Yarns to Love
Hello! A New Yarn for a Favorite Summer Top
Dear Kay,
I know you’re in France for the next two weeks, but I’m here to let you know that we are Holding Down The Fort Here At MDK.
Remember MDK? That thing you did? Of course you don’t; you’re off wandering around doing French things and being all proud that you still remember how to conjugate weird French verbs.
ANYWAY, wanted to give a heads up to all you fellow mortals here in the States who are feeling the summer vibes heading our way.
New And Airy: Our Latest Yarn Idea
Here’s what’s on my mind: Ito Kinu.
We ran into our friends from Ito at the trade show last month, and we did that rare thing: we placed an order for yarn right there on the show floor. Wild! Unfettered enthusiasm!
It occurred to us that this very skinny Japanese silk yarn would make a dreamy Shakerag Top, that bestselling pattern in Amy Christoffers’s Field Guide No. 6: Transparency.
And we were, for once, right.
Three to five cones is all it takes to get this airy item going.
You knit some stripes with one strand, the others with two strands. It’s the lightest version of the Shakerag Top yet: you can wear it without a layer underneath, but we’re guessing a fair number of you will go with a camisole or light top under it.
We just launched Ito Kinu and are heartened to see how many of you are already clambering onto this Ito Kinu Shakerag bandwagon.
It’s a reasonably priced yarn, especially considering it’s coming from Japan.
And the colors are really great.
We’ll be getting more Ito Kinu soon, if the color you crave is gone.
Meanwhile . . .
My desultory summer craftiness is starting to kick in.
This unprecedented sashiko pants-mending situation began in the Harvey Dorm common room at Shakerag and really got me hard.
Waiting for more clothes to fall apart so I can do this some more.
Love—and Kay, please romp through a lavender field or whatever it is you do when you’re in France.
Ann
BIG request here… & I do understand that the answer may simply have to be “No Diane” but…
I *LOVE* using silk yarns to make knitted knickers for friends & loved ones nobody seems to have uncomfortable reactions to silk & so it will be comfortable and cool against tender new scars and luxurious against well healed ones. Is there ANY way you could get a tan added to your colour line? The Golden Oak will make a nice “skin tone” nude for some, doubled with the white = one more, but a tan would make even more options. I, and my dear ones I knit for, would be ever so grateful for that assistance in joy at a time when their joy may feel too precious & hard to find. It’s make a FABULOUS neutral wardrobe basic Shakerag top too!!!
If no, I do understand.
Hi Diane! What a beautiful project you’re doing—I’m guessing you’re doing Knitted Knockers, though knitted knickers are an idea too, right? Autocorrect is the worst! : ) We’re pretty constrained on the colors we can carry, unfortunately. If we expand our color range, your idea will be topmost on the list. For those who want to know more about Knitted Knockers, here’s their site: https://www.knittedknockers.org/
After Golden Oak for knickers or knockers I humbly request black.
Ohhhh good heavens! THAT was an epic typo!!!
Knitted KNOCKERS yes… Knitted knickers?!?! Oh… SO no! I can’t get the images of men in crocheted pants out my brain & there just is NOT enough brain bleach to clear that out!!!
Thanks for the laugh!
Not surprised about the colour limits… still no harm in asking!
While you’re working on this, how about a pattern for knitted knickers? Because now that the idea is in my head i cannot stop the thinking about having soft stretchy hand knit granny panties.
Knitted knickers may be a thing we just have to do, right? And I mean both kinds: the American kneepants and the British undies . . .
Right?!
I was introduced to the beloved Kino Ito during Cecilia Campochiaro’s workshop last summer! It is the loveliest thing to knit with and I will begin my swatching today for another Shakerag Top… this time I am thinking split hem detailing! Thank you for giving in to this “impulse buy”!!
Split hem = brilliant modification. Curious to see this!
Good morning! I already took the fall and ordered this gorgeous Ito Kino to make the Shakerag top in the gold oak color way — great fall color! I still have this Ito Kino on my needles from the Marls workshop last year and I’m holding it double. The Shakerag top pattern calls for holding the yarn double with the original (Sylph) yarn, but is this necessary with the Kino? This yarn is gorgeous and I am excited about making the Shakerag top!
Kay, have fun in France! Bring home some of that gorgeous French yarn that Franklin talks about!
Hi Anne! Have a look at the Shakerag Top pattern, and you’ll see that there are two kinds of stripes in there. You hold the yarn single for some, then hold two strands for the others. Hope this makes sense. Just be sure to make a swatch to check your gauge–some folks need to use a different size needle to get gauge with this Ito Kino.
Ann,
I just Sashiko’d a pair of jeans and loved it! This was a big surprise to me as I usually really dislike hand sewing. I also added a row on the top of the back pockets. I find it so interesting that I can still surprise myself at this time in my life.
Also, a question for one of your technical knitters, I have a pair of floral (big print) silky, palazzo pants that I love. The stripes of the Shakerag Top would be way too much with it. Has anyone made the Shakerag Top (cami required of course) with only one layer? I think the sheer fabric would be fabulous. Any thoughts or suggestions?
A single-strand Shakerag Top would be really beautiful–very filmy, would probably want a camisole or layer under it. A swatch
I will say that the fabric created with the stripes is so subtle that in some lights you can’t even see the stripes. (I’m a sucker for pattern on pattern, so I’m always going to load up. My hero Dries Van Noten got me thinking about how there’s fun to be had in a mashup of color and pattern. I was in a khaki/black mode for at least 15 years!)
I started my Shakerag top in Kinu in 2021!! I’m using the Capri Blue color. This is great incentive to finish it!! I actually picked it back up last summer, and then a friend’s puppy got to it and chewed the needles and actually chewed the top off of one of the cones! I was able to find another cone of the Capri Blue, and it’s back on track now. I was delighted, and inspired, when I saw your post!
Way to be ahead of the curve! I’m still trying to figure out which color to use. They all make sense to me, you know what I mean? There’s a case to be made for each one.
Pls put me.on list
If I send you the more-holes-than-fabric jeans my DH will not let me throw away, will you sashimi mend them in the girliest possible style? This will not only give you an outlet for your mending Jones but will also likely cause him to finally agree to part with them, since he’s just slightly Neanderthal, fashion-wise.
He clearly needs to learn sashiko!
Tragedy! My top color choices are sold out or down to 2 cones left. I hope the promise of ‘more ordered soon’ isn’t defined in geologic terms (which always seems to be the case when it’s a matter of patience v. the desire to start a new project).
I know what you mean, Joannah! And we NEVER guess right on quantities for yarns, the source of endless frustration for us! It’s always too little or too much. I hope you can hang on for the new stock.
I’m always amazed when someone stays the same size long enough to wear clothing out. I wish!!
My preferred color is sold out. Any time line on when more will come in or should I find another color?
Hi Lucy! It will be a week or so–will get a more specific ship date for you.
Be still my heart, what color, what color to choose? Mohair blends suggested for a summer Shakerag just do not cut here in coastal South Carolina. Can you tell me if the white is very white, optic white, or a little off. Thanks. Yesterday I was set on rose.
Hi Pam! The Angora color looks like pale oatmeal, very natural and soft. Not a bright white at all.
This is so tempting! Even with a bajillion projects already in play. But I need to wait until there is more lime in the shop.
The pants-mending technique is fascinating. I don’t have any ripped pants, but anything can happen, right?