Knitted Winter Essentials for All the Family

Cast your mind back to just a few weeks ago and you will remember St Jude and the havoc the storm caused in the south of Britain. I can remember watching the news in disbelief at what I was seeing. To say that winter had arrived would be an understatement!The storm really got me into gear when it came to sorting out the family’s wardrobe for winter; summer clothing just wouldn’t cut it anymore. So, here are some of my knitwear essentials for winter 2013.HatOnce upon a time, a hat used to be a boring winter necessity. Nowadays, it may still be an essential but it is far from boring!I have fallen in love with all of the eccentric character hats that are filling high street stores. However, I don’t quite think I’m brave enough to don one myself. I was doing a spot of online shopping the other day and I found the most adorable little hats for Ethan.I absolutely love the Despicable Me inspired hats on eBay; Ethan is sure to love being transformed into a little minion. They’re surprisingly cheap too, so I’m thinking about picking one up to see him through the cold snap we’re about to have.JumperNo winter wardrobe would be complete without a selection of jumpers and cardigans that you can layer up to keep warm. Every year I buy cheap, thinking I’ve bagged a bargain. However, one go in the washing machine and they’re all misshapen and shrunk – they’d fit Ethan better than me!Now I know it’s naughty to look at things to buy yourself so close to Christmas, but I’ve been having a look at the knitwear on the House of Bruar site. It may be a little more expensive but they have a fantastic range of classic knits that will last longer than just a few weeks. I’m really tempted to just order a few of my favorite pieces –but I think I’ll just pop them on my wish list instead and let Santa take care of them.SocksIf there’s one thing me and Adam hate, it’scold feet. We have to have our feet wrapped up in snuggly slippers or thick socks – or we won’t be happy.You can have the best winter boots in the world, but without adequate socks your feet will still feel chilly. I noticed that Primark have started selling the thick, insulated socks that actually have a tog rating because they’re so warm. These would make a perfect stocking filler for Adam to use during those frosty trips to the park.