Laine Magazine 24 – yarn suggestions

The new issue of Laine Magazine is published on 7 March, packed full of spring-inspired knitting patterns. Here are a few suggestions of yarns that will work with each pattern.

Thuja – Sarah Solomon

Thuja is the kind of unfussy garment that warmer weather invites. This open-front, drop-shoulder cardigan works as a loose outer layer for cool evenings and open breezes. has a slightly cropped silhouette and a deep V-neck. The cardigan is worked from the bottom up. Seams add structure to a drapey garment and ensure it will look tailored and hold its shape. Knitting in pieces also allows you to give the lace pattern a proper wet-blocking, helping it reveal its full beauty.

Yarn Suggestions: Drops Baby Merino, Drops Alpaca. Hjertegarn Fine

Modernist – Julia Wilkins

This half-pi-shaped garter stitch shawl is a great way to get used to intarsia knitting, as the colour changes happen at the same marked point on each row. The idea for the sliced stripes came from a painting by the Swedish painter, Hilma af Klint.

Yarn Suggestions: Malabrigo Sock, Birdstreet Sock, Drops Fabel

Hiekassa – Reetts Haavisto

This relaxed, breezy sweater is worked in a loose gauge, making it a quick and easy knit. Delicate details at the neck and wrist are inspired by seashells and small flowers found at the beach. The sweater is knitted in one piece from the top down and features saddle shoulders.

Yarn Suggestions: Zucchhero Filato,  WYS Elements DK, Bamboo + Cotton

Dagdrøm – Rebekka Mauser

This relaxed, fitted top is all about stripes. The vertical stripes, worked and the interplay of strong and soft shades bring additional excitement to the otherwise straightforward shape. The front and back begin with a provisional cast-on, which is later unravelled, and stitches are picked up for the side seams and sleeves. The pattern uses two lace-weight yarns held together or a single strand of sport/Dk yarn. My suggestions are both for a single strand.

Yarn Suggestions: Adriafil Totalino. Drops Alpaca

Valo – Rui Yamamuro

Light (“valo” in Finnish) inspired this design. The modern and versatile vest can be layered and combined in multiple ways, making it suitable for year-round wear. The lively fabric is created with alternating ribbed stitches. Valo is worked from the top down, starting from the back of the vest. The belt can be worked with double knitting or the i-cord technique.

Yarn Suggestions: Harvest Fingering, Malabrigo Sock, Drops Fabel

Blue Hour – Veera Välimäki

The Blue Hour socks were inspired by twilight: that special, soft and gentle moment when the stars are slowly waking up. The yarn and colour were chosen to make the most out of the simple lace pattern that creates more of a texture surface than decoration. The socks are worked from the cuff down with a heel flap. The lace pattern is mirrored on the socks.

Yarn Suggestions: Malabrigo Sock, Birdstreet Sock, Drops Fabel, WYS Signature

Reversi – Julia Exner

Reversi is a half-brioche cardigan knitted in one piece, so there are no visible seams — if you add buttons on both sides, you get a fully reversible garment. The cardigan is made by holding together one strand of fingering-weight yarn and one strand of mohair, resulting in a soft and squishy fabric. The stripes are created by changing the colour of the mohair. 

Fingering Yarns: Harvest Fingering, Drops Fabel

Silk Mohairs: Drops Kid Silk

If you prefer to knit with one strand rather than two together then Brushed Alpaca Silk could work well

Amber – Cheryl Mokhtari

Amber is a short-sleeved, V-neck cardigan with a classic raglan construction , a meditative texture pattern on the sleeves and stocking stitch on the body. It is knitted from the top down , with a flattering sleeve length and slightly cropped body length for a feminine summer feel. The V-necked shaping ends high enough to wear the cardigan on its own as a top or as the perfect accompaniment over a floaty summer dress or crisp white tee.The cardigan is worked from the top down with two yarns held together throughout or you could use one strnad of DK weight yarn.

Yarn Suggestions:

FIngering: Drops Safran

Mohair: Drops Kid-Silk

Dk alternative: Adriafil Zucchero Filato

Bambuzal – Paula Pereira

The Bambuzal sweater is worked top-down, holding two strands of fingering-weight yarn together. The vertical stripes are created by a column of stitches where one strand stays in front while the other is used for the background fabric. The long sleeves have a slight bell shape. The vertical columns reminded Paula Pereira of bamboo trees — in Portuguese, the bamboo canebrake is called “bambuzal”.

Yarn Suggestions: Harvest Fingering, Birdstreet Sock, Malabrigo Sock, WYS Signature, Drops Fabel

Flecks of Sunshine – Heidi Kästner

Spring is a time of transition and Heidi Kästner wanted to create the perfect garment for this season. The blouse, with its airy sleeves, has a sense of lightness but is not too revealing. Like a hedge that is just beginning to bud, allowing a few rays of sunlight to shine through, a little light reaches your arms. This boxy collarless blouse with wide sleeves is worked from the top down. The shape is simple, making it effortless to wear.  

Yarn: Bamboo + Cotton

Selsey – Sophie Hemmings

The inspiration for this design comes form the Selsey coastline in the South of England. The land juts out into he sea to form a shar[ triangle and that is reflected in the flowing slip-stitch pattern and travelling stitches used in this sweater. The knitting begins by shaping the shoulders of the back panel while also establishing the travelling stitch pattern in a slip-stitch rib. When the yoke is finished, the body is worked in the round. The sweater is knitted with two strands of lace-weight mohair held together.

Yarn suggestions: Drops Kid Silk, Rico Kid Silk Loves Mohair

Flores – Vivien Wei

This cute collar design captures the warmth and vibrancy of spring and is a lovely way to add something special to an otherwise simple outfit! The shape is reminiscent of a flower, and flowers were also the inspiration behind the design. Flores is worked in garter stitch and stockinette stitch sections, and the stockinette sections also feature small folds. The collar is shaped with short rows. It begins and ends with a long i-cord ribbon.

Yarn Suggestions: this is a great way to use up leftover fingering weight yarn as you only need about 130m.