For The Annual (issue five) we are harkening back to those nostalgic memories of holidays by the seaside – sandy toes, stripy swimsuits, pastel-coloured houses, penny machines on the pier and chippy tea with lashings of ketchup. Those long lazy weeks where the only thing one had to worry about was (in predictably British fashion) whether or not the sun would finally peek out from behind those clouds, pop its hat on and come out to play.

The Annual (issue four) is a true celebration or all things garden themed! We are all keen gardeners and nature lovers at the mill, so this year we have chosen to focus on all things horticultural for The Annual, issue four – whether you are of the romantic cottage garden ‘picnic blanket and a book’ persuasion or the ‘roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty’ school of thought, we hope there is something to pique your interest in this pattern collection.

Nestled in the heart of North Devon, the John Arbon Textiles Mill is one of only a handful of small-scale, specialist worsted processing and spinning Mills still operating in the UK. John’s Mill is full of refurbished machinery he has rescued over the years, with some newer additions along the way. As John Arbon Textiles are now in their 17th year they thought it would be fun to create their first ever Annual and offer you a glimpse into this wonderous woolly world! We hope you’ll enjoy delving into it with us…

The Annual (issue three) is a true celebration of Exmoor, the awe-inspiring landscape which envelops our mill here in North Devon. We’re lucky enough to be surrounded by Exmoor’s incredible mix of rugged moors, rolling fields and dramatic coastlines, abounding with wondrous flora and fauna and natural beauty. Plenty to get those creative juices flowing! We always feel inspired by all this glory, and we wanted to share it with you folks too.

Issue Two of our Annual offers you a glimpse into the wondrous woolly world of John Arbon Textiles. Its pages include some gems – insights into how our Mill is run, some brilliant articles by John and puzzles by the splendid Katie Green and oodles of info on our scrumptious Yarn & Tops ranges…

These cosy slipper socks are knitted with two strands of Exmoor Sock 4ply held together. Our sample uses two different shades, creating a playful marl. Stripes in the cuff as well as the heel and toe are knit in solid colours for contrast. The same colour could easily be used throughout for solid socks, or two shades with more contrast to creat...

Toast and Jam gloves are just the thing to keep your hands warm and toasty (pun intended!) through the winter months. Knit in twisted rib from the bottom up, they feature a symmetrical section of garter stitch on the palms. A simple gusseted thumb in twisted rib and nice snug fit make these gloves a quick and interesting knit. They could easily...

Supreme is a square shawl. The center square is knit first, on the bias. Stitches are then picked up around the center square and the border is knit in one piece. A quick and simple crochet picot edging finishes the shawl off.

A simple and elegant sock knit in a lacy ribbed stitch with contrasting heel and toe. Features a tidy picot cuff and easily memorized lace pattern. Equally comfortable when cozy in bed or lounging around in slippers!

These simple and cozy mittens can be knit in just about any combination of colours. They feature a gusseted thumb, and round decreases at the fingertips, making each mitten identical - no knitting right and left hands! The pattern comes with directions for a long, loose cuff as well as a snug-fitting ribbed cuff. There are options for everyone,...

The pom pom hat is a simple, colourful and fun to knit hat that will keep