Decanted by you!
An ode to our wonderful customers
Here at wool decanted we’re thrilled and excited (even quite emotional) about your feedback on our vintage yarns. The feedback and the images of the beautiful garments you’ve been making have really inspired us to keep moving forward on our wool journey, encouraging more and more makers to use British wool yarn.
Yokey Dokey by Gudrun Johnston
Made by Lynda
This was made by Lynda, who is very camera shy!
This beautiful Yokey Dokey 4ply sweater was knitted by Lynda, and we have made up kits using both 50g and 25g mini skeins. Linda chose vintage 20 Natural (MC) & Shepherd’s Delight (CC1), vintage 21 Storm (CC2), Lazy Hazy (CC3) and our botanically dyed yarn Cosmos (CC4) to create this gorgeous colour combination.
The images shown are size 55 3/4” with a 4” generous ease, based on the straight sleeve version.
Linda’s Pattern Insights
“So….. my jumper is chest 51 “ (featured image) as I like a generous sweater so I can wear a short sleeved T-shirt under. But I actually knit a size 55 3/4 bust. You have to understand all the swatches and knitting tension to get the fit you want!
I used the recommended needle sizes 3.25mm for rib and 3.5mm for stocking stitch and colour work, as per the pattern.
On one colour stocking stitch 28 stitches meets gauge, but on colour work 32 stitches to 4”. This is normal! Gauge always differs with colour work. Some people go down a needle size. I don’t, but try to knit evenly. To loose and holes appear, to tight and your colour work pulls and is uneven. So knitting colour work regularly helps with your tension. I compensate with length taking out some one colour rows within chart if I’m knitting a larger size
Also the total yardage given for that size in the main colour is equivalent to 7.4 hanks of Vintage 20, but even with extended body length (an additional 6” ) I actually used just over 6 hanks!
But…. Always size up against a preferred favourite jumper or cardigan that fits well, knit on large circular needles so that you can try on. Double check all measurements”
You loved this so much we have created yarn bundles which you can buy here can buy this yarn bundle here and the pattern on Ravelry here
Hinterlands Shawl by Helen Stewart
Made by Jane and Jo
This is our best selling shawl kit.
Designed by the very talented Australian Designer - Helen Stewart. Both shawls have been knitted using both our vintage 20 and vintage 21 4ply yarns. We love both of these colour combinations, so much so, that we have created new yarn kits (thank you very much Jane and Jo for your colour inspiration!)
The image on the left uses Storm, Shepherds’s Delight and Natural 4ply. The other is River Thyme, Midnight Lagoon and Natural 4ply. We think they are both absolutely stunning and can’t pick our favourite!
Two-Color Mistake Rib Cowl by Purl Soho:
Made by Kevin
Two-Colour Mistake Rib Cowl by Purl Soho
Knitted by the very talented Kevin (on the left!)
A gorgeous and generous cowl with a finished circumference of 55”!
Knitted with vintage 20 (Midnight Lagoon) and vintage 21 (Natural Cream in DK).
As Purl Soho say on their website “Not all mistakes are bad. In fact, some result in fascinating, lofty, and very beautiful stitch patterns! The so-called Mistake Rib is one such mistake, a case of misaligned knits and purls that creates a squishy-soft hand knit like this one, our Two-Color Mistake Rib Cowl”
You can buy this pattern on the Purl Soho Website here
Alpaca Love for Grown-Ups by Monika Russel:
Made by Where’s Grandma’s Daughter!
And some-times our customers show off their own creativity with adjustments to patterns!
This is Alpaca Love for grown-ups by Monika Russel….without the dots.
It’s knitted with our vintage 20 Midnight Lagoon (MC) and Lazy Hazy (CC) in DK by our lovely customers who keep on returning!
You can purchase the pattern here on Ravelry.
Stick Season Sweater by Rebecca Glow:
Made by Madeleine Gardner
WOW! This was knitted by the very talented Madeleine. You can follow her here on Instagram.
This gorgeous sweater was made in vintage 23 DK Bottle Green, and it’s knitted up like a dream! Made with just 10 skeins!
As Rebecca says “the Stick Season sweater is inspired by the Stick Season album by Noah Kahan. It’s all about getting cosy as the days get colder, and having comfort nearby.
The sweater is a take on a traditional gansey with a textured yoke, shoulder detailing and faux seams. The drop shoulder makes for an easy and relaxed fit”
You can buy this pattern on Ravelry here
Fledgling :
Designed and Made by Claire Slade
Designed by the very talented Claire Slade.
This beanie is made using just 2 skeins of DK in both Midnight Lagoon and Lazy Hazy.
It’s a visually striking and unusual design, which we love.
As Claire says “This bold and beautiful hat is created using knit and slipped stitches so that you are only ever using one colour per round.
Fledgling is knit from the bottom up to the fancy crown.”
You can purchase the pattern here on Ravelry.
Leftovers Hat Pattern by Debonnaireyarns:
Made by Claire
What a gorgeous hat! But this is only available as a combined shawl and hat yarn and pattern kit on a competitive website!
We still think it’s a gorgeous colour combination - Shepherd’s Delight and Natural knitted together to give this gorgeous marled effect.
We won’t be sharing the link on this one though!
Surprise Sock Along by Westknits:
Made by Vicki
And what about this gorgeous soft sock?
This is the Contrast Blast Sock designed by Stephen West and made by Vicki. We love the colour combination using Midnight Lagoon and Lazy Hazy!
This sock pattern was for the first Westknits Surprise Sock Along 2023. You can now download all of the instructions to knit these beautifully detailed socks. They are knit top-down with simple cables, stripes, slip stitches, and lots of crispy texture!
Designed by the extremely talented Stephen, link on Westknits here
Unfortunately, our yarn is not suitable for everyday sock wear as it’s not robust enough for your lovely heels and toes!
But as a treat yourself occasional bed sock it should be okay!
Made by Ruth Murphy!
We were lucky enough to meet Ruth at our very first event - Unravel back in May 2021. Using our original batches - vintage 20 in both Midnight Lagoon and Silver Ripple, Ruth made the gorgeous Ama Sweater, by the very talented Maddie Harvey. Doesn’t it look wonderful on Ruth! You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry, here
Just a little bit more … from us!
When we set out …
to develop a new 100% British wool yarn we wanted to make SOFTNESS one of the key characteristics, to demonstrate the versatility of fine British wool. We wanted ‘next to skin’ softness. We were clear that we’d like to encourage all makers to consider British wool as part of their yarn choices. And so began the wool journey that created our signature yarn, vintage 20.
What makes vintage 20 so soft?
First it’s the blend of fibres we use. We were fortunate enough to be able to work with Sue Blacker*, who was a recognised expert in the unique qualities of wool from different British sheep breeds, and how to get the best from them. Together we decided to blend the wool fibres from two of Britain’s softest breeds, Shetland and Bluefaced Leicester sheep in a recipe that combines the best characteristics of the two breeds. The well-known Bluefaced Leicester fibre adds sheen and brightness to the yarn. The Shetland fibre, which is fine and fluffy, provides resilience and stretch.
All our wool fibres are fully traceable to individually selected British farms. We know the farmers and their sheep and we are building longer term relationships with them to make our yarn production sustainable.
“I loved working with this yarn, it’s beautifully fine and knits into a fabric that has the perfect balance of stitch definition and softness“
Marina Skua, Knitwear Designer
“I love the colours together and the very best thing of all is I can wear something with Shetland in. It really is a big thing for me being able to wear your wool next to my skin“
Julie Moyes, Knitpurloops (Ravelry)
Next it’s the spinning. We worked with the technicians at the mill to agree spinning specifications of 2/9Nm and 4/9Nm, equivalent to 4ply and DK weights. The 2 plies give a stretchy twist to the yarn and make it nicely elastic. Then we agreed it should be worsted spun, a process in which all the fibres are combed parallel, with short fibres combed out, to create a soft, smooth and lustrous yarn.
“The yarn is incredible. Can’t wait to finish the shawl as it looks lovely and feels amazing“
Lucy Ovington, werewools (Instagram)
“ I just wanted to share my decanted scarf/wrap. I started out making an “ordinary” striped scarf, but then thought it didn’t do the yarn and colours any justice, so I frogged it and decided to do a double knit version of the Funchal Möbius wrap instead.”
Kicki Frisch, Kroker (Ravelry)
A beautiful wrap, a project knitted by Kicki.
This versatile wrap is a design by Kate Davies Designs, and I’m sure you’ll agree Kicki has created a fabulous version in vintage 20 Shepherds Delight and Natural colourways.
“ I just wanted to share my decanted scarf/wrap. I started out making an “ordinary” striped scarf, but then thought it didn’t do the yarn and colours any justice, so I frogged it and decided to do a double knit version of the Funchal Möbius wrap instead.”
Kicki Frisch, Kroker (Ravelry)
Here are two exquisite examples of the Dryopteris top, designed by Marina Skua in wool decanted vintage 20 4ply.
Knitted by Amanda in Shepherd’s Delight.
“Thank you @marinaskua for the fabulous design and @wooldecanted for the yarn that is so fine and gorgeous to work with”.
Amanda O’Dell, Amanda O’Dell.754 (Instagram)
Modelled by Harriet, in natural, showing the versatility of the top
“I’ve seen this being worn on its own and the yarn is certainly soft enough for me to do that but it’s been a bit chilly …. I do think it’s going to be perfect for layering this Autumn”.
Harriet, harrietwildwoodstitches (Instagram)
Look at the detail in this! It’s been expertly knitted by Lucy.
This is the Wild Flowers shawl designed by Katya Gorbachev as part of Laine Magazine’s 52 Weeks of Shawls.
Amongst her many glowing comments Lucy said “wool decanted not only have amazing yarn…. but their ethos is wonderful”. She went on to say “…BFL and Shetland blended to make the most glorious yarn imaginable”
Lucy Ovington , werewools (Instagram)
Finally, we have the totally amazing Debbie modelling her equally amazing version of the Hana sweater by Junko Odamoto.
Debbie has knitted her sweater in vintage 20 DK, in Natural and Lazy Hazy.
Hana sweater is knitted flat and the front and back are each made up of three pieces, that are knitted using a modular technique. Once the body and sleeves are finished, the shoulders, sleeves and body seams are sewn together by embroidery - which Debbie has done in Lazy Hazy. Looks fabulous!
“I really LOVED using your yarn. Your yarn knitted up like a dream. Blocked really well and I completely love the great colour. Thank you so much for producing such a great yarn in the UK.”
Debbie Lewis
To all our vintages - take a bow!
And to everyone who has contributed to our wool journey so far - you are stars!
Big enormous “thank you!” to everyone who took the time to send us photos of the lovely projects you’ve made in our yarn. It’s really quite humbling to see our little project come to fruition and know that our British wool has been decanted by you and made into beautiful garments that will last a lifetime. Just as we hoped.
*Sadly, Sue passed away in April 2021. We will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her, however briefly, and we have dedicated vintage 20 in her memory. It will always remain the beautiful yarn that she helped create.