A long tradition of knitting and weaving in Ecuador has produced some of the finest hand workers anywhere in the world. I am a patriot who would support any UK team in any sport you care to mention, but I am sorry to say if there was a Knitting world cup my money would be on Ecuador.

As any craftsperson knows, the importance of an artisan’s skill is only matched by the importance of the materials she is working with. In this section the garments are made from 100% Andean Wool, the best that can be sourced locally from the countries of South America. Like the oiled wool traditionally used in much British Knitting, this wool has not been chemically treated and therefore retains much of the natural oil ( lanolin) which is found in wool. This oil partially seals the wool making it resistant to water and stains- the ideal material for an outdoor sweater or jacket.

Most of the garments in this section are made from boucle yarn fashioned from this 100% Andean wool. The wool is twisted irregularly around a cotton thread. By trapping lots of air this gives the garments unbeatable warmth for the weight and also a lovely soft, springy feel which is irresistible to touch. The palate of rich, spicy and autumnal colours adds to the feeling of warmth.