The Autumn 2016 Issue of Pom Pom Quarterly has just launched with 11 patterns and focuses on naturally dyed yarns.  This is a really solid fall collection, with a lot of highly wearable pieces (4 pullovers, 2 shawl/wraps, 1 scarf, 1 hat, 1 cardigan, 1 pair of fingerless mitts and 1 pair of full mittens).  The colours of the knits are not typically fall, but much of this has to do with the natural dyes used and does provide a brighter approach to the typical fall offerings. As with all Pom Pom Quarterly issues, they are available in print with a digital download, or by digital download only (the digital download only sometimes takes a bit longer to arrive on the site).
Also in this issue is an interview with natural dyer Kristine Vejar, author of The Modern Natural Dyer: A Comprehensive Guide ot Dying Silk, Wool, Linen and Cotton at Home. The interview is interesting, and focuses on the craft and expectations of working with natural dyes, colourfastness, etc. There is also a history of eco dyeing and instructions on how to do one of the earliest methods- steaming/cooking a bundle of fabric that has all sorts of natural things rolled up tightly inside of it.
Out of the eleven patterns, I will review my four favourites below. But if you have any questions about the others, I’ll answer them in the comments s that everyone can see additional details about them. And if you would like to check out the patterns on Ravelry, you can find them here.
Tevara, by Paula Pereira
Tevara is a worsted weight pullover that features yarn dyed by A Verb for Keeping Warm using logwood and fustic. It features a hi-low hem which is achieved with short rows, and it’s knit from the bottom up. The back design is fully charted, and there is a thin band of i-cord edging for a polished look. This sweater has a mullet complex– business in the front, party in the back. But is the most stylish mullet I’ve ever seen.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You are looking for a sweater that can be dressy or casual, and has that slight edge to it. Also if you have an interchangeable set of needles, because this requires multiple circular needle lengths. Or if you have a lot of circular knitting needles, in general.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: If you are not into cables, charts, or splits at the hem and neckline. Although you could probably omit the splits from the hem and neck. But I think you’d be missing out on one of the coolest features of this sweater.
Thessaly, by Hanna Maciejewska
Thessaly is a beautiful DK weight open cardigan features a lovely yarn dyed by Gregoria Fibers using logwood. This is the sort of cardigan that is easy to wear and forgiving if you slightly missed the mark on sizing, or if your weight tends to fluctuate a bit. It’s a top-down raglan, and each front panel is knit separately and stitches are picked up and the raglan shaping is worked. I don’t recommend this for beginning knitters. You probably won’t make it past the raglan shaping. Pattern is fully written, no charts.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You adore top down everything, aren’t the slightest bit fazed by me warning off newer knitters, and can already see that this would be your go-to cardigan.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: Â If you were looking for a pattern that was easy to memorize, or something that was good for knitting while watching TV. You need to focus quite a bit (I can’t emphasize that enough) to make it past the raglan section. But once you make it past that, it’s smooth sailing.
Kaali, by Fiona Alice
These DK weight fingerless mitts are knit in Elizabeth Beverley cashmere dyed with red cabbage, and three different shades of accent cotton yarn that provide the subtle gradient at the cuff. One of the easiest knits in the collection, this would be a quick knit and also a great knitted gift, especially in such a divine cashmere as these.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You have some special yarns squirreled away that would be great to try out a DIY gradient effect in your own knitting. And if you agree with me that fingerless mitts make you feel very smart and a little bit chic when the weather turns cool.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If: You don’t wear fingerless mitts, I suppose. But then why not?! Everyone needs fingerless mitts!
Iara, by Renée Callahan
Iara is a dramatic fingering weight rectangular scarf knit with yarn dyed two different strengths of indigo by Kettle Yarn Co. If you want to hear someone say, “I love your scarf!!!” every single time you wear something, then this is the scarf for you. Pattern is both fully written and fully charted, and the charts are easy to memorize.
You Should Totally Knit This If: You love knitting striped shawls. This is the perfect crossover project that will have you excited to wear scarves when the weather turns cold. And the fact that it’s easy to memorize means that you can definite binge watch all the Netflix you want while knitting this up.
You Should Definitely Not Knit This If:Â You aren’t into stripes, and/or not into scarves. But I would hope that seeing this scarf might make you reconsider both of those opinions.
What do you guys think of this new collection? Which one is your favourite?
Oh, wow. I love Tevara!!
Me too! I’d love to knit it, but I need more hands, more hours… I want to make all the sweaters!!
Serafine had actually already caught my eye just the other day when I was randomly poking around patterns on Rav. But that scarf is pretty great, too.
Serafine has some tricksy knitting right off the top- it’s atop down raglan that uses short rows to work the should area, and then there is the eyelet detail at the raglan, as well. Once you are past the raglan, it’s pretty smooth sailing, and the sleeves are easy-peasy. You will hold the stitches where the pocket will be, and then put them back on to work the kangaroo style pocket, but you could also skip the pocket entirely and it would be an easier (and faster) knit.
I am so excited to get my copy in the mail! Pom Pom is always a treat, but their fall and winter issues are especially good. I totally agree with you about Iara, a pattern that actually makes me want to knit a scarf (not something I’ve wanted to do for a long time!). I also love Asklov (lightweight fair isle, plus leaves? sold!) and the cover sweater, Vellamo, which isn’t my usual style but looks like it would be so perfect as kicky office wear.
Asklov is a lovely hat! It’s pretty easy, the design is fully charted, and there’s only one chart. (1 chart for each size).
And I forgot to say- Vellamo is knitted flat in pieces, and seamed. It has short row shaping for the upper back.shoulders, and the main stitch pattern is charted (not written, in case that is a deal breaker for some).
I love Lara but am always wary of knitting scarves that might curl – what do you think about this one? It’s hard to tell in the photo, but do you think the stitch pattern will let it lie straight? I’d love to knit this in a solid colour and a Noro stripe.
There’s a chance it might curl, to be honest. I took another look at the pattern and the finishing, and there isn’t anything in particular done to help it lay flat at the ends. Sometimes it can be a design feature, especially if it’s only curling about half an inch. I’ve designed a shawl before that had a raw edge because I loved the way it curled in. But if you against curling scarf ends, you could added a couple of rows of ribbing to the each end, that should do the trick and not affect the design.
I have no idea why sometimes my response comments post as Julie and sometimes as ‘Admin’. It’s all me, guys!
I love it all but I’m just dying over those fingerless mitts… one of my great passions in life anyway.
I completely agree- I can never have too many pairs of fingerless mitts, I even layer them under other full mittens if the middle of winter gets really cold… and I wear them at the first sign of fall all the way to spring!
Happy to see older models! Will be buying this issue just for that reason.
I agree! She’s a beautiful lady, and I love it when they use older models, it shows that it actually looks good on someone who isn’t a beautiful twenty year old (like anything looks bad on a 20 year old). A great knit is a great knit!
I love Thessaly! I’ve been hunting for a cardigan pattern to knit to go with a dress I’ve just made and this could be it.
I also love Tevara, and even though I don’t wear fingerless mittens (it’s always my fingers that are coldest) I think Kaali is so pretty.
it’s so true- dresses need great open cardigans like Thessaly! And fingerless mitts are like triangular shawls- some love them and wear them all the time, and some do not. Fortunately there’s always so much more to knit!
i think the Iara scarf is my fave. Maybe it’s the colour that draws me to it…. could be the pattern of white. Can’t really say, but it is the one that sticks with me….
I don’t even wear a lot of scarves ( prefer cowls or crescent shawls), but this one has definitely piqued my interest. It looks like such a beautiful shawl/scarf! And the two colours add a lot of interest without being too busy.
Is it time for the fall knits already? I’m not ready for summer to be over, but at least these patterns look very nice. My favorite would probably be the Thessaly cardigan.
So true! I’m not ready for summer to be over yet, but the September issues of everything are already out… I guess it really is the count down to September, but still. More summer, please!
The last two projects are lovely. I like the fuzziness of the mitts and the simple colorwork of the scarf.
I agree, the fuzziness of the cashmere just looks so dreamy, even if it is still August. And that scarf! I think it’s going to be a popular knit, I’m excited to see what other colour combos people come up with.
I love Rocquaine, I need a yellow sweater in my life and I do have some yellow DK weight in my stash, a yarn with a slightly rustic feel that might look good with this pattern. Also Asklov and Tannis, and Tevara is indeed very stylish. I love their choice of models for this issue, it shows that style and beautiful knitwear work for all ages. Now to get the issue….
Rocquaine has all that great Gansey appeal! It’s worked from the bottom-up with a provisional cast on, because at the end you go back to knit the asymmetrical split hem. After shoulders are joined, the neck and sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. The design is both charted and fully written (always nice to have both options!).
These are all really feminine lovely piece! How fun that they focused on natural dyeing! Those mitts are dreamy, so soft.
I totally agree! Anything cashmere, I swoon.
Those mitts look so dreamy!
They do, don’t they? I love the subtle bit of colour at the cuffs, too!
Looooove Iara! It alone has me considering buying the issue, despite the fact that I’ve never done colorwork up til now (but it can’t be that hard, right?). Plus the idea of learning a bit about how to dye something myself sounds really appealing! Do you feel like the instructions for dyeing are simple enough to follow if you have no experience in it? And I know you’re a big advocate of mittens–any opinions on Turion? I think they look pretty, but have always been more of a fingerless mitt or glove person myself, as I like to be able to use my fingers. Thanks so much for the review, Julie!
The instructions for the dying are for a pressed dying technique- so it would be like dying a sock blank, or a piece of knitted fabric, not dying yarn. The are a bit vague, but that’s because it would depend on the leaves/plants that you were using. I think it would be good starting point. Iara will be pretty straight forward, even if it is your firs time using two colours. Turion- they are very pretty mittens! The pattern is all written out, not charted, and it’s pretty straightforward- you wouldn’t have any difficulties. Although I find making bobbles hard work, there aren’t enough of them in this pattern to steer anyone way from it.
This and the new Interweave Knits are amazing. I love being a knitter in the fall. 🙂 OK, almost fall. 97 Fahrenheit here. A girl can dream.