Nice one ol’ chum on Jimmy’s jumpers. 

I loved the Shetland saddle shoulder sweater with the handknit (and ‘seamless’ — if that be the right word for it) neck.  Handsewn?  Brooks always did an English or Scottish made one.  Not as nice as the private label stuff for shops or some of the more expensive Ralph Lauren ones.  I suppose in UK If you know how to dig you find.  Some shops had all makers labels removed.  Other’s didn’t.  I remember Pringle and MacGregor in the USA. 

I picked up some Johnstons of Elgin sweaters, scarves and blankets (or “rugs?? ) that were just lovely.  Love all that stuff.  I hope the UK has the wherewithal to keep making the good stuff. 

I just read a book on history of decline of British manufacturing in several sectors.  A pity. All politics aside.  I like those local specialities and hate to see the spread of a damn Starbucks et Al everywhere.  I’ll stop now before i rant.  But when i do find great little shops i try to buy in same way if i go into an Indy bookshop or record shop i try to get something.  Except I’ve been tried by bookshops of late.  Bunch of annoying righteous little 20 somethibg lefties with no real learning.     Things were better in my day.  Starting to sound like that old tom22 now.   Over and out.

Just bought a nice hand-framed sweater on Ebay.  That makes five pieces of knitwear in just a few days.  But here we are, on the fourth of July, and my hands are cold, I'm already thinking of leaves falling from the trees and Bill Evans recital of 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town' (not one of Bill's finest moments, according to his biographer).