#it’s a fine yarn; it just feels very very much like your standard wool

[azure-clockwork]

Nothing worse than finally having enough yoke to try the sweater on and realizing ‘damn, this yarn feels fucking terrible’.

I’ll just wear a shirt under it and learn for next time cuz I already own enough yarn to finish the sweater lol

[milkweedman]

Hi! I have a Yarn Question and you seem Knowledgable! I was recently gifted a LOT (10 balls i think? Like a solid couple pounds.) of mass produced 100% wool yarn. Problem being its OLLLLDDDD like at least 20 years old. Its in good shape EXCEPT its SO dry. Its so so dry and scratchy it feel worse than twine to work with. Do you have any recommendations/is it possible to soften(?) wool yarn before i work with it. I wanna make a sweater out of this stuff SO BAD.

Hi ! Unfortunately this is kinda out of my wheelhouse--I don't know much about millspun yarn or very old wool. I do know that depending on how it was stored (damp basement or exposed to light or bugs) it may be dry and scratchy because it's deteriorating--I would highly recommend looking over the yarn carefully for signs of bugs, breakages, etc, and testing the strength by snapping a strand in half with your hands. if it is fine though, and just scratchy, standard procedure would be to wind all this yarn into hanks so you can treat it, then soak it in conditioner, or eucalyn, or another wool treatment. just washing it like that ought to help a little (there's almost certainly dust).

if anyone has any experience with this, please comment or reply ! like i said, not my area of expertise at all.

[meowmitch-blog]

What to Consider Before Getting a Carpet Online Or Instore

The Kinds of Fibers

When you are considering Acquiring Rugs Online or from a carpet shop, chances are you are feeling a little overwhelmed by all of the options, rugs are available in lots of sizes, colors with several kinds of fibers plus the various means they are made, these are some of the important things you need to think about before purchasing your floor rugs.

Did you recognize that there is a substantial difference between the fibers of rugs made from all-natural fibers in comparison to those made of synthetic products and also sizes offered to choose from?

I will certainly clarify the difference/breakdown before you get or make any type of choice. you may also like www.xlargerugs.co.uk

All-natural Fiber Rugs

Natural fiber comes from plants or pets.

Some examples are coir, woolen, hemp, seagrass, bamboo, sisal, and silk, to name a few.

Woolen Rugs

Wool Rugs are usually a bit much more expensive than their artificial equivalents yet last a lot longer, they do much better besides some molting of the fibers. Woolen is a lot warmer, there is a lot of hand-tufted woolen rugs on the market today which is typically thicker than the device wovens.

One plus of Wool Rugs is that they will not burn easily.

Wool is the oldest natural fiber, the majority of Persian and also Asian rugs are made from woolen.

Sea Yard/ Coir

Seagrass/ coir/ Jute Rugs are Anti-static, Fire Retardant, durable and UV Shielded as well as are suitable for high traffic areas like corridors, access, and also living room, nevertheless; be careful with spills as moisture may create the hemp to break down, and also these rugs are not simple to spot-clean, using a great Carpet Spray Guard would be a great suggestion for comfort for these (Hand Spun Hemp Mats, AND SO ON).

Silk.

The silk is not as sturdy and also best-made use of in reduced website traffic areas such as official living rooms, they can additionally make superb wall danglings. If you or a relative has allergies or chemical sensitivities, you'll intend to pick an all-natural fiber rug, instead of synthetic fibers, as they are commonly made with artificial dyes or chemicals. All-natural area rugs are a great option for those wanting a more eco-friendly and eco-friendly way of life.

Artificial Fiber Rugs.

Artificial fibers do not originate from plants or pets they are synthetic.

These fibers have been produced by a guy; some of the products made use of for synthetic rugs are nylon, polypropylene, acrylic, as well as polyester. These fibers are strong and also have a certain quantity of water resistance, so they are made to last longer than some of their natural fiber counterparts. They can additionally be tarnish and also discolor immune, depending upon exactly how they were made. They can normally take a little bit more of a whipping, but only if they are of a great density that goes to the very least 1 million points of fiber per square meter or more.

Each type has its benefits and drawbacks; each can be found in a substantial selection of dimensions, shades, and styles so you make sure to discover one that fits your tastes, and also your total house style.

A carpet that is low top quality is not going to last you as long, you may pay much less upfront but you'll pay even more when you have to get an additional one in only a fairly brief time. In other words, do not choose a silk carpet for your entranceway or your family room.

Standard Polypropylene Fiber.

The most inexpensive fiber is the basic polypropylene, these rugs are called BCF, if you desire a low-cost temporary rug these are good, after a short time though the fiber often tends to squash quickly and also fluff etc.is tough to vacuum off, if used for wall hangings like some Tiger Photo Rugs it would certainly be fine.

Warm Set Polypropylene Fiber.

One means a Warmth Set Fibre is produced is by the ways that the yarn is turned like a spring and afterward treated with a warm procedure to remain twisted in position, the helpful homes of this are higher resistance to squashing like a shock absorber. The other is a deluxe heap type, which has the gain from the warmth process however it just has not been spun with each other like a springtime.

Heat Set fibers are a great deal softer than a typical BCF fiber and also thus are antistatic plus simple to vacuum as fluff and animal hairs will not adhere to them.

There are lots of qualities of Warm Establish Polypropylene Flooring Rugs on the market and the quality relies on the density of the weave as well as the thickness of the thread.

Generally, a reduced high-quality carpet will certainly have a thicker yarn than one with a finer yarn. Rugs that have the twisted or "Frise" fiber require more factors or shots to cover the surface of the carpet, whereas a luxurious pile carpet all the fibers are currently separated giving a denser appearance. Looks can be tricking in this regard, check to see if the densities are specified in the summaries of the( Standard Designs or Modern Layout) Rugs.

Polyester Fiber.

Polyester fiber generates some of the most attractive pigmentations available. Most consumers like to dig their fingers into the stack as well as if it supplies a glamorous feel (hand) they think this is excellent quality. This is a true test for all rug building and constructions, but it is a requirement for some Polyester Shag Rugs.

Acrylic Fiber.

Some woven Acrylic Rugs can be of top quality, typically in a Standard Style, numerous can be found in a Modern layout in a hand-tufted, as well as some in kids hand-tufted likewise, for many years shag rugs also but there were a lot of issues of molting and also flattening. The acrylic yarn has a low sheen that some individuals prefer whereas the polypropylene has a higher luster. Acrylic rugs seem like woolen as well as can resemble woolen however do not do well as well as are generally less costly.

You can examine for molting by scrubbing your fingers back and forth rapidly through the rug pile to check for these issues.

WHAT SIZE CARPET SHOULD I BUY?

Rugs Come in Lots Of Sizes, so here are some of the things you need to take into consideration.

Rugs.

Rugs are available in numerous sizes beginning with a small doormat to the largest for claim an activity area or large family room. Some likewise featured matching corridor runners, fixed sizes or continuous, rounded, oval, oval and also square. Some brands will be available in all sizes and shapes whereas some are minimal to 1 or 2 dimensions.

110 x 160cm is the smallest carpet size, and also is normally ideal for a sofa location or can be for under a coffee table.

Corridor Joggers.

Hall Runners can be produced in two different methods, either ended up or constant sizes. Ended up or set sizes will generally be.67 m -.8 m vast but limited to 2.3 cm, 3m, 3.3 m, 4m and some 5m long.

The Constant Joggers from a roll will typically be from 20meters as much as 30 meters long.

Hall Runners from the roll can be reduced to any size, after that they just require to be overlocked or fringed, the only other element is selecting if you require rubber-backed or the woven kinds.

Determining the Size of a Rug Needed.

The size of a carpet for a specific area is an extremely essential element to keep in mind when purchasing rugs.

Why the size is necessary, it can assist distinguish the limit and also enables classification of certain areas of your home, for instance, dining room boundary can be conveniently defined by the size of the rug which ought to have to do with 60cm/2ft larger than the table right around as this permits the chairs to continue to be on the carpet when drawn back.

What dimension should your carpet be?

Feature - which is the purpose in what you need the rug for or to do in the particular room, such as add warmth, protect hidden surfaces, aesthetic appeals, shield rug/ timber floor, and so on

. Space - is the size of the area offered for the area where the carpet is to be utilized.

Choice - Can be the individual taste and also personal style/design or style.

Let's state, for instance, you are looking for a Rug to put in your living area, depending on the feature in which the carpet will serve to maintain your feet cozy, etc, first thing you need to do is measure your whole area because area as well as decide how much of the floor space that needs to be covered or left exposed. Choosing the quality of the carpet comes to be simpler when you have worked out what buildings you need the rug to be, whether it requires to be a practical Floor Carpet for high web traffic area's or soft for the children to lay on when seeing TELEVISION, this will certainly assist when making your decision. The layout and also style of the flooring carpet.

[designstreaamester2]

Week 2 Class 1

I changed my mind about educating people why straws are bad for the environment, I was having a lengthy conversation with one of my flatmates about how socks are really hard to recycle and are often just dumped in the trash. I wanted to find out more on this topic and educate other people too.

How long does it take the average sock to decompose?

1-5 years for woollen socks

What fabrics are biodegradable?

Cotton, Silk, Wool, Cashmere, Hemp, Bamboo, Linen

If Eco-fashion brands want to label themselves ‘compostable’ 60-90% of the product must break down into C02 within 180 days in a commercial composting factory.

Usually, you can trust fabrics that are natural because they can compost. Bamboo and 100% (ethically made) cotton fabrics are best.

What fabrics are non-biodegradable? 

Polyester, Spandex, Nylon, Rayon

These fabrics will eventually break down but it can take up to 200 years.

what are the different materials socks can be made of?

- cotton

~ Cotton is a lightweight, moisture-absorbing fibre. It's breathable, washable and durable, so it is the most common fibre in socks. Because it is so great at absorbing moisture, it is generally blended with nylon, a nonabsorbent material, to help move moisture away from the foot.

If your socks are not labelled as "preshrunk cotton," they are likely to shrink in the wash if you use hot water or a hot dryer cycle. The best way to avoid this is to wash in cold water and drip dry on a line. 

Cotton is grown all over the world, but droughts, pests and the weather can impact production, sometimes driving up the price. Cotton fibre is gathered from around the seeds of the cotton plant and is 90% cellulose.

organic cotton:  is grown with non-genetically modified plants, without pesticides and without fertilizers. This method of growing cotton is thought to allow for more biodiversity, benefitting the environment. One sock brand we carry, Zkano, specializes in organic cotton socks. 

recycled cotton:  (recovered cotton) is usually spun from scraps that would have been discarded after the spinning, weaving or cutting processes.

mercerized cotton:  is a cotton yarn that is put through an additional finishing process called mercerizing to provide great lustre and softness to the yarn and to intensify dyed colours.

combed cotton:  is treated more than standard cotton to remove short fibres and impurities. The cotton is literally combed, leaving long, straight cotton fibres only. These are wonderful for weaving fabrics because they don't fray as easily and feel softer against your skin. Generally, combed cotton is more expensive than regular cotton. One of our most popular brands, Stance, specializes in combed cotton blends.

- wool

~Wool from sheep and other animals is the original easy-care fibre. Each wool fibre is made up of millions of coiled springs that stretch in use but bounce back to their original positions. Wool naturally has wrinkle resistance, colourfastness and shape recovery, and it breathes with your body. Wool yarn, when knotted into a thicker sock, tends to be bulky and lofty. Air becomes trapped, making wool an ideal insulator. Wool socks also keep feet drier because wool absorbs as much as 30% of its own weight in moisture before it begins to feel damp. Thanks to these properties, wool socks are great for hiking.

Here are a couple of common kinds of speciality wool:

merino wool:  is a special, fine grade of wool that originally came from Merino sheep. It shares all of the characteristics classic to wool that is listed above, but what makes Merino wool different is the luxurious softness and comfort provided by the fine diameter Merino fibres. Unlike traditional wool, Merino wool does not itch and is shrink-treated to hold its size and shape even after repeated washings.

SmartWool:  is actually a brand name of a clothing company, and we are proud to sell their popular socks. The company came up with the term Smartwool to distinguish its speciality wool, which has the small barbs removed from the fibres to make them exceptionally comfortable.

- nylon

~ Nylon is a very strong, versatile, hard-wearing fibre. Socks made of nylon can be thin and silky or bulky and highly elastic. Nylon is often used with other fibres in blends to give added stretch or to improve durability.

- acrylic 

~  Acrylic is a highly durable man-made fibre that provides softness and warmth with little weight. Acrylic's inherent properties enable it to hold brighter and more brilliant colours than natural fibres.  

- polyester

~ Polyester and stretch polyester are two hydrophobic (water-repelling) fibres that are known for their durability and are extremely colourfast for vivid colouration.

- olefins (polypropylene)

~ Olefin is a superior water-repelling synthetic fibre that won't accept moisture. In socks, it is commonly used in a blend with absorbent outer layers that work together to wick moisture away from your body. It is very strong, and it is the lightest of any man-made fibre. In 1962, Italian scientists won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for developing the process of making Olefin fibres.

- spandex, elastane 

~  The terms elastane, Lycra and spandex all refer to the same style of synthetic fibre made from polyurethane. Spandex is the commonly used term in the U.S., which was marketed under brand name Lycra, while the term elastane is used worldwide. First produced by DuPont in 1959, the fibre has elastic properties so it is often used in place of rubber. Used with other fibres, it provides elasticity, comfort and a close fit, which makes it a common choice in socks to help them stay up and in the arch and ankle to provide extra support.

- silk 

~ Silk is a very smooth, soft and moisture-absorbing fibre. It boasts high tensile strength and acts as a natural thermal retainer that does not conduct heat. It is woven from the cocoon material of special caterpillars.

- elastic

~ Elastic is a rubber or spandex core covered with nylon to provide extreme stretch.

- rubber

~ Rubber latex, which comes from rubber trees, is used in socks for added elasticity and stretch.

- rayon

~ Rayon is a natural cellulose filament fibre known for its sheen, its soft feel and its high moisture absorption properties. The term rayon is sometimes used as a generic term for “plant fibre.”

- mohair

~ Mohair is the long, soft, silky hair of the Angora goat. It is stronger than wool and dyes more easily than any other speciality hair fibre. This makes it a luxury fibre.

- modal

~  Modal is a natural fibre, typically made from beech trees. It's more water-absorbent than cotton and holds on to colour better. Modal is a natural fibre, typically made from beech trees. It's more water-absorbent than cotton and holds on to colour better.

- lurex

~ Lurex is a synthetic fibre that incorporates a glittering metallic thread. It is often used for detailing in intricate sock patterns.

- flax

~ Flax is one of the oldest fibre crops in the world. Flax fibre is extracted from the skin of the stem of the plant and is very soft, lustrous and flexible. It is stronger than cotton but less elastic.

- DryMax

~ DryMax is a brand name of speciality Olefin fabric. DryMax fibres are infused with an anti-microbial treatment to stay moisture- and odour-free.

- CoolMax 

~  CoolMax is a brand name of a polyester blend designed to wick moisture away from the skin.

- cashmere 

~  Cashmere is a fibre from the soft hair of a Cashmere goat. It provides natural, light-weight insulation with bulk and is considered a luxury fibre, mostly because of how soft and comfortable it is.

- bamboo 

~  Bamboo fibres are taken from the natural, fast-growing plant. Bamboo is softer and more breathable than cotton and has a natural sheen to the surface, so it almost feels like silk or cashmere. Bamboo is hypoallergenic, naturally microbial and very durable, making it a luxury choice for socks.

- angora 

~  Angora is the soft hair of an Angora rabbit. Used with other fibres, it provides a lot of comforts and a fluffy look. The rabbits moult their fur, and farmers pluck the hair.

Types of different socks:

1. toe cover, mute socks

2. invisible, no-show socks

3. liner, extra low cut socks

4. ped, low cut socks

5. quarter, anklet socks

6. midcalf, crew socks

7. over calf, crew socks

8. knee high socks

9. over the knee socks

How long it takes the average sock to decompose: https://www.junior-report.com/how-long-does-sock-take-to-decompose/

All about what socks can be made from: https://sockdrawer.com/pages/fiber-content

Wiki socks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sock

Socks made from plastic bottles: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/swaggr-socks-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles#/faq

What fabrics are biodegradable: https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/how-compost-fabrics/

Straws and why they are bad for the environment.

I want to create a website that teaches people about how single-use straws are really bad for the environment.

Who

Who 

Who do single-use straws affect? 

Ocean life

Land/Environment

What 

Where

America uses 500 million straws per day.

Wellington restaurants give out 800 straws each week.

When 

Why 

How

Do’s:

Don’ts:

References:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/news-plastic-drinking-straw-history-ban/

https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/straws-why-they-seriously-suck/

https://get-green-now.com/environmental-impact-plastic-straws/

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/99293514/council-aims-to-curb-use-of-plastic-straws-in-wellington-restaurants

[selozine]

Q&A JENNY

/      How do you get inspired to create new looks:

I get inspired by a ton of things, whether it be by other artists’ creations, a colour combo I see somewhere or seeing a random item around the house and wondering whether or not I’d be able to stick it to my face and get a look out of it somehow, which seems to work fine most of the time. That’s how I end up glueing wool, yarn and napkins to my face while sometimes questioning whether that’s a sane thing for a person to do or not- probably not for most people anyways. ;)

/      Is there a reason behind choosing to mostly focus on just eyes and lips:

I don’t think there is a particular reason behind it but I do just really love eye and lip closeups, on myself and on other people as well. There’s just something beautiful about those two particular parts of the face that can express so much even on their own. As well as being able to put so much detail on such limited space just makes me happy for some reason as it’s not something I get to do a lot when working as a Mua for photoshoots or other productions. Another, less cute reason, is simply that sometimes I don’t find the time to do a whole face and end up just doing a quick little eye and lip combo.

/      Do you have a favourite look you have done:

That’s a though one since I have quite a few looks that I really like that I either did on myself or on others for a photoshoot, but some of my favourites would be the Koi carp look that I did last year, my Studio Ghibli character looks and most floral painting looks I did so far, since painting flowers on people’s faces has become one of my favourite things to do in makeup.

/      How does Japan influence your looks:

Japan does influence my looks quite frequently. As the country, the culture and the language have been a major part of my life for almost 10 years now, I find myself going back to images of it quite a lot whether that be certain patterns I stumble upon or cultural aspects like the Daruma look. I love how inspiration from Japan can be found in either very simplistic things which are often found in the more traditional ways, as well as in the crazy colourful and over the top aspects of Japan. Both is at times very appealing to me and therefore a great source of inspiration for when I’m feeling not so inspired. I intend to source that inspiration into a lot more looks in the future as well.

/      What is self-love to you:

Getting to the point of self-love has first and foremost been a very long and difficult journey, as when we grow up we tend to think that everything is wrong with how we are and that we should be someone else- someone who fits in. So getting to the point of accepting that that’s not going to happen and that there’s a lot of beauty in us all not being the same and not everyone having to fit in with society’s standards, was a tough one but eventually I got to the point of liberating myself from the restraints that society puts on us and found a way to love myself and be content with the fact that this is who I am and that that’s perfectly okay. So for me personally, you could say, that self-love is a form of liberation from restraints and standards that try to force you into being someone you’re not and instead embracing and appreciating the person you are fully.

/// as told to SELO

/// image credit: JENNY

[menswearmusings]

Finding Non-Tailored Layers That Suit You

Tailored jackets—sportcoats, blazers and suits—are where it’s at for me. #Menswear in the early days gave us Italian suits, soft-shouldered, well cut, beautiful in make. But people have moved on. The market is evolving. And that’s just not what people are wearing anymore.

Except for me. I continue to want that lifestyle. The truth is, a tailored sportcoat makes me feel more comfortable in public. I feel that they make me look better—hiding my flaws and boosting my self-confidence. 

But there’s also great appeal—and comfort—in well-made knitwear. Eidos head designer Antonio Ciongoli said knitwear and sweaters get more interest and sell through better than their (awesome) tailoring (a sign of the evolving market). Aran knits, mocknecks, fisherman knits, chunky cardigans, thick cable knits, shawl collar cardigans, turtlenecks—all these hold enormous appeal. Unfortunately in many cases they do the exact opposite of tailoring—the tailored jacket helps you hide a paunch; a chunky aran knit accentuates it. 

So how do you find non-tailored layers that suit you?

This winter, I’ve collected an almost entirely new set of knitwear and learned a few things along the way that may help you, if you, like me, love the idea of wearing sweaters, but aren’t built like Adonis.

At some point during the last three winters, all my wool knitwear was eaten up by moths, with only one or two pieces surviving. It was a mixed blessing.  It had been a long time since I’d worn any of the sweaters I did own, which were all smooth merino wool, and most of them v-necks. I find the smoothness of merino wool boring. Worn on their own, merino wool lacks any character or visual interest. It isn’t particularly flattering, either, and the typical designs do nothing to make up for the inherently less flattering drape of a clingy knit. Worn as a layer under a jacket it can work well, but I usually find that for a V-neck to look good under a jacket, the neck needs to go fairly deep, and most of my sweaters just looked like crewnecks with a slight notch cut in the neck.

So my tastes have changed to favor chunkier knits, more interesting designs and versatility. If it’s chunkier, it needs to be able to replace a sportcoat as an outer layer in decent weather. If it’s less chunky and lighter in weight, it definitely needs to layer well under a tailored outer layer, and it’s nice if it can stand on its own. Of course I’ve always loved shawl collar cardigans, but I’ve begun to open up to other designs (including, gasp, the turtleneck).

So my discovery of Abercrombie & Fitch’s revival under new head of design Aaron Levine was serendipitous. It was a store I never shopped at even in its mall brand heyday when I was a teenager, and I still feel somewhat embarrassed to be seen there. But good clothes are good clothes, and the knitwear from this fall/winter season was pretty great. In fact, I came away this season with four new sweaters—two chunky cardigans and two turtlenecks. Inadvertently along the way, I discovered a trick (which I’m certain will be changed soon) that saved me about $175:

Abercrombie’s website prices are often higher than those of my local store; for things purchased online, simply take the item in and ask for a price adjustment if there is one available within a 12-day period after you receive the item. This works even for online exclusive and their flagship store items. This method allowed me to come home with two $198 MSRP turtlenecks for $25 apiece.

For years I’d been wanting a fairly standard rib knit shawl cardigan in navy, but hadn’t bought one because the cheaper brands usually do some sort of unique iterative take on their shawl cardigans season after season, and I usually just wanted the basic rib knit design a la the $300 Scott & Charters version. If there are two words that describe most of the decisions I make, they are opportunity cost—so while I’m certain a $300 cardigan would be amazing and I’d wear it until the day I die, that’s still a hefty price to pay when there are other things I need and want more.

So I was thrilled to find Abercrombie’s version, which is way, way less nice than the S&C version, I’m sure, but which for the price is unbeatable. In store they carried it in camel, which I tried on and loved so much I bought it on the spot (which is highly unusual for me). And they also had it in a shade of navy (not quite pure dark navy, but almost an indigo-esque shade), which I bought. I played the sales game on these, too, getting them each for $33.

Not to leave out my favorite brand Eidos, I was drawn to a chunky aran-knit mockneck Antonio had designed for this season. At over $300 retail I figured it was a pipe dream, but one random morning I happened to refresh the product page for it on Mr Porter (when their sale had dropped to 70% off), and BAM, size Medium was in stock. I immediately checked out, and with all that money I saved on the Abercrombie sweaters I came away with my top Eidos choice.

These five new pieces join the few sweaters that survived the mothpocalypse to make a pretty good, versatile and minimalist collection. Previously I had picked up an amazing and beautiful Eidos belted shawl cardigan last winter, a gray Brooks Brothers Supima cotton crewneck that I wear exclusively under tailoring years ago, and an oversized lambswool raglan crewneck from J.Crew (good for wearing while doing chores, chopping wood in the frigid cold, or running to Home Depot).

So what makes these sweaters better than what I owned before? And what are the characteristics that makes them more versatile? It is fairly obvious that an aran-knit made in Italy is better than merino wool V-neck from J.Crew. But each of these pieces has a few characteristics that make them more wearable, in my opinion, and more attractive. Here they are:

1- They don’t gather at the bottom in an elastic band

Sweaters that gather at the bottom no doubt do a much better job of keeping the cold air of the North Sea out, but really only serve to accentuate whatever muffin top you’ve already got. Try and find sweaters that have either a very loosely knit bottom hem, or have no gathered hem at all. The Eidos mockneck as well as the A&F turtlenecks are each this way and it has a tremendous slimming effect.

2- They are textured, not smooth weaves

Merino wool, smooth finely woven cotton, and even cashmere—they are soft and nice to handle, but don’t do much to flatter or provide much visual interest. Thicker gauge yarns help the flattering problem by smoothing out less than ideal physiques, with chunkier weaves (such as the intricate designs of an aran knit) solving the boring visual problem. If you want to layer underneath a tailored jacket, the aran knits will usually make you look like the Michelin Man, so I recommend sticking to plain weaves (except maybe for thinly woven cable knits) under jackets, with the rib knits and aran knits standing on their own.

3- They each utilize tricks at the shoulder that flatter your physique

I bought a vintage Polo super-thick wool cable knit sweater from the 90s that I could’ve survived Siberian winter in (see image at the bottom), but which had shoulders extended way over into my deltoids. It did not flatter me. In contrast, these sweaters each do a good job to flattering the male form in different ways. Abercrombie tends to do a really good job at this in particular, I’ve noticed. On the rib knit cardigans, the design of the shoulder is as a raglan sleeve. Visually, it accentuates the bulk of your shoulder (even if you’re not a weightlifter) with the knit seam running diagonally up from the armpit up toward the shoulder. 

With the regular sleeves of the turtlenecks, they use a slightly narrower shoulder with deliberately longer sleeves meant to run the extra distance over your actual deltoids to accentuate that muscle. And Eidos’ sweaters are made with a trick of weaving that eliminates all seams at the shoulder, but the weave effect accomplishes the same as the regular shoulder of the A&F sweaters.

The key is that when you’re trying on knitwear, give a critical eye to the shoulder because it can make a sweater look really great, or really plain.

Growing up I was always so impatient for winter to be done with by late April when my birthday was. But these days I’ve been lamenting cold enough weather to wear my awesome sweaters with, haha. 

Keep these things in mind when looking for a knitwear strategy that works for you.

[ntslttrspxls]

Games I finished in 2016

(not necessarily from that year) Sooo, I’m a bit late when it comes to my personal gaming retrospective of 2016. BUT here goes. It has been a successful year when it comes to gaming for me. I completed a few titles that have been really fun, long overdue or just surprisingly surprising because I hadn’t heard of them ever before. I completed 16 games, which not necessarily came out in 2016 but were still on my list. So here’s what I played last year and below you’ll find detailed opinions on them. 

1.  Transformers Devastation (PS3)

First game I finished in 2016 ‘cause I got it for Christmas in 2015. First things first: I love Platinum Games, although I don’t love all their games alike. But the company itself I appreciate a lot, especially for the Bayonetta series. And they made a Transformers game that looks like the old 80s cartoon and not the dark, modern Michael Bay crap the Transformers have become these days? ‘Awesome’, I thought and I wasn’t disappointed. Yes, the level design is very repetitive and has a lot of, well not back tracking but let’s say they recycle the setting a lot: there’s a city, one part is active for one mission, then you proceed to a different part for another mission and eventually come back to the first part for the third mission. Not exactly refreshing but you still get to shoot or punch Decepticons in the face with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Sideswipe or Wheeljack. Plus later in the game the settings vary a little more. The gameplay is classical Platinum games style: run around, beat shit up, collect stuff mainly to get stronger, proceed, repeat. Exactly what a proper Transformers videogame needs. It has the typical Bayonetta-style “witch time” effect where you evade an attack at the right moment just to enter a slow-motion mode for a few seconds where your enemies are slow and you keep on banging. All is well. It looks totally like the TV series which kiddo-me loved to death, the soundtrack is a mixture of badass metal, dubstep (ugh, I used the word) and neo-/modern metal. RAD! So: nothing to complain here. Sure, it could be more diverse and stuff, but it gave me exactly what I wanted and expected from the game. I had a hell of a time with this one. And you could even get more out of it because there is a looting and crafting concept where enemies drop parts and weapons which you then can combine into more powerful or more diverse weapons (take a strong machine gun and combine it with an ice-effect machine gun and you get a strong ice-effect MG; you get the point). It’s fun to experiment with different weapons and combine so many until you find the perfect weapon for every Autobot. So if you’re a fan of the 80s cartoon series: pick it up! Now! It’s become dirt cheap pretty quickly. No excuses. (picture credit: Steam)

2.  Yoshi’s Woolly World (WiiU)

Got this as a present, too. For my birthday in 2015 by my good friend and gaming buddy Christian.  Not much to say here, either. It’s a Nintendo game. So naturally it looks gorgeous, the gameplay will work just fine and it will be a lot of fun. To be precise: yes, it did exactly this. But in a really great way. The graphics are extremely unique and innovative. The wool&yarn setting provides so many new takes on level design, art direction and gameplay ideas that the Nintendo team could just go nuts with it. With Yoshis tongue as a tool you can for example untie parts of the level to “unravel” (sic!) hidden passages it’s just adorable how you go “Aaahh”, each time you find something. Everything looks like good ol’ grandma knitted it herself with all the love she can put into a woolly stuffed animal or pillow. Everything looks organic and handmade which sets the game into a very graspable and physical world. Plus, typical for Nintendo: it’s not only for kids. Sure, it’s cute and all but the levels are actually pretty challenging. Especially if you want to collect all the thingamabobs and collectibles you can get in each level: collect five balls of yarn in each level to unlock a new colored Yoshi you can pick to play with. So the completionist really gets something out of this. Long story short: it’s a wonderful title and not just another Nintendo game but really creative, especially in game design and level design.  (picture credit: Amazon)

3. Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture (PS4)

I heard about it shortly before I got a PS4 and I simply don’t play games on my PC or Mac that often. So I bought it right away because the idea and art style stoked me. The art style is not very, unique, since it’s basically pretty realistic. But the town they created is selling it. It’s authentic. You can visit the houses, they look as if people lived here a short time ago. Which is what actually happened.  It’s one of the slightly patronizingly named “Walking Simulators”. I don’t think that this genre specification is derogatory because it just says what it is: you walk around a setting and explore things without too much interaction. In the end the voice acting and the mystical story behind the game took me by the hand and led me through the experience and left me thinking. I love it when games make me think about what I’ve just witnessed. So here’s to a great Walking Simulator with wonderful sound, story and voice acting.  (picture credit: Polygon)

4. Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of The Moon (Wii)

This was recommended to me by a friend who told me that I’d love it because he knew my preferences in videogames, which he does. Farewell Ruins of the Moon is some kind of, well, it feels like a survival horror adventure at the beginning of the survival horror genre. Think early PS2 or Dreamcast era. The battle mechanics are dusty and wodden, the item management is tedious and a little annoying, the graphics are one step behind what was standard on the Wii. But still I grew to enjoy the game because of the beautiful setting, characters and story. Your main character is kind of left in a world where there’s not much left at all. He has to find out what happened and if there are others left, too. You find a girl which then runs away. From then on you try to find her. And after accepting that it’s like playing a good PS2 game instead of a polished Wii game I started loving everything about it (apart from the things I just criticised). I played it with original japanese voice and subtitles which made me enjoy the game a helluva lot more. I love japanese culture and it made the game better! Now it felt like an early take on what later became NIER, which I totally adore. The battle system is not really similar, but in a small scope I guess does have comparisons. But setting and look feel a little bit like Caviars masterpiece on Xbox360 and PS3 NIER. Over the course of the game you meet different characters and their respective background stories, which is really similar to NIER.  All in all I recommend this game to anyone who can overlook the obvious flaws and who still enjoys PS2-era action-adventure games in an anime setting with a great story. (picture credit: Romulation.net)

5.  Until Dawn (PS4)

Well, this is interesting. I heard a (german) podcast (Insert Moin) about Until Dawn before I owned a PS4 and heard them speak about this horror game with stereotype story, stereotype characters and overall very flat features. But they still said that the looks and the execution of these uninspired basic ideas totally hooked them. So I tried it and MAN was this a good horror game. And not only because they hired so many good actors to play the parts of the characters (like Rami Malek from Mr. Robot) but because the horror just kept up with the pace of the game. Each time I thought, “All right, brace yourself for the next expectable jump-scare” - it didn’t happen. The setting was just about right, the sound, the camera angle, the tension and then… nothing. “Whoops, okay. Maybe lat— BOOM”, and there it was. Shocked me to the core. Every_flippin’_time! I love myself a good horror game. But I’ve played so many that most of the “scary effects” just don’t touch me anymore. So here’s Until Dawn which actually has an intriguing storyline that makes you want to find out what’s behind all of it, with it’s stereotypical characters who actually react pretty well to each other depending on how you decide to play each and everyone of them. It’s a little like Heavy Rain with more characters that you can all play and a more horror setting (and with less shitty controls and a less shitty ending). Any horror game or -movie fan should play this! (picture credit: Until Dawn Wikia) 6.  Uncharted 4 (PS4)

Well, it’s Uncharted. It’s like Indiana Jones but without Nazis and, well, that’s about it. I loved Uncharted 2, didn’t care for part 1 too much and haven’t played 3 because everybody said it’s boring and focused too much on the failed 3D-TV feature. But part 4 really got me again. I think it’s the best Uncharted after 2, as far as I can compare them all. Pirates, wonderful graphics, good ol’friends and foes, nice acting… A very good game.  (picture credit: Playstation.com)

7.  ABZÛ (PC)

I already posted something about this game right after I played it. Short: It’s JOURNEY underwater. But it’s not just that. It’s very beautiful, a lot of fun to just swim around and for every diving-fan a must play. The more you play it the more gorgeous it gets. Wonderful game.  A story told without words. Always totally gets me. Plus like its spiritual predecessor Journey the soundtrack was written by the amazing Austin Wintory (link in the next bit). (picture credit: abzugame.com) 8.  Journey (PS4)

There’s not much to say about JOURNEY these days. Anyone who hasn’t played it yet misses out on one of the best and most artistic approaches to videogames in the entire history of the medium. It is the first video game that was ever nominated for a Grammy for its marvellous soundtrack by amazing composer Austin Wintory (it didn’t win, but it was nominated!). It has one of the best online-multiplayer experiences ever where you meet other players along the way through the game who are in the same level as you and you then simply meet. Since there is no teamspeak, nor can you see the gamertag of that person, you have to communicate (if you want to approach the other player) through jumping, making a noise and walking and waiting if the other player follows you. Play it. Please play Journey. I finished it about 4 times now since release and in 2016 for the first time on PS4. It’s always a unique experience.  Here the story is also told without any words, spoken or written. Absolutely my joint. (picture credit: thatgamecompany.com) 

9.  Love You To Bits (iOS) 

This little 2D-puzzle adventure on iOS comes from a few artists behind Tiny Thief (which is very visible, but not in a negative way). You are are guy who’s in love with a robot girl. She gets destroyed and you have to search the whole universe to collect her bits and reassemble her. It’s incredibly detailed and shows a great deal of thought they put into the level design, little anecdotes and reminiscenses to other games. For example in one level there you go to an arcade and have to collect tokens from the arcade machines in order to exchange them for a prize that you need. These arcade machines are all teeny tiny games on their own. One Zelda-style, one Metroid-style and one other classic I just forgot about (I think it wasn’t Mario but something similar). Also it has the classic point-and-click humor to it that you want to click on a person or an item more than once because it’s just funny to watch what happens each time. There’s not only one single reaction. Each level has so many different layers of obvious beauty, deeper design of the puzzles and incredible re-defining ideas of how the level design and game design can be altered in order to keep up the playing experience. Very well done and it has a lot of levels that kept me playing for a long long time for a mobile game. Plus there are some collectibles that are actually fun to discover because they mostly are incorporated in little extra puzzles that you don’t have to solve to complete the level but if you like the challenge it’s great.  Again: story without words. I LOVE it to bits.  (picture credit: loveyoutobits.com)

10.  The Bug Butcher (PS4)

Buddies of a buddie of mine made this Super Putty-like game. It kinda looks like some sort of Super Meat Boy in space with the Super Putty game mechanics. It’s good, short fun with very well animated enemies, a good weapons and upgrades system and a nice fast paced gameplay. Definitely a recommendation for all of you old school gamers out there.  There’s really not much more to say about it. You play some sort of pest-control bug smasher and have to rid a lab from alien bugs and other creatures. Level by level you eliminate waves of bugs, trying to keep up your combo and collecting nice temporary weapon updates. It’s good fun and also a great co-op title, I suppose (haven’t played in two player mode yet). (picture credit: awfullynicestudios.com) 11.  Shovel Knight (WiiU) 

Wuahahaha, Shovel Knight is SO MUCH of everything I loved about the NES. It’s Mega Man, Castlevania, Metroid, Contra, Faxanadu and Zelda II in ONE GAME COMBINED. I love it a lot. The gameplay surely is inspired by all the aforementioned games but Yacht Games made it clear that they simply took everything they loved about these kinds of games and forged something beautiful out of it instead of just copying the good. It’s highly detailed in art style, music, game design and feel of the game that I couldn’t leave my hands off of it until I finished it. Some levels were actually too challenging so I left them out (well, the optional ones, naturally; otherwise I couldn’t have finished it) but overall it’s never too frustrating. Like in Super Meat Boy (my go-to example of perfect game design) Shovel Knight lets you know where you went wrong when you die and gives you a chance to make things right in collecting the loot that you lost dying. All in all it’s a great game for all the NES-lovers out there. Play it! No matter the system (Wii, Vita, PS4, 3DS) - it’s awesome! Oh, and check out the soundtrack by Jake Kaufman who also did some wonderful soundtracks for my beloved Shantae series, Double Dragon Neon and Mighty Switch Force. Get it here on Bandcamp for name-your-price (and please pay a buck or two for it; it’s totally worth it). (picture credit: yachtclubgames.com)

12. Pony Island

Yeah… one of the weirdest and still most intriguing games I’ve ever played, I’d say. It makes you think that the game actually f*cks with your computer. It’s fascinating how for example it tricks you into thinking that your computer does something regularly only for you to realize that it was a decoy. Overall the coding sequences, the weird jump’n’run passages and the general “genre”… it’s one of a kind. I also wrote a seperate review on this one. For that check this older post.  (picture credit: giga.de) 13.  The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PS4) 

Yet another “walking simulator”, but with a twist. We have some strange meta-puzzles going on here, some David Lynchian shenanigans going on and overall a sad but interesting story to unravel. You’re a detective or PI of some sort who tries to find out what happened with Ethan Carter. The story is told via ghostly visualizations of past events of the former townspeople. Setting/graphics is good and the whole game is always good for a surprise. Check it out.  (picture credit: theastronauts.com)

14.  Adventure Time: Finn&Jake Investigations (PS4)

“Who wants to play videogames?” I love Adventure Time and this game feels basically like playing Adventure Time. It’s an adventure (duh!) and this genre suits the TV show very well. The dialogues are funny, the voices are real (except, I’m not sure and too lazy to google but Lumpy Space Princess didn’t sound quite right; she might have been voiced by someone else) and the graphics are beautifully detailed. Just as in the show. And you have Marceline, Ice King, Tree Trunks, Finn and Jake of course, Beamo, LSP, Cinnamon Butler, Starchy, Bubblegum Princess, Flame Princess… everyone you love. The puzzles are rather simple and overall it’s a game for kids, I’d say. Still I had a lot of fun with it.  (picture credit: Steam)

15. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse (3DS)

Now here’s my discovery of the year! I actually downloaded the Game Boy Color game on my 3DS before after a buddy of mine recommended it to me. But I haven’t spent much time with it. Then Humble released a 3DS bundle, so I got Shantae and The Pirate’s Curse, too. And this is one of the best (even if it’s not the deepests but still good) Metroidvania games I have played in a long long time. The setting is utterly fresh and unique with Shantae being a half-genie who protects an island from pirates and such. The graphics are like a mixture of anime and Disney and the characters are adorable, even the bad ones. The level design is beautiful and very diverse. There’s Metroidvania-typical back tracking which is still fun because of the great level design and art style: you can remember where there was that one particular item you could only get if you are able to jump higher, if you know what I mean. The boss fights are great, the items are good, the only thing I would have wished for is more character development as in Super Metroid or Symphony of the Night. There are some permanent improvements of Shantae but some of them I didn’t use that much. But I guess that’s true also for Metroid and Castlevania.  I fell in love with the franchise, bought XSEEDs boxed version of the new “1/2 Genie Hero” for PS4 (finally HD sprites) and the older versions from Limited Run Games. I’m happy that Shantae is in my life now. :) Awesome Soundtrack by Jake Kaufman again. (picture credit: Playstation Store)

  16.  Dragon’s Crown (PS3)

And finally I completed Dragon’s Crown. I simply adore Vanilla Ware’s art style. It’s perfect. It’s manga style with a traditional japanese AND a traditional medieval touch. It’s so unique. Although the overly lascivious looks of some female characters in the game stirred up quite the discussion. I myself think that it’s beautiful and not sexist. The women characters are just as overly exaggerated as the male ones and just so they are equally strong. But it’s not just the looks of Vanilla Ware. They make astonishing games, too. The gameplay of Dragon’s Crown is basically a simple side scroll hack’n’slash like Castle Crashers or Golden Axe. There’s much more character development though, like in Diablo. With the use of Runes you can use magic, you grind for nice weapon drops and stats increase and you constantly mix up your party with the revived warriors whose bones you brought back from your battles. The story is told well without cinematics but with great slightly animated still pictures of the characters, each of which you could print and hang on your wall easily. So well made. Plus after one complete run (it took me 18 hours) there’s the new game + with new tasks, side quests, harder enemies and basically the same levels in more difficult if you want to get the most out of the game. I highly recommend this to any fan of the aforementioned games or any real time RPGs. 

(picture credit: dealspwn.com)

 P.S.: all pictures I took from teh internets. I credited each page where I got the pics from. If any owner of these pictures wants me to take them down, just let me know and I’ll follow accordingly. 

[candace71o8955-blog]

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[lindseydianataylor-blog1]

Dixieland Alpaca FarmHomeHouse ToThe home of Breeders, Owners And LoversEnthusiastsFans Of All Things Alpaca!

Dixieland Alpaca FarmHomeHouse ToThe home of Breeders, Owners And LoversEnthusiastsFans Of All Things Alpaca! It was in the middle of the year in 1993 that an article about alpacas in the USA Today captured Jerry and Libby's eye. By the end of 1993 they had taken delivery of their very first 10 alpacas and the rest, as they state, is history. This unbelievable home - a turnkey alpaca farm, equestrian center, or beautiful development location is readily available for sale. View pictures, details, and an aerial tour of the property! The most important thing to keep in mind when establishing an alpaca company is that it has to be established in a business-like manner. Without appropriate set-up, many tax advantages can slip away. Making certain you have a DBA, a state Seller's License, a Quickbooks ledger, a checking/savings account in the DBA's name, and a company charge card solidify your alpaca organisation. A lot of buyers discover it financially beneficial to run their company as a sole-proprietorship instead of forming a corporation or LLC. Alpacas are a mild, inquisitive member of the camelid household, stemming from the high Andean Plateau and mountains of South America. They are closely associated to the wild vicuna, and are likewise family members to the llama. They are unprotected from predators, and find safety and comfort within their herd. Adult alpacas weigh in between 100 and 200 pounds, and are about 36 inches high at the withers. Women start replicating at approximately age 2, and have one baby (called a cria) at a time. Pregnancy is in between 11 and 12 months, with spring gestations normally running longer than fall pregnancies. In Peru you can find 4 camelids: the alpaca, vicuna, guanaco and llama. These are the very same as camels however lacking in a hump. The less common guanaco and vicuna species are much easier to determine and it is typically a hard call - at very first - for individuals to discriminate between llamas and alpacas. These animals have 4 things in typical: wooly coats, long pointed ears, thick lashes and big eyes. Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken is recognized for its unforgettable rotisserie chicken, cooked in a special marinade, then roasted in our imported oven. This oven utilizes natural wood charcoal and is the source of the mouth watering smells as you approach the restaurant. We combine our chicken with standard South American sides - from plantains to yuca french fries or black beans. Our all natural chickens are hormone complimentary, free and regional of all major FDA allergies (peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soy and gluten). Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken also does take-out along with big celebrations and catering. BUNDLED STAPLES - A grouping of micro-staples that together form a larger staple. The formation of the micro-staples is identified by the plan and density of the follicles in the skin. Bundling is stated to be an indication of a thick fleece, due to the evenness of roots size and consistency of shape in the skin. CARDING - The last cleansing process, achieved by either hand or machine, through which alpaca fiber precedes spinning. ATTRIBUTE - A specific phenotypic trait, such as crimp or fineness. The Alpaca animal is an unfamiliar animal that comes from the plains of the Andes in places such as Peru, Bolivia and Chile. As it stems from these places with extreme temperature levels it has actually developed a thick wool fleece, which gives you the quality yarn you are searching for. In fact the wool itself adapts to temperature level. This implies you can use it on this summer nights when the air feels a bit cooler or you can wear it in deep winter when it is freezing and still feel the advantages of this remarkable yarn. The one in the above video isn't really in any risk-- it's just being sheared by a pretty mild owner-- but the alpaca doesn't know that, and is pretty gone nuts. It's a warbling, high-pitched scream, just like the sound pretty much every mammal makes when terrified. And now for the last major classification of alpaca noise, and the most fun: theorgle. Male alpacas make this sound while mating or attempting to mate. It's a really unusual noise, like a rusty trumpeter trying to play a solo into a swimming pool. It's unmistakable, which can be useful for breeders and probably sort of irritating for anyone else. So there you have it! That's what an alpaca sounds like.look here https://www.alpacas-hampshire.co.uk/infographics.htm

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Ever since I rediscovered Harris Tweed it has been a desire of mine to travel to the Hebrides and seek out it’s roots. Last year we did a mini-tour of Scotland and ended up in Ullapool, the village where the ferry to the Hebridean islands leaves from. Just a three hour trip on the ferry and I could have been in Stornoway! It was not to happen then, but imagine my delight when I was contacted by the Harris Tweed Authority, asking if I’d like to come over and visit them! (If you can’t imagine how delighted I was, bring up a photo of me on your phone and shake it up and down, and that’s about how excited I was, ok?). Finally, a chance to see the sights, feel the wool and discover if the lore of the legendary tweed was fact or fiction!

The weeks before setting off I was following the weather forecasts closely. The Hebridean weather is very similar to the weather in Scotland, mainly strong of wind, moist of downpour and moody in it’s variances. Not really a destination if you’re planning to work on your tan, to be honest, but as will be shown, you can get lucky here as well. My trip took me via Bergen and Aberdeen to the small airport in Stornoway, the largest town on the islands. Getting off the plane into a cold drizzle did not disappoint, this was part of the island experience!

This was actually the last photo I took, as the ferry left Stornoway. Through rain rain we see the Town Hall, where the Harris Tweed Authority reside.

I was met by Jane from the Harris Tweed Authority. Now Jane is a relative rarity on the Islands, being a person young of age. I was shocked to find that in the years 1991-2001 the Islands lost 10.000 inhabitants, most of them young folks. Now that is a statistic that doesn’t say much until you realise this meant the population took a massive 28% dive from 36.000 to a mere 26.000. This does sadly raise questions about the future of the Islands, though I am assured there has been a change over recent years.

After a brief swing by the hotel to drop off my gear it was straight into action visiting the mill that resides in Stornoway itself. There are currently three mills on the islands and this was the McKenzie mill. This is the mill owned by Brian Haggas, notorious as the man that both almost killed and saved Harris Tweed back in 2007. As the story goes, Brian Haggas, Yorkshire-born businessman, did the sums on how the Harris Tweed industry was performing and saw that business-wise it was a mess. Far too unstructured and far too inefficient. So he bought the largest mill, reduced the number of patterns to a standard four and piped all the fabric into producing reasonably priced tweed jackets in China. At this point, pretty much a fatal wound for Harris tweed. What happened then though is a testament to the feisty spirit of the islanders, as they what was happening to their beloved tweed (and let’s face it, the main income of many islanders) and restarted a second mill, the Harris Tweed Hebrides. While the McKenzie mill has now expanded their patterns to a dozen and takes care of the efficient bread and butter variations, Harris Tweed Hebrides provides the bespoke and less common tweeds, thereby completing the range once again.

I’ll be covering the actual process of creating the tweed from a sack of wool separately, but I can reveal that it was a lot more complicated and involved than I had imagined. Also, for a nerdy guy like me it was very cool to see all the quirky machines in use. Not a huge amount of modern machinery, but a lot more Wallace & Gromit, in the best possible way! If you ever wonder how smart humans can be, take a look at the machine that tests the yarn diameter in the McKenzie mill. You will not be disappointed.

  After the most excellent tour of the mill it was back to the centre of Stornoway to visit the Harris Tweed Authority itself. With offices in the town hall, rightin the middle of Stornoway, the largest town in the islands, it’s clear that Harris Tweed is central to the Hebrides, and the Authority is central to the Harris Tweed industry. I enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat with Lorna, boss and the longest serving employee at the Authority. Hearing tales of how worlds collide when the la-de-dah world of Parisian high fashion meets a crusty crofter was great, and a reminded of how great the span is between where the tweed originates and where it may end up used. Certainly further than the 1400 kilometres of actual distance might indicate.

The final destination of the day was the Harris Tweed Hebrides shop in Stornoway. This is a shop owned by the second of the mills, so they are very much involved in the inner workings of Harris Tweed. Now, you’ll no doubt have read my diatribe on the awfulness of the Old Town in Edinburgh, and the cookie cutter tourist tweed shops. Now imagine if those shops had been inverted and had instead become nice shops with attractive goods. Nice though, right? Well, that’s the Harris Tweed Hebrides shop for you. Apparently there is one just opened in Edinburgh, though the online selection is nothing like what is in the shop. Quite astonishing really, to find a business actively not wanting to sell their wares, when their wares obviously superior to their primary competition. Make sure you drop by though if you’re there. Note: Shops in Stornoway close early.

I enjoyed a pleasant dinner in the local arts and community centre, sadly foregoing my promise to my wife of taking every opportunity to try local specialities. At this point I’d been awake since 4 am and a burger and a couple of pints of cider was just about right. I did stop to think that an arts and community centre must surely a sign of prosperity and hope for the future generations.

In the evening I went for a long walk around Stornoway. Like Ullapool it’s an unspoilt and real town. There is no doubt they get a fair amount of tourists and visitors, but unlike a lot of other Scottish towns, they’ve not sold their soul to tourism. This is a place where people live, not only in the summer, but all year round. I found myself really warming to Stornoway. Even the weather was very pleasant, sunny and dry. Something else that struck me was how friendly people were.

Down by the ferry terminal I found a clear sign of pride in the local weavers: An original Hattersley Mk1 loom. This is the prettiest of the looms, where the cast iron parts are as much a work of beauty as a marvellous piece of engineering. As as the way for many machines, as efficiency of function and economy is brought to the fore, the design itself loses much of the detail that made it so remarkable in the first place. Remarkably this machine was made in Yorkshire in 1919, so in two years time it will enjoy a grand anniversary.

Stornoway even has it’s own castle, recently restored and very spiffy with castle grounds featuring proper big, old trees unlike most of the islands that are mainly without growth over knee height. I forgot to ask if there ever had been trees, or if they had been felled to fuel the fires of the industrial revolution as on the mainland. Houses on the islands were mainly variants of brick, stone and concrete, though I did notice that there were a number of very handsome looking new houses that were built from wood.

The evening ended on a fine note when I found a cluster of vintage Bentleys in the parking area of a local hotel. Their unrestored, yet well kept condition, perfectly complimented the surroundings and I’d have loved to join them for a jaunty ride on the roads north to Ness.

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Part two will be along in a few days. This is when things get even more exciting!

Travelling to the land of Harris Tweed - part one #harristweed #scotland #hebrides #tweed #blog #stornoway Ever since I rediscovered Harris Tweed it has been a desire of mine to travel to the Hebrides and seek out it's roots.