Introducing Aerie by Shalimar Yarns

So many of you have gasped in awe over the Spice Market shawl we have had on display in the shop, in eager anticipation of the day Aerie by Shalimar would arrive, and the Spice Market kits sold out months before we even got the yarn. And it’s no wonder, this yarn is an absolute beauty!

Aerie is a lofty blend of 70% Merino, 20% Mohair, and 10% Silk, spun in a single ply fingering weight, and comes in a colour range that’s nothing short of candy tones. Being a single ply yarn, the dyes take to the fibre in an absolutely stunning way.

Kristi from Shalimar explains:

My motivation in creating Aerie was the same as it is with all of our custom designed and milled yarns; to develop a luxury blend that wasn’t duplicated in the hand dye world. We worked with our mill to create a light to medium fingering weight with a high percentage of the highest quality Kid Mohair and Mulberry Silk. These two fibers balance the Merino and make a yarn which is perfect as a stand alone or can be carried with another base to make a super luxurious project. We absolutely love the sheen and drape in Aerie.

When we create colors for our palette, we typically start where we feel we have room to explore… whether there are opportunities for a new shade in the existing palette, or if we want to take our inspiration from the new Pantone colors. I really love naming colorways too! That’s a serious perk in this business.

What are you working on right now?

One of the yarn bases we are developing on for late fall/early winter, is a unique luxury blend which will be perfect for spring. I don’t want to give away any secrets yet, but suffice to say that this yarn fills a personal need that I have when I choose what yarn to knit with! We’re very excited about this one and can’t wait to unveil it.

Is there a project you dream about doing?

My dream project would be to create a non-profit outreach foundation which pairs fiber arts with heritage crafts and gardening.

And finally, what do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

I am an avid horse back rider and compete in the sport of Endurance Riding – distances of 50 miles and greater in a limited time period. This sport has pushed me to the limit both physically and mentally and I’m very passionate about it.

Thanks Kristi, we can’t wait to see what you’re working on!

The Spice Market Shawl by Melanie Berg is a perfect example of a gorgeous shawl simply perfect for this lovely yarn and would be a lovely addition to any shawl collection. If you’re still pining for a kit, which is the most economical way of getting all 7 colours without overloading your stash, the good news is we have more coming in the next few weeks. We’re not doing pre-orders this time around, but please feel free to send us an email if you’d like to be notified when they arrive.

We also stock Cush and Breathless from Shalimar. We’ve just had a delivery of a full 6 new colours in Breathless, which include Blue Steel, Silly Old Bear and Velvet Slippers shown here in Aerie. Other pattern ideas we think would be ideal are Paulina P’s Cameo, Oleander Lace Wrap or one of the wild coloured shawls from WestKnits Best Knits which has just arrived! And just one skein is enough to make our own Charm shawl.

Time to announce the winner of last week’s giveaway. We were thrilled to see all of your wonderful responses to the Mabel baby cardigan, huge thanks to everyone who entered! The winner of the giveaway of 3 skeins of Linea Botanica is Carole – congratulations!

That’s all folks! And don’t forget you can get in touch with us on Ravelry to share your own Aerie projects, Spice Market shawls or anything else you’re working on. We love to see what you’re all working on across the world.

Happy knitting, yarn friends!