Choosing yarn is probably my favourite part of every new project! And in the run up to Knitvent 2024, we have six new projects to plan for: shopping and stash diving and planning and swatching Knitvent yarn is a lovely way to keep busy before the first secret pattern drops.
(To catch up on all the details on the Knitvent 2024 mystery gift knitting collection, click here!)
I’ve just sent the first yarn hint email to the Curious Handmade newsletter list (now’s a great time to sign up!) and I’ll update this post over the next few days as the sample yarns are revealed, bbeginning with:
Knitvent 2024 Window 1: Vignette
Louie & Lola Yarns
The brilliant Karina of Louie & Lola Yarns is no stranger to Curious Handmade or Knitvent, and it’s always so fun to collaborate with her!
Based in Tasmania (the one properly chilly bit of Australia!) Karina is an amazing yarn dyer, a sweet friend, and a deeply engaged member of the fibre community. This Knitvent, she’s contributed sample yarn for two of our upcoming designs, including “the big one”.
Yarn hints:
- This is the big “yarn advent calendar”/scrappy pattern of the season
- It was designed to use either a five skein gradient set or your advent calendar mini sets or other minis and left over 4 ply/fingering/sock weight yarn
The sample used:
Louis & Lola Organic Merino Fingering
[400m/437yds per 100g skein; 100% 20.5micron Merino non superwash]
5 x 100g skeins
Colour: Aurora Australis Fade Set
or
Approximately 20g (80m/88yds) of 24 colours of fingering weight yarn or a total of 480g (1920m/2112yds) of fingering weight yarn.
Needles: 4mm (US 6), 100cm (40”) long circular needles (or size to obtain gauge)
Notions:
Tapestry needle
Stitch marker
Removable stitch marker
Safety pin
Gauge:
15 sts/36 rows = 10cm (4”) in garter stitch after blocking
Karina is offering two versions of this stunning fade set: the non-superwash version as used in the sample, and also the same yarn in a superwash version.
Get the Louie & Lola Aurora Australis Fade Set Here
Knitvent 2024 Windows #2 & #3
NNK Yarns
Our next Knitvent yarnie is the fabulous Lisa from NNK yarns.
NNK stands for “never not knitting”, which really makes me smile.
Located in Brisbane, Lisa is a wonderful indie dyer who has collaborated with Curious Handmade on several favourite projects. I’m very grateful to have her back for this Knitvent collection!
I loved the sample yarn she dyed for us so much, I used it for two of this year’s designs.
Here are all the details…
Yarn hints:
- Both of these windows are one-skein projects
- Both use DK weight yarn
- Window #2 would suit any sort of colourway at all, as the focus is mainly texture
- Window #3 has a bit of detail that could possibly be obscured by a very dark or wildly variegated yarn, but don’t let that stop you if that’s what catches your fancy!
The samples used:
NNK 8ply DK Merino Silk Yak
[60% Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, 20% Yak, 212m/232yds per 100g skein]
1 skein per project
Colour: Magenta Magic
The luxurious silk/yak/merino blend is one of my favourites: so incredibly cosy, especially in the DK weight.
You may have noticed a colour theme so far. 😉
As part of my “fresh” theme for the collection, I wanted to choose a colour that was a little out of my comfort zone, something bold and zingy. Something that would let me surprise myself!
But of course, Knitvent is also about your creativity, and treating yourself to what makes you happy. Whether you’re planning to knit from stash or shop, the yarn I used is only a jumping off point for inspiration.
And if you love the sound of the sample yarn but want to explore different shades, Lisa has dyed up eight glorious and diverse colourways to choose from.
Get NNK DK Merino Silk Yak here
Knitvent 2024 Window #4
Louie & Lola Yarns
Yarn hints:
- This is a one-skein project
- Designed for lovely, squishy DK weight yarn
- This pattern would look great in any kind of colourway you have stashed or fall in love with. The focus is more on texture, so you don’t need to worry about obscuring fine details
The sample used:
Louie & Lola Merino Nylon DK [80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 243m/266yds per 100g skein]
1 x 100g skein Colour: Aurora Australis
Get the Louie & Lola Aurora Australis Merino DK Here
Before I go, I wanted to mention that I love sharing the beautiful yarn that has inspired my designs (and spotlighting my fellow small creative biz owners), but there’s never any pressure to purchase the sample yarn.
Stash diving is a Knitvent tradition for many members of the Curious Crew. If that includes you, I hope this email has given you enough clues to take a fresh look at your stash and the inspiration to go rummaging for some special skeins.
And please, feel free to share your Knitvent 2024 yarn pondering and choices with the community on Ravelry and Instagram! It’s so fun to see what you’re planning. Use the hashtag #Knitvent2024 when you post on social media, so we can take a look!
