20 Years of Ysolda Knitting Patterns: Part 2

This month I'm celebrating 20 years of designing knitting patterns, and I'm looking back at some of my favourite patterns and books from each year. You can see part one here, which covers my designs from 2005 - 2014.

For this blog post, I'm diving into 2015-2024! During these past 10 years I remained committed to finding the best fit for sweater patterns and creating size inclusive content. 

What was the first Ysolda jumper you knit?

My very first shawl club debuted in 2015! Club members received an exclusive custom yarn in the mail plus a pdf pattern designed by me to show off some of my favourite yarns. I loved being involved in the full creative process in such a collaborative way.

This led into selling physical yarn for the first time out of my small studio, and soon I found I had a growing team. I had developed the infrastructure for packing and selling physical goods, for my self-published books, and a following of knitters. It made sense to expand into yarn, promote other small businesses and give people access to the yarns that I loved too.

In 2016 I worked with John Arbon to spin the beautiful Blend No. 1 exclusively for Ysolda.com. The resulting wool was a luscious blend of fibre in a 3-ply, worsted spun sport weight in small batches. Blend no.1 had a smooth, rounded structure that created squishy, 3-dimensional cables and textured stitches.

I designed the Polwarth, New Haven, Willow Blank, and Inglis Mitts patterns to make the most of the yarn. (If you're looking for a sub I love Yarnadelic sport!)

I couldn't choose a single favourite from 2017.

I loveThreipmuir for its classic Icelandic inspired colourwork in a finer gauge which shows off the delicate details so beautifully. 

Wardie is still the cardigan I reach for when there's a light chill in the air. And it has pockets!

In 2021 I made the difficult decision to close the physical product store of Ysolda.com. Brexit and Covid complicated the supply chain, and I was ready for a change.

I recommitted to focusing on classic garments that fit exceptionally well and to creating courses to help knitters evolve their skills.

The Colourwork Club was the final club with physical yarn, and I created the Colourwork Basics Course to go along with those patterns.

I loved returning to teaching and creating courses that provide the skills you need to knit with confidence. The Colourwork Basics Course also led to the creation of The Ysolda Knitwork - an online community space hosted by the Ysolda team where you'll be able to share your projects, chat with other members and find our tips and tutorials all in one place. 

Have you joined the Knitwork yet?

Wanting options for more seamless, classic garments, in 2024 I createdSandport with stripes and a simple drop-shoulder design, while theStudio Sweater features a minimalist round yoke with deep neck ribbing. I reach for these basics all the time!

I wrote in a newsletter recently that I know I've been quiet this year so far. I've got a number of patterns almost ready for publication, and I'm working on the 9th Knitworthy collection as well.

The knitting community has changed so much since I started knitting, and the yarn and publishing industries have gone through massive changes too, good and bad. What hasn't changed is how much I continue to be motivated by your enthusiasm and support for my designs.

I'm incredibly grateful to all who have made up my small team over the years, the dyers and yarnies I've been lucky enough to collaborate with, and to you too.

Thank you for all your years of support and community. It's been so lovely to see how many of you have been with me since my very first pattern. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next years bring for my own design business, and as new knitters and designers bring their creativity and enthusiasm to our craft!