Welcoming the Colours of Spring with Laine 24

There’s just one week to go until Laine 24 launches and we can’t wait to get these springtime knits on our needles! Here’s a peek at some of our favourite patterns — and the yarns we’ll be casting on.

The theme of this issue is “Brushstrokes“, with 12 patterns paying homage to all the beauty and joy of springtime colours. Spring can be so many contradictory things — vibrant yet soft, chaotic yet serene. Every springtime mood is on show in this issue, both in the patterns and all the lovely features. We couldn’t help but start picking out our yarns ahead of the publication date next Friday 7 March!

Right from the cover you can tell you’re in for a springtime romp. Sarah Solomon’s Thuja sweater is just the type of relaxed layer the season calls for with a lovely vernal eyelet pattern that promises the arrival of new life. As an extra special treat, this piece was designed using yarn from one of our favourite producers, mYak. Baby Yak + Silk is super soft by nature. It’s ethically produced in collaboration with nomadic herders on the Tibetan Plateau and made from only the finest baby yak wool and has all the gorgeous lustre and drape of silk. If that isn’t perfection, we don’t know what is!

The Bambuzal sweater by Paula Pereira is named after the Portuguese word for a canebrake or copse of bamboo, and it’s not difficult to see why! The piece is knit holding two strands of 4ply fingering weight yarn together. The appearance of vertical stripes is created by a clever technique where one strand is held in front while the other creates the fabric in the back. We’ve got some lovely yarn options for this sweater. If you’re looking for an excuse to try out Uncommon Everyday, our newest base from Uncommon Thread, this would be a fun way to give it a whirl. Meanwhile 100% wool Woolstok Light by Blue Sky Fibres would be a good match for the fibre content of the sample yarn, and as usual La Bien Aimée’s Cashmerino would be stunning. Also, while the pattern here uses two strands of the same colour, there’s no rule saying you couldn’t experiment with different hues. It could be fun to either alternate the colours of the vertical stripes or alternate which one is held in front each round.

The Amber cardigan by Cheryl Mokhtari is springtime softness embodied. Fluffy and sweet and the perfect mix of cosy and flirty, it’s warm enough to see off the chill, but there’s no mistaking its readiness for golden rays. This lovely piece is knit using a strand of cotton and a strand of lace weight silk mohair. We heartily recommend Krea Deluxe held with La Bien Aimée Mohair Silk, Ito Sensai, or Qing Silk Mohair in a pastel shade. And don’t forget about buttons! Whether you want to go for a classic look or something zany that pops, we have so many options we love. This meditative knit will see you through the last squalls of winter and get you ready to come out the other side in style!

Two yarns and four colours means there’s tons to love about Rebekka Mauser’s Dagdrøm. Meaning “daydream” in Danish, this top is certainly a flight of fancy. The curious combo of linen and alpaca plus the quirky sideways-knit construction adds a bit of playfulness to the knit and makes it a real visual stunner. We love the ten strands of well-twisted combed linen in De Rerum Natura Antigone, and the alpaca blend in CaMaRose Midnatssol brings a glorious softness. With 35 colours of Antigone and 51 colours of Midnatssol, there’s tons of opportunity to customise this stripey wonder to your taste.

Speaking of stripes, the Modernist shawl by Julia Wilkens has them in spades. This piece is inspired by the painting Svanen (The Swan) nr 17 by the groundbreaking Swedish abstract painter Hilma af Klint. And as spring is a time of new beginnings, this is also the perfect pattern to get accustomed to intarsia knitting, if that’s a skill that’s been on your list to pick up. The crisp hand, delicate look, and gorgeous colours of Isager’s Spinni make it an ideal yarn for this pattern.

Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Laine 24 so you can get knitting straight away!

More from Laine

There’s way more to Laine than their magazine. We love all the stunning collections that come out of this premier knitting publisher. We’ve just received some of the most gorgeous of these amazing books, and some of our favourite patterns of all time are in their pages.

Cultivate quickly found a home deep in our hearts when it came out last autumn, and no surprise — a collaboration between a creator we admire as much as Dee Hardwicke and brilliant Laine co-founder Jonna Helin could hardly have landed anywhere else. Plus, this book’s floral motifs look just as at home in a spring wardrobe as an autumnal one.

Laine is also the publisher behind Tiny Friends, a guide to the totally unique “mosaic” style embroidery of Tomomi Mimura, whose makes, techniques, and materials under the name “Mimstermade” are a fixture at Loop. This book will give you all the skills you need to get started making some sweet and quirky characters.

“52 Weeks of” is one of Laine’s signature series, and we’re so pleased to have 52 Weeks of Socks Volume 2 back in stock (plus a few of the original 52 Weeks of Socks too!) Socks are one of those magical accessories that are appropriate no matter what the season, and handknit ones are always so special. They’re a great way to practice new skills and see the rewards of your stitches a bit quicker than larger garments. If you’re embarking on a sock voyage of your own, Madelinetosh Twist Light is your perfect companion for whatever patterns you want to take on! You can browse our full range of sock yarns online or in the shop!

Enjoy!