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Mousa Broch

Womens Roundneck XS £525 Womens Roundneck S £525 Womens Roundneck M £525 Womens Roundneck L £525 Womens Roundneck XL £525 Womens V Neck XS £525 Womens V Neck S £525 Womens V Neck M £525 Womens V Neck L £525 Womens V Neck XL £525 Womens Turtleneck XS £525 Womens Turtleneck S £525 Womens Turtleneck M £525 Womens Turtleneck L £525 Womens Turtleneck XL £525 Womens Cardigan XS £525 Womens Cardigan S £525 Womens Cardigan M £525 Womens Cardigan L £525 Womens Cardigan XL £525 Womens Waistcoat XS £245 Womens Waistcoat S £245 Womens Waistcoat M £245 Womens Waistcoat L £245 Womens Waistcoat XL £245 Womens Slipover XS £245 Womens Slipover S £245 Womens Slipover M £245 Womens Slipover L £245 Womens Slipover XL £245 Mens Roundneck XS £525 Mens Roundneck S £525 Mens Roundneck M £525 Mens Roundneck L £525 Mens Roundneck XL £525 Mens V Neck XS £525 Mens V Neck S £525 Mens V Neck M £525 Mens V Neck L £525 Mens V Neck XL £525 Mens Turtleneck XS £525 Mens Turtleneck S £525 Mens Turtleneck M £525 Mens Turtleneck L £525 Mens Turtleneck XL £525 Mens Cardigan XS £525 Mens Cardigan S £525 Mens Cardigan M £525 Mens Cardigan L £525 Mens Cardigan XL £525 Mens Waistcoat XS £245 Mens Waistcoat S £245 Mens Waistcoat M £245 Mens Waistcoat L £245 Mens Waistcoat XL £245 Mens Slipover XS £245 Mens Slipover S £245 Mens Slipover M £245 Mens Slipover L £245 Mens Slipover XL £245

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Remarkable as a Special Protection Area for almost 7,000 pairs of European Storm petrals (2.6% of the worlds’ entire population) and for being the site of the best preserved Iron Age fortification in the British Isles, is tiny, uninhabited Mousa Island. The ancient Norse considered an island to be something that they could circumnavigate, and this included being able to drag a boat over land, thus, as far as the Norse were concerned Mousa is actually two islands, North Isle and South Isle. The earliest mapped reference extent to Mousa is found on the 1539 Carta Marina (detail showing the Shetland’s from this can be seen below).

But it’s the 2000 year old round tower known as Mousa Broch, mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga (both as a defensive stronghold and as a lovers’ hideout) which stands above a rocky shoreline of hard sandstone and muddy limestone that Thistle & Broom is really concerned. The photos here taken by internationally acclaimed, National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson (and obviously used with his blessings and permission) were taken during his 2009 voyage to Mousa with VisitScotland.

It’s from the colours of these historic rocks that Thistle & Broom worked with Eileen Sutherland to create our exclusive Mousa Broch Fair Isle cardigan. The texture of the shawl collar and placket is a nod to the subtle pattern created by Iron Age man in assembling hundreds of thousands of indigenous stones into the 13metre tall, thought to be much taller originally, 15metre in diameter circular tower. The colours, all naturally occurring, no dyes required, Shetland yarns mirror the subtle nuances of the layers of limestone and sandstone and the way the northern light makes the stone look at a distance and up close. In terms of names (in case you have interest) of the yarns are Yuglet – which forms the base of the cardigan (placket, cuffs, hem and collar and the dominant shade of the pattern) is a VERY INTERESTING shade in the tonal range of Oxford grey BUT sepia and makes us think of Daguerreotypes (you know 19th century tin print photography?). We paired it with Katmollet, a very light marled grey, and Shaela a slightly darker grey than Katmollet, and Mooskit, a marled taupe (think deerskin gloves and clotted cream) Moorit, a medium range brown like the outside of a Cremini mushroom, natural black (actually a very dark peat coloured brown) with the ‘white’ being Gaulmogot which is the colour of steel cut oats but instead of being flecked beige it’s flecked grey. It’s truly stunning and, we think, does proper homage to its awe inspiring namesake. (If you prefer COLOUR just let us know and Eileen can create a suitable masterpiece that will be just as gorgeous.) It’s the kind of jacket that is easy to wear lending a casual elegance to jeans, corduroy, moleskin or wool twill. Mousa is for Sunday’s in the hammock with The Times with your lover or a walk on a deserted stretch of beach in autumn or early spring and everything in between.

Eileen grew up within eye sight of Mousa Island, 14 miles due west on the Mainland of Shetland and so, along with her extraordinary Pitmedden Garden (both reference two important aspects of her life and homes) Her childhood was not unlike so many who made Scotland their home in the first half of the 20th century - no electricity, no TV and with very little else to distract, girls like Eileen learned to knit at a very early age. Her mum, who set a fine example as being a very prolific knitter, taught Eileen. Her first commercial venture was at the tender age of six – a jumper for another child with Fair Isle detailing at the cuffs and hem and she was paid the sum of £1! Of course available for both men and women in all the styles we otherwise offer besides the cardigan shown here, with both cardigan and waistcoats featuring handmade horn buttons from up Tayside.

Taking over 100 hours to complete, Eileen will realise 66% of the retail price (plus all shipping and insurance costs) through Thistle & Broom’s Fair Isle Knitting Project. The cost and pleasure of owning something that is so extraordinary it should be in a museum makes the price ridiculously insignificant. Please understand that each order is made on a bespoke basis, and 4 to 6 weeks is an absolute necessity for completion, and there is usually a queue for her work so please plan accordingly if you want it for a special occasion. If you are 'running late' on your decision making we’ll provide a gift card with photo of the original for presentation purposes.

8% of the net profit of your purchase serves to benefit Thistle & Broom Scholarship. We thank you in advance for your socially conscious purchase.