Lockdown reminiscence for the Angle Rib sweater!

The Angle Rib Sweater — Inspired by Lockdown Longing and Coastal Calm

The peculiar combination of being in week seven of New Zealand’s Covid-19 lockdown and it being Mental Health Awareness Week had me reflecting on something important: it’s okay to miss normal life.

This week, I’ve found myself reminiscing — not with sadness, but with deep gratitude — for all the wonderful things I’ve experienced. I find that moments like these often become the root of my design inspiration at NZ Charly.

Memories Woven Into Knitwear

I’ve always drawn on past experiences to create unique knitwear pieces that feel personal, emotional, and quietly powerful. One of those special memories became the spark for our Angle Rib Sweater.

It was dreamt up during solitary early-morning walks along the beach. Each year, my family camps at the same spot along the Gissy (Gisborne) coastline. From late spring to the end of summer, we immerse ourselves in a different rhythm — one defined by ocean breezes instead of farm winds, and time marked by tide changes rather than alarms.

A Sweater Born From Stillness

Those mornings — filled with nothing but the sounds of waves, seagulls, and sand crunching beneath your feet — offered rare stillness. I would watch the sun rise slowly over the water, take deep breaths of salty air, and begin to feel parts of myself settle again.

That stillness became the basis for the Angle Rib Sweater’s design: clean, calming lines, soft luxurious fibres, and a structure that hugs you gently — like the ocean breeze did in those early dawns. Every stitch holds that essence of clarity and peace.

From Lockdown to Light

During lockdown, I found myself longing for that coastline again. And while I was completely and utterly over being “stuck inside,” I reminded myself to focus on the good that would come again. The sand between my toes. The salt on my lips. The calmness of not needing to be anywhere else.

And so, this post is just a gentle reminder — for you and for me — that beauty often grows in unexpected places. Let's stick it out together. Better days always come back around.