Beautiful Projects – Blend no.1

Amazingly it’s now been over a year since Ysolda launched Blend no.1, when many knitters got to squish and stroke it for the first time at the 2016 Edinburgh Yarn Festival. We had it on the stand again this year, and we’re so grateful that knitters still wanted to take it home – which means that we didn’t have a huge amount to unpack back at the studio.

Our remaining Blend no. 1 stock is now very low, we’re currently double checking our remaining inventory. The final skeins will go on sale at 6pm BST on Wednesday 29 March. As this project comes to a close I thought it would be a good time to look at some of the amazing projects knitters have made with it. Whether you have a few skeins in your stash for a future sweater or just one that you’re keeping for something special, hopefully these knits should give you some inspiration.

First up, this is Wanderling by Isabell Kraemer, knitted up with some modifications by Lino. I love this cardigan – stylish and elegant but simple, and with some really lovely details, especially the cable up the yoke decreases…

This is Clio, knitted by jarmeblue. She told me that “the yarn worked beautifully in the pattern, and I love how the textures highlight the silvery glow of the yarn. I work for Elizabeth Doherty, the designer of Clio, who is so smitten with my version that she returned home from Edinburgh Yarn Festival with a sweater quantity of Blend no. 1, posting a picture on instagram last week.” And the Uist wool Elizabeth included in the photo was a gift for jarmeblue, which she plans to use for a pair of Ysolda’s Ornas mitts.

MillieMilliani was very busy last year, knitting a blanket for each of the twins a friend was expecting. This gorgeous blanket in Blend no.1 was the first – Bairn, by Julie Hoover, or ‘a bairn for a bairn’ as MillieMilliani calls it…

If I could reach into my screen and borrow this shawl, I would. The pattern is Mermaid’s Tale from a mystery KAL designed by Kitman Figueroa, and this version in Blend no.1 was knitted by knittingfiona. The way the stitch patterns flow into each other is amazing. 

Another stunning shawl, a Silver Oak designed and knitted by Christelle Nihoul (ChristalLittleK on Ravelry). Shawls featuring garter stitch bodies with lace or more intricate edgings are a favourite with lots of knitters, and this one has leapt into my queue. 

And finally, bunnyknitter used her Blend no.1 to knit a Flora Cowl by Carrie Bostick Hoge. She used just two skeins and turned the stitch pattern into a scarf – a perfect idea if you want to use every inch of your yarn. The final skeins will go on sale at 6pm BST on Wednesday 29 March.