Hi everyone,
I gather that many in the UK have snow today? Not here yet but the local radio weather report seems to indicate that it’s just down the road ….. Which is a million miles away (metaphorically speaking) from where I have spent the last week.
If you follow my Instagram you will have seen my many photos from beautiful La Gomera – one of the smaller Canary Islands and, by complete coincidence, today’s Sunday Telegraph supplement is all about … La Gomera.
There was no sewing last week (couldn’t manage my Janome AND my walking poles) but I did knit a beanie (which I plan to show you once I have sewn it up) and spent a lot of thinking about clothes – not those that I plan to make but those that I was wearing.
North Face convertible trousers and Rohan shirt
So here it is, my fulsome praise for those clothes which I don’t make but buy because, quite frankly, they are bloody brilliant. Over many years of being a walker, having been involved with Duke of Edinburgh and even having been a school leader on a month long expedition to Madagascar, I have come to appreciate the value of having appropriate, technical clothing. As I walked up yet another steep hill behind someone who was absolutely drenched, their clothes showing uncomfortable wet patches, I smugly congratulated myself on being suitably attired.
Each day I alternated between one of two pairs of long trousers from North Face (seven years old and still like new) which you can zip off to make shorts or roll up and secure with a strap to make capris and shirts from Rohan. The detail is amazing: fabric which dries almost immediately, secure pockets (and lots of them) and tabs on the inside so that you can hang it up on your washing line for a quick overnight dry. Each evening I washed through what I was wearing and popped it on the balcony to dry (get yourself a travel washing line – I use mine everywhere) and then I was good to go again.
Travel washing line, secure pockets and straps to roll up sleeves to make them shorted and the tabs to clip over a washing line.
I had a made a couple of tops to wear in the evenings/afternoons after walking but although as a solo traveller in the group lots of people offered to take pics of me whilst out walking, I felt too self-conscious to ask any of the group in the evenings to take a blog shot for me. I did however get to wear my new Liberty Grainline Scout Tee on our day off and here it is at a beach bar with a couple of lovely people from my group. I don’t expect it will ever be worn again in such a glorious location!
Well, I have had a FAB time – do consider la Gomera if you enjoy walking; it is a beautiful island and if you do know of any where that stocks this kind of fabric, do let me know. It seems rather odd for someone who loves colours and print and natural fibres to be so in awe of clothes which are so patently functional but for me, that is where the beauty lies!
Have a great week ahead; only one more week to go for me then I start my new job which hopefully should mean a couple of WIPs get finished – but don’t hold me to it!
Toodle pip,
Clarinda x
clarinda kaleidoscope 
You were there at the perfect time to see the flowers blossom, lovely!
We stayed quite some time on the island and it’s only a few weeks a year some flowers open up.
Peace
PS
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Jigsaw is a shop to go into and admire and oh my are there clothes magnificent! I can see why it’s such an expensive shop. The finishing on the clothes are amazing. It gave me so many ideas to make my me made better.
You look so relaxed and chilled. Good luck with your new job and everything in 2016
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Your holiday looks amazing! I think sewing makes me appreciate well made RTW even more – I love the travel washing line – great idea!!!! Good luck with your new job (although I am sure you won’t need it!).
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Love the photos! Just beautiful to see when we are getting rain! Thank you for sharing!
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Cheers for that washing line! After every trip I vow to get one….hasn’t happened yet. And hooray for suitable, functional clothing. It looks like you had a most marvelous time – such gorgeous surroundings!
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Having the right clothes for hiking is far more important than sticking to “me-made” – I had a Rohan shirt once and you could wash it overnight and put it on damp and it would be dry before you had gone a mile (on a bike). It also had a pocket big enough for a small bottle of water! I really like the Canaries too, especially the food.
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I’m so with you I not being able to replicate proper clothes for certain activities. I struggled in my fast in ’14 for golf gear. And the first thing I did when it was over was buy a waterproof coat. 😃
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Ahh, but now you have made golf gear too I seem to remember
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It won’t last as long as the good gear I’ve got tho. But then I’ll want new so that’s ok. Still need my proper waterproofs. Would save a bomb if I could make them.
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I’ve just come across this, thought it might be if interest…..
https://www.croftmill.co.uk/products/fabrics-by-use/coating-fabric/ex-northface-fleece-black-product.html
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Great post and pics! It looks like your are having a lovely time, RTW and all! 🙂
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What a fab break. I can’t praise technical wear enough. The fabric seems to have come a long way in the past few years. Cycling in the cold wouldnt be possible without it. But the cold was probably furthest from your mind.
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Yes, now that you’re into cycling I bet a chunk of your budget has gone on technical gear!
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I can’t believe how much I’ve bought this winter to cope with all the conditions!
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Glad you had a great time, the perfect pick-me-up for the new year 🙂
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Glad you had a good time. I am a lanzarote lover. Thanks for sharing your photos K xXx
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My friend & I have started doing a long distance walk each year and each year I now treat myself to another couple of pieces of walking attire, it’s the only RTW I buy now and you’re right, techno fabric makes such a difference. La Gomera looks lovely, this year we’re doing St Cuthberts way, Melrose to Lindisfarne 🙂
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Have you ever done the South Downs Way? It’s lovely -especially the Eastbourne end
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Seems like to you had a fab time? Certainly some great weather 🙂 I had no idea you could still get zip off trousers we had loads of them as kids!
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Glad you enjoyed your holiday, sounds and looks idyllic. Glad you were suitably attired, sounds like you a very organised with your little washing line. Not sure I’ve ever been that organised!
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It does sound a bit too organised doesn’t it?! Once you’ve got a travel washing line though, you’ll wonder how you managed without it … Honest!
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