This past May, Designer Laura Zukaite, her husband, and two small children embarked on a month-long Patagonia trip. While Laura spent many hours of the road trip caring for her babies in the car, she devoted every free-handed moment of her travel time doing what she loves most– knitting with her favorite Yarnalia yarns.
“Exploring Patagonia has been on my bucket list for a long time,” Laura says. Before she met her husband (who happens to be from Ecuador), she backpacked solo through South America, never making it to Chile or Argentina. Instead, on that trip back in 2016, Laura covered miles in Columbia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador. When her husband asked her what she wanted for her fortieth birthday this year, Laura knew her only wish was a trip to Patagonia shared with her family –and a backpack full of Yarnalia!
Driving more than 10,000 miles in a month might seem daunting to some, but to a knitwear designer riding as a passenger, all it means is copious hours to create. Between repeating the alphabet several hundred times to her three-year-old son, and feeding her four-month-old daughter, Laura had time to knit three sweaters, one of which that will be featured in Yarnalia’s upcoming vintage-inspired collection.
(Laura Zukaite’s Yarnalia sweater designer in progress. The sweater was crafted in our 100% Baby Alpaca Worsted yarn, Cozy, in the Sea Foam colorway)
KNITTING ON A PATAGONIA ADVENTURE
One might wonder; where do you stash yarn and travel-friendly knitting supplies for Patagonia when traveling with small children with just one piece of luggage for a family of four? The few flights the family traveled on allowed four personal items, one for each family member. Laura ensured that one of those personal carry-on items was filled with Yarnalia favorites Wooly and Skylark in Hazelnut and Cozy in Sea Foam. Laura strategically packed for exploring Patagonia; “I had to plan really well,” she explains. I didn’t want to take too much yarn, and I didn’t want to run out. In those five weeks, I finished all the panels for all three sweaters and barely took any yarn back [home].”
The Harmony Pullover was inspired by Yarnalia’s design call for a fisherman’s sweater with a feminine touch. Yarnalia was looking for a “Feminine Aran look,” she explains. “A vintage feeling with a modern twist was [featured] on the mood board, and I sketched up a design for Yarnalia based on that inspiration.” Cozy in Sea Foam was the perfect compliment to a design that she would knit amid the backdrop of the Andes mountains.
DESIGNING A FEMININE ARAN SWEATER IN COZY
(A glimpse of Laura’s design process; a sketch of her design concept, gauge swatch, and a ball of Cozy in Sea Foam)
How did Laura add feminine flair to a traditional vintage Fisherman’s sweater? “There are so many modern versions [of the Aran sweater], and I wanted something more feminine, so I added a berries motif. Yarnalia can have a vintage vibe, but it needs to be modern,” Laura explains.
Another way to add femininity? Laura’s yarn choice, Cozy, was a simple answer. Cozy is our 100% baby alpaca in a traditional worsted weight. “This particular alpaca yarn has a very good twist,” Laura says. “Alpaca can be slightly limp, but the tighter twist prevents excess shedding and doesn’t stretch out or droop when knitted.” Cozy is a sumptuously soft fiber, and in color like Sea Foam that reflects the shades of the sea, it is a perfect nod to the traditional Aran Sweater. Sea Foam is a subtle tint of color, adding fashion interest to your wardrobe, yet it can be styled as a neutral colorway. It is a favorite shade here with our Yarnalia team.
(Detail shot of the Harmony Pullover in Cozy, Sea Foam colorway)
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ARAN SWEATER
Originating from the rugged shores off Ireland’s west coast, the Aran sweater was born out of necessity. Fishermen and farmers crafted these garments from untreated sheep’s wool, embracing the natural lanolin for water resistance and warmth against the Atlantic’s unforgiving winds.
The intricate patterns of the Aran sweater are more than decorative; they are symbols with potential meanings ranging from clan affiliation to maritime elements like waves or fishing nets. The Diamond knit stitch symbolizes wealth and success, while the Cable knit stitch represents the fisherman’s ropes, each twist and turn to honor the craft and expertise of the fishermen who wore them. “The wives used to knit these sweaters for their husbands,” Laura says. “Each woman would make a mistake in the sweater that only she knew about so if something happened to her husband, they could identify him by his sweater.”
In the early 20th century, the Aran sweater began to capture global attention as a practical garment and a symbol of Irish heritage and traditional craftsmanship. The intricate designs and natural materials appealed to fashion enthusiasts and designers worldwide, leading to adaptations and variations that continue to honor its roots.
Today, knitting an Aran sweater connects knitters and wearers alike to a storied past, reminding us that true craftsmanship transcends time and trends.
(Detail shot of the Harmony Pullover in Cozy, Sea Foam colorway)
MORE ABOUT KNITWEAR DESIGNER LAURA ZUKAITE AND YARNALIA
Laura has worked with Yarnalia since our inception in 2022. “Necessity is the mother of invention, ” she says. Yarnalia, very much like the Aran sweater, was born of necessity. “There is no destination with an easy way of finding, for example, worsted weight yarn for a specific project. You can browse yarn anywhere, but if you’re looking for something specific, it can be difficult to find something that meets all of your needs,” she explains. Yarnalia was the answer to fill this void in the market. Every Yarnalia yarn in our collection is a “base yarn,” (no novelty yarns) with a perfect match for the most common traditional yarn weights. Our goal at Yarnalia? Creating high-quality, classic yarns at very affordable prices. “It’s the best product for its’ niche that you can find,” Laura says.
While Laura might be an integral part of Yarnalia, she says, “I choose to knit with this yarn because I love it.”
Want to knit the Harmnoy Pullover? Save on your next creation with Cozy at 20% off all month long. And don’t forget to tag us @yarnalia and #createwithyarnalia. Let’s create some magic together!
