The Subtle Palette of Julie Asselin

Dear Kay,

It really is a shame that you don’t live down here in Nashville, because you’re missing out on one of the pleasures of being a yarnmonger: the new arrivals.

We spend a lot of time thinking about the yarns we carry, and the colors we want to bring in. And sometimes it takes months for all that abstract decision making to show up here at MDK World Headquarters.

So when our endless conversations result in a bunch of yarn here, it is so much fun.

Today, I’m gazing upon a new arrival from Julie Asselin, one of the kindest, most generous people I know in the world of knitting. We first brought in Hektos for MDK Field Guide No. 9: Revolution, the collection of interchangeable yoke designs by the legendary Norah Gaughan.

When it was time to reorder, we had to have more colors. We’re up to 14 now, each one a marvel of glazed depth and richness. These are colors to wear, to love.

Hektos is a worsted-weight blend of merino, cashmere, and a touch of silk. It’s plied, with a nice twist. It knits up in such a beautiful way. It feels wonderful.

Here are designs from Field Guide No. 9: Revolution that will pair beautifully with Hektos.

Elaine’s Capelet. Calls for 2 to 4 skeins of Hektos.

Calligraphy Cardigan. Hektos will work beautifully with this pattern, at the same gauge.

Liberty Tree Pullover. Hektos will make this pattern a classic to enjoy for many years.

Try It Out

New yarn tends to send me off on a reverie of possibility. It’s fun to try out a new yarn on a small pattern. So if you’re curious about Hektos, here are a pair of fine small-scale options, curated by Cristina “Eagle Eye” Shiffman.

Fetching Fletcher by Fatimah Hinds. Two skeins, one each of two colors. Or beautiful as a one-color project, too. The easiest possible introduction to knitting a cable. It’s just one! Easy!

Hatdana by Denise Bayron. One skein. You know you want one. Join the bandwagon of more than 600 Ravelry projects.

I can’t figure out what color I’m going to start with, but it’s feeling like this is going to be one of those tough decisions.

Love,

Ann