Do you ever get so excited about yarn that you want to pile it up and roll around in it? Or is that just me? Ever since Something to Knit With Aran arrived in the office back in May (yes, we really do work a long way in advance to get things ready for you!), I’ve been resisting the temptation to tip it all out and make myself a yarn nest. This new yarn is just so delightfully and irresistibly squishy and I love it to bits.

So what do we have planned for our new yarn? Well first up are some gorgeous patterns by our favourite designers…

You will be well aware by now of my love for Woolly Wormhead hat designs, so it’s no surprise that one of the first projects I made in our new yarn is a Fabales hat. I absolutely love this design! The motif is simple to knit and yet so, so effective. The leaf pattern really leaps off the reverse stocking stitch background - particularly with the amazing stitch definition of S2KW Aran. It’s a smooth plied yarn made from 70% springy Highland Wool and 30% Superfine Alpaca, which makes it bouncy but the alpaca smooths out any itchiness you might associate with highland wools. It’s things like this that make a blend work so well.

One of our wonderful Ravelry group moderators, Nancy, has knitted this stunning Treysta sweater by Jennifer Steingass (I love her designs!), using Ginger as the main shade, with Mist, Mustard and Pool as the contrast colours. The sweater is worked from the top down, and Something to Knit With Aran comes in 50g skeins, which is handy when you’re planning colourwork.

Nancy said of her Treysta, “The colors are amazing and the yarn is next to skin soft.” Thanks Nancy! You can see all of Nancy’s notes on her sweater on her Ravelry project page: Nancy’s Treysta sweater

Have you met our good friend Mimi, who writes a beautiful blog about crafting, toddlers and as she puts it, Coddswallop – informal posts about life, learning and discoveries? She’s made this completely adorable tank top (US vest) for her son, in the Sky shade of Something to Knit With Aran. It’s an absolute stunner, and I’m trying to tempt her to write up the pattern as I have a nephew and niece who would both rock this top! You can read all about her design over on her blog: Talking About Texture

Finally, I also have plans for another couple more Woolly Wormhead hats, namely Concentricity and Starburst, and I’m also thinking of casting on for another Jennifer Steingass pattern, Telja, with Lawn as the main colour and then Mustard, Sky, Mist and maybe a hint of Ginger for contrasts…

If you fancy a yarn nest of your own, or indeed a quick-to-knit accessory or sweater, then you can buy Something to Knit With Aran over on our website, and take 10% off at the checkout with the code NEWARAN, valid until midnight on Sunday 16th September 2018. The discount code is also valid for our Something to Knit With 4ply yarn. Newsletter subscribers should check their emails!

Many thanks as always for your support, and happy autumnal knitting!
Jen and Jim