Shades of Summer
Elements, the new yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, has been developed with warm weather knits in mind, as discovers
OKSANA DYMYD’S ‘Balnakeil’ yoked jumper in this supplement, with its wave-like patterning, palette of soft colours and relaxed feel, captures the spirit of a summer day spent on a British beach. It’s also the perfect showcase for Elements DK, the brand-new yarn from British brand West Yorkshire Spinners. This is an exciting blend of sustainably sourced fibres which provides a knitted fabric with a wonderful sheen and drape, and a soft and lightweight feel.
The team at West Yorkshire Spinners is rightly proud of its new yarn range with its fibre composition of Lyocell and Falkland Islands wool. “We knew we wanted a superior spring-summer yarn which would be unique to anything else on the market,” explains marketing manager Rhiannon Evans. “Our innovative blend of 60% TENCEL Lyocell and 40% Falkland Islands wool is naturally harmonious. Firstly the TENCEL fibre is harvested from sustainably managed wood sources, which is certified as biodegradable and compostable. It’s beautifully soft and smooth to the touch with a luxurious sheen and flattering drape, mirroring many of the properties of wool. The Falkland Islands sheep enjoy some of the greenest conditions on earth, producing the finest fleece, which is world-renowned for its purity and handle.
“Our craftspeople expertly blended and spun these two fibres to create a yarn with great strength, natural breathability and gentleness against the skin. Not only does Elements boast all of the above, it’s also fully traceable and revertible back to nature as it is fully biodegradable.”
The appealing colour palette of Elements was inspired by the fresh, light shades of summer, and is ideal for warm weather projects - shades include cool greens and pinks, a hazy sunshine yellow, and a beautiful coral. “We wanted the colours to exude summer elegance, whilst feeling contemporary and cool,” says Rhiannon. “The TENCEL in this yarn takes the dyeware at a different rate to the Falklands wool, which creates a beautifully subtle tonal effect that enhances the natural lustre of the fibre blend.”
Elegant textures
To showcase the new yarn, West Yorkshire Spinners asked designers Sarah Hatton and Chloé Elizabeth Birch to create a range of projects for women. The patterns feature textured stitch patterns and stripes, and include an elegant shell top, a lace yoked sweater, and wear-with-everything cardigans and jackets.
“Elements is perfect for so many projects,” Rhiannon explains. “Our launch pattern collection, Timeless
Summer, is a collection of luxury ladies knitwear, perfect for the warmer months. Sarah’s designs provide a modern elegance with classic fits and simple lace motifs, whilst Chloé’s designs include floaty tops and layering pieces. Each exclusive design within the collection shows off the graceful drape and stunning stitch definition of this beautiful yarn. We envisage Elements appealing widely to crocheters, too. It’s so light, and creates a beautiful fabric with flattering drape. The softness makes it great for baby knits and homewares, as well.”
Elements has already made a big impression with knitters around Britain, as Rhiannon reports: “Our customers are always excited by our new releases, and Elements was no exception. The response so far has
been lots of love and praise for the sustainable nature of this summer yarn. We’ve already seen many of our stockists sharing their in-store displays and lots of WIPs across social media.”
There’s no time to rest for the Keighley-based team, though, as plans are now well under way for autumnwinter 2022. “We have lots lined up for autumn, including a new ladieswear collection in Bo Peep Pure which we’re launching in July,” says Rhiannon. “Our Signature 4ply Christmas colourway always creates a magical buzz for sock knitters as we head towards the festive season. To keep up to date with all our launches, follow our social media channels @westyorkshirespinners.”