgh Woolen Mills', which had a 'biggest sale ever' sign outside. That sign has been there for years - the same sign is at all the other EWM shops round the country. The clothing is cheap, imported and of low quality - not made in Edinburgh or even Britain, I suspect.

When I Googled for Mohair Mills I got a freight company at that address :-(

It's very sad but it's because people look at price rather than quality these days. What am I talking about, 'these days'? It's been true for decades. The more money people have the more most of them want to spend on good quality - even for the food which eventually becomes us.

Well, I don't like shopping and because I know nothing about clothes I know I'll dither and make the experience worse! But I have made a start.

I couldn't agree more. When he railed about the cost of the cruise I asked what he'd rather spend the money on? He couldn't give an answer, we don't want anything. And I've spent lots on special treats for him over the years I feel that he shouldn't begrudge me this one indulgence.

Indeed.

And by the way, I started making a gauge swatch last night and the wool (Rowan) is beautiful to work, the swatch is so lovely and even that I shan't want to pull it out and I feel that the finished jumper won't irritate my skin as most wool does.

It's an American pattern and the needle sizes are slightly different from ours so the swatch is essential. I can't rely on getting exactly the right gauge without doing one. Interestingly, because there is no plain stocking stitch in the pattern the gauge is measured over 'seed stitch' (which we call moss stitch).

I'm so looking forward to starting on the real thing!

Better scan the picture for you to see.

Mary

"DA" time when I visited it, perfect place to blow your budget. :)

For some reason I can't get Tinypic to upload the picture. Any ideas for an alternative similar site?

Mary

>

One of the reasons we chose the Dales to visit. When we go on holiday my DH and I try to avoid large cities and the "typical" tourist haunts.

I think that the company is probably listed as A.C Wood.

That makes for more interesting knitting. It is rather ironic that you chose an American pattern, I prefer British patterns to most of what I see in the US knitting books and magazines. I have a collection of old Rowan books from which I am still knitting various jumpers.

Please do and also I would love to see a picture of the finished garment too.

DA

Mary does your ISP/news server provide access to alt.binaries.pictures.crafts or alt.binaries.crafts? You could upload it to either news group. In case you are not familiar with posting to binary groups, just attach the picture to a message just like in email. DA

"DA" > an alternative similar site?

I'll have a look. I subscribe to a binaries garden ng so am familiar with it, thanks for the idea.

Mary

"DA" > an alternative similar site?

OK, I can get alt.binaries.crafts.pictures. Shall I put it there?

Mary

Yes, please. I am anxious to see what you are planning. :) DA

"DA"

"DA" > places in this part of Yorkshire, indeed my great grandmother worked at

But the Dales is an entirely different area from the Heavy Woolen District - and far more touristy :-)

I Googled that and only found it in directories, there's no website for them. I wonder if they're still there ...

Mary

Thanks for sharing the picture. That is lovely, and would be quite interesting to knit. I think that you will find it not as difficult as you think. You are only working one pattern at the time.

BTW, so you mind sharing the pattern source, I have some silk that would like to be that jumper. :)

Thanks DA

"DA" > instructions, they're more thorough. Not keen on working to charts

I didn'ty think it would be difficult - just challenging. Not the same thing at all :-) And, as you say, very interesting.

I'll try to remember to bring up the pattern next time I come to the pc. Now I'm going to dosome more knitting :-)

On the silk - I don't know where you are. The equivalent yarn I got to knit it was what we call Double Knitting wool. I always think of silk as quite thin - but I don't know :-(

Mary

I got the silk from here

down until you see the silkMelinda has both worsted and sport. Depending on the gauge, I just go up or down a jumper size if the yarn is thicker or thinner. Check out the beautiful hand dyed yarns while you are there.DA

"DA" > knit it was what we call Double Knitting wool. I always think of silk as

I've no idea what they are :-)

Also, I forgot to bring up the pattern, I shall though. I only switched on to see if there was anything in a local store's offers which we want. I don't really want to go out, it's an awful day with high winds and rain lashing - sometimes from the north so bitterly cold.

And a son has taken time off work so that he and Spouse can re-build a fence which blew down in last week's storms. Not really the weather for it :-(

Mary

>

"DA"

Thanks Mary. Is it fun knitting?

DA

"DA" > Interlock M-524.

Well, put it this way. I didn't get to bed until after midnight last night.

I'll just finish this block.

I might as well finish the ball.

Can't leave a block half done ...

:-)

Mary

Worsted is between DK and Aran. Think of it as skinny Aran. Sport weight is usually a little heavier than sock weight.

It's cold here, too (East coast USA near Washington D.C.) in my drafty old house.

=Tamar

...

Thanks - but I don't know what 'sock weight' is either :-)

It's not draughty in this house and it is well insulated but it snowed in the night and some is still falling so the light from outside is blinding. I'll stay snug inside with my knitting - after I've candied some citrus peel.

Thanks again for your explanation.

Mary