Wooly News ⎮#6

Yarn Companies and Stores

TreLiz

© Treliz Color is Power

Once again I decided to trust TreLiz and get her “Christmas – Mystical Path” mystery box. I already got her Birthday Mystery box for the Fresh Peonies shawl, that was totally out of my comfort zone. Here again, these colours are not my usual and I decided to go with it. Thanks to you TreLiz for these wonderful yarns and for pushing me to choose other colours and patterns. I love my Fresh Peonies shawl and get lots of compliments and interests when I wear it, I am sure that it will be the same again with this new mystery project.

De Rerum Natura

© De Rerum Natura

New colours left and right ! This is an avalanche of new colours for Albertine and Penelope. All colours are more beautiful than the others, my eyes are amazed. From the colder blues and purples to the warmer browns and neutrals, everyone should find their own preferred palettes.

They have a whole series of colour descriptions and associations on their blog and their Instagram, with all Albertine colours here and Penelope there.

In addition, I already have a full blog entry for the De Rerum Natura Gilliatt in Bouleau that I ordered and received, more to come once. cast on !

Books and Magazines

Wool And Pine

© Wool And Pine

© Wool And Pine

Wool And Pine have released two books, one for children, one with green only patterns 🙂 You can find the books on their website and on Ravelry.

The 2021 Minis features 7 of their most popular patterns redesigned to fit from newborns to 12 years old. What a neat idea, for all of us who have children in our own families or environment ! I particularly like the Sorrel Mini as I already have knitted the Summer Sorrel for myself and have La Bien Aimée yarns for the Sorrel in my stash.

The Green Collection, Book 2, includes 6 size inclusive patterns all in these green vibes from the North Pacific forests. I have already bought the Book 1 with both Sorrel and Summer Sorrel patterns that really caught my eyes and am considering getting Book 2, just to support them as I enjoy their universe 🙂

On Ravelry, you can get the digital copies of both 2021 Minis and Book 2 : The Green Collection. If you buy the printed copy from their website, you get a download code to get the digital one 🙂

Submissions are open for Laine 14

Laine Magazine has two submissions one at the moment, Laine issue 14 (until October 24th) and 52 Weeks Of Easy Knits (until November 7th), we already have talked about the later. Laine 14 patterns will be inspired by Nordic night summer lights for summer 2022. If you are interested, the mood board is on Pinterest.

Worsted from LA BIEN AIMÉE and Laine Magasin

© La Bien Aimée & Laine Magasine

I already have a full blog entry on “Worsted” as I have pre-ordered it. More to come once I receive it !

Wooly News #6 have a companion YouTube podcast here : https://youtu.be/3Wq2q3q0_g4

Wooly News ⎮#5

Patterns

© Florence Spurling

© Kokon Yarn

Two of my favorite pattern and yarn creators are offering a new pattern and the yarn kit for this delicate stitches shawl. Florence Spurling, the fabulous and inventive pattern designer has created the Little Stiches Shawl for a Kokon yarn kit.

From the same author and yarn line, I already have knitted the Elvan Shawl, a pure delight to wear that always raises questions an interest from people.

I do not think I will pick that one up (the Elvan Shawl kit and pattern was a gift from my sons) as I have a lot of projects lined up. May be later, as I do like it quite a bit 🙂

Yarn Companies and Stores

© Pompom Mag and De Rerum Natura

Solenn Couix-Loarer, the founder of De Rerum Natura, has been interviewed by Pompom Mag. I love De Rerum Natura yarns, remember the Sotabosc Shawl ? Ulysse in Quartz made it fabulous.

You can find the whole interview here : https://pompommag.com/blogs/blog/interview-with-solenn-couix-loare-of-de-rerum-natura

If you want to know more about the origins of De Rerum Natura, the name, the origins and processes of the wools they use, their ecosystem, their philosophy, their engagements, please have a look !

Pompom is having a year-long knit along where you can knit any of their patterns to enter. De Rerum Natura sponsored the month of September.

In addition, Pompom has resumed their EU shipping after a few hiccups with customs fees : https://pompommag.com/pages/eu-shipping-faq

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© Espace Tricot

Espace Tricot is changing owners ! Lisa and Melissa, who founded Espace Tricot over 11 years ago are moving onto new adventures, leaving the LYS in good hands. Two of the staff members, Naomi Endicott (humble_mtl on Instagram) and Stephanie Earp (stephanieearple on Instagram) bought the shop.

Melissa will move to hand dying yarns along with one of her friend Tanya, they founded Sonder Yarns (sonder.yarns on Instagram) buying part of the Espace Tricot studio dedicated to hand dying. Lisa is taking a bit of time and you can follow her at postvelum on Instagram, she stated she was going back to teaching, I can understand that 🙂

Espace Tricot on Ravelry has been one of the first design and pattern providers I followed. It was so easy to sneak peek and use their patterns as all of them are free. Do not understand me wrong, I do pay for a pattern when it is for sale, but about 4 years ago, when I discovered Ravelry (yes, I know..) it was so much easier to get a feel of what this whole community was, the cultures, the habits, the vocabulary etc. with patterns that were easily available to me. Such an helpful resource for an online knitting community beginner.

All my best wishes to everyone !

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© La Bien Aimée and Les Garçons

La Bien Aimée, the famous Aimée Gilles, owner of her online yarn shop and Les Garçons, the famous Montréal boys Vincent Deslandes and Maxime Cyr, behind their eponymous yarn shop, have teamed up to create a Holiday Mystery Box, containing two full skeins and 8 mini skeins, three progress keepers, one holiday trinket⁠ and an exclusive pattern designed by Vincent. The yarn colorways will be from Aimée’s inspiration about Montréal and Vincent’s inspiration about Paris, a way to be together during all the current travel restrictions.

The box is named “From Montreal to Paris” and they recommend you pre-order from the place closest to you. Boxes will be shipped at the end of November.

Preorder link on La Bien Aimée and Les Garçons.

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© Lise Taylor

Lise Taylor, a French creator, has launched her own yarn line on October 02. She offers a 100% Fingering Merino base and a 70% Mohair 30% Polyamide Lace base. Both bases are made in France for dying and spinning, but I could not find anything about the yarn origin and environmental processes or guidelines for the production. So it may be something to keep in mind if this is of importance to you.

I have bought a few of her books about knitting, she also offers a lot of sewing items, fabrics and sewing patterns.

Books and Magazines

© Fabel Knitwear

Helene Arnesen, Fabelknitwear on Instagram and Ravelry, will soon publish her first book, in Norwegian. Hopefully it will be translated in English, I will be waiting for it ! She offers a pre-order and the book will be shipped sometime this month, in October.

I love her universe, the feminine lines, the antique vibes, the puffy sleeves, everything she does, even though I do not think I have the body type to enhance and highlight her creations.. please have a look, well well well worth it.

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© Laine Magazine

Laine Magazine will launch 52 Weeks of Easy Knits in 2022 and calls for pattern submissions are open. I love the 52 Weeks of Shawls, I even knitted the Sotabosc Shawl – a big success measured by people talking about it when I wear it. I do not own the 52 Weeks of Socks, I do not knit socks, yet.. The book will feature simple, fun, unique, and certainly interesting patterns that I will enjoy. I will buy the book as soon as it comes out, for sure.

All details on their website here : https://lainemagazine.com/submission-call-easy-knits – I cannot wait !

Wooly News #5 have a companion YouTube podcast here : https://youtu.be/8yeKFgP1i1s

Wooly News ⎮#4

Patterns and Designers

© arohaknits

Françoise Danoy, arohaknits on Instagram, is a designer I have been following for a long time. I have not knitted any of her patterns, yet. Several of them are on my list in my mind. I enjoy her mailing list, and encourage you to follow her on Instagram and her website. She is of French and Maori cultures, proudly showing them in her work and quoting her “transforms stories into stitches”. What a program 🙂 She started to translate her patterns in Te Reo Māori, in celebration of (and I am quoting her) “In celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori language week)”. A very interesting initiative. The pattern is beautiful, you can find it on her website, along with the story behind it. She also is releasing a Te Reo Māori knitting related word per day. She offers codes to pay her patterns as you wish (20, 40 or 50% off), another very inclusive initiative 🙂

Puff sleeves satisfaction ! Sorry I insisted on calling them fluff sleeves on my previous podcast 🙂 Here is one pattern I will be keeping my eyes open for, the glorious Giselle Blouse from Helene Arnesen (fabelknitwear on Instagram). it is not yet released, the test knit is just closed. If you are inspired by vintage or antique shapes, please have a look at her Ravelry store or her website, they are fabulous ! If you cannot find the size you want in the published patterns, it is because she did not find test knitters for that size. Get in touch with her and she will offer the pattern if you want to test knit in the size you are interested in. What a cool attention. To note, she also offers yarn on her website 🧶

Trends

Stripes again !

As I stated two weeks ago in the previous Wooly news edition, I am seeing striped everywhere. i was wondering if I was late to this party or if it really was a current trend. Well to bring water to my mill as I would say in French, Laine Magazine, once again, will be releasing a pattern book dedicated just to stripes ! Stripes as you this of them, alternating colours, but also many other different kinds of stripes, alternating textures, stitches patterns etc.

© Laine Magazine

© Rastus Hsu

As I am writing, you can preorder the book on their website. Will I buy it ? I do not know. I do not feel confident wearing stripes, and have only one tee-shirt from a sea-side sailor type store. You can browse for some pattern previews on the preorder page and see for yourself. The book will be released on October 29 2021 and will contain 20 patterns (sweaters, shawls, cardigans, a dress, a beanie and a pair of socks).

As a bonus to this stripped trend, a beautiful shawl from Rastus Hsu, the Linear Shawl. The pattern is from last year and he recently posted a pic on his Instagram account. that caught my eye 🙂

Yarn Companies and Stores

© Laines Paysannes

Laines Paysannes have a very interesting initiative on their Instagram and a crowd funding website. You can adopt one of their sheep for a year ! Thei are located in the South of France, not far from my beloved Pyrénées (about two hour from my base camp). I think I will try to go visit them at some point when I am there. May be next year ? If you adopt a sheep, you will receive a beautiful afghan knitted with the wool from their flock. They have strong environmental commitments. Adopting is possible up to November 19, so I will wait until next month to check with them if it is always possible, September being a quite difficult month for me 🙂

© la Bien Aimée

As a dream come true, two of my favorite creators Aimée Gilles, owner of La Bien Aimée, and De Rerum Natura have collaborated to create a special colour way on the GIlliat base. How cool ! De Rerum Natura offers organic wools that I love. I knitted my Sotabosc shawl with their Ulysse base and am waiting on one specific colour way to cast on my second Half and Half Triangle Wrap. I already have the yarn for the first half and have been waiting since last winter for the second one, which should be available sometime in December or the beginning of next year. Waiting for almost a year is really worth it.

Books and Magazines

© La Bien Aimée & Laine Magazine

Aimée Gilles from La Bien Aimée will publish her very first book with Laine Magazine : Worsted – A Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée. The book was born during the first 18 months of the pandemic, dark times as she calls them. She selected 13 patterns from 10 designers, plenty of ideas to use her beautiful yarns ! The book is scheduled for the end of the year. Please subscribe to both their Instagram accounts if you are not already (LBA ; Laine) to stay in the loop.

© Pom Pom Magazine

Pom Pom Magazine have revisited their issue number 1, re-grading the patterns to include sizes up to 60″ chests. How nice ! This issue #1 will be 20% off until the end of September 2021. Whether you already own a printed copy or just bought it, only the digital copy that comes with the prints includes the new sizes.

Please see the Stripes book from Laine Magazine in the Trends section above.

Companion Youtube Video : https://youtu.be/wpEh_x5RJL8

Wooly News ⎮#3

Patterns

© roasts Heu

Rastus Hsu is a designer from Taiwan who has a discreet presence on IG and Ravelry. His YouTube channel is named “Simply Elegant” which says it all (in Mandarin). If you want to get familiar with him and his work, Kristy Glass has an episode on YouTube which I watched when it launched. He’s going to release a new pattern with 3D and paper folding effects (his own words) that caught my attention as soon as I saw the post on IG. What a texture ! Once again, I may not choose such a colour if/when I make it. No matter what, I really love it.

© amitishishop

Another interesting pattern from Japan ! amirisushop (on IG, Ravelry, Youtube and their own website, they ship internationnaly) will release a new collection this fall. This sweater has an unusual graphic look that I like. If knitting in the round, goodbye jogs when switching yarn colour ! Here they are intentional 🙂

© Skeindeer Knits

Skeindeer Knits (on Ravelry, Instagram and YouTube) has released her Matchy-Matchy Accessory Club, a collection of 4 mystery patterns plus an additional one that is not matching the other four, The Midnattssol Shawl that she previewed. Midnattssol stands for midnight sun that people experiment during the summer time in the northern hemisphere. She spent the summer in Trondheim that I happen to have visited a few years back with my university. Sweet, memories 🙂

You can join the club by buying the ebook on Ravelry (currently discounted), you will get the four shawl pattern every 3 weeks. The four mystery shawls are stranded colour work, all matching together.

Trends (sorta)

© La Bien Aimée

© Espace Tricot

© Just Tracie

© Drea Renee Knits

Stripes. After seeing yellow everywhere, I now see stripes, and even yellow stripes ! Stripes are not quite my jam as I (may be wrongly) think they do not fit me. Still contemplating using some stripes in a pattern, may be a small object that won’t be too engaging, such as mittens or a hat ? After knitting socks with my grandmother when I was 8 or 10, I have not taken the dive to the sock waters yet. So that may be a good opportunity ?

Yarn Companies and Stores

© Fonty

Fonty is a very ancient, over 130 years old, French company that spins, dye and sells luxury yarns, at not so luxury prices. They are located in the center of France and have a label that recognises them as a national treasure. They are launching a new line this fall with their 1880 line (1880 is their creation date). The yarn is from local sheep, all developed following fare trade and environmental friendly guidelines. Colors are delicious and I have been eyeing their online catalog for a long time now. You can follow their news on IG and on their website where they have a newsletter subscription) I would very much like to visit them at some point !

© Laines à l’Ouest

Laines à l’Ouest (Website and Instagram) is a yarn company located in Normandy, that specialises in yarns from local sheep breeds. They have environmental conscious projects and currently offer their “wastes” from the mill to use in the garden to protect the plants and bushes during the winter time. What a neat idea ! You will have to come and pick up the balls of yarn if you have a bigger car or a truck, and of course if you can come to Normandy !

Laines Paysannes will be present in Lyon on October 2 and 3 for a knitting event I would like to attend ! Unfortunately I won’t be able to make time to travel across France.. I am waiting on one of their collaboration with WHOLE who dyed limited edition colorways, I preordered four skeins in Brun Doré that should ship in a month or two. Laine Paysanne, such as Fonty and Mohair d’Aulon en Pyrénées (please have a look at my little YouTube podcast I dedicated to my visit this summer) are some local, French companies I am willing to support, buying from them and talking about them. My own little piece to their universe.

Books

Alma Bali – Rues De Paris © Laine Magazine

Olga Buraya-Kefelian – Skylight © Laine Magazine

Since Sept 03, Laine Magazine is offering previews of the patterns that will be included in issue 12. I am so happy I ordered the bundle with issues 12, 13 and 14 while I was on vacations. I so want to cast on all the sweaters, shawls and other accessories ! You can find the previews on their website, Instagram and Ravelry. I received my copy a couple days ago, you will find tons of information all around 🙂

Companion podcast on YouTube : https://youtu.be/OkiHxPzUqvs

Wooly News ⎮ #2

New Patterns

Yarnznl (on Instagram and their website) have a videos and posts about brioche in the round, knitting and purling. I never have tried brioche, it came out after I had learned other ways to achieve the same look (what we call côtes anglaises in French, even fausses côtes anglaises). You either knit in the row below or use an odd number of stitches for the repeat). I need to try brioche one day, there are plenty of shawl or sweater patterns out there !

I knitted two of my FOs with yarn from Yarnznl : the current blog header is from my Lawrenson Sweater in Kokon Bleu and my sons gifted me with the yarn and pattern from the Elvan Shawl. They are very nice and friendly, and arranged for deliveries times so that I could be present and the package would not sit somewhere. I still have a sweater quantity in Kokon waiting for a pattern 🙂

I spotted a very interesting pattern from Kate Barrios that reminds me of my Sotabosc Shawl ! She just released the Chubasco Sweater that I added to my queue list as soon as I saw it. It is knitted with one of Julie Asselin bases (the Leizu Worsted), who featured it on her Instagram. Julie Asselin’s yarns are a delight to knit, I used it for my Galane Sweater by Marie Amelie Designs. I ordered the base it was knitted with after trying some yarn from my (small) stash, but that did not give me the desired effect. One of the first times I knitted with the yarn the pattern was calling for. And It was in the middle of the first lockdowns during the first bursts of the pandemic.

You should follow Kate Barrios on her Instagram, her Ravelry page (if you can) and her blog, all of her publications are very joyful 🙂 She is from Columbia, living in Russia, countries with great knitting traditions and culture.

Natasja Hornby, known as moonstruck_knits on Instagram and Moonstruckmermaid on Ravelry will release a new shawl design. The shawl has no name yet and she asked her community for suggestions. The shawl is beautiful, as all of her designs, with intricate stitches and patterns, mixing lozenges, squares and texture to what appress to be a triangle shawl. Many knitters all around the world celebrate her work with knitalongs or social networks viral threads ! So well deserved, completely drooling over this design.

New KALs – Knitalongs

Laine Magazine is hosting a yearlong KAL with their last release, 52 Weeks of Shawls on Instagram and Ravelry. The KAL is divided into four themes, so is the book. The first theme was “Your Favourite Shawl”. The second theme is “Challenge Yourself” and will run from August 16 to November 14, 2021

Laine Magazine wants to encourage us to try something new – a new technique, a new yarn, a colour that is outside of our comfort zone. To enter the KAL, use the #52weeksofshawlskal hashtag on both Instagram and Ravelry.

Cadyjaxknits have started a new KAL both on their Instagram account and on Ravelry. The #findyourfluffkal is a school-year long KAL :

Our definition of fluff is soft, bouncy, insouciant, or irreverent knits that make you purr and smile

From : https://www.ravelry.com/discuss/cady-jax-knits/4146341/

I did not intend to join the KAL as I had other projects in mind, but here we are with the Châle pour Maman..

New Book Releases

So I just received the Summer issue of the Sloow Magazine, which is the following publication of Woolez Vous. Marie-Amelie and Guilaume Pressensé are the editorial team and driving force of this printed booklet, all in French, that presents 9 patterns from independent designers and dyers. A very enjoyable presentation for each pattern, detailing both the process and the story for each creation, pattern and associated yarn. Each pattern creator and yarn dyer are featured with a full article and links to find them online.

In addition to the original patterns, several articles present alcohol free cocktails recipes, articles about knitters, understanding the yarn fibre, how to heal knitters pains with yoga, binding off techniques and more. I did discover a few creators I am going to follow now 🙂

Companion podcast on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJ8JhOXl9M

Visit to a Mohair Farm in Aulon – French Pyrénées

This is one of my favourite places. I discovered the village some 30 years back when I first visited this valley and been back there almost every year now. I stay a bit further away because buying a house or even an apartment there is completely out of my ability.

Aulon, Hautes Pyrénées, France

The village is in a valley up in the High Pyrénées, at about 1900 m in altitude, in a real mountain climate with lots of snow in the winter. A bit higher are a few barns that have been renovated and can be rented during the summer.

Granges de Lurgues

The place is very peaceful, green and meditative. I like to hike and knit around there, close to the Arbizon.

High in the village (you really want to walk up the mountain to go there !), there is a small farm, Mohair d’Aulon en Pyrénées, where Angora goats are raised for their mohair. The yarn is processed elsewhere (washed, spined and dyed) in environmental respecting procedures. The farm exists since 1988, I discovered it in 1992 when I first went there, and I’ve bought mohair almost every year I went there. I try to go every summer, there were only a three or four times I could not go in the past 30 years.

Mohair d’Aulon en Pyrénées

The original owner retired in 2017 and the farm is now run by a young lady who continued the project and expanded it, now offering family tours, knitted goods and additional vegetal colour ways.

Angora Goats

Angora Goat

As always, I could not refrain myself and got two sweaters quantities (in Arbizon Indigo, and Arbizon Fin Réséda) and two shawls quantities (in Arbizon and Bouclette, Véronèse and Safran).

Mohair Arbizon – Indigo Végétal

Mohair Arbizon Fin – Réséda Végétal

Mohair Bouclette et Arbizon – Véronèse

The yarns are delicious fluffs to knit and to wear. They come in several different types :

• Arbizon, 100 m for 50 g, 90% Super Kid Mohair (less than 28 microns) / 5% Merinos / 5% Silk
• Arbizon fin n°2, 150 m for 50 g, 80% Super Kid Mohair (less than à 28 microns) / 10% Merinios / 10% Silk
• Bouclette (not combed, with little loops coming gout of the yarn), 100 m for 50 g, 90% Super Kid Mohair (less than 28 microns) / 5% Merinos / 5% Silk
• Cardé, 115m for 50 g, 70% Mohair Kid (less than 32 microns) / 30% Soie, with less fluff that allows colour works.

I have knitted a lot of shawls, cowls, cardigan, sweaters with these yarns, before I even knew Ravelry even existed ! I currently am knitting my Mother’s Christmas present, she chose the Safran colour way in both Arbizon and Bouclette, so she kinda know about it. She does not know what I am making for her though, a shawl I am knitting as I go with lace sections from several stitches books I own.

Mohair Bouclette et Arbizon – Safran

A delightful place I hope I’ll be able to go for many additional years !

The companion Youtube Podcast is here : https://youtu.be/DEMl5poTGfY

Wooly News ⎮ #1

Treliz from https://treliz.eu is giving all her pattern sales during August to the Red Cross in Greece and people that are affected by the fires. She made the announcements on her Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/p/CSO5J-JIJce/. Her patterns are on Ravelry : https://www.ravelry.com/designers/tre-liz

She also has dyed Organic Shetland DK skeins as limited editions, you can find the special colour ways F*ckaccino Latte, Bluebeard and Outlander on her website.

Maria Zilakou (lacengarter_knits on Instagram) who designed the Fresh Peonies Shawl that I am currently knitting is allo offering all Apokalókairo pattern sales to the Hellenic Red Cross. You can find on the following links her instagram post : https://www.instagram.com/p/CSPAdy8I6-i/ and the pattern on Ravelry : https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/apokalokairo

Wool and Pine have released their crochet version of the Sea Glass Tee on August 05th. Not a crocheter myself, but may be you are ? The pattern is beautiful and I will probably make the knitted one at some point.

YarnOver Berlin is offering their dyeing oopsies on their own yarn bases, “Hoplala”, in their shop only, not online. From their mailing list (which you should consider to subscribe to) :

Hoppala is a german expression to say “oopsie” and that’s basically what it is. A happy little accident… If you’ve been to the store in Berlin before, you might have noticed them – the Hoppalas. Colorful and unique and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Well, as many hand dyers know, sometimes accidents happen while dying the yarn, and those accidents are called Hoppala with our home brand Frida Fuchs yarns.

If you happen to be there, please check them out, I will if I am one day going to Berlin !

Espace Tricot has released a new sweater pattern, the Night Blooms Sweater, which is free on Ravelry. This DK sweater can use Silk Mohair held double for the colour work (as in the one presented), or another DK weight yarn, and offers a comfortable A-line shape. If you cannot use Ravelry, you can email them at info@espacetricot.com and they will send a PDF of the pattern via e-mail 🙂

New Book Releases

Laine Magazine will publish their Issue Nb 12 on Septembre 10. They sneak peak patterns on their Instagram account. Viburna by Fabienne Gassmann is shown above and was pushed to their mailing list. The issue will include interviews and other articles. From their mailing list :

Our Autumn 2021 issue, Hav, is a beauty photographed near Helsinki by the sea (hav is Swedish for sea). This issue features 13 knitting patterns from 11 designers around the world: Alma Bali, Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Luuanne Chau, Kristin Drysdale, Claudia Eisenkolb, Fabienne Gassmann, Tamy Gore, Dee Hardwicke, Claudia Quintanilla, Jeanette Sloan and Jutta Turunen. 

Preorders opened today on Friday the 13th 👻 and I preordered the current bundle, issues 12, 13 and 14. The magazine is published in Finnish and in English. Once again, you should consider subscribing to their mailing list (link above) 🙂

Companion podcast on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44iOIXYrVKY