Yarns to Love
In the MDK Shop, Things Are Getting Interesting
A new Field Guide is like a giant birthday party.
Cake for everybody! So fun to celebrate Julia Farwell-Clay and her inventive designs.
Equally fun is cracking open the shipments of new yarns that arrive at MDK World Headquarters and getting them ready for you.
It’s a big deal when we receive an order—we know how hard it is to make good yarn, so it’s gratifying when boxes of beautiful yarn show up from yarnmakers like Brooke Sinnes, Tina Whitmore, Megan Ingman, Meg Anderson, Marcia MacDonald, Jill Draper, Alice O’Reilly, and the good folks at Louet and Rowan and Blue Sky Fibers.
Going Deep
At this point, our MDK Shop is building depth in the yarns we’re offering, and we’re really proud of this growth.
We began the MDK Shop with yarn kits to pair with our MDK Field Guides. We obsess over these pairings. Our creative director, Melanie Falick, spends more time than you can imagine creating mood boards and palettes. Her ideas are all over our yarn choices and colors.
Now, as MDK Field Guide No. 7: Ease arrives, we continue to bring in new yarns chosen to complement Field Guide patterns.
But more often these days, we’re making yarns available by the skein so that you can do whatever you darn well please with them.
Whenever you see a great pattern you like, and you’re on the prowl for the right yarn to go with it, come see what we’ve got. We may not have 10,000 brands and yarns, but we hope that any knitter coming to visit MDK will find yarns that are truly extraordinary, made by people who care a lot about what they’re creating. And if you’re reading us regularly, you’ll learn why we think these yarns are worthy and special.
Hoping to make a match of your pattern and our yarn? Email us if you have a question—we’ll give you our best advice. And we’ll tell you if we think a yarn won’t be a good match for your pattern.
Your Shopping Keeps Us Going
Every time you shop with us, you’re supporting everything that goes on at MDK—our columnists, our designers, the tech editors, the knitters who make the samples, the custom software that runs the MDK Lounge, the cost of producing MDK March Mayhem. We love bringing all this to you. When you vote with your dollars for what goes on here, it makes our day and makes everything possible.
Our Latest and Greatest New Yarns
Rowan Denim. We will be writing more about this yarn, but just know that it is one of our all-time favorites. Cotton that behaves like your favorite jeans. It’s what makes the Picket Fence Afghan so special.
Spud and Chloë Sweater. We’ve paired this merino/cotton worsted yarn with the Sea Breeze Cowl-Poncho. But it is equally great for the Picket Fence Afghan. It’s superwash merino and cotton, and it is something else. Cuddly, soft, bouncy, everything.
Sincere Sheep Cormo Sport. We’re now up to 11 shades in the Shop, each dyed with plant extracts, every skein just a thing of beauty created by Brooke Sinnes in northern California. At the moment, we’re suggesting Cormo Sport for the Sail-Away Shawl. But it is a fine yarn for sweaters as well. Because these colors come straight from nature, they all play together so well.
Euroflax Mini Skeins. MDK is the only place in the universe where you’ll find mini skeins of this perfect Euroflax pure linen. They’re one of our best-selling yarns, so we wanted to be sure to have a new pattern in Field Guide No. 7 for them. The Bodhi Leaf Washcloth will have you cranking these little exfoliating leaves of joy with abandon. One set of Euroflax Mini Skeins will make ten Bodhi Leaf Washcloths.
Thanks for the warm response to Field Guide No. 7—we’re gearing up for a summer of knitting that will entertain, delight, and give us a lot of joy. Looking forward to knitting with you!
The very best yarns stores have a well curated groups of yarns that are interesting to all. Who needs 10,000?
There is indeed something for everyone. Thank you for the new snack size knitting pattern that will enable more purchases of Euroflax. Love those minis.
This newbie knitter would love a post with a few ideas of simple patterns and yarn suggestions to go with them…
I am a new knitter and recently found (and now LOVE) Modern Daily. My question is this: are the field books progressive? Do I need to start with one and work my way to seven or can I jump in anywhere??
Thanks for all the great letters Ann and Kay and invited contributors. And thanks in advance for the answer to my question.
Lucky you! I wish I were a newbie knitter again–such a wonderful feeling to have so much to discover.
We’ve done several posts with pattern ideas for Euroflax Mini Skeins:
Dangling Converation Scarf:
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/still-life-watercolor/
Linen Hand Towels:
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/back-to-the-future-linens-such/
A Gradient Scarf:
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/mini-skein-fun-freestyling-gradient-scarf/
9 Solid-Gold Patterns for Euroflax Mini Skeins:
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/9-solid-gold-patterns-euroflax-mini-skeins/
Linen hand towels. Sigh….. Happy Summer Knitting indeed !!
Did you ever think (way back when you pored over those Rowan shade cards) that you’d be a Rowan stockist??
No! Nor did I ever dream that the Rowan rep would knit a few squares for our blanket, but it happened! It’s kind of incredible.
Rowan Denim. It’s like it has returned to its spiritual home!
Rowan Denim! Brings MDK full circle, now that you are a shop carrying that yarn. I still have leftovers from making the baby jeans from your book a million years ago 😉
Will you be restocking the sky bundle?
Thanks
We hope to, Maribeth–but we’re told that there’s a months-long wait for certain colors!
Do y’all have a mechanism for getting notified when items get re-stocked? Seems like that could be auto-mated. Not that I have that level of coding skill, ha!
Your daily posts keep me going as well ! I plan on leaving Denver in the next couple of years.
When I evaluated my stash of yarn, I thought that if a non-knitter saw my message, I would be admitted to a psych unit. So keep the patterns coming and I will support you in any way that I can !
Hi, I love the yarn selection you’re showing. Have any crochet patterns available?
Thanks, Roxy! We’re knitting focused at the moment, though I’m guessing you know that all of our yarns LOVE to be made into both knitted AND crochet things . . . ; )
The Rowan Denim is beautiful. You say that it leaches blue onto one’s hands when knitting (but washes off with soap and water) and will continue to fade as you use and wash the item knitted. Once it has been washed the first time, will color continue to leach onto a couch or other clothes (ie. if knitted into an afghan or a sweater) as the item is used?
The first wash gets rid of all the “loose dye,” so after that the fade is very slow. I have never known it to rub off on clothing or furniture even before it’s washed. I think the clothing or furniture would have to be very wet and friction would have to be involved.
I think if you treat it as you would blue jeans, you’ll be on the right track. Nobody worries about sitting on a sofa wearing blue jeans once they’ve been washed, or do they? I don’t.
Spud and Chloe Sweater is a great yarn. I knit a sweater with it last year and the stitch definition is wicked. I used the ”Firecracker’ colourway, which I think is the one in the centre of your photo?
Yes, the center of the top photo is Firecracker. And the skein above it is Skydiver.
Oh wow…a set of ten little leaves/washcloths would make such a precious gift for someone dear! :D!
Just read the comments – 10 little leaves WITH a couple hand towels! Someone needs to get married or something, so that can be a gift. haha 😀