Here is all the information you need to shop for your very own Milton:
]]>Here is all the information you need to shop for your very own Milton:
SIZES 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Recommended ease: 0-4" [0-10 cm] of positive ease around the bust.
Finished Measurements, Bust circumference (with fronts closed, slightly overlapping): 30¾ (34¾, 38¾, 42¾, 46¾, 50¾, 54¾, 58¾, 62¾, 66¾)" [77 (87, 97, 107, 117, 127, 137, 147, 157, 167) cm].
Joji wears a size 3 on a 36” (90 cm) bust.
Yarn:
MC: 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5) skeins of Sport Nouveau by La Bien Aimee
CC: 1 (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2) skeins of Mohair Silk by La Bien Aimee
Joji used the colorway Sansa.
If you do not want to use Mohair Silk, you can opt for Little Kumo instead! Little Kumo is a lace weight version of Kumo, a super soft and fluffy yarn made of Suri Alpaca and silk. If so, here is how many skeins you will need:
CC: 1 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins of Little Kumo by La Bien Aimée
Aimée knit her Milton in Sport Nouveau and Little Kumo in the colorway Noir. You can find it our new Noir & Blanc collection here. She also opted for a cropped body and sleeves. She knit a size 6 and used 3 skeins of Sport Nouveau and 2 skeins of Little Kumo. You can find all the details on her Ravelry project page.
You can shop our Milton collection here! You can find the pattern for Milton by Joji Locatelli on her website and on Ravelry.
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Noir is a dark and deep, plain black, exactly like I imagined it. Blanc is a luminous white, with slight hints of cream, depending on the base. Noir & Blanc come on a wide range of best-selling La Bien Aimée yarns, like Allure, Merino Bouclé, Cashmerino, Big Kumo, Merino DK and Aran, Silk Tweed, Kumo, Merino Super Sock, Sport Nouveau and Volute.
When I started planning this collection, I thought about all the accessories that I wanted to knit in Noir & Blanc. So I went back in my extensive to-knit list and found Batad by Stephen West. I knit it using Twist Nouveau and Little Kumo.
Using black and white creates a very chic and timeless look, while being super strong and graphic. I'm imagining wearing all my rainbow dresses with Noir & Blanc garment and accessories. Check out our Ravelry bundle for lots of black and white knitting inspiration!
The LBA beanie patches are meant to be added to the brim of a hat, preferably a hat with a wide brim knit in Confetti yarn.
We have developed a range of colors that will work with a lot of our LBA yarn colors. Have fun exploring all the color possibilities!
]]>When we released the LBA beanies in Confetti, a lot of you asked if you could buy the patches separately to add to your knitted items! Of course! The LBA beanie patches are meant to be added to the brim of a hat, preferably a hat with a wide brim knit in Confetti yarn.
We have developed a range of colors that will work with a lot of our LBA yarn colors. Have fun exploring all the color possibilities!
Here are some hat patterns that will be perfect to knit in La Bien Aimée and add a matching beanie patch!
Pictured clockwise from top left to bottom left:
Manhattan hat by Tori Yu
Classic Ribbed hat by Purl Soho
Robin beanie by Sari Nordlund
Oslo hat (mohair edition) by Petiteknit
Pictured clockwise from top left to bottom left:
Bivouac by Emilie Luis
The Photographer Hat by Lavanya Patricella
Hiberknitting hat by Stephen West
Viima beanie by Veera Välimäki
The La Bien Aimée beanie patches will add to flare to all your handknits! Have fun mixing the colors of the patches with the yarn colors. Proudly display your #ultimatelbayarnnerd status!
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Westknits is coming back to Paris and we are thrilled! Come visit Stephen at the Inspiration Station, a special space we are setting up just for you and him. Stephen will have a ton of colorful samples for you to try out. And he will happily pose for some photos with you and your favorite Westknits' knits.
Each 15-minute time slot is open to 5 people. Come by yourself, or come with your friends (you just need to ensure that each person has a ticket). Don’t worry you will get to meet plenty of other Westknitters! Aimée and Julia will be there to make sure everyone has enough time with Stephen to have a nice chat, take a photo together, ask a question and most importantly, get inspired. We can’t wait to see you there!
When: Meet & greet
March 30, 2024 from 11am to 7pm.
This is a ticketed event happening during the La Bien Aimée Pop-Up Shop.
Where:
Westknits Inspiration Station
Galerie Choiseul
77 passage Choiseul
75002 Paris
La Bien Aimée Pop-Up dates:
March 26 to April 6, 2024
(Please note: the pop-up will be closed on Sundays)
You can find more information about the La Bien Aimée Pop-Up Shop here.
Book your ticket now to come and meet Stephen West at the La Bien Aimée Pop-Up!
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Alix and Kumo are an Alpaca match made in yarny heaven! They create a gorgeous fabric that is drapey and incredibly soft. We knit the small size, and the shawl is a very generous size and wraps comfortably around you.
]]>If you would like to make your own bundle for the Traveler Shawl, you can shop 2 skeins of Alix, Felix or Helix in the same color, and pair them with 2 skeins of Kumo. Add a mini skein of Alix, Felix or Helix in a contrasting color to knit a contrasting tip and add a pop of color to your shawl!
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Joji Locatelli has teamed up with La Bien Aimée for her new pattern: the Ropes and Twines cardigan. This beautiful pattern is another stunning design by Joji. With allover texture and beautiful cable motifs, the Ropes and Twines has a great detail that I've never seen before: some of the cables are made out of i-cords that are threaded through eyelets.
I have teamed up with Joji to offer you a special collection in a curated palette of La Bien Aimée colors that we carefully picked together, especially for the Ropes and Twines cardigan.
Here is all the information you need to shop for your very own Ropes and Twines cardigan:
SIZES 1 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Recommended ease: Approx. 4-6” [10-15 cm] of positive ease
Joji wears a size 3 on a 36” [90 cm] bust, which gives her just over 6" of positive ease.
Finished Measurements
Bust circumference: 34½ (38½, 42½, 46½, 50½, 54½, 58½, 62½, 66½, 70½)" [86 (96, 106, 116, 126, 136, 146, 156, 166, 176) cm]
Yarn:
MC: 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins of Merino Aran by La Bien Aimée (100% Merino - 100g / 181y [166m]), shown in colorway Dusk.
CC for the i-cords: 1 skein of Merino DK by La Bien Aimée (100% Merino - 100g / 252y [230m]), shown in colorway Dusk.
Joji used a different base for the i-cords, because she simply ran out of the Merino Aran base. The Merino DK worked great actually, but you can also of course use the same yarn as in the sweater, or any other yarn base. Have fun playing with different colors, why not different textures maybe? You could even choose to use ribbons or leather cords instead of making i-cords for added contrast!
Nervous about threading the i-cord through the eyelets? Don’t be! The pattern includes a helpful tutorial video made by Joji to guide you through the whole process.
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We've made it really easy for you! Click on this photo. Each item is a clickable link that will take you directly to the product.
Find your perfect gift on La Bien Aimée!
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Slide 1: (clockwise from top left to bottom right)
Channel sweater by Stephanie Earp of Espace Tricot (featured in Knits from the LYS: A Collection by Espace Tricot, published by Laine Magazine on Dec 15)
Juzia sweater by Aleksandra Sołowianiuk
Bright Here Bright Now vest by Caitlyn Turowski
Good Good sweater by Veera Välimäki
Slide 2:
Aérien by Joji Locatelli
Alma Pullover by Sari Nordlund
Robinia Sweater by Anne Ventzel
Nest Pullover by Carrie Bostick Hoge
Slide 3:
Pom Poko scarf by Vivian Ngo
Rebel rebel by The Stitchin Witch
Ziggy Scribs by Lesley Anne Robinson
Bright here Bright Now scarf by Caitlyn Turowski
Click here to check out our Ravelry bundle for Big Kumo!
My new pattern, Le Bandana, Basic Intarsia version, is now available on the La Bien Aimée website and on Ravelry!
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We have been swatching non-stop for the Traveler and have been having so much fun imagining all the color combinations we could make for it! So if you need ideas to knit your own Traveler Shell, you might find these useful…
Colors used (clockwise):
Helix and Kumo in Yellow Brick Road - Felix and Kumo in Yellow Brick Road
Colors used (clockwise):
Colors used (clockwise):
Colors used (clockwise):
Helix & Kumo in Kokko - Kumo & Felix in Kokko
Felix in Coquelicot & Kumo in RGO Tomato
All the colors!
If you need color recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact us at coloradvice@labienaimee.com and we will happily help you find the perfect combination for your Traveler Shell!
]]>The Traveler Shell by Andrea Mowry is the perfect layer we can see ourselves reaching for all year long! An easy, drop shoulder, open cardigan with big pockets, it is inspired by the beautiful texture of the Traveler Hoodie. The fabric is made of a textured stitch reminiscent of large horizontal textured ribbing using a combination of stockinette and garter stitch. This creates a beautiful stretchy fabric. But honestly, the best thing about it is that it has no sleeves and pockets for days! Can you not see yourself just living in it? I know I can.
Helix and Kumo are a match made in heaven! Two lace weight yarns, they create a soft and woolly fabric when held together that is both light and warm, wonderfully drapey and with a great halo.
Andrea combined Lichen on Helix, a beautiful light green with sage undertones, with Seaglass on Kumo, a bright minty green. Marling these two colors creates a heathered fabric with a neon halo! There are so many great color combinations you could make for the Traveler. You can either go tone-on-tone in your favorite color (this is always a win-win), or marl a tonal color on Helix with a matching neon or a speckled Kumo for a super fun result.
I chose my current favorite speckled colorway, Heliodore, on Felix and Kumo. Felix is Helix’s sister yarn, a super soft, plumpy mix of non-superwash Falkland Merino and Corriedale. It was created specifically to be the perfect alternative to Helix, but with a white base, so that we can dye our brighter, more intense colors on it. The Corriedale gives it a subtle halo and an incredible squishiness. Heliodore is a delicate and lightly variegated color with tones of light pink and yellow, and a few pretty speckles. It is both elegant and fun!
We have been swatching non-stop for The Traveler and have been having so much fun imagining all the color combinations we could make for it! If you need color recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact us at coloradvice@labienaimee.com and we will happily help you.
]]>Helix and Kumo are a match made in heaven! Two lace weight yarns, they create a soft and woolly fabric when held together that is both light and warm, wonderfully drapey and with a great halo. If you would like to make your own Traveler Shell, here is how to choose your size and the number of skeins you will need.
]]>Helix and Kumo are a match made in heaven! Two lace weight yarns, they create a soft and woolly fabric when held together that is both light and warm, wonderfully drapey and with a great halo. If you would like to make your own Traveler Shell, here is how to choose your size and the number of skeins you will need.
Andrea offers 10 different sizes. So measure your full bust size and then add approximately 6-10”/15-25.5 cm of positive ease. Andrea wears a size 3 with approx. 7”/18 cm positive ease on a 5’5”/165 cm tall woman.
Aimée wears her Traveler Shell in a size 5 with approximately 6”/ 15cm of positive ease on a 5’9”/175 cm tall woman. If you like the fit of either of their Traveler shells, feel free to use the same amount of positive ease.
Sizes: 0 (1, 2, 3)(4, 5, 6)(7, 8, 9)
Bust size in inches: 34 (38, 42, 46)(50, 54, 58)(62, 66, 70)”
Bust size in cm: 86.5 (96.5, 106.5, 117)(127, 137, 147.5)(157.5, 167.5, 178) cm
Intended to be worn with approx. 6-10”/15-25.5 cm positive ease.
For Andrea's version, here are the yarns she used:
La Bien Aimee Helix - 2 (2, 2, 2)(3, 3, 3)(3, 3, 3) skeins in Lichen
La Bien Aimee Kumo - 3 (4, 4, 5)(5, 5, 6)(6, 7, 7) skeins in Seaglass
For Aimée's version, here are the yarns she used:
La Bien Aimee Felix - 2 (2, 2, 2)(3, 3, 3)(3, 3, 3) skeins in Heliodore
La Bien Aimee Kumo - 3 (4, 4, 5)(5, 5, 6)(6, 7, 7) skeins in Heliodore
Helix or Felix / Lace Weight Wool:
140 (160, 172, 194)(207, 230, 244)(258, 284, 298) g
994 (1136, 1221, 1377)(1470, 1633, 1733)(1832, 2016, 2116) yds
909 (1038, 1116, 1259)(1343, 1493, 1584)(1674, 1843, 1934) m
held together with Kumo - Lace Weight Suri Alpaca:
150 (173, 186, 210)(224, 250, 264)(279, 308, 323) g
984 (1135, 1220, 1378)(1469, 1640, 1732)(1830, 2020, 2119) yds
899 (1037, 1115, 1259)(1343, 1499, 1583)(1673, 1847, 1937) m
Gauge: 24 sts & 40 rnds = 4”/10 cm on 3.5mm needles
If you need help, write to us at coloradvice@labienaimee.com! We are more than happy to help you choose the perfect colors for your Traveler Shell...
]]>We have put together a Ravelry bundle containing a selection of patterns that would be perfect for Imbue. It contains garments including sweaters and cardigans, as well as accessories like shawls, hats and cowls. Here are a few of our staff favorites!
]]>Imbue is a worsted weight yarn spun by Brooklyn Tweed from soft American Merino wool. Its 5 ply construction makes it soft and smooth, it is perfect for all different types of knitting. It’s also a strong and durable yarn, entirely made in the US, which we then hand-dye here, at La Bien Aimée’s atelier in Paris.
Imbue's 5 plies offer perfect stitch definition for cables, lace, colorwork and textured stitches. This yarn is ideal for garments and accessories alike. We love this yarn.
Our staff picked a few patterns they would love to knit in Imbue. We have put together a Ravelry bundle containing a selection of patterns that would be perfect for Imbue. It contains garments including sweaters and cardigans, as well as accessories like shawls, hats and cowls. Here are a few of our staff favorites!
Clockwise from top left: Color Quadrant Crop by James N Watts, Bee’s Knees by Thea Colman, Elah by Isabell Kraemer, Palette Cleanser Sweater by Suzanne Sommer
Click here to check out our Ravelry bundle of pattern recommendations for La Bien Aimée Imbue!
Clockwise from top left: First Colorwork Cowl by Jared Flood, Sparkwood by Lis Smith, Falling Triangles by Jen Geigley, Winter Honey by Andrea Mowry
Click here to check out our Ravelry bundle of pattern recommendations for La Bien Aimée Imbue!
]]>I can’t express how excited I am to finally be able to announce this incredibly special collaboration. It has been a year in the making and now the time is almost here. Next Friday, September 15, La Bien Aimée will welcome Imbue into our yarn family.
Imbue Worsted is a yarn base spun by Brooklyn Tweed from soft American Merino wool. A 5-ply worsted weight yarn, it is round and smooth, offering perfect stitch definition for cables, lace, colorwork and textured stitches.
]]>Imbue Worsted is a yarn base spun by Brooklyn Tweed from soft American Merino wool. A 5-ply worsted weight yarn, it is round and smooth, offering perfect stitch definition for cables, lace, colorwork and textured stitches. Imbue is ideal for garments and accessories alike. I love this yarn.
I have been a long-time fan of Brooklyn Tweed. I know their different yarns well, and have used them for years. As a yarn shop owner, Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Loft were some of the first American yarns I sold at my café, L’OisiveThé. So, when I was thinking about yarn brands I wanted to collaborate with in my new book, Neons & Neutrals, Brooklyn Tweed was at the top of my list. At the time, they had just released Imbue, so I ordered it in every color straight away. It was the perfect fit to knit Brienne Moody’s Brienne cardigan, and the only difficulty remained: choosing my colors! Of course, I chose their beautiful yellow, Warbler, and paired it with their subtle purple, Orchid.
I love this yarn so much that my mind immediately started to imagine my own colors on this base. I reached out to Brooklyn Tweed to see if they would let me dye on this base and they were very excited at this opportunity to collaborate with us.
Since then, my team and I have been developing our colors on Imbue, and knitting samples and swatches. This is how we get to know a new yarn base. We start by dreaming of all the patterns we would love to knit with it. Then we swatch a lot to see how the colors knit up and we start planning.
La Bien Aimée Imbue will be available next Friday, September 15 as a dye-to-order. You will find a curated selection of 23 LBA colors, all carefully chosen to complement BT’s palette and highlight the beautiful construction of this yarn. We have included some of our signature colors in bright neons, delicate neutrals, and rich jewel tones. I can’t wait to share this special yarn with you all! We also have some very fun plans with Brooklyn Tweed for the fall. How about a KAL?
]]>To celebrate the return of knitting season, we are happy to offer 4 days of free shipping. From tomorrow morning, Friday, September 1 until Tuesday, September 5 (at 7am Paris time / 1am EDT), get free shipping on all orders over 40€! Enter the code FREESHIPPING2023 at checkout. This code applies to all orders, domestic and international.
Note: due to the high number of orders we expect, please understand that our fulfillment time will be much longer than usual. We will fulfill orders in the order they are received. As always, we are happy to hear from you and respond to your questions. However, if you write to modify your order, please know that this will delay your order even further.
Here are a few tips & tricks to make sure you can shop for what you want!
Step 1: Create an account on labienaimee.com in advance. You can do this by selecting the small person icon at the top right of our website. This will bring you to the Login screen.
Select "Create Account." You will be asked for your name, email address, and the password you would like to use.
Step 2: You have created your account. Again, click the small person icon at the top right of our website. This will bring you to your account screen.
Click on "View Addresses" at the bottom of the screen. This will bring you to the Addresses page.
This is where the system stores your address information. Select "Edit." This will bring you to the "Edit Address" page.
Enter the address you want to use as your shipping address and select "Update address." If your shipping address is the same as your billing address, you are done and move on to Step 3.
If your shipping address is different from your billing address, you can add a second address now.
Select "Add a new address." Enter the new address and select "Add address." Now, both address will already be in the system when you go to check out.
Step 3: Go Shopping! Now is the time to fill your cart. As long as you are logged in, the items will remain in your basket (unless they sell out before you place your order).
Step 4: It’s Friday morning and the promo has started. Yay! Log in and click on the shopping bag icon in the upper right. This takes you to your filled cart. Click "Check out." This will begin the check out process and take you to the Information page.
On the right, enter the code FREESHIPPING2023 and press "Apply." Make certain that the discount code has been applied before going any further! You will know you have done it correctly if the Shipping cost on the right side of the screen says "Free."
***If you are planning to pay with PayPal or ShopPay, you can press the express checkout buttons at the top left of the screen and skip to the end!***
Because you have already entered your default address, it should appear in the Shipping Address area on the left. Now, click "Continue to shipping" at the bottom.
This will bring you to the Shipping method page.
Please select the cheapest shipping method. Regardless of the shipping method you select, we will ship via the cheapest option. However, selecting a more expensive shipping method will only further delay the processing and shipping of your order.
Select "Continue to payment," and you should be all set to finalize your order.
Step 5: Have fun and enjoy yarn shopping!
]]>“I believe anyone can wear any color or texture as long as you believe in the fiber story you are making.”
Knitting - and more precisely, working at La Bien Aimée - taught me a new appreciation for color. I am constantly fascinated by the color choices made by all the experts I work with, and by observing Aimée’s commitment to storytelling through color, I have begun to build myself a more expressive wardrobe (stitch by tiny stitch.)
Florence Spurling’s original Ferrule color palette.
Ferrule by Florence Spurling is an intarsia pullover inspired by artistic mark-making, and uses four different marls using seven different colors. Marling is something I shied away from as a beginner knitter; I didn’t appreciate the dimension and richness of a mohair halo. Over time, I have come to realize that marling is one of the most unique tools we have at our disposal, so when I saw Ferrule for the first time, I knew that it would be my first Neons & Neutrals project.
Aimée’s yellow Ferrule color pallette.
As usual, the first step in choosing my palette involved looking at everyone else’s projects on Ravelry. I find that taking inspiration from other knitters can help me figure out which elements I want to bring into my own project. With Ferrule, I personally love the result of a low-contrast color combination as I feel it highlights the nuanced and rare beauty of Florence’s technique.
Ravelry users Javor1945, DrSabrina, and Waffles32.
For this pattern you will need a total of seven colors. In the original design, these are three fluffy lace weights (mohair or similar), three dry lace weights (such as La Bien Aimée Helix or Felix) and one light fingering (although Aimée used Felix in her palette and it worked great.)
The first Mohair Silk color I picked for this palette is one that has made quite a splash at La Bien Aimée HQ in recent months: Anemelilies. This colorway is the lovechild of two other colors, Anemone and Waterlilies, and can be a super diverse bridge color in so many different fades.
Anemelilies on lots of different La Bien Aimée bases.
Once I picked Mohair Silk Anemelilies as my starting point, I knew I had to incorporate Anemone, so I decided to use this color on Helix as I found Felix a little too bright for my intended moody yarnscape. Helix and Felix are sisters with the same weight and meterage, the only difference is the composition, so you can use them interchangeably whenever a non-fluffy lace weight is required (or held double to achieve a sport weight.)
Rather than include Waterlilies, which might pull focus from Anemelilies, I decided to match the aqua tone of Anemelilies with Seaglass. I am such a big fan of this color, it’s so clear and bright that it looks very much at home among other neons, but at the same time it somehow sits comfortably among neutrals, that’s why I decided to use Seaglass on both Mohair Silk and Helix.
Helix Seaglass and Mohair Silk Seaglass.
I still had two more colors to choose for my marls, so I decided to calm down these bright lilacs and aquas with some neutrals. For Helix I opted for the undyed base, the colorway French Grey, which I love for the way it highlights whichever other color you put with it. For my last Mohair Silk I was very close to picking a true neutral, but at the last second I went for Tickle, a lightly variegated silver base with a light dash of playful speckles in blue, yellow, orange, pink, and green.
For my final color, I decided to use Felix Avoine in place of a light fingering weight. I find that the Corriedale content in this base makes it very bouncy and voluminous (remember to always swatch whenever substituting different bases!) The Felix color I chose is Avoine, a beautiful neutral that is just warm enough to make the ribbing stand out from the rest of the design without overpowering the icy mermaid scale effect I’m trying to create.
The last thing to consider in this design is the placement of your colors. I decided to stick strictly to the same formula as Florence to ensure I would have enough yarn for my sweater, but you can of course go off-piste if you’re using scraps or have an abundant supply of yarn.
I started by choosing marl 4 (C5 + C7) for the ribbing, which I decided to knit in Mohair Silk Seaglass and Felix Avoine. This means Mohair Silk Seaglass will be C5 and Felix Avoine will be C7.
Mohair Seaglass, marl 4, Felix Avoine.
Now it’s time to choose marl 2 (C1 + C3 + C5). Remember, C5 has already been established as Mohair Silk Seaglass, so I now need to pick two Helix colors that will compliment it. I want to avoid pairing Seaglass Mohair with Seaglass Helix, so Helix French Grey and Anemone become C1 and C3.
Helix Anemone, marl 2, Mohair Silk Seaglass, Helix French Grey.
Next up: marl 1 (C1 + C2 + C4). In order to determine which Mohair Silk color will be C4, I have to think about which of my two remaining Mohair Silk colors will pair nicely with Helix French Grey and Helix Seagless. Personally, I think these two colors of Helix are the perfect light background to let the lilac in Anemelilies pop, so Mohair Silk Anemelilies becomes C4.
Helix French Grey, Mohair Silk Anemelilies, marl 1, Helix Seaglass.
Finally, this means that Mohair Silk Tickle will be C6, and it will be knit with Helix Seaglass and Helix Anemone for marl 3, which I think will look fantastic.
Helix Seaglass, marl 3, Mohair Silk Tickle, Helix Anemone.
I know some of you may be looking at these marls and thinking “oh goodness, they all look the same!” I admit, I was a little worried you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference, so I did some very quick swatches to compare and was absolutely thrilled with the nuanced low-contrast result.
Don’t worry if this explanation sounds complicated, it will make a lot more sense when you spread your colors out across the table and pair them up like I did. I highly recommend getting a piece of paper out and drawing up a little table with your individual colors on the left and the four marls on the right.
Picking these combinations was probably the most fun I’ve ever had playing with colors for a pattern. Even once you’ve narrowed down all your options to just 7 colors, the possibilities for creating different marls really is endless!
Here is my final list of yarns and their numbers:
Now it’s time to cast on! Look out for Part II of Knitting Ferrule next month...
]]>Aimée knit the cropped length in a size 5. She used 4 skeins of La Bien Aimée Helix in Sansa for the main part of the body (Helix is held double). The intarsia part on the body is knit in La Bien Aimée Merino Bouclé. Aimée used 2 skeins of Bouclé in Peach Sweater. All the ribbing is knit in La Bien Aimée Felix held double in Fluoro Morganite.
Ying would normally knit a size 2 to get the recommended ease 4 to 6 inches of positive ease. However, she loves wearing oversized garments. In these photos, she is wearing Aimée's Marley, which is a size 5. This actually gives her 14 inches of positive ease.
You can find all the details on the Ravelry project page here. You can find Sasha's pattern on Ravelry here.
]]>My Le Bandana pattern that released today is a basic bandana recipe. It is knit in a Sport weight, by holding two strands of Helix or Felix together or one strand of The Wandering Flock's Baby Paca (shown above in our exclusive colorway, Aimée's Peaches & Dreams). The pattern includes detailed instructions for achieving the desired shape, in either a single color version or a version with big stripes. But I encourage you to have fun and experiment! This pattern is perfect for dipping your toes into a little intarsia, or using up all your favorite leftovers…
We have dyed plenty of Helix and Felix, both in full skeins and mini skeins, so you can choose your favorite colors to make your own Le Bandana. We also have bundles available.
I am currently working on many more versions of Le Bandana, which I will release soon! There will be one basic intarsia recipe, a full-on crazy fun intarsia pattern, and my perfect faded bandana pattern. So stay tuned for more bandana patterns coming very soon!
Get the Le Bandana pattern now on the La Bien Aimée website and on Ravelry!
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We have now added more incredible colors online and are so excited to present them to you. So clear your needles, because you will want to cast on all the summer tops in this yarn! And if you need pattern ideas, don't forget to check out our Ravelry bundle containing some great patterns that would be perfect to knit in Silk Tweed.
Please note: Silk Tweed is sold as a Dye to Order. This means we will dye your yarn especially for you, after you have ordered it. Please allow us up to 2 weeks to have your order ready and shipped. All orders containing Silk Tweed will be held until they are ready to ship.
]]>Simple Bliss is a beautiful triangular shawl that features La Bien Aimée Cashmerino. You only need 2 skeins, 1 of each color. Nadia used The Hotness for the hot pink, and Ichigo, a lighter pink with hot pink splashes.
]]>Every year for her birthday, Nadia releases a shawl in La Bien Aimée.
The name of the shawl, Simple Bliss, refers to the fact that things don't need to be complicated to be pretty. A cute lace pattern, a nice yarn, lovely colors and that's it, you don't need more. That was Nadia’s motto for this year's project.
Simple Bliss is a beautiful triangular shawl that features La Bien Aimée Cashmerino. You only need 2 skeins, 1 of each color. Nadia used The Hotness for the hot pink, and Ichigo, a lighter pink with hot pink splashes.
We have made special yarn bundles for Simple Bliss. You can find them online now!
Aimée knit her version of Simple Bliss using the Anemone bundle. I love how the zesty green of Kokko makes the mauve really pop!
Here is a look back at some of Nadia's other birthday shawls...
Nadia is offering 30% off on all of her patterns using code HBNADIA until midnight on June 18th. I highly recommend all of her patterns. She has so many gorgeous shawls and garments.
]]>We are all very excited to knit summer tops in Silk Tweed. We have been swatching to knit the Rock it tee by Tanis Lavallée. It’s one of those patterns that I’ve had in my favorites for a very long time. I guess I was just waiting for the perfect yarn to come along…
]]>We are all very excited to knit summer tops in Silk Tweed. We have been swatching to knit the Rock it tee by Tanis Lavallée. It’s one of those patterns that I’ve had in my favorites for a very long time. I guess I was just waiting for the perfect yarn to come along…
Here is a list of the yarn used in the above swatches:
Silk Tweed & Onyx in Anemone
Silk Tweed & Mohair Silk in La Bien Aimée Yellow
Silk Tweed & Mohair Silk in Fluoro Morganite
Silk Tweed in Heliodore & Mohair Silk in Pretty in Pink
Silk Tweed in Eric Northman & Mohair Silk in Sari
It was hard, but I have made my decision! I will knit my Rock it tee using La Bien Aimée Silk Tweed and Mohair Silk in Fluoro Morganite. If you need some pattern ideas to knit with Silk Tweed, we have prepared a bundle on Ravelry. It is full of knitting patterns that would be perfect to knit in Silk Tweed.
Silk Tweed is now available on the La Bien Aimée website as a dye-to-order base.
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This yarn is gorgeous and luxurious. Because it is precious, we only have limited quantities of it. So we are offering it as a dye-to-order. This means we haven’t pre-dyed it and we will dye exactly what you order. The only thing this changes for you is that you will need to exercise a little patience and allow us 1 to 2 weeks to custom dye your yarn especially for you.
Whether you like bright fun colors, moody blues, vibrant greens or tweedy pops of color, Silk Tweed comes in a gorgeous palette of La Bien Aimée colors! Made of silk noil, it has a slightly irregular thick and thin aspect. It knits up beautifully and is really versatile. It is perfect knit on its own on a 3mm needle, or held double with Mohair Silk or Kumo on a 3.5 - 4.0mm needle depending on your gauge. However you choose to knit it, Silk Tweed will create a beautiful drapey fabric.
Silk Tweed is made of 100% Silk Noil. You may be asking yourself what exactly is Silk noil.
Silk noil, also known as ‘raw silk’, is made from the waste fibers inside the cocoon. Once spun, these small bits of broken fiber create this really interesting nubby matte texture that gives the tweedy aspect and feels like a really soft cotton. Silk also has lots of amazing properties: it is very breathable, yet warm, it keeps moisture away from the body and is perfectly comfortable to wear next to skin.
Need pattern suggestions? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Click on this link to see the Ravelry bundle which contains lots of gorgeous patterns that would be perfect to knit in Silk Tweed!
]]>Clockwise: Rock it tee by Tanis Lavallée, Beachcomb by Tif Neilan, Purple Coke by Katrin Schneider, Dappled Lace Raglan by James N Watts
Need pattern suggestions? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have compiled a huge list of patterns that would be perfect to knit in Silk Tweed. There are lots of summer tops of all types: tank tops, raglan, drop shoulder tops, lace details, mohair stripes. We have also added a few accessories for good measure.
I’m currently swatching in Silk Tweed and Mohair Silk to knit a Rock it Tee by Tanis Lavallée. I’m obsessed with those light Mohair stripes and the beautiful texture of the Silk Tweed.
Clockwise: Oolong tank by Aimée Sher, Sol by Jacqueline Cieslak, Adventitious by Olga Putano, Olive tank by Sari Nordlund
Clockwise: Jinshi by Marianne Munier, Adventure tank by Fatima Hinds, Everyday Attitude by Susanne Sommer, Outline Tank by Jessie Maed
Click on this link to see the Ravelry bundle.
Clockwise: Whispers by Veera Välimäki, Golden Filigree by Tetiana Otruta, Big in Japan by Katrin Schneider, Suri Shirt V neck by Caidree
Clockwise: Linho by Joji Locatelli, Argil by Clare Lakewood, Outline tee by Jessie Maed, Bolan by Leila Raven
Clockwise: Cumulus Tee by PetiteKnit, The Maya Top by Gavriella Treminio, BFF Tee by Kate Oates, Knitting Badge Neckerchief by Niklas Heed
Clockwise: Galsang by Yamagara, Garter Glide Tee by James N Watts, Shakerag Top by Amy Christoffers, Totally Tank Top by Jessie Maed
Clockwise: Matutina Tee by Carmen Garcia de Mora, The Weekender Light by Andrea Mowry, Tin Roof by Yamagara, Cozy Classic Light by Jessie Maed
Clockwise: Tegna by Caitlin Hunter, Daintylion by Rebecca McKenzie, Summer by Ankestrick, Ginga Top by Yoko Johnston
Clockwise: Saco Stripes by Pam Allen, Uptown Tee by Tori Yu, Vasa by Diana Walla, Jazmin by Filipa Carneiro
All photos shown belong to the designers.
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With a deep V neck and cropped body, this pattern is a wonderful play on contrasts and textures. And why not wear it backwards, like Marie does?
We are happy to offer yarn bundles for the Mini Cardi in the following color combinations:
- the Original in the colors that Marie used, a soft gradient of light pink Mohair Silk, held together with Sansa on Merino Bouclé to create subtle stripes, and Corrie Worsted in Goldenrod for a yellow pop of color,
- Aimée’s choice has Avoine on Merino Bouclé and a spring palette of Mohair Silk in Lichen, Anemone and Peach Sweater, with yellow stripes in Yellow Brick Road on Wensley Worsted,
- the Fluoro Morganite bundle is a pink lover’s dream with a very special limited edition color we call Hêtre Ephémère (literally ephemeral beech), with Wensley Worsted Bois de Rose, Merino Bouclé Hêtre Ephémère, Mohair Silk in Aimée's Shawl, Tang and Fluoro Morganite.
You can find all the information on the Mini Cardi bundles on the La Bien Aimée Online shop here.
Here is the Ravelry page to buy the Mini cardi pattern by Marie Régnier.
Would you like to know more about Marie's design work? Check out her website here.
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We created sock bundles, containing one full skein and 5 mini skeins of Merino Super Sock, which are ideal for any of Stephen’s multi-color sock patterns. For single or two color sock patterns, you can custom pick your favorite colors from our huge assortment of Merino Super Sock colors!
Here is the yarn we used in our socks:
We are having so much fun knitting these socks and will keep making Westknits socks for the rest of the year!
You can check out our Westknits Socks bundles here and La Bien Aimée Merino Super Sock in 20g, 50g and 100g.
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This new cowl pattern features La Bien Aimée Kumo in Anemone and combines it with Andrea's handspun yarn and a background of fingering weight yarn to create a unique and eye-catching accessory.
The cowl is knit using a simple slipped stitch motif that creates a fun plaid fabric with endless possibilities for color combinations. And best of all, the floats are hidden inside!
To add even more texture and softness, Andrea incorporated her "fuzz of choice" - Kumo, our fluffy suri alpaca base! This yarn is lace weight but can be knit at a larger gauge thanks to its fluffiness.
The Rad Plaid Cowl is knit as a tube in the round, starting with a provisional cast on. It's then twisted once and grafted together using the Kitchener stitch.
There are so many combinations of Kumo to try, so browse the colors we have in stock and be sure to keep an eye out for bundles that will be available soon!
]]>We received limited quantities of this beautiful peachy rainbow color on Fingering Singles, Mohair Silk, and Baby Paca.
]]>We received limited quantities of this beautiful peachy rainbow color on Fingering Singles, Mohair Silk, and Baby Paca.
This color represents the wonderful dyeing style of Geraldine and her team at The Wandering Flock. I imagined this color to knit the ruffles of Darta by Inese Sang from my new book Neons & Neutrals. I wanted a color that could shimmer and shine, and Aimée’s Peaches & Dreams certainly does that!
But that's not all - we have also restocked some of The Wandering Flock's most popular colors, including Cosmic Tye Dye, on the three bases we carry. So why not check out the other colors available in Fingering Singles, Mohair Silk, and Baby Paca?
I also used this color for my Effervescent by Aimée Sher, which I made in Fingering Singles for the body and Mohair Silk for the ruffles. Don't wait too long to order, as our limited quantities tend to sell out quickly. Happy shopping!
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This beautiful collar is the perfect accessory to add to any outfit, featuring La Bien Aimée Corrie Worsted and Wensley Worsted. It has stunning cable details and a picot edge, with the option to add bobbles if you desire.
I recently made my own Sonata collar using Wensley Worsted in Peach Sweater, and I loved it so much I immediately made another one using Corrie Worsted in Yellow Brick Road (pictured above.) The best part? The pattern is now available on Ravelry so you can make your own Sonata collar too!
It's the perfect accessory to add to your wardrobe, especially as the weather gets warmer and you still want to wear your beautiful handknits without getting too hot. And if you're looking for a fun project to work on with other knitters, why not join the Sonata collar knitalong?
To participate, all you need are two skeins of Corrie Worsted or Wensley Worsted and the pattern. Cast on with La Bien Aimée, then tag your progress photos with #labienaimee and #sonatacollarkal on Instagram. Or, share your project with the La Bien Aimée group on Ravelry. Let's knit together and create something beautiful!
The Orchid fade was born during last year’s Happy Accident Day at the LBA studio. Annie, who works on the Wholesale team and is a purple lover. She had this idea for a color that would fade from purple to white, with some fun neon speckles, inspired by jellyfish colors. This color came out so amazing that it had to become a regular La Bien Aimée colorway.
Now called Physalia, it has inspired two more colors: Teasel (a darker, variegated purple with speckles of pink) and a new bridge color, Anemelillies (a mix of Anemone and Waterlillies).
These three colors not only fade with each other, but they also go so well with some of our other colors. We have created a brand new 5 skein fade in Cashmerino.
]]>These non-fluffy lace weight yarns can be knit with a strand of Mohair Silk to give structure, but can also held double with themselves to achieve a sport weight gauge.
These 2-ply bases were heavily featured in Neons & Neutrals, including in the yoke of Wervel, a pullover by Maaike van Geijn. The first stock of bundles that we put online vanished in just a few days, so we got to work on a Wervel bundle restock which you can purchase on our website now!
We have also curated two new Wervel Yoke pallettes in Merino Sport Mini 20g, Forest and Ocean, which are now also available on our website. Don't worry if these bundles sell out, we will be restocking them periodically, but they take a while to dye and assemble so we thank you for your patience in the meantime!
Although we've been dyeing Helix and Felix 25g mini skeins for a long time to make bundles like Rainbow Road, and Wervel, we have never sold these mini skeins individually... until now! For the first time ever, you can now curate your very own colorwork pallette by picking any combination of Helix 25g or Felix 25g skeins.
Remember, these two bases are sister yarns, so they have the same thickness and meterage (163m/178yds per 25g, or 650m/710yds per 100g), the only difference is that Helix contains 25% gotland wool which gives the base a grey heathered quality.
This means that these bases can be used interchangeably, and when holding these bases double to achieve a sport gauge you can even hold one strand of Helix with one strand of Felix to give the color that added depth and nuance.
We can't wait to see all the fabulous Wervel pallettes that you come up with in Helix and Felix, so don't forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram and Ravelry!
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