Yarn Test Kitchen – November 2024. Juni & Si.
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber Officer
Welcome to our December Woolpack Yarn Test Kitchen!
This month’s Yarn Test Kitchen was later than planned. That rather unexpectedly vicious cyclone bomb that visited the Pacific Northwest at the end of November and subsequent prolonged power outage meant a delay to our planned get together to show and share our knits made with beautiful yarn from Willow on The Water. However, it all turned out for the best, as our December meet up became a festive fiber gathering bringing together most of the 2024 yarn testers to celebrate the season. How lucky I felt to have so many of my fiber besties with me at the most wonderful time of the year!
Our December Baked Treat: Of course, Mince Pies!
Being a British Gal, what else could I share during the Holidays but mince pies? I am happy to report that they went down a treat and I was asked about the recipe as we all tucked in to the festive buffet. Now I have to confess that this month’s treat was more of an assembly job than cooking from scratch. Time has not been on my side of late, and I am useless when it comes to making pastry, so the cases were made from ready made pie crust and the delicious mince meat filling was from a jar I bought from a British food store in Redmond. Nonetheless, they were delicious and I was happy to serve a taste of home to my guests.
Our November Yarn: Aran/Worsted Merino from Willow on the Water.
This yarn is perfect for the time of year. It’s a sumptuously soft merino yarn that knits up in no time at all and is perfect for accessories that you will be happy to wear next to your skin. Willow is a yarn dyeing temptress who brings the color magic with every skein. Her hand dyes can be bold and beautiful, also gently muted to suit all color tastes. When I received these delightful skeins I immediately had fiber friends in mind that I knew would create stunning makes to showcase the beauty of Willow on The Water yarns.
Tester: Keeley – Pattern: Hearthside Beanie by Melisaa Taibi
The minute I laid eyes these two gorgeous skeins of yarn side by side I fell in love. Often when I knit for the Yarn Test Kitchen my makes become gifts for the knitworthy people in my life, but this month I knew that my completed project was destined to be all mine. These are my colors!
Hooray for hats! I wear one every morning for my dog walk, and when I was given this yarn I decided I deserve a new one. The Hearthside Beanie a quick but engaging knit. The stripes consist of an interesting mix of one by one color work with a bit of mosaic knitting thrown in for good measure. The result is a sumptuous and vibrant fabric. As I knitted, it struck me that this would make a great first color work project.
There are 187 yds on each of the skeins that Willow generously gave us, so I had enough left over yarn to knit a pair of fingerless mitts. I went freestyle with these but used them as an example of how to modify a pattern in a recent mittens class that I taught at the Nifty Knitter in Issaquah. I am looking forward to wearing my makes throughout the season.
Yarn Tester: Caitlyn – Color Way Bones in the Desert and Rainbow: – Pattern: Modern Mocs by Bekah Knits
Caitlyn in her own words: “I love to warm up my mind and my life with beautiful knits! The creativity of crafting makes me feel happier in the winter.”
Caitlin thinks this yarn is awesome (we all agreed). The bright rainbow colors totally suit her bright and bubbly personality. How much fun are these adorable moccasins? The contrasting colors make them a perfect antidote to the gray winter skies whilst keeping toes toasty warm around the home. The construction also makes them an engaging project – the pattern uses a double knit stitch for the soles and short rows for shaping the upper. A great skill building project for an advanced beginner or intermediate knitter.
Caitlin modified the pattern by using the rainbow yarn for the back so she could enjoy more of this vibrant color way.
Yarn Tester: Blair – Pattern: Eagle Harbor Cowl by The Lamb & Kid
Blair in her own words: ” My knitting journey began as a teen, when I was taught by my Mom. When my 20 year old started Kindergarten I joined a knitting group on Mercer Island, we are friends, teachers and an inspiration to each other to this day. Learning a new technique, making mistakes, having something to be excited about is all part of my passion. Little did I know this passion would become my career. Since moving to Bainbridge Island I am now one of “the Kids,” at The Lamb & Kid.”
Blair’s soft and cozy cowl is one of the Lamb & Kid’s own designs and it’s a super stylish accessory for when you need a bit of extra warmth. Great news – the pattern is free on Ravelry! Rather than knitting flat, Blair joined to knit in the round and doubled up on the thickness of the fabric and the coziness. Knitted with size 10 needles it was completed in no time. Named for an inlet on Bainbridge Island, it has a relaxing, easy to remember, wavy lace pattern that elevates the design. Blair’s colors were soft neutrals meaning it will look great with most outfits.
We all felt that Willow on the Water aran is the kind of yarn you will want to have next to your skin. It has a buttery softness, so perfect for cowls and scarves at this time of year.
Yarn Tester: Michelle – Pattern: Brigda Cowl by Vikki Perkins.
Michelle in her own words: ” I grew up listening to the click of my grandmother’s shiny, metal needles as she made endless pairs of slippers with pom poms for every member of the family. When I was 13, my mom and I took a knitting class together and I made a scarf. Then I really didn’t pick up my needles again until my youngest was in school in my mid-thirties, and I haven’t looked back since! Knitting is my job, my passion, my challenge, my solace, my art, my therapy, my social group. Knitting is life!”
The tones in these beautiful hand dyes held so much appeal for Michelle. Purples definitely make her list of favorite colors to knit with. Willow’s shades are rather special and absolutely lend themselves to color work. Michelle picked a cowl that showcases the yarn beautifully – Brigda means Color change or play in old English and this is reflected in the way the main and contrast colors are reversed half way through the cowl. This pattern is free on Ravelry and comes highly recommended by Michelle.
As 2024 comes to a close it is the perfect time to look back and reflect on the beautiful yarns, delightful patterns and warm friendship we have shared in The Woolpack Yarn Test Kitchen. It has been a joy to develop what started out as a wish, a dream, an idea into this resource for our local yarn community. Plans are already being shaped for next year, and I invite you to check back in January when we bring you our one skein wonders knitted and crcocheted in delightful yarns from Though to Thread. In the meantime Happy Holidays from The Yarn Test Kitchen Team!
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One of my all time favorite knitting activities is a “show and share”, with friends – it’s a perfect way to seek ideas, gain inspiration and get helpful advice. This is the idea behind the yarn test kitchen – I hope our projects will have you reaching for your needles as we bring you our ideas on how to turn those neglected single skeins of yarn in to “One Skein Wonders”, and inspire you to try new yarns that are produced and sold across the Puget Sound Region.
Oh, and I’ll also be sharing monthly baking recommendations as we go. After all, who doesn’t love a slice of cake or baked good? Yum!
Happy reading!
Keeley