November 2024

Newly-published books

Cultivate feels almost like two pattern books in one—a book of scarves with pretty motifs and another of plain but elegant garments—and I think there's a way to combine the two to good effect.

Three-quarters of the patterns are for colorwork scarves, and my favorites have a delicate, almost fluid appearance. I know now that this effect comes from a combination of the yarn and the technique used to make them. The scarves that I found particularly beautiful have motifs that are made by Swiss darning (which is also known as duplicate stitch) with a fuzzy laceweight silk mohair yarn.

With Swiss darning, you embroider over the top of stitches once the knitting is already done, following the path of the yarn to make your embroidery look like stitches. If you use a regular smooth yarn, Swiss darning can look almost indistinguishable from intarsia, where you change colors to produce motifs as part of the fabric itself. But since silk mohair is laceweight, Swiss darning with it doesn't cover the underlying stitch completely, so you don't get that solid intarsia effect. The motif blends into the background stitches, giving a result that I think looks very effective.

The remaining patterns are for plain, chunky garments. When I first saw them they felt out of place to me, as if they had somehow made their way into the wrong book. The incongruence between the garments and scarves isn't helped by the fact that the garments are mostly made in dark yarns, making it hard to see any details. In comparison to the multicolored scarves, the black dresses and dark brown sweaters didn't interest me at first.

On a closer look, I not only realized that the garments were attractive in their own right, but also that they could be combined with the motifs from the scarves. The garments are all made with fuzzy, chunky yarns, meaning that the garments will be both light and warm. And they also look comfortable—a combination that feels very enticing as I sit here typing while wearing multiple layers of wool and fingerless gloves!

It's not mentioned in the book, but I think the plain design of the garments would make them a great canvas to show off the motifs from the colorwork scarves. You wouldn't even need to work out what design you wanted before you started, because you could just add the motifs using Swiss darning once the knitting was finished. I did wonder whether the laceweight silk mohair wouldn't show up enough on the garments, since they are made at a much bulkier gauge than the scarves. However, I tried out some Kidsilk Haze on a swatch made at the gauge used for one of the sweaters, and I think the motif shows up fine. You could easily add another strand or two of silk mohair if you wanted a stronger visual effect.

If you're wondering whether Cultivate is the book for you, then my guess is that the answer depends mostly on how you feel about the colorwork scarves. If you aren't interested in the scarves, then the garments may not be enough by themselves to make this book a worthwhile purchase. You can probably find similar garment patterns elsewhere. If you do like the scarves but would perhaps only make one, then the garments might make the book more inviting, especially if you like the idea of adding motifs to them. And if you are as enchanted by the scarves as I am, then you probably already know that this book is for you. I don't think you'll find designs like it anywhere else.

New and discontinued yarns

New

Big Twist Yarns
Favorite Faux Fur – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Faux fur – Solid colors, Multicolored

Cygnet
Folly Garden – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – 2 ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)
Marl DK – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Marled colors
Pato Multi Colours Chunky – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping

DROPS Design
DROPS Fiesta – DK – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors, Heathered colors, Multicolored, Self-striping (fair-isle effect), Self-striping (speckled)

Eddie Bauer
Cozy Camp Worsted – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid colors
Fireside Plush – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors
Wool-Paca Worsted – Aran – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Alpaca – Plied – Solid colors

Elements
Batik Twist – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping marls
Essential Tweed – Bulky – 95% Acrylic, 5% Viscose – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Ella Rae
Color Magic – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – 2 ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)
Color Marvel – Aran – 100% Superwash Wool – Plied – Multicolored marls
Tufty – Aran – 60% Kid Mohair, 40% Microfiber – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors, Gradient

Estelle
Highland Alpaca Worsted Tweed – Worsted – 60% Alpaca, 40% Highland Wool – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Fraya Yarn
Delightful – DK – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – S on S plied – Solid colors
Reliable – Sport – 70% Superwash Wool, 30% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors

Himalaya Yarn
Always Soft – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Heathered colors
Stella – DK – 95% Viscose, 5% Metallic – Chained – Semi-solid colors with metallic

Hobbii
Daily Stitch Cotton – Fingering – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors
Daily Stitch Wool Blend – Aran – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors
Happy Place Apricity – Super Bulky – 65% Alpaca, 28% Nylon, 7% Wool – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors
Twister Solid XL – Worsted – 55% Cotton, 45% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

James C. Brett
Scandi Aran – Aran – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – Plied – Self-striping

Jody Long
Colourspun – Bulky – 53% Superwash Wool, 47% Acrylic – Single ply – Self-striping
Llama Mia – DK – 50% Llama, 50% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors

John Arbon Textiles
Appledore Aran – Aran – 40% Devon Closewool Wool, 40% Romney Wool, 20% Exmoor Blueface Wool – 2 ply – Heathered colors

King Cole
Crescendo Aran – Aran – 100% Acrylic – 2 ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)
Fruitilicious – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Multicolored

Knit Picks / We Crochet
Woodland – Aran – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca – 2 ply – Solid colors

Laines du Nord
Rozena – Heavy Worsted – 68% Merino Wool, 17% Cashmere, 15% Nylon – Chained – Solid colors

Lana Grossa
Natural Lama Chunky – Aran – 100% Llama – 2 ply – Solid colors
The Look Fine – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors

Leo & Roxy Yarn Co
Natural Sock – Fingering – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon – Plied – Tonal colors, Multicolored

Lion Brand
InstaKnit – Super Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 19% Wool, 1% Polyester – Plied (with cast-on loops) – Solid colors
Re-Make – Aran – 100% Polyester – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors
Wool-Ease Aire – Super Bulky – 74% Acrylic, 13% Polyester, 13% Wool – Fuzzy – Solid colors

Marks & Kattens
Carolina Glitter – DK – 99% Acrylic, 1% Metallic – Plied – Solid colors with metallic

Mirasol Yarn
Chusku – DK – 100% Corriedale Wool – 2 ply – Solid colors

Mondial
Ben Fatto – Worsted – 75% Microfiber, 25% Wool – Plied with a soft haze – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Velvet Boom – Jumbo – 100% Microfiber – Velvet tube – Solid colors

Performance Yarn
Genesis – Sport – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors

Premier Yarns
Elle By Me Charlotte – Bulky – 60% Acrylic, 40% Superwash Wool – 2 ply – Solid colors, Dashed colors
Elle By Me Odette – Bulky – 23% Polyester, 22% Alpaca, 22% Merino Superwash Wool, 18% Metallic, 15% Acrylic – Fuzzy chain – Semi-solid colors with metallic

Qing Fibre
Baby Teddy – Fingering – 65% Baby Alpaca, 35% Silk – Bouclé – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

Regia
Premium Pure 4-ply – Fingering – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathered colors

The Plucky Knitter
Scholar Worsted 3.0 – Worsted – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Cashmere – 2 ply – Solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored

Trendsetter Yarns
Olé – Worsted – 90% Cotton, 10% Acrylic – Fuzzy chain – Multicolored

Universal Yarn
Bella Tweed – DK – 95% Cotton, 5% Other (Unknown) Recycled Fibers – Tweedy – Tweed colors
Mystical Marl – Aran – 50% Acrylic, 50% Cotton – S on S plied – Semi-solid colors
Sandcastle – DK – 46% Cotton, 43% Linen, 11% Silk – Plied – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Tango – Aran – 82% Cotton, 18% Nylon – Slubby single wrapped with thread – Multicolored

Walnut Tree Yarn
Organic Wool Prints – Bulky – 100% Wool – Plied – Multicolored

West Yorkshire Spinners
Fable Brushed Aran – Aran – 50% Falklands Wool, 35% Alpaca, 15% Mohair – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors

Yarnsmiths
Elvis Chunky – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping
Flurry Chunky – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Fleece style – Solid colors
Glow in the Dark – Aran – 100% Glow-in-the-dark Polyester – Plied – Glow-in-the-dark
Lagoon Chunky – Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient transition)
Nirvana Aran – Aran – 100% Acrylic – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient transition)

Discontinued

Alize
Forever – Lace – 100% Microfiber – 2 ply – Solid colors

BC Garn
Northern Lights GOTS – Heavy Worsted – 80% Superwash Wool, 20% Silk – Tweedy – Semi-solid colors

Bernat
Forever Fleece Finest – Worsted – 100% Polyester – Single ply – Semi-solid colors

Cygnet
Kiddies Kaleidoscope DK – DK – 100% Acrylic – 2 ply – Self-striping (marl)

Heirloom
Alpaca 4-ply – Fingering – 100% Alpaca – Plied with a soft haze – Heathered colors

Ice Yarns
Star Baby – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping (gradient transition), Multicolored

Koigu
Mori – Fingering – 50% Merino Wool, 50% Silk – Plied – Semi-solid colors, Multicolored

Lana Gatto
Cablé 8 – Thread – 100% Cotton – Thread - size 8 – Solid colors

Neighborhood Fiber Co.
Capital Luxury Lace – Light Fingering – 80% Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Silk – Plied – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors
Capital Luxury Sport – Sport – 80% Merino Wool, 10% Cashmere, 10% Silk – Plied – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors
Studio Chunky – Bulky – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors
Suri Loft – Aran – 65% Alpaca, 20% Merino Wool, 15% Silk – Fuzzy – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

Panda
Renew Max – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Plied – Solid colors

Papatya
Mini Cotton – DK – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors

Phildar
Phil Air Perou – Aran – 70% Alpaca, 23% Nylon, 7% Wool – Fiber-filled net – Solid colors

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns
Crystal – Lace – 75% Polyester, 25% Cotton – Sequinned – Semi-solid colors
Megan – Aran – 50% Merino Wool, 50% Polyester – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors

String Yarns
Breeze – Aran – 60% Cotton, 20% Cashmere, 20% Silk – Chained – Heathered colors
Tuscany – Worsted – 58% Cashmere, 28% Wool, 8% Silk, 6% Other (Unknown) Recycled Fibers – Tweedy – Tweed colors

The Plucky Knitter
Bulky – Bulky – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckles

Trendsetter Yarns
Celebrate – DK – 100% Cotton – Plied – Self-striping

Universal Yarn
Cotton Supreme DK – DK – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors, Sprayed semi-solids

Wendy
With Wool DK (2021 version) – DK – 75% Acrylic, 25% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

If you'd like to get in touch, please send a mail to hello@yarnsub.com (you can simply reply to this mail) or find me on Instagram.

See you in December!

Wendy

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