We are introducing Merino Possum Fingering to Louie & Lola this weekend.
Why, you may ask? Well...that comes back to a few things - a desire to introduce more locally produced yarn bases, in particular, non superwash woollen spun yarns suitable for colourwork projects and also a love for possum!
Since discovering possum yarns when visiting New Zealand in 2016, I've since knit numerous projects including socks, wraps and mitts in possum yarn blends.
Possum fur has a very short staple length and hence can only be included in a small percentage in yarn blends, but even the inclusion of that small amount of possum fibre brings about some very special benefits.
These include luxurious warmth, airiness, drape and a gorgeous halo effect (similar to what is achieved when holding a mohair or suri alpaca yarn double with other yarns), as well as a beautiful heathered brown colouring to the undyed yarn.
Louie & Lola Merino Possum Fingering is sourced from the South Island of New Zealand and is an 80% Merino / 20% Possum Fur blend, of 390m / 100gm.
We have sample knit a Fale Cowl by Gretha Mensen in it and as a result can really see the yarn working across a range of gauges and different sweater and accessory patterns from fingering through to light DK weight.
We've pulled together some pattern ideas which we think would work well for Louie & Lola Merino Possum Fingering (all links are to Ravlery pattern pages):
Like a Cloud by Joji Locatelli
Barley Light by Tin Can Knits:
Bubbly Sweater by Isabell Kraemer:
Cloudburst Mitts by Arienne Grey:
Missoni Accomplished by Espace Tricot:
We hope you will enjoy our new Merino Possum Fingering yarn and are happy to send through colourway combination photos to you via email or Instagram DM. We have dyed up 12 coordinating semi-solid colourways on the base, the majority in sweater quantities.
Below: Hellabore, Ruby Bare, Natural and Seaspray.
Below: Mint, Bronze, Riverbed and Merlot.
Below: Freycincet, Natural and Russet.
I credit Helen Stewart and The Shawl Society for my love of shawls.
Back in 2016 when I was a relatively inexperienced knitter, it was the first Curious Handmade Shawl Society season which expertly guided me through the process of shawl knitting and demystified the art of lace knitting, perhaps now my most adored knitting technique.
We are thrilled to now share our yarn with you for the sixth and final shawl of The Shawl Society Season Five.
Please enjoy our presentation for The Big Wool Show 2021, where you'll get a little sneak peak of what yarns we will have in-store for you.
We love a good Westknits MKAL, it's one of the highlights of our knitting year.
And would you believe that the 2021 Shawlography MKAL is Stephen's 12th MKAL?