Yarns to Love
Pattern Peeper: Spincycle’s Dyed in the Wool
There are many gorgeous yarns right now, in this golden age of all that is artisanal and hand-dyed. The word “irresistible” comes up a lot.
But we literally cannot resist Spincycle’s Dyed in the Wool. We fall before it, flailing. We spend an inordinate amount of time arranging it, photographing it, talking about it, and yes—knitting it.
It’s unnaturally mesmerizing to knit Spincycle Dyed in the Wool. It does beautiful things. It shifts right before your eyes. It’s unpredictable and wild and addicting. And when you pair two shades in contrasting colorways, the drama doubles.
This 100% American wool is superwashed, then dyed by hand, then millspun—it is like no other. We are proud to contribute to the mass hypnosis caused by this extraordinary yarn.
Pattern Suggestions for Dyed in the Wool
Designers adore Dyed in the Wool, and make great creative use of it.
One of our favorite patterns for Spincycle’s Dyed in the Wool is Dianna Walla’s Leif Cowl, which appears in our very own MDK Field Guide No. 3: Wild Yarns. Make your Leif Cowl short, with one skein of each color—or long, with two skeins of each color.
Andrea Mowry clearly fell under the spell of Dyed in the Wool, and has designed a series of gorgeous patterns that make the most of it.
With just three skeins of Dyed in the Wool (one skein in each of three colors), you can join the over 5,000 happy knitters who’ve made Andrea’s stunning wear-with-everything accessory, The Shift. Looking for a smaller project to try out Dyed in the Wool? Check out the Shiftalong, a slouchy hat that takes just two skeins.
If you’re feeling sweater-y, there’s Shifty, or you can combine a favorite fingering-weight solid with a few skeins of Dyed in the Wool to make Andrea’s Stonecrop Cardi or Stonecrop Pullover.
And don’t forget the Montana Mountain Cowl, another quick project that combines Dyed in the Wool with a fingering-weight solid color. We think Jill Draper’s Mohonk Light would provide a vibrantly contrasting or subtly harmonizing backdrop here.
In Hinterland, Jennifer Steingass demonstrates the beauty of using Dyed in the Wool for a traditional colorwork yoke, for fewer ends and a shimmery, faded look. She does the same magic trick in Newleaf.
For a snappy two-skein project, you can’t go wrong with either Issa or Clementine, two colorwork cowls designed by Kate Burge and Rachel Price, the makers of Dyed in the Wool.
And we love Dyed in the Wool paired with Shakti DK for garments like Caitlin Hunter’s Guthrie.
some Shakti and Dyed in the wool pairings from left to Right: Cafe OLÈ with Devilish Grin, mirkwood with Rusted Rainbow, silver moon with Summer love, tango with Mississippi masala, and Avatar with castaway
Our thanks to reader Martha W for showing us Wend, by Elizabeth Elliott, a gorgeous pullover whose simple stripes are elevated by the rich shiftiness of Dyed in the Wool.
Come on in, the Dyed in the Wool is fine. Mighty fine.
Can you please send me the pattern or kit for the fair isle pin cushion…. I can’t find it in the post anywhere… than you !
Go to Ravelry and type fair isle pin cushion in patterns. It will show you several choices including a miniature sweater.
I think you are confused— there is no pin cushion pictured or described on this post.
Click the colored text for each pattern name that *is* in this post to go to Ravelry or MDK’s store to purchase the pattern.
Currently working on Undersong for my daughter with a combination of Spincycle’s Stay out of the Forest along with a dark teal fingering weight. It’s going to be gorgeous!
P.S. I want to thank everyone who is making it possible for me to be making things of beauty during these uncertain times.
That sounds like a stunning combination!
Might I recommend Wend by Elizabeth Elliott? It uses Spincycle and a sport weight solid (I bet Nua would work beautifully) for a striped top. I’m knitting one now but in fingering weight and it is a perfect “I want something easy but not boring” project.
I’m a little confused on how many different colored skeins to use to make this sweater. The strips all look like solids.
Hi Francis,
If you click on the link to Wend, it shows that 2 colors of Spincycle are used, one for the front and one for the back. The stripes look solid because they are thin stripes, so the color shift doesn’t often happen in a single stripe, but gradually as you knit through the stripes, if that makes any sense.
Interesting… I will check out the Wend. I just used Sincere Sheep Cormo Worsted with 3 colors of Spincycle Dream State to make A Top Down Faroese Shawl by Cate Leonard. I went off road creating stripes in the shawl. It was part of an on line KAL with a group from My Sister Knits in Ft Collins, CO. The Dream State turned this simple knit into a compelling experience as I watched the colors come together. And, most of the Dream State was left over from my Throwback Sweater so I got to use up those beautiful leftover bits of yarn.
I love her work! Thanks for pointing out Wend, which I hadn’t seen!
Spincycle is magic! I’m currently working on a sweater inspired by a dream I had during these crazy corona virus times.
Well I’m just gonna have to make that Shift pattern now aren’t I. Yup. Yup yup.
Oh my goodness – this makes me serious question my vow to knit ONLY from my stash this year. Trust me, I couldn’t knit all of it up if I tried. Hie thee hence, incredibly beautiful yarn!
I’d like to know if Spincycle Dyed in the Wool “The Family Jewels” color pictured is the same color you have in inventory, not a stock photo. I am all to familiar with their color ways and love what you have pictured. Are all 4 skeins in stock basically the same? I would take them all if so. Many thanks!
What worsted-weight yarn do you recommend for a Fair Isle sweater? I don’t want it to be too soft and pill-y but not scratchy as it is for a little boy. I love Malabrigo worsted yarn but it seems soft and potentially pill-y. Do you agree? If you do, recommend another brand.
Spincycle Robin’s Egg was the joy of my Stonecrop cardigan. Now I’m stuck on those combinations you put together for Guthrie – such rich colors.