Neons & Neutrals : A knitwear collection curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée is an eclectic collection of designs combining yarns in new and unexpected ways. This beautiful book includes 16 patterns (4 pullovers, 4 cardigans, 4 shawls, 2 hats, 1 sleeveless cardigan and 1 collar) created by as many independent designers and will very soon be available in French 🙂
These patterns show modern knitting at its best, using a variety of techniques and unique colour combinations. Most of the patterns are photographed in two different versions to inspire your own versions and make you want to dare.
The collection celebrates solidarity and cooperation: to showcase the many talents of the knitting community, Aimée has gathered together not only patterns from designers around the world, but also yarns from various producers and dyers, and we are delighted to be part of her generous and cutting-edge selection. All of these yarns work beautifully together and are accessible to all sizes and budgets.
The book features patterns by the following designers: Inese Sang, Maaike van Geijn, Karen Cronje, Anna Husemann, Layla Yang, Caitlyn Turowski, Cecelia Campochiaro, Valerie Ng, Maysa Tomikawa, Florence Spurling, Lotta H Löthgren, Brandi Cheyenne Harper, Marie Régnier, Susan Chin, Brienne Moody and Julia Wilkens.
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Two patterns have been designed with our Cyrano yarn. The first is the “Harmony” cardigan designed by Brandi Cheyenne Harper :
“This piece is called the Harmony Jacket. It uses three different yarn weights: fingering, chunky, and super bulky. Let it include your favorite colors. In visual communication, a color palette is made of colors that work in harmony with each other to express an idea, a feeling, a mood, a vision, a hope, a dream. And in color theory, harmony can be objective. It’s how we arrange colors according to already established color principles like how they meet and match on the color wheel. Harmony can also be subjective. It’s a group of colors that don’t follow the rules but the combination challenges the norm, inspires and delights us. To express unity, you can do what I did and use monochromatic colors — two colors in the same hue that vary in lightness and darkness. In knitting, there are all kinds of ways to bring colors together.
In this pattern, we’re gonna use intarsia to create color blocks in a seamless way. I imagine every color and strand of yarn is a person, a country, a radical idea on how to manifest our wildest dreams for ourselves, for each other, and for the earth with each element different and varying and still coming together in harmony.” Brandi
This sweater uses two different yarn weights in two different colors brought together using simple intarsia techniques. The body is knit flat in one piece from the bottom up. The sleeves are seamless and knit in the round on DPNs. The sleeves have such an interesting construction! They are knit in the round and seamless, you will work 1 RS row and 1 WS row to be able to join the two colors together. Then you will join the body and sleeves to work a raglan yoke. Slipped stitches separate each section and travel up into the collar.
Pattern: « Harmony » by Brandi Cheyenne Harper, sizes 1 to 8, from the book Neons & Neutrals (available in French here).
Yarn: Cyrano (100% French Merino d’Arles and Portuguese black Merino wool, 164 yds / 150 m – 100 g), in colorways poivre blanc, combined with Bulky by The Wandering Flock (100% superwash Merino wool, 109 yds / 100 m – 100 g), colorway Holograph Dreams (held double).
The second pattern is the Yu 裕 a vest designed by Valerie Ng which combines a classic cut with beautiful texture and colour work.
“I love to challenge the status quo, and I guess that’s where it all started! To begin with, I didn’t want a knitted fabric that screams “I am knitted” – so we have the herringbone stitch which has a bit of a woven look. Then I thought, traditionally, one would use a big needle and a relatively thin yarn to knit the herringbone stitch to create a fabric that is not too stiff … but what if I combine a thick yarn and a thin one? The next question: And if playing with yarn weights isn’t fun enough, why not throw in some texture and go for a fluffy yarn? That’s how the stranded herringbone stitch and the Yu vest were born.” Valerie Ng
This vest is worked flat from the top down in pieces then seamed. The front will be worked starting at the shoulders. The two shoulders will be shaped with short rows and increases will be made for the V-neck shaping until two fronts are formed. The two fronts will then be joined and more stitches will be added to the sides for the armhole shaping. Finally, underarm stitches will be cast on and the body will be worked straight to the hem. The back will be worked starting at the shoulders, similarly to the front. Stitches will be cast on for the back neck. The back will be worked to the hem before being sewn to the front piece along the side. Stitches will then be picked up along the hem for the ribbing, likewise for the neck opening and armholes.
Pattern: « Yu 裕 » by Valerie Ng, sizes 1 to 9, from the book Neons & Neutrals (available in French here).
Yarns: Cyrano (100% French Merino d’Arles and Portuguese black Merinowool, 164 yds / 150 m – 100 g), in colorways poivre blanc, combined with Kumo by La Bien Aimée (75% baby suri alpaca, 24% mulberry silk, 328 yds / 300 m – 50 g), colorways La Bien Aimée “Yellow and Dawn”.
Neons & Neutrals is available here (in French) or here (in English):
Photos credits: @lainemagaz