I’m so thrilled to announce that I have a new Spring capsule collection that released today, in collaboration with my friends over at Fairmount Fibers (the US distributor of Manos del Uruguay yarns)! This mini collection includes 3 light layers, all using their Milo yarn, a DK-weight merino/linen blend:
Leafing Out
poncho
Daffodil Days
shawlette/scarf
First Crocus
tee
[photos courtesy of Fairmount Fibers]
Each piece uses eyelets and colorblocking to play with 2 colors of the Milo yarn. And with it’s DK-weight and linen blend, it’s such a great yarn for the Spring season. The patterns are available as individual PDF’s through Fairmount Fibers, both on Ravelry as well as the Fairmount Fibers website.
Leafing Out poncho
- Knit all in one-piece from the bottom edge up to the shoulder edge.
- Features asymmetrical placement of eyelet motifs across the front
- Neck opening is worked in the round to create drapey cowl neck.
- Pattern available on Ravelry or the Fairmount Fibers website.
Daffodil Days shawlette/scarf
- Knit all in one piece from the top-down (you start with just a few stitches and then grow it out with increases).
- Features bands of eyelet motifs in each color-block area.
- Only 1 skein of each color is needed!
- Pattern available on Ravelry or the Fairmount Fibers website.
First Crocus tee
- Knit seamlessly from the bottom-up.
- Hi/Lo split hem with band of eyelet motif above broken rib hem stitch.
- Features a separate, removable cowl that also features color-blocking and eyelet motif.
- Pattern available on Ravelry or the Fairmount Fibers website.
More Photos & Inspiration Behind the Designs
Interested in learning a bit more about these designs, including my inspiration when creating the collection? Keep reading below!
The Inspiration Behind the Collection
When I was brainstorming this mini collection I had the phrase “First Signs of Spring” in my head. When you live in a place like Maine, the feeling you get when you awaken to those first signs of Spring every year never gets old. Those first leaves budding out on bare trees, the first crocus blossoms emerging from the snow (or mud!), and pops of bright yellow daffodil petals poking through the wooded landscape – it’s so inspiring and feels like a new beginning each year.
So I started with this more abstract vision and then coupled it with the more practical question of “Well what type of layers would I want to wear in the Spring?”, followed closely by the question of “Well how do I create these aesthetics using simple, approachable knitting techniques?”. My creative process often goes like this, starting with an overall vision and vibe, and then fine-tuning by asking the practical, technical questions of knitting pattern design. The gallery slider below shows screenshots of my original sketches/mood board for each of these 3 new designs which is often one of my starting points for bringing a design together:
Common elements in each design
All 3 of these pieces share 4 similar attributes:
- They all use the DK-weight Milo yarn from Manos del Uruguay.
- They are feature the same floral-inspired eyelet stitch pattern.
- They all utilize monochromatic color-blocking with 2 colors.
- They all feature beginner or advanced-beginner knitting techniques.
In-depth tips & tutorials
All of my patterns always include a “tips page” that include in-depth tips & tutorials to help you make each of my designs, and it’s no different with this collection. Although these patterns are published through Fairmount Fibers (and not self-published by me), each pattern still includes a link to the design’s “tips” page on my website. I’ve also put the links below so you can get a nice overview of the different tips and tutorials I provide for each of the desings (just click on each image to get to that design’s tips page):
Where can you purchase Manos del Uruguay Milo Yarn?
Milo is available at local yarn shops as well as online. You can find a list of stockists here on their website, but I’ve also included some links below from some local yarn shops that I know carry it (atleast at the time of writing this blog post!):