Oh yeah baby, Sweatermaker is back in stock
By Megan Goodacre
Remember those 82 skeins of Sweatermaker Yarns I keep mentioning? And teasing you with on Facebook?
Well, they're kitted up and in the shop, ready for your viewing pleasure.
New to the Tricksy Knitter+Sweatermaker kits? Let me tell you more!
Sweatermaker Yarns is the creative offspring of fibre artisan extraordinaire Judy Maclean on Vancouver Island. When I was living in Courtenay, I actually lived around the corner from Judy, and was lucky enough to visit her studio many times to fondle inventory and talk shop, as well as make Judy's website for her. I also took art history, painting, and printmaking at North Island College with her husband, artist David Maclean. There's more family creativity to mention, but I'm getting sidetracked.
Judy is a spinner, weaver, knitter and dyer. Each one of her hand painted skeins is a gem. And, knowing that it can be challenging to find the right project for a skein of hand painted yarn, I developed several patterns especially to showcase Sweatermaker Yarns. Those patterns are the Botanical Cowl, Oaklet Shawl, Trifle Shawl, Gingham Scarf, Opul Infinity Scarf, Fledge Shawl, Arimono Shawl, and the Metro Set.
I started getting messages from knitters asking: where can I get that yarn?? And thus, the kits were born. Judy helps me choose a new batch 3 or 4 times a year, but they don't last long in the shop.
Each kit includes a skein of yarn and a printed pattern. (The pattern is also downloadable). All you need to add are the needles. And if you already own the pattern, let me know, and I'll substitute a different one.
The kits come in three flavours.
Maggie (yarn) + Arimono (pattern)
Maggie is a light fingering weight yarn. This is pure luxury. It combines the sheen and strength of silk with the kitten softness of cashmere. The blend is 70% mulberry silk 30% cashmere. If you've spent any time groping yarn, you'll know how very special that is.
Arimono is a triangular shawl with simple lace, with instructions for two sizes. Maggie also works for the Opul Infinity Scarf, a free knitting pattern.
Marjorie (yarn) + Fledge (pattern)
Marjorie, a heavy fingering weight, is my personal first love with Sweatermaker. It has all the qualities that I love: great stitch definition, beautiful drape, an ideal fibre blend of 50 merino and 50 silk, and it's fine enough for lace but substantial enough to be easy to handle.
Fledge is a another pretty lace shawl pattern, with instructions for a lace weight version as well. Marjorie also works for the New Oaklet Shawl, available as a free download in the free Triangular Shawls booklet.
Sara (yarn) + Metro Set (pattern)
The most recent addition to the kit family, Sara is a groovy yarn. Superwash merino means it will be easy to look after and very soft. A touch of silk, nylon, and bamboo give it strength, sheen, drape, and more softness. It holds its own when compared with the (slightly) higher end Marjorie.
I developed the Metro Set as a quick, versatile knit. The Metro Set is great value, with 2 hat patterns, and 2 fingerless mitt patterns. It includes a versatile beanie pattern. My very style-conscious, 14 year old, male, child, wears his Sweatermaker beanie all the time. That's how versatile it is. (If you've ever tried to knit for a 14 year old male you'll know what a coup this is).
And then there are the colours. There are too many to mention in this post. If you want to see what's available in this batch, check out the Sweatermaker colour palette. I'll leave you with a few of my personal favourites.
Maggie in the colour "Nocturnal"
Marjorie in "Having a Party"
Sara in "Pansies Intensified"
Well, they're kitted up and in the shop, ready for your viewing pleasure.
New to the Tricksy Knitter+Sweatermaker kits? Let me tell you more!
Sweatermaker Yarns is the creative offspring of fibre artisan extraordinaire Judy Maclean on Vancouver Island. When I was living in Courtenay, I actually lived around the corner from Judy, and was lucky enough to visit her studio many times to fondle inventory and talk shop, as well as make Judy's website for her. I also took art history, painting, and printmaking at North Island College with her husband, artist David Maclean. There's more family creativity to mention, but I'm getting sidetracked.
Judy is a spinner, weaver, knitter and dyer. Each one of her hand painted skeins is a gem. And, knowing that it can be challenging to find the right project for a skein of hand painted yarn, I developed several patterns especially to showcase Sweatermaker Yarns. Those patterns are the Botanical Cowl, Oaklet Shawl, Trifle Shawl, Gingham Scarf, Opul Infinity Scarf, Fledge Shawl, Arimono Shawl, and the Metro Set.
I started getting messages from knitters asking: where can I get that yarn?? And thus, the kits were born. Judy helps me choose a new batch 3 or 4 times a year, but they don't last long in the shop.
Each kit includes a skein of yarn and a printed pattern. (The pattern is also downloadable). All you need to add are the needles. And if you already own the pattern, let me know, and I'll substitute a different one.
The kits come in three flavours.
Maggie (yarn) + Arimono (pattern)Maggie is a light fingering weight yarn. This is pure luxury. It combines the sheen and strength of silk with the kitten softness of cashmere. The blend is 70% mulberry silk 30% cashmere. If you've spent any time groping yarn, you'll know how very special that is.
Arimono is a triangular shawl with simple lace, with instructions for two sizes. Maggie also works for the Opul Infinity Scarf, a free knitting pattern.
Marjorie (yarn) + Fledge (pattern)Marjorie, a heavy fingering weight, is my personal first love with Sweatermaker. It has all the qualities that I love: great stitch definition, beautiful drape, an ideal fibre blend of 50 merino and 50 silk, and it's fine enough for lace but substantial enough to be easy to handle.
Fledge is a another pretty lace shawl pattern, with instructions for a lace weight version as well. Marjorie also works for the New Oaklet Shawl, available as a free download in the free Triangular Shawls booklet.
Sara (yarn) + Metro Set (pattern)The most recent addition to the kit family, Sara is a groovy yarn. Superwash merino means it will be easy to look after and very soft. A touch of silk, nylon, and bamboo give it strength, sheen, drape, and more softness. It holds its own when compared with the (slightly) higher end Marjorie.
I developed the Metro Set as a quick, versatile knit. The Metro Set is great value, with 2 hat patterns, and 2 fingerless mitt patterns. It includes a versatile beanie pattern. My very style-conscious, 14 year old, male, child, wears his Sweatermaker beanie all the time. That's how versatile it is. (If you've ever tried to knit for a 14 year old male you'll know what a coup this is).
And then there are the colours. There are too many to mention in this post. If you want to see what's available in this batch, check out the Sweatermaker colour palette. I'll leave you with a few of my personal favourites.
Maggie in the colour "Nocturnal"
Marjorie in "Having a Party"
Sara in "Pansies Intensified"
