Let’s start this year with luxury! Isn’t that a good New Year’s resolution, especially if you are all about new yarns and new adventures and other things new! Even though this yarn and collection were launched late last year, I feel like right now is the time I can look back and reflect on this whole process and development of how it came to be.
Around May last year, Kristin Ford, who I have worked with previously, shared her ideas for a new venture and quite unique fiber that she has discovered and that noone in the North America was offering to hand knitters. I was thinking we were already quite spoiled here with a wondrous fibers available in yarn form, so this was very intriguing. I think the moment I have touched the skein, my words faltered in trying to describe the feeling. It was just undecipherable “Ahhhh!” and “Mmmm” followed by questions in my head – How?? How?? How is this just a merino!? I have knit with fair share of merino yarns before and they have been very soft but nothing felt like this. I don’t think cashmere yarns I have knit were often even this soft before wash. To learn the why’s and how’s of this amazing fiber Ultimate Merino® please head over to the WOOLFOLK’s website to read and watch a beautiful video about Patagonia region and the efforts for the grassland regeneration. To add more, each company that is part of this project is paying back the farmers to continue helping them to continue maintaining sustainability and quality of the fleece. So when you pay for it, you contribute to that as well!
Now as for the yarn, Clara Parkes of Knitter’s Review was among the very first people to touch and graciously review the yarn and you can read her detailed description of experiencing Får here.
Woolfolk yarns currently come in 2 different weights – FÅR is a Worsted weight, chain-like construction and TYND is a fingering weight is a nice 2 ply twist.
When approaching ideas for designs in these yarns, I tried to go a different route than I usually pick when designing olgajazzy patterns. The quality and luxury of the yarn itself was dictating or even demanding the minimally textured, classic, yet clean and conservative modern knits approach. With well-thought out details through medium of construction to keep any knitter’s brain occupied, but not requiring every bit of concentration, so knitting itself is enjoyable. You and your Woolfolk yarn need some quality time to truly appreciate the tactile enjoyment of working with this yarn. And with a great knit result that can be worn on any occasion when you wish to wrap yourself in a cloud.
(Click each image or design’s name above it to see more images of them).
Small details and accents that draw the eye, but are not distracting from the fiber of the yarn and overall look of your knit. These knits have no time, no age, they are the kind of knits most of us want to wear or do wear every day, Woolfolk just adds that doze of scrumptiousness.
As I was editing through my process I have found it quite satisfying. The yarns and the collection read very Scandinavian-style to me just like the founder’s ancestral roots and make me proud to have created something absolutely new to me. And reminded myself why I collaborate on projects like that, to make me step out of my comfort zone and learn something more about myself as a designer. As the moment we stop pushing ourselves and trying, creativity tends to stagnate.
I want to thank everyone who has already knit many many sweaters and accessories and wrote about this collection, I am truly humbled that you love it so!
I want to thank Kristin for creating such a unique opportunity and for her unique vision and my brilliant friend and Ori Ami Knits co-author, Vanessa Yap-Einbund, who did an amazing job on the collection’s photography as well as Woolfolk‘s (and mine!) websites.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! And in celebration of it – the luxury giveaway!
I am giving away the entire (8) printed patterns WOOLFOLK COLLECTION FW 2014 as well as a skein of Woolfolk Får and a skein of Woolfolk Tynd to 2 lucky winners!
Please leave a comment below until end of Tuesday, January 6th (which is going to be my Xmas eve) and I will draw the winner the following day!
Good Luck and Happy Knitting!!!
Happy new year!;
I feel the need to make one of the blue gray sweaters,
Which one would it be, Laura? Ribbe or Flet 😛
Thank you! Happy New Year to you too, Quinna! Btw, I shared your Onpa project on my Olgajazzy FB page. 🙂
I love your work and am so grateful for your inspiration! Can’t wait to learn more about the new yarns and patterns. Congratulations!
Thanks for you eye for designing and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Olga!
Happy New Year to you as well, Emily! 😀
While reading your post, I was dreaming of feeling this amazing yarn.
Happy new year. I move your work.
Can’t wait to actually have a skein of Woolfolk to play with and happy to say the whole collection is in my faves. What a perfect way to start the Wool Year.
So interesting to read your post about the yarn origins. I love this yarn- how can one not? And your patterns compliment it perfectly.
Your designs are always so unique and beautiful and these yarns sound amazing too! Happy New Year and thank you for this generous give away!
Happy New Year Olga! I love the Woolfolk designs. Now I just need to finish a few things so I can knit some of them.
Wonderful designs! So elegant and luxurious!
Happy New year to everyone!
BYGGE for me. This yarn is like butter!
Such s beautiful collection of patterns, would be totally awesome to win!
Beautiful yarn and patterns! Happy new year!
Working on Knus and ropedance currently in Woolfolk. I am just a little possessed by this beautiful yarn :).
A lovely pattern collection…can’t wait to try the yarn!
i just got to feel this yarn at my LYS. It is gorgeous! Can’t wait to
Get some on my needles.
I’m so glad that I stumbled upon your profile on instagram. Your pictures and designs are an inspiration. Crazy about bygge!
Happy New Year! The patterns are beautiful. I especially love Skygge.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I love your patterns, and reading about your approach to designing is a real treat — Thank you.
Beautiful yarn and perfect patterns!
Happy new year Olga!
Thank you for offering this contest! Ribbe is my favorite pattern in the collection, though it is hard to choose. Each pattern is something I would wear every day.
Lovely yarn and beautiful patterns. Would love to win. Thank you for the opportunity
Lovely patterns and yarn.
Happy creative beautiful new year to everyone involved.
Love the look of BYGGE and SKYGGE. The yarn looks lovely. Happy New Year!
I just knit a shawl with FAR and it is a dream.
Happy New Year Olga. I just love your unusual and unique designs. Thanks so much for the chance to win this great giveaway.
i purchased the BYGGE pattern the day it was released. I started the pattern in a Shibui yarn but it didn’t have the ‘smooshi’ feel I was looking for. I will have to order/purchase the wool folk yarns as your description has sold me on the “ahhhhh, so soft” factor!!! Thank you WOOLFOLK!!!
what great post with so much inspiration! Hoping to be sharing a great year with you Olga!
Beautiful patterns! Love the minimal design. A few of them I already had in my To-Knit-List. :).
The scenery of Patagonia is fantastic. Endless fields, happy sheeps, freedom – it makes me want to go there. And it’s great to see more and more wool companies who place value on sustainability, consciousness and support farmers. I wish this would also happen here in Japan.
A happy woolly 2015!
Love the yarn and colors. The patterns are beautiful, would love to make one my next project! Happy New Year, keep the creative juices flowing.
Happy New Year Olga! Love all your designs, especially Flet & Ribbe! Both are going in my queue. Was petting the yarn in FibreSpace, but had to concentrate on buying for holiday gifts. Now need to knit something for me!
Some lovely designs! Thanks for the chance to win.
Olga … your designs and Woolfolk are sublime. I have Vinkler on the needles and every stitch is a pleasure and a privilege. Happy New Year. I can’t WAIT to see what you’re going to do next. Thank you.
Ohh nice! I adored this collection as soon as I saw it, the minimal shapes are so nicely done. It’s nice to read about the process and the reasoning behind the designs. Knus and Ribbe are my favourites.
Happy new year!
Happy New Year! Beautiful designs, as always. Thank you!
Stunning projects. Very inspiring for the beggining of a new year.
Happy holidays from Italy.
I love the accessories! Thanks for the giveaway.
Flet связала и ношу с удовольствием, спасибо! Вся коллекция очень достойная!
Wow. Happy new year to you Olga. And such a beautiful gift, thank you.
Hi I think Ribbe is stunning, terrific collection, well done all.
what lovely patterns and the yarns looks gorgeously squishy.
What a lovely post and giveaway. Hopeful that this is the first of many collaborations.
Olga,
Love your classic designs, and this Woolfolk collection lives up to the luxuriousness of this fabulous yarn.
Beautiful yarn, the colors are stunning! And the patterns are so nice, simple but sophisticated! Love it!
Have a nice Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
I would love to have the chance to knit with this beautiful yarn!
3 designs just got onto my to-knit list. What a clever collection. Happy New Year, and thank you for the opportunity.
The yarn looks wonderful! (It should go without saying that your designs are wonderful too!)
Christina
beautiful! I particularly love Knop and Fure!
bygge has been calling my name!
Thank you for so many wonderful designs!
Your designs are such a perfect match for this gorgeous yarn. I look forward to seeing what you have in store for us in 2015. Happy New Year!
Love your designs. They are so classic and wearable. Thanks for doing this giveaway. I would love to try this new fiber. Happy New Year!
I am torn between Flet and Ribbe!
Happy new year, skarsgard sister wife!
Beautiful commentary! Flet may be my next sweater. – Susan aka Buttonband on ravelry
These patterns are beautiful!
Finally back to knitting after recovering from torn hand ligament you’ve made it hard for me to pick a project. Maybe Knus, or……
Too many great choices. Beautiful
good evening from germany and best wishes for 2015. i appreciate your work so much and would be happy to see more of your ideas in the next few years 🙂 – i would prefer flet, however.. best wishes, simone
Beautiful designs! I love them all!
Happy new year and a very merry (orthodox) Christmas!
Elisabeth
Happy New Year! This is such a beautiful collection!
These are well designed patterns…lovely. Mary in Cincinnati
Amazingly beautiful…I want them all!
The designs are so lovely. I can’t wait to feel the yarns.
Happy New Year Olga! This collection is truly beautiful and I really enjoyed your description of the yarn. I had heard the name recently, but now I am so excited to try it! Your designs for it are stunning. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent!
These are beautiful patterns!
Happy New Year!
Ooooo…the yarn…the designs.
Ooooooo…
Purely gorgeous, Olga!
I love all your designs. They are simple yet coming with intrieguing details.
And the yarn looks heavenly!
Happy New Year to you!
I heart knop and vinkler. Amazing
You have done such incredible work with these patterns! I have the yarn and pattern for the hat and I can’t wait to start! Thank you for providing us with such elegant patterns to match the luscious yarn.
Wow fabulous designs. Enjoy your Christmas Eve.
I have just finished knitting Flet and I loved it. The wool is so soft – it is amazing, and it knitted up beautifully. It is still drying so I haven’t worn it yet. I am now wondering what to knit next and am thinking (‘d quite like to try Skygge or Fure.
What gorgeous designs! Love them all.
Beautiful designs!
oooh! goodness! in love with all, the wool, your woolfolk designs, the photos, brilliant! thank you for the giveaway and a very happy healthy new year to you! crossing fingers!
Happy New Year!
What interesting patterns and yarns! I sure want to try them out – especially Bygge.
I love them all!!! They look simple but detailed. Happy new year!
This year is a sheep year in Chinese zodiac 🙂
Happy new year! I’ve had an eye on the sweater patterns since they’ve been released, especially Flet. The yarn also looks and sounds amazing – I’d love to try it some day!
What lovely designs! Thank you for the opportunity. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Lots of lovely patterns and I see at least two that I would want to cast on right away.
They are all beautiful! I think I will start with Flet and Ribbe, and then move through the rest of them…. Have a lovely Christmas!
I saw a sample of the Bygge at Knit Purl in Portland and fell in love. The whole collection is quite dreamy.
I had the pleasure of touching a skein of this merino at Rhinebeck this Fall. Wow. It is as soft as down. and I can’t wait to get started on a couple of these sweaters. ,luxury indeed.
What a great collection!
Love Knus!
Happy New Year! I have just started knitting again and love your wool and patterns.
I’ve seen these yarns in person and they are wonderful. Happy New Year
Hope I’m not too late…
I love your designs, here’s hoping there are more this year!
Happy New Year, Olga!
Keep up your good work:-)