Quince & Co. Sparrow – Linen Delights

Crisp, smooth and light  – linen is a fibre that was made for summer. Organically grown and dyed in the most tempting fresh shades, Sparrow by Quince & Co. is next on our needles for drapey, airy garments.

If you are unfamiliar with working with linen, you would be forgiven for thinking it could be stiff and unwieldy. Sparrow is supple and smooth from the skein, however the real beauty of this yarn is revealed after blocking.

Not only does it hold its shape to showcase the delicate detail of lace, the knitted fabric becomes handkerchief soft. Repeated washing and enjoyment of a piece will of course soften linen even more – why not try using one of the no-rinse liquid soaps from Eucalan or Navia?

We currently have our cupboards bursting with all eighteen colours – including the new shades for 2014. The original Sparrow shade ‘Sans’ is untreated, meaning a pure unbleached yarn. When this yarn is dyed, there is a subtle natural tone in each skein, from softer pastels below…

…to richer plum tones.

The versatility of untreated yarn lends itself to complimenting all the shades of Sparrow.  Whether in fruity summer colours…

…or fresh greens.

So, what delights can you create with your  new lovely linen? Once you have found your favourite shade (remember you can see all the colours via our online shop) just three skeins would make the Lida Shawl.  The clean lines of lace are just the thing to throw over your shoulders when the sun goes down – we think it could be perfect for a summer wedding accessory.

Hannah Fettig, better known for her designs under the name Knitbot, has a whole collection inspired by Sparrow. You can see how linen suits the unstructured flow of these loose cardigans and vests.

Understated and classic in ‘Sans’, the Emma Shrug is another of our favourites, using only three to four skeins.

As Sparrow is a 4lpy, why not experiment with substituting this yarn and update your shawl collection for the summer months? Those of you reading this blog in warmer climes, please send the sun our way – we’re waiting for the British summer to catch up with our newly planned linen knits!

Finally, congratulations to our winners of last weeks giveaway – Shannon, Jane and Claudiapetra! We will be in touch to let you know how you can receive your patterns. Thank you to everyone who entered, make sure you keep your eye out for more giveaways in the future.

Happy Knitting!