Spinnery News

A noteworthy collection

We’ve been abuzz at the Mill ever since Kirsten Hipsky’s new Arboreal Collection was released.  Her new ebook includes 5 new botanically inspired knits that will knock your socks off!

All five patterns call for Spinnery yarns, and we think that you’re going to be smitten with more than one.  From the bottom to the top of the stack of delicious knits featured above, let’s look at each design a bit more closely.

© Emma Welford

Kirsten’s Burr Oak Cardigan is crafted with our DK weight New Mexico Organic yarn.  This shawl collared, double breasted design features a bottom-up raglan design with a generous range of seven sizes from 36″ to 60″.  That gorgeous bark-like cabled texture extends across the back and the tunic length makes it ideal for cooler weather.

© Emma Welford

Next up is the Sassafras Pullover.  This unisex pullover has an all-over chevron texture that appeals to all of us here at the Spinnery.

This sweater is constructed flat from the bottom front hem, up and over the shoulders and down the back.  This ensures that the stitch pattern never skips a beat.  The side seams provide the perfect amount of structure and the hearty yarn it’s knit with will make this sweater an heirloom to keep!

The pattern calls of our worsted weight Maine or Vermont Organic yarns that are finished at a generous 250 yards per skein.  The sizes range from a 36″ chest to a 60″ chest so you may find that you want to size up for layering under this handsome sweater.

© Emma Welford

Kirsten’s Birch Shawl presents a delicate contrast.  It is also created with our New Mexico Organic yarn, shown here in the creamy white.  This triangular shawl features a lacy texture that mimics birch bark; which is created with an easily memorized repetition of dropped stitches.  One of our favorite aspects of this design is that the shawl is reversible.  No matter how you wrap up in it, you’ll look picture perfect!

© Emma Welford

The last two patterns in this collection call for single skeins of our fingering weight yarns for lightweight accessories that will be a pleasure to wear.

Her Ash Cowl features a more complex pattern of twisting cables that are presented in crisp detail thanks to the Forest yarn’s blend of fine wool and TENCEL that provides a luminous stitch definition we love.  Her finished cowl blocks out at approximately 36” around and 9” wide and will easily fit under your winter coat.

© Emma Welford

Last but certainly not least, is Kirsten’s Dogwood Cowl, created with Spinnery Lana.  This design has a larger circumference and a bit less depth (approximately 80” around and 5” tall) for more styling versatility.

“Arranged in a soft, quilted diamond formation, the eyelets in this cowl are formed in an unusual and educational way. Instead of the expected yarn overs, you knit the strand that runs between your needles. This creates a slightly smaller and tidier eyelet that is easier to work on circular needles than a yarn over, since there are no loops of yarn to drag around the cable. It’s also the professional trick for fixing any missing yarn overs in traditional lace patterns— just knit into the strand running between the needles!”

We adore learning new tricks while making such wearable garments.  It’s a pleasure for both process knitters AND product knitters.

We hope that you take a closer look at Kirsten Hipsky’s Arboreal collection on Ravelry.  And be sure to join in on our Instagram contest this week for your chance to win a FREE copy of the entire collection!

Stop on by

October is an ideal time to visit Vermont.  The days are (mostly) crisp and bright and the fall colors are starting to pop around Putney!  Scuffing through drifts of brilliant leaves is a pleasure straight from childhood to enjoy.

In celebration of this season of color, and to offer our visitors something very special, Melissa recently dropped off some hand painted skeins that we have available for purchase only in our Mill Shop.

These skeins are one of a kind and in such limited quantities that we aren’t able to make them available through our website.  The only way to purchase one (or more) of these beauties is to visit us in person, or give us a call to ensure that your favorite is set aside or shipped on its way to you without delay!

Shown above is a selection of Meadow skeins.  This fingering weight 2 -ply yarn is composed of a 50/50 fine wool and kid mohair blend for strength, shine, and delightful softness.  Each 3.5 oz. skein includes 400 yards, giving you enough for a pair of socks, a lightweight hat or a small shawlette.

Melissa also worked her artistry on several skeins of Forest yarn.  This 70/30 blend of fine wool and TENCEL has an eye catching luster that will make every stitch look its best.  Maureen’s Jenness Pebble Socks will knit up beautifully with one of these skeins.

And for those of you who might prefer to work on a project with more substance (and fewer stitches), Melissa also dyed a handful of our new Nor’easter yarn. One of these skeins will knit up quickly into the Whitinsville Hat.

We hope that these pretties may induce you to come and visit.  If you can time your visit to arrive between 10 am and 2 pm Monday – Friday we should be able to offer you a tour of our production floor. This is often a highlight for family members young and old who are eager to see how things are made.

We’d love for you to plan a day to relish the season, pick some local apples, and find some beautiful yarn here at the Spinnery for your winter’s knits!

More choice

We’ve been able to make a new batch of Yarn Over with the remnants of some of the fun new yarns we’ve produced this summer.  We’d like to introduce you to Frost (shown on the right).

This new shade brings our selection of Yarn Over to a generous four colorways, giving you more choice than ever for some beautiful bulky weight knits this winter.  It is a perfect choice to work up a classic version of Cap Sease’s new John’s Sweater.

Cap had a favorite sweater of her father’s in mind as she designed this pullover, so it has timeless appeal that you’ll love as much as we do.

While she did craft this with guys in mind, we couldn’t help but notice that a sweater this cozy is a perfect choice for him or her, making John’s sweater a perfect “boyfriend sweater” that may remain in your closet!

Knitting it up at a generous size can allow you to layer underneath; and will give you a garment that will be useful for many members of your family.  Perhaps a schedule of who gets to wear it when will need to be posted on the fridge?

Cap’s pattern includes sizes 37 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)”/ 93 (101, 111, 121, 132, 142)cm, ensuring that you’ll find a perfect fit for almost anybody.

You may also want to consider the Beekeeper’s Smock.  This beloved pattern was released a couple of years ago and also calls for Yarn Over.  It features a cropped oversized shape, honeycomb cabling at the cuffs and cowl, pop color pockets and an unusual construction that you will enjoy!

We’ve also used it to knit up Jane Richmond’s Betsy (the top right hat was knit with Fog) this summer.  You can read more about our experiment here.

No matter what pattern you choose, at about 3.5 stitches per inch, our Yarn Over knits up in no time!  And we know that finishing a project feels almost as good as starting one 🙂

 

A local treat

We’re excited to launch a limited edition yarn this week that features fiber sourced from nearby New England flocks!  Our new undyed  4-Ply Nor’ Easter is our version of a farm yarn similar to the beautiful skeins we create for growers around the country.

These skeins combine fine and medium wool of various shades. And the 4 plies blend these into a sometimes subtle and sometimes striking variegation that reflects the snowy white and misty greys of the our landscape in winter.

This variegated yarn includes blended wool from Rambouillet, Corriedale, Romney and Friesian sheep located in Vermont, New Hampshire and off the coast of Massachusetts.  These hearty animals grow fleeces that are perfect protection against winter storms.  The beautifully balanced twist of this yarn’s four plies ensures a sturdy construction that will retain crisp stitch definition to make your knitwear last for generations.

We spun up a very limited quantity of this delicious yarn, so you’ll want to grab what you can from the 100 or so skeins we have available.  We do hope to make another batch of this yarn in the future, but due to the small sizes of typical New England flocks, we expect that every batch we make of this yarn will include a slightly different fiber content.  So act fast!

And to ensure that you have a pattern in mind for these skeins, we have a new pattern from Larisa Demos to share with you!  Her Whitinsville Hat calls for a single skein of our 4-ply Nor’easter.

Whitinsville, MA was founded in 1835 by Paul Whitin and his sons. Their mill became one of the largest textile machinery companies in the world and operated for over 135 years. Both our spinning frame and plying machine proudly display the Whitin stamp; and they wind our spun fibers around wooden bobbins in a twisting pattern that is reminiscent of the spiraling ribs of this beanie.

Knitting this hat with our yarns made from New England sourced fibers can connect you directly to this rich history of fiber manufacturing that is still a part of life here in Vermont.  And what better way to celebrate the beginning of Fall?

 

Another winner from Thea!

We are not alone in our admiration for Thea Colman’s newest pattern!  A quick search of this week’s most popular patterns in Raverly will bring her Fernet Branca to the top of your screen.  And a quick glance at her photos will show you why.  Everything about this sweater says, “knit me!”

© Thea Colman

This cozy oversize shape is very popular right now and perfect as a layering piece.  As Thea mentions in her pattern notes, “I keep coming back to this flattering, wearable shape. It’s fun to knit, easy to seam, and I just love wearing these comfy, loose pullovers with a shirt tail peeking out beneath the hem.”

Thea’s pattern includes a generous range of sizing options from 38.5 to 58.25 inches (97.75 – 148 cm)  based on sweater circumference around body at bust.  She recommends choosing a size that will provide between 5-6”/12.75-15.75 cm of positive ease for the fit as shown.

Fernet Branca features a simple textured block motif, bookended by bold ribs and cables on either side of the body. Thea’s favorite part of this design might just be how those panels meet under the arms.

© Thea Colman

She adds, “on the back of the sweater, I added a central spine and changed the cable panels just a bit to keep things interesting. Then I designed the neckline so the sweater can be worn with either side facing front, so feel free to flip it depending on your mood! It’s reversible!”  Pure genius.

We’re delighted to share with you that her pattern is designed with Green Mountain Spinnery Weekend Wool.  Our lofty 2 ply 100% wool yarn is a great choice to make these complimentary textures really stand out in crisp detail.

Thea confides, “I’ve been waiting impatiently to work in Green Mt Spinnery’s Weekend Wool for a while now, and it did not disappoint. The color, the stitch definition, and the soft, round fiber are spot on. When I first swatched these motifs in the Pine Warbler, my heart kind of skipped a beat — and I didn’t put the needles back down until it was done.

And to make this project even more tempting we are offering 15% off your purchase of Weekend Wool on our website through the end of the month.  Use coupon code Frenet at checkout for some terrific savings!

We’re confident that you’ll enjoy working this sweater up.  Thea’s patterns are always beautifully crafted; as can be seen in thoughtful way in which her ribbed hem transitions into those delicious cables.  This trademark element of Thea’s cabled patterns is just one of the myriad ways in which where no small detail is left to chance.

To top it off, she has added a few notes to the pattern about modifications for your own body, and there will be thread in her BabyCocktails group for knitting along or any questions that come up!

And if one of your questions about this design is it’s name, then we encourage you to browse her blog where she’s provided an explanation of the name as well as some delicious cocktail recipes that you may want to try.

Enjoy!

 

Texture

The first cool evenings have appeared in our forecasts, so the sweater weather we are so looking forward to seems to be on its way!  One of our newest patterns is ideal for the beginning of Fall.

Cap Sease’s new Moorit Gansey is a lightweight pullover that calls for our fingering weight Moorit Singles  yarn.  This soft merino wool is spun into a downy single ply that presents lovely stitch definition and a gorgeous undyed neutral hue.  This special fiber comes from an unusual flock that is prized for this recessive color.

Unlike alpaca, natural colored Merino is extremely rare because breeders have been culling color from their bloodlines for centuries, in order to attain the whitest of whites, so these natural colors are truly special and extremely unusual.   This special fiber comes from an unusual flock that you can learn more about here.

The Moorit Gansey pattern includes sizing from a 35″ bust to a 54″ bust and calls for between 1,350 and 2,250 yards of fingering weight yarn.  Due to the lofty nature of our yarns that bloom so beautifully with a thorough blocking, her gauge of 26 sts and 26 rows over four inches is easily achieved with a US 4/3.5 mm needle.   So you won’t have to spend weeks working with tiny needles!  (Of course you should check your personal gauge and make adjustments as needed to avoid sizing surprises).

If you wanted to create a sweater that was even more next to the skin soft, our even softer Simply Fine would make a perfect substitute.  Our Simply Fine is comprised of our finest fiber: yearling mohair and fine western wool.

Cap’s clever design creates a stunning pullover that looks far more complicated than it really is, thanks to the textural complexity created with strategic purl stitch repetitions and by a simple single stitch cable cross that can be easily completed without a cable needle.

The only shaping you’ll find in the pattern are the decreases on the sleeves which are picked up at the shoulders and worked top-down. This boxy shape lends the sweater a “boyfriend” style that you may find that everyone in the family will want to wear.

We hope that you’ll take a closer look at this pattern this week and join us in eagerly anticipating (and actively creating) a new season of wonderful knitwear!

All that jazz

Our new Ragg-Time yarn is now available online, in our Mill Shop in Putney, VT and (for the next couple of days) at our booth at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI.

This 2-ply marled yarn is crafted by adding bale dyed wool in sequence in the carding process so that the colors of one ply shift gradually creating soft gradations in color that are balanced by a neutral ply which holds true.

You can see the subtle shifts here in the Berlin Poncho which is knit up with our classic marled colorway named after Irving Berlin.  The typical cream is paired with gradations of dark brown so that the marl moves from a stark contrast to a more subtle one.

On a side note, this fun accessory is knit sideways so those strong horizontal stripes are actually created vertically when worked!  So you’ll see a fun interplay of the texture and the subtle bands of color.

Our new Numina cardigan designed by Kristen TenDyke, is another pattern that shows how even understated variations in color can have a beautiful effect.  You can see that the soft shading characteristic of our Coltrane colorway (that pairs shades of warm golden wheat and soft olive green) presents ragg combinations in a whole new light.

This project is constructed from the top down, and worked back and forth with raglan increases; this ensures a symmetry to the striations of color.

The favorite of our friends at the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival is our Holiday colorway.  These skeins combine 8 bright shades that graduate one from another, plied with a soft neutral grey that balances out their bright hues.  Several of our new patterns feature this colorway; the Trinity Mountain Hat pattern (shown below) includes instructions for three sizes.

One skein of Ragg-Time will be enough to make a hat in either of the two smaller sizes along with a pompom similar in size to our sample hat. If making the largest size hat, a smaller pompom could be made.

We have a couple of other accessory patterns that call for a single skein of Ragg-Time. Megan Barrett’s Rhubarb Cowl and Mitts pairs a single skein of Ragg-Time with 2 skeins of New Mexico Organic for a matched set that uses corrugated ribbing to craft a beautifully textured fabric that offsets the bright jazzy marl againsts a soft neutral to stunning effect.

And Maureen’s Zen Shawl is a FREE pattern that can be created with a single skein of Ragg-Time.  Our sample knit up with the Holiday colorway has been the hit of the Wisconsin Festival!

We hope that you’ll try a skein for yourself and that you’ll have a chance to see our collection of new patterns and samples in person at one of the upcoming shows we’ll be attending this fall.

 

 

We’re on board

Back in the fall of 2016, Maureen’s Green Mountain Flyer Tunic was published in a terrific collection of sweater dresses entitled All Aboard!   A total of 6 talented designers collaborated on this electronic anthology and their patterns inspired a more than a few of us to reconsider knitted dresses and tunics.

These patterns bring a contemporary spin to garments that some have wrongly relegated as a thing of the past.  Thanks to the many clever details in Maureen’s pattern, you no longer need to have a 1950’s pin-up figure to pull off a knitted dress.

And now, this pattern is available for individual purchase!

As you can see, when crafted with up to 10″ of positive ease, this design goes from figure skimming to comfy cozy.  It becomes a garment that is flattering, hinting at curves below without clinging or leaving us feeling self conscious.  (Though it can also look terrific made with a closer fit for the more confident among us who love to strike a pose!)

This garment is created with between 7 and 9 skeins of Spinnery Alpaca Elegance for sizes ranging from  30 (34, 38, 42, 46, 50)” / 76 (86, 96.5, 106.5, 117, 127) cm.  Thanks to that 50/50 blend of wool and alpaca fiber, the simply created  k2, p1 rib fabric has some fluid movement that is perfect for oversized garments.  It prevents the dress from becoming stiff and unappealingly boxy on the body.

Subtle A-line shaping and a generous scoop neck also add to the design’s appeal.  3/4 length sleeves draw the eye to the waistline and keep the overall garment silhouette from becoming too long.  Plus, we can’t resist drawing your attention to the little garter stitch patch pockets.  Darling, right?

Paired with a great pair of boots and warm tights, this dress could perform double duty.  The subtle heathered shades of Alpaca Elegance will create a versatile garment that will suit almost any occasion.

With the beginning of September marking the start pumpkin spice season, a return to school and the eventual return of sweater weather; it’s a perfect time to consider casting on for this project.  Perhaps this year your Rhinebeck sweater will instead be a Rhinebeck dress?

Going, going…

Those of you who have had the chance to visit our mill have seen the tight quarters we work within.  Our mill shop is no exception, and we like to joke that our festival booth spaces are usually more roomy than our display space back home.  We wouldn’t change any of that for the world, but it does mean that we need to make the most of the space we have available.

With that in mind, and with the release of our new Ragg-Time yarn just around the corner, we realize that we’ll need to make some space.  So after a bit of soul searching, we’ve decided to slightly reduce the rich palette of Mountain Mohair colors we produce and display from 37 to a more reasonable 30.

We wanted you to be among the first to know that we will be discontinuing the following seven colors of Mountain Mohair (from top to bottom): Alpenglo, Concord Grape, Periwinkle, Blue Gentian, Ice Blue, Coral Bell, and Golden Rod.

It is sad to say adieu to these lovely shades.  We look back on some of the garments we’ve made with these colors and love every one.  We know that you have your favorites among this selection so we hope that you’ll take this opportunity to purchase quantities that will ensure you can use them for future garments before our supplies run out.

With every ending there is a new beginning, and so we hope that you’ll be pleased with the fruit of our summer’s labor when we share our new Ragg-Time line next week!

Sweater weather is coming!

This month’s heat may break this weekend here in Vermont; and welcome cooler temperatures will (of course) inspire us to cast on for autumn knits.  Our annual trip to the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in mid October has a few of us planning our Rhinebeck Sweaters.

And that has all of us eager to cast on with Weekend Wool.

The Spinnery’s worsted weight 2-ply 100% wool yarn makes wonderful sweaters.  Our palette is a joy to play with.  A terrific pattern that can give you some practice with stranded color work (and steeking) is Maureen Clark’s Putney Mountain Vest.

© gzucker

This garment is perfect for early fall outings when just a touch of extra warmth is welcome.  For something a bit cozier, you might want to consider Maureen’s Turning Sideways or Duncan patterns.  These two cardigan patterns offer interesting challenges:  the former is worked sideways from cuff to center, and the latter is a lushly cabled fisherman’s sweater with pockets that we adore.

But you don’t need to be a sweater knitter to find a perfect project for this lofty heathered yarn.  We have pattern ideas that will cover you from head to toe with Weekend Wool!  Thea Colman’s Glenfiddich or Amy Christoffer’s Mary Ann Hat are terrific hat patterns for your holiday knits.

Skeindeer Knits’ Speedy Selbu Mittens featured here last week call for just 2 contrasting skeins.  And 0ur Ascutney Mountain Boot Toppers can be knit up with the same yardage.  Or, if you prefer the idea of really cozy winter socks, you might want to consider IBH’s Toasy Socks for a classic pattern that never disappoints.

And now is the perfect time to select your skeins.  Until the end of the month, the code Weekend15 will provide you with 15% savings at checkout!

We hope that you enjoy the beginning of your autumn knitting season as much as we plan to.

 

A mitten for every month!

Our friend Eli of Skeindeer Knits has organized a club that you may want to take part in!   Her pattern subscription club will grant you exclusive access to four as of yet unpublished Norwegian colorwork mitten patterns. They will each be released at the beginning of every month until the end of 2018, and each will be sent straight to your Ravelry inbox.

The club has been composed with colorwork mitten beginners in mind, and will be released in order of difficulty, much like last year’s club. The club kicks off with a bonus Aran weight pattern, the ‘Speedy Selbu Mittens’, the ideal entry-level pattern for anyone who has never done colorwork mittens before. So even if you did not take part in last year’s club, you will not fall behind.

The Speedy Selbu Mittens are shown below, knit up in two colors of our Weekend Wool.  Gorgeous, right?!

 

The next two patterns will be in DK weight yarn, whereas the last two pairs will be made using anything ranging from sport to light fingering weight yarn.  Eli confided in us that our yarns could be used for some of the upcoming patterns.  Mewesic and Lana would be great for the Sept+Oct and Nov+Dec mittens, respectively.  What fun!

All mittens are constructed in accordance with traditional Norwegian Selbu mittens, so once you have made the first pair you will be able to make them all.  The 4 mystery patterns will be released in full, one per month to club members. They are remarkably quick to make, and perfect for gift knitting.

You can join The Selbu Mitten Club by simply buying this ebook here on Ravelry.  By joining, you’ll receive your copy of the Speedy Selbu Mitten pattern and you can choose which two colors of Weekend Wool you’d like to work with from the section to be found on our website, here!

We’ve been sending out packages with contrasting skeins of Weekend Wool all week, and each new color combination has us more smitten than before.  This quick project is a perfect one to work on when temperatures and humidity levels get too high for comfortable sweater knitting.  And it’s never too early to get started on your holiday gift knits.

This week, we’ll be hosting a contest on our Instagram feed that will provide one lucky winner with a FREE copy of Eli’s Speedy Selbu Mitten pattern.

We hope that you’ll join the fun of Skeindeer’s second Selbu Mitten Club.  It will be a gift that you can give to yourself and others!

Ribs with a twist

The delicious scent of BBQ often drifts down the hill from Curtis’ BBQ on long summer afternoons setting our minds to picnicking.  But this week, we have ribs of another kind to tell you about.

We’ve just published Kate’s newest design: the Suspension Shawl.  She got her inspiration for this pattern from the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge that graces Boston’s skyline.

Delicate suspension bridges elevate form and function into graceful works of art that become iconic landmarks. The twisted ribs of this shawl fashion vertical cables anchored by a symmetrical sweep of diagonal spokes for a perfectly balanced interplay of structure.

This shawl’s unusual construction allows you to build a light-weight and comfortingly pliable shawl to your preferred dimensions, resulting in a classic accessory that will always be in style.

Her reversible triangular shawl has a wingspan of approximately 62″ and is knit up with just over two skeins of Lana, shown here in the Borrasca colorway.

Based on the way the shawl is constructed, you can adjust the size making it smaller, to form a shawlette that could easily tuck inside a jacket; or larger, for a more generous fit.  You’ll just need to consider adjusting your yardage requirements.  Who wouldn’t enjoy a few more ribs?

We’ve got a lovely collection of Lana shades for you to choose from.  The delightful elasticity of this 100% wool fingering weight yarn makes for a surprisingly crisp and defined fabric when worked with twisted stitches.  The shawl does have a right side, but it is almost indistinguishable from the reverse, ensuring that no matter how you wrap up in this accessory, you’ll always look put together.

We hope that you’ll have as much fun with this new pattern as much as Kate did in creating it!