Inspiration
Never Say Never
Here’s something you might not know about me. Brace yourself, it’s shocking.
I like machine knits.
Over the years, I’ve bought quite a few of them, and if they are good ones, I wear them until they are in tatters.
I’m talking about the beautiful knitted fabrics that can be achieved on needles tinier than human hands can manage. They use more stitches, in more colors than we’d comfortably take on, in beautiful materials. They are made by artisans, employing skills and processes that are fascinating. We love them, and in the Holiday Shop, we sell them.
A Case in Point: Quinton Chadwick
Our late, great friend, Belinda Boaden, was descended from craftspeople in the historic knitting factories of Nottingham, England. She pursued her own education and career in knitwear design, for both hand knitting and ready-to-wear. It was Belinda who schooled me about the craftsmanship and history embedded in well-made machine knits. Hand knitting and machine knitting have different, complementary strengths, and there is space in our closets for both.
Belinda also introduced me to “Jane down the road.” With Jess Quinton, Jane Chadwick started Quinton Chadwick, a small business that designs and sells modern knit accessories that are proudly made in Britain.
Jane Chadwick and Jess Quinton + mood boards I am squinting to peek at.
Serious about stripes.
Within a short time of Belinda’s chance meeting with Jane in their neighborhood, she was collaborating on projects with Quinton Chadwick, and she and Jane were having regular tea breaks together, easing the solitude of parallel work-from-home lives.
At Jane’s house, tea breaks included Gerrard, aka The Lad Gerrard, aka a generously proportioned, very relaxed ginger cat.
jeff bridges, but a cat. To keep up with The Lad Gerrard, we recommend his pops’s instagram, with priceless captions and very good art.
As good a knitwear designer as Belinda was, she was even more gifted, I think, at connecting people, at expanding our connections to each other. She connected up Jane and Jess to other people she knew in the textile world, from factories to weavers and designers, and even a couple of knitbloggers in the States. One of my prized possessions is a Quinton Chadwick lace scarf made at the historic G. H. Hurt mill in Nottingham.
And so it is that we have some beautiful Quinton Chadwick pieces in the Holiday Shop this year! It’s a dream come true.
Let’s focus on the scarves, shall we?
Three colorways of the Tweed Block Scarf. From left, earth, Nordic and Formica.
Pure wool, SUPERSOFT, at a scale that allows for delicate patterning.
not sure that non-knitters measure the gauge on their scarves, but Ann clocked it at 20 stitches per inch.
up close you can see the woolly softness. dinky checks transition into a tweedy marl, then a crisp geometric pattern.
With this much color going on in each scarf, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
Get your mind around this: these scarves are already knitted. what will they think of next?
We’ve also got a small, fun collection of gloves from Quinton Chadwick. They match the scarves, and they also don’t match the scarves! Run on over and take a look.
I ordered two of the gloves because I had worn through or lost all my current pairs. And I’d had some experience last winter ordering machine knit cowls made in Scotland from Kate Davies and the wool was so soft, dense, and warm. It seemed like a good investment.
And it was. These gloves are beautifully made. I especially like that the wrists are thicker, which keeps you warm and toasty–no freezing cold can slip up your coat sleeve with these! The wool is scrumptious.
And definitely not least, the designs are so wonderful.
Sorry to sound like a commercial, but I think these are beautiful, warm without being bulky, will last a long time, and I am being very careful about where I leave them. No losing them for me!
Nice talk. I like to have seconds around, too…..that second pair…..like you say, if you lose one, you’ve got a replacement.
Hubby goes through socks like Butter finger Blizzards. So, I buy 12 pair at once and have a replacement pdq; LOL!! That holy (holey) sock gets repurposed usually as a dish soap bottle tube dress…..by cutting off the cuff then tossing the bottom into the shoe shine box. When that gets full, ………?…… ((:
Why aren’t I knitting/crocheting? LOL!! .
Happy Holidays.
I would also recommend BAAKA by Mary MacGregor. Beautiful fair isle from Lerwick, Scotland.
Another Christmas present for me idea. But how to choose?
Love the colors–very Anni Albers.
I started using a knitting machine for production work about 10 years ago. At the time I felt like such a traitor to hand knitting – which I love – and now I feel differently. It is a machine that requires much knowledge, skill and patience. And is operated by hand! In some ways it is more difficult than hand knitting and I’m now a proud machine knitter! Thanks for sharing this story – the work is gorgeous!
Love! Nordic easily my fave! I’m always learnin somethin’ at MDK. Thanks!
My girlfriend has her toe in the water for machine knitting with an Addi. It’s kind of limited, but there really are an amazing variety of things she can make on it.
She’d love a larger knitting machine, but space is an issue.
My only problem with her using an Addi is that when we knit in public, she gets all the attention.
That’s a solid WOW from me!
Also: I hope to meet you some day, Gerrard.
{{{{{{{Gerrard}}}}}}} {{{the Lad}}
I like machine knits too. (There, I said it.) These are wonderful….the kind of color combinations that take a seriously talented eye. Gorgeous!
Gorgeous fusion of means and materials, oo la la!
I was so happy to see these in your shop – I always enjoyed Belinda’s posts of the Quinton Chadwick pieces on twitter 🙂