I've been languishing happily in a stonewashed linen dreamscape for a few years now thanks to the gorgeous interiors blogs I follow. I adore natural textiles with wood and stone. Just looking at the photos makes me feel content.

What caught my eye in this serene reading nook was the blanket.

That pretty blush shade - and, wait, is it linen? A linen blanket?

Looking more closely, I don't think it is. However, a new dream is born! I like this idea of a linen blanket much, much more than the mega-chunky, arm-knitted, wool blankets that were in vogue, which I just didn't care for, I don't know why not.

I've made several foraging trips into yarn world over the past year looking for pure, raw linen yarns (I was thinking of knitting a few precious tea towels and face cloths). Linen and cotton mixes are readily available. And you can find linen and silk, presumably the silk makes the linen softer.  But raw linen, primitive and only lightly processed to maintain its inherent qualities is not that easy to find. {It's the same with wool, of course.}

I have, however, found this glorious pure linen yarn in a lovely grey shade. I would like to put this on my bamboo needles, maybe it's even good enough for my new Lykke circulars, oh yes:


For now, day dreaming about a pure linen blanket in a simple lace or open sort of stitch. Wondering if this might turn out like my grey chunky wool blanket in garter stitch phase which ended abruptly after three balls of Drops pure wool for no particular reason and is now a sort of rug thingy.

Reading nook image from Shelterness.

Writing about faux fur yesterday got me thinking about real fur darlings featured in Inner Wild photos.

So I thought it'd be fun to curate a little collection of my cats and dog who've helped me model some Inner Wild pieces over the years.

Let me introduce you to ...

Twinkle Star:


Seen here as a kitten modelling Inner Wild Lovey Warmers with me. And below, a little older, modelling the Inner Wild Moonshine Cowl.


Minkie MyLove, her mama, looking gorgeous with Inner Wild Woodcutter Warmers:




Tom, bringing out the 'Firestar' gold of Inner Wild Stag Warmers:


Indi, who felt her own inner wildness was being impinged upon by modelling Inner Wild Sandy Bluff Warmers:




and the big fella, my Malamute Bubba, who just made everything in my world more magnificent, including Inner Wild Wanderer Warmers and Inner Wild Wolfkin Capelet:

I love these pot plant covers. I don't know why they are so pleasing to me. The contrast of rough natural wools against green leaves is beautiful.

I didn't set out to make knitted covers for my houseplants. I knitted myself a Hebridean wool slouch hat and as I finished it and was admiring the shape I realised my jasmine plant might look better in it than me.

You can make these easily yourself. Your houseplants will love them especially to protect their roots from cold temperatures through the winter.

You can wrap any pieces of wool you have, {unfinished projects!} around a plant pot and tie wool around it to secure.

Or you can use a beanie, slouch or hat knitting pattern, turn your knitted hat upside-down and put your favourite {medium-sized pot} plant in it.

Even if you don't knit, and if you do, you can also use the sleeves from an adult sweater, or the body of a small-size sweater from a thrift store.

Do you think Hans Blomquist and Emily Henson would approve?