7NEWSJOHNSTONS OF ELGIN HITS
THE SMALL SCREEN
CRAFTERS’ COFFEE, ANYONE?
Knitting and coffee. Do any two wonderful things go together better
than these?
Well, the pairing has just got even better, thanks to passionate
knitter and caffeine lover Leann VanDerHeyden, who has launched a
coffee blend specially for knitters in Hudson, New York.
The Knit Coffee Company has released an Italian roast whole-
bean coffee designed to provide knitters and crafters with an organic
and kosher beverage perfect for drinking all day.
Founder Leann was laid off from a prestigious performing arts
centre in New York City at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and
took this as a prompt to follow her dream of combining her loves of
knitting and coffee.
She says: ‘I’ve knitted since I was a child and it truly has become
a therapy for me during the pandemic. I couldn’t find a better way
to assuage my continued anxiety. I was unable to see my family due
to lockdowns and quarantine, and with my job no longer there, I
sought comfort in yarn and knitting.
‘I also drank a lot of coffee, but after a couple of cups I didn’t
care for the acidic feel or taste in my mouth. So, I looked for a dark,
flavourful coffee that I would enjoy drinking throughout the day. It
takes a lot of fuel to keep my family and friends in knitted things,
which means a lot of coffee! Most knitters would understand this.’
She adds: ‘Truthfully, I simply wanted to pursue something that
fed my soul, was high quality and represented the care and time
crafters take when creating something. I also wanted to provide
comfort. Cosiness. Hygge, if you will.’
Leann teamed up with a local roaster and designed the packaging
complete with imagery of knits she crafted herself. She currently
offers a fully caffeinated Knitters’ Blend coffee, but plans are in
the pipeline for a half caf and possibly a full decaf. She is also in
discussions with international distributors, and hopes the coffee
will be available in the UK and Europe soon.
Independent organic yarn
brand Garthenor has launched
Beacons, a DK wool with
purpose and structure that is
also softer than ever.
Beacons is a three-fold, worsted-
spun yarn that comes in a broad
palette of 36 shades including bold
and punchy solids, subtle heathers
and marls.
The wool comes from Polwarth
sheep from Dunbar Island in the
Falklands, which is famed for
its snow-white, superfine fleece.
These sheep produce a long,
smooth fibre that gives excellent
stitch definition and is great at
absorbing dye. The Polwarth is
blended with long and lustrous
Romney wool and Hebridean in
Cinder, Garthenor’s grey base.
Beacons comes in 50g skeins
of 135m.
UK cashmere and fine woollens producer Johnstons of Elgin has
featured on ITV4’s Made in Britain programme.
The show, which celebrates British manufacturing, showed how the
company makes its knitwear in Scottish mills in Elgin and Hawick.
Family-run Johnstons of Elgin was established in 1797 and is one
of the last few remaining vertical mills in the UK. It sources the best
natural fibres and technology and works with expert craftspeople to
produce clothes for some of Britain’s best known brands as well as
high-end designer goods and products for traditional crafts.
Chief executive Simon Cotton says: ‘In this predominantly
digital age, it’s easy to lose sight of the skill and personal touches
that go into making the highest quality clothing and accessories.
Throughout our 224-year history we have stayed true to
sustainability and slow luxury. Our unique craftsmanship and
commitment to innovation sets us apart from other brands, and it
all happens here, on British soil.
‘At Johnstons of Elgin, maintaining skills in our communities is a
major commitment and by ensuring our products are made with the
finest fibres, without rushing the process, our customers can be sure
their purchases will last a lifetime.’
Johnstons of Elgin produces ‘slow luxury’ fashion under the leadership
of chairman Jenny Urquhart
GARTHENOR
LIGHTS A BEACON