Designer Spotlight on Rūkė Knits

Designer Spotlight on Rūkė Knits

For anyone looking for that cosy factor that is so synonymous with hand-knit garments, we are bringing you some of Neringa Rūkė’s beautiful knitwear designs for inspiration this week.

Neringa Rūkė is a Lithuanian designer with a flair for creating modern, cosy knitwear with understated beauty. Neringa’s background is in fashion, specifically costume design. She also worked as a stylist in the film industry and has worked with several fashion brands before starting her own brand Rūkė in 2011.

Beginnings of the White Sheep Sweater

Neringa credits her previous fashion experience for developing the work ethic and energy needed to raise five children and run her own knitwear design business. She and her family live in a small Lithuanian village surrounded by nature.
Reflecting on nature, relationships, green and lush forests, and moody skies inspires and drives her to create.

“Rūkė reflects my family, my five children, and cosy home which are wrapped by mom‘s knitwear.”

Ravelry

Morning Cardigan

Let’s start with one of our favourites, the Morning Cardigan. This ethereal and lightweight cardigan is so versatile! Knitting it in two strands of a lace weight silk and mohair blend yarn like Gepard Kid Seta, Isager Silk Mohair or Ito Sensai mohair and silk creates the loveliest fabric.

Worked from the top down with three quarter length balloon sleeves, it’s the perfect cardigan for everyday wear for layering over dresses or with high waisted trousers. Whilst the pattern is written for two strands of a lace weight mohair and silk yarn, you can easily adapt this for a single strand of something like the CaMaRose Snefnug . Snefnug is an alpaca, merino and cotton aran weight yarn that would give you an equally light fabric without using two strands held together.

Neringa shows us the cardigan in several colours, but you can also make it in a single striking colour as in this work in progress, by Susan, Loop’s shop owner.

Susan’s beautiful Morning Cardigan in Biches & Buches Le Petit Lambswool in Forest Green held together with one strand of Gepard Kid Seta in Grass Green.

Susan has opted for a bit more structure using the Biches & Buches Le Petit Lambswool in Forest Green held with the Gepard Kid Seta in Grass Green. We also stock the Biches & Buches Le Gros Silk & Mohair which is a DK weight mohair and silk blend yarn that could be knit at a worsted gauge as a single strand. This pattern’s beauty and versatility is in the large range of combinations of yarns and colours you could put together. Just make sure to check your gauge before you begin.

Grey Sheep Jacket

The Grey Sheep Jacket is a cropped jacket ready to wear with just about anything. This one is knit in a fisherman’s rib and garter stitch – making a classic soft and airy fabric that is super squishy. Fisherman’s rib is a reversible pattern similar to brioche stitch that creates a thick fabric with lots of volume and horizontal stretch. You’ll want wool with a bit of structure to it to keep it from being too drapey. De Rerum Natura Cyrano would be a good match on its own, or depending on your gauge; you might be able to hold it with a silk/mohair lace weight yarn for a bit more fluff. Camarose Snefnug is another good option with just one strand making it light and slightly fluffy. For a plied wool in a heavy Aran, Quince & Co Osprey would make a beautiful choice and Rico Essentials Mega Wool and Mega Wool Tweed make a very affordable option.

White Sheep Sweater

Fisherman’s rib stitch makes another appearance in the White Sheep sweater. Paired with stockinette in the upper half of the body it’s a great way to showcase a hand-dyed yarn.

Knit in heavy Aran weight single ply yarn , Qing Fibres Big Merino Chunky would make a colourful and unique choice. For something a bit more subtle, De Rerum Natura Cyrano , BC Garn Hamelton 2 or Hamelton Tweed would make a gorgeous sweater.

Turtleneck Sweater

Both the Autumn Hooded Jacket and Turtleneck Sweaters use plied Merino Wool for the design. The Turtleneck sweater uses a DK weight yarn and is a classic boxy fit with a decorative purl stitch column along the centre of the sleeve for an interesting detail. We have just received the new 100% GOTS Semilla organic wool from BC Garn that would be lovely for this! De Rerum Natura Ulysse or Eden Cottage Bowland would make beautiful choices as well.

Autumn Hooded Jacket

The Autumn Hooded Jacket is intended for a heavier Aran/worsted weight smooth and plied wool. Try De Rerum Natura Gilliatt,Malabrigo Rios or Uncommon Thread Lush Worsted for a warm and super cosy hoodie.

We currently have some of Rūkė Knits patterns in the shop which are available as printed patterns. You can also find more on Ravelry as PDFs.

Shtickle for Charity

We have more “Schtickle for Charity” for you! We have some more fun mystery parcels all kitted up for you and more beautiful hand-dyed skeins of yarn as well as other treasures for our next round of fundraising . We raised over £1000 over the past holiday season and are so very thankful for your support. Some of you have written to tell us what you’ve been doing with your mystery parcels which is so lovely to hear! A lot of you have given them as gifts and Emily-Ann from Pangbourne has said she and her friends have come together on Zoom to craft together using the mystery parcels to challenge themselves to create something decorative and spend time together. What a great idea! We will be supporting two more charities in the coming months. The Black Doctors Consortium in the US and Hope not Hate in the UK. You can click on the links to learn more about the amazing work these charities are doing.

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