Merino Lace // New In The Shop

Worn Denim, Denim, Sweet Pea, Smoky Lilac, Hippolyta, Nocturnelle

27 colourways of Merino Lace are now available in the shop. Merino Lace is an airy, versatile single ply merino that is perfect for lightweight projects any time of the year. It blocks beautifully and produces a light and delicate finished project. A little goes a long way, with 754 meters (825 yards) per skein one is often more than enough for your special lace project.

Earlier this month I cast on my first Swallowtail shawl with Merino Lace. It has been on my to knit list for as long as I can remember. Back when I worked in my mom’s yarn shop knitters would bring in their freshly blocked Swallowtail shawls and I remember admiring the many versions we saw. Lately I have been browsing patterns from back in the day to help inspire myself and reconnect with the parts of knitting I first fell in love with. Happy to say it’s working for me.

I chose the Sweetheart colourway for an airy, romantic look with the thought that I might keep it for myself or gift it later this year. After a few repeats the initial lace pattern becomes an easy, rhythmic knit. I am about to start the next section and enter nupp territory though so that could change. There are many great tips and suggestions on Ravelry project pages and I will likely modify to an alternate method for knitting them. I’ll be sure to keep my notes updated on my own project page.

I have put together a list of a few designs I think you may find inspiring for a future project or two. This includes the absolutely stunning A Joyful Thread designed with Merino Lace by local designer Sylvia McFadden. A Joyful Thread is worked from the centre out. It’s a square shawl which is one quarter stockinette, one quarter lace and two quarters garter. You can wear it elegantly in many different ways: in half as a triangle, in half as a stole, over your head, under your coat, wrapped around you whichever way you choose.

Bodie by Rosemary (Romi) Hill is another beautiful lace shawl designed with Merino Lace. Romi created this lacy shawl pattern for year seven of her Pins and Lace club. Inspired by the historic town the designer shares, "In my mind’s eye, I imagine the Bodie Shawl worn as a practical but pretty frill in the town’s heyday. Simple, but much greater than the sum of its parts." Links and more patterns can be found below!

Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark / knit with 1 skein of Sweetheart

Group picture / top row: Tea Rose, Maple, Cameo, Spiced Pumpkin, Spanish Coin, Olive Branch, Silver Leaf, Ever Grey/ bottom row: Shipwreck, Moonstone, Blue Eyes, Worn Denim, Denim, Sweet Pea, Smoky Lilac, Hippolyta, Nocturnelle

Project Inspiration (with Ravelry links)

A Joyful Thread by Sylvia McFadden, 2 skeins

Bodie by Rosemary (Romi) Hill, 1-2 skeins

Citron by Hilary Smith Callis, 1 skein, free pattern

Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen, 1 skein, free pattern

Juno Regina Stole & Wrap by Miriam L. Felton, 1-2 skeins, free pattern

Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark, 1 skein, free pattern

Whiteout by Melanie Berg, 1 skein each of 2 colourways

A Joyful Thread by Sylvia McFadden / knit with 1 skein of Vintage Lace

Bodie by Rosemary (Romi) Hill / knit with 2 skeins of Hippolyta