(The Labyrinth Blanket designed by Vanessa Coscarelli Black in Pumpkin Pie Softy is the ultimate Fall/Winter staple)
We’re thrilled to unveil our latest pattern collection, where classic vintage designs meet modern innovation, all brought to life through Yarnalia yarns. This season, our knitwear and crochet designers have skillfully combined timeless vintage elements with contemporary twists, using our exquisite yarns to highlight every detail.
Vintage styling typically strongly reflects styles and trends associated with that era. And while “Vintage-inspired” was the theme of this season’s design call, our knitwear and crochet designers understood that Yarnalia’s looks needed to reflect vintage-inspired styles while infusing a modern vibe.
Explore 10 Free Patterns with a Modern Touch
We are excited to present ten new, free patterns that showcase how our yarn in various harmonious colors can transform vintage-inspired designs into stunning modern creations. Each pattern is designed to shine with our carefully curated yarn shades, from a bold, bulky knit lace blanket to a delicate rose-bud capelet. Here’s a glimpse into the ten new projects you can create with Yarnalia:
- Labyrinth Blanket
- Enigma Scarf
- Serenity Cowl
- Blooming Capelet
- Belle Pullover
- Vintage Scarf
- Harmony Pullover
- Antique Cowl
- Endless Scarf
- Precious Scarf
Pattern Collection Review
Labyrinth Blanket:
Meet one of my favorite pieces from Yarnalia’s new pattern collection, the Labyrinth Blanket. Designed by Vanessa Coscarelli Black, this luxe blanket features an intricate lace pattern that is unexpectedly knit with our bulky, 100% fine merino yarn Softy. This blanket is elevated by Softy in our rich burnt orange colorway, Pumpkin Pie. Softy is a single-ply bulky yarn that really amps up the stitch definition. The Labyrinth blanket is both unique and chic. It is a great blanket to cuddle under with a hot beverage during the cooler months, offering design interest for your home decor with its’ beautiful texture and ultimate squishy warmth.
Color Suggestions
While I’m typically not an orange person, Pumpkin Pie is a hue that screams Fall/Winter to me, and I can see it adding a beautiful touch draped over my couch. If you’re craving a neutral option, I love the idea of knitting this in a super-soft grey like Cloudy Day or an even simpler basic colorway such as Antique Ivory.
Cloudy Day
Antique Ivory
Enigma Scarf
Want to add serious texture to your wardrobe? The Enigma Scarf by Laura Zukaite features a bold geometric motif. Crocheted in our single-ply 100% Superwash Wool Skylark in Midnight Teal, this piece stands out in our latest pattern collection. Skylark is a perfect base for creating light structure and stitch definition, yet with a fantastic drape. Midnight Teal is a bold color option for those who love neutrals; this colorway is a tint of drama that’s seasonless. Wear it over a blouse as pictured, or dare to pair it with a wool coat and even a lightweight strapless dress to really showcase this stunning pattern. Love granny squares but don’t love the seaming? Laura combined a floral motif granny square with a lacy mesh to minimize seaming, and the effect is just glorious!
Serenity Cowl
I love lightweight accessories for layering, and the Serenity Cowl by Vanessa Coscarelli Black is definitely on my to-make list. I love that Vanessa chose to work with Joy, our lace-weight 100% Baby Alpaca, in a bold colorway like Deep Pink. This piece reflects a vintage vibe with lace stitchwork in such a lightweight yarn, yet the bright pop of color gives it a modern twist. I love the portability of this piece; with just two balls of Joy, you can easily knit this one on the go! Paired with a simple neutral outfit, the delicate lace pattern and thoughtfully designed scalloped bottom edge is an outstanding accessory that can be worn by just about anyone. I am already styling this piece in my head!
Color Suggestions
In keeping with the trend with our bold color choice for this design, I think these could be great color options for the Serenity Cowl:
Joy in Bright Red is a great color statement that beautifully showcases your stitches.
Joy in Bright Turquoise is another fantastic, rich hue that will credit all the lace work involved in making the Serenity Cowl.
Blooming Capelet
What’s better than brightening the cooler temps with a pattern design budding with style? The Blooming Capelet, designed by Letizia De Antoniis, is a chic piece that’s crocheted in our sport-weight easy-care base Marvel. Pictured in our beloved Pale Violet colorway, Marvel is a blend of superwash merino, acrylic, and nylon. This rosebud design necessitated a yarn as soft as it is durable, and our Pale Violet colorway is the perfect tint for elevating this capelet. I personally have very minimal knowledge of crochet, and this pattern from our new collection makes me want to sharpen my skills! Like Letizia, I’d create the Blooming Capelet in Pale Violet, as it is one of my favorite Yarnalia colorways!
(Behind-the-scenes look at Letizia De Antoniis’ design process; an early sketch of her Blooming Capelet concept)
Here at Yarnalia, we put out a design call with an overall theme, and designers often submit sketches like the above to illustrate early design concepts. We just love sharing the process from inception to final pattern design with you!
Suggestions for Wear:
While the Blooming Capelet is pictured as an accessory to a strapless dress, the possibilities for this botanical beauty are truly endless. Wear it over a sweater for a modern removable collar, or pair it over a basic tank and denim for a unique, trendy look.
Belle Pullover
Behold the ultimate feminine vintage sweater. The Belle Pullover by Laura Zukaite is truly a wearable work of art. One of the incredible features of our Yarnalia yarn is that you can use multiple yarn qualities in the same colorway and achieve a perfect match. Laura worked with Wooly and Skylark in our Hazelnut colorway and achieved a seamless color transition from the pullover collar to the body. Wooly is used here to work the sweater front, back, and sleeves in a diamond stitch pattern with twisted rib cuffs and hem. Skylark, our soft, springy fingering weight single-ply yarn, is the ultimate yarn for the scallop edge collar.
Vintage Scarf
Who doesn’t love a simple knit with pristine finishing details? The Vintage Scarf by Matthew Schrank is knit in our chunky weight, Yarnalia Fluffy in Light Hazelnut, accented with Light Ruby shoes, a soft pink that acts as a tint of color, making this color combination a neutral with just a subtle pop. The Vintage Scarf pattern exudes a refined look as the yarn is neatly carried along the edges. (I love a project with fewer ends to weave in!)
Here are some additional curated color suggestions:
For a monochromatic, moody look, try Light Feather accented with Grey Raven
Pale Olive Branch and Winter Stormy Sky are another gorgeous combination.
Harmony Pullover
If you haven’t yet handled our 100% Baby Alpaca worsted weight yarn, Cozy, you can’t imagine the incredible softness. Not to mention, Cozy is spun to withstand the test of time and offers incredible durability. Meet your next heirloom knit, the Harmony Pullover by Laura Zukaite. Inspired by the classic Fisherman sweater originating in the Aran Islands, this pullover is one you won’t want to take off. While Laura’s design is definitely a nod to classic, modern, feminine details, take this sweater to great heights. With an intricate center cable framed by little twist cables and hanging berries panels, this pullover has plenty of knit charts to simplify the stitchwork and keep your mind occupied while crafting an incredible piece. Traditionally, you might expect this sweater to be ivory or white, but our team just loved how the soft pale shade of Cozy in Sea Foam showcases all of its special details. Finished with a boat neck (how appropriate!), this design choice really drives home modern femininity with a vintage vibe.
Antique Cowl
One of our favorite ways to work with our Yarnalia yarns is holding two different yarns double to create something completely unexpected. The Antique Cowl by Laura Zukaite features Marvel in Hazel Wood and Stormy in Cherry Blossoms. Had the cowl been knit in Hazel Wood alone, it would not have reflected Yarnalia’s modern aesthetic. Laura’s choice to knit this accessory in a vintage crossover pattern really cultivates an antique look. At the same time, a pop of variegated harmonious colors with Stormy in Cherry Blossoms lends itself to a much more modern feeling. Together, the two yarns contribute to the cowl’s dreamy aesthetic and increase its durability. Stormy, our 70% super wash wool and 30% nylon blend fingering weight yarn, does much of the work for this piece, showcasing shades of soft antique ivory, hazel wood, and cherry.
How to Wear It
The beauty of the Antique Cowl is that it can be worn as a cowl or over the shoulders for a more dramatic look. Cowls are great for keeping warm, but this stylish accessory will take your basic blouses and jeans to a new level.
Endless Scarf
The Endless Scarf by Matthew Schrank is created in Wonder, our DK 30% Wool/ 70% Acrylic blend. Chic and oversized, this reversible accessory makes a bold statement in a neutral whisper of color in Spring Lilac. Matthew’s pattern is for the advanced beginner and beyond. His choice of honeycomb cables evokes a vintage or classic feel due to its intricate and textured nature. The detailed and somewhat ornate appearance aligns with styles from earlier periods, giving it a vintage charm, and Spring Lilac makes it a modern, everyday piece. I personally love this oversized accessory that can be worn as a casual or elevated dressier piece.
Color Suggestions
To maintain a modern vintage feel, I suggest trying Spring Lilac (as pictured), Light Deep Sea, and Pale Silver Dream. Each color option will bring out your stitchwork and offer a soft, dreamy, durable result that’s machine-washable!
Light Deep Sea
Pale Silver Dream
Precious Scarf
The Precious Scarf by Laura Zukaite is a super-lightweight, open-lace-work scarf. This pattern features both charted and written instructions for easy understanding. Delicate, feminine, and airy, the Precious Scarf is the ultimate transition piece for keeping you warm and stylish during transition seasons. Knit with 9mm needles, this intermediate-level scarf will breeze by as you work the 14-row lace repeats.
How to Wear It
The beauty of an accessory like the Precious Scarf is that it is lightweight and versatile. Wear it like a traditional scarf around your neck, or tie it for a more artistic, feminine feel. Knit with one ball of Joy in Sweet Honey; this piece can look amazing tied in your hair. The Precious Scarf is a timeless, elegant piece that can be dressed up with a blouse and trousers, a more formal dress, or worn casually with jeans.
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The Essential Role of Color in Your Next Knit or Crochet Project
Here at Yarnalia, we are known for our classic true-to-gauge basic yarns, available in various neutral and bold colorways. Our color selections for our latest pattern collection were strategically selected keeping in mind the following:
- Enhances Design Elements: Colors bring patterns to life by highlighting intricate details and textures. The right shade can accentuate design features, making your projects more visually appealing and true to their intended style.
- Sets the Mood: Colors play a significant role in conveying the mood and aesthetic of a design. For example, vibrant and bold hues can give a modern twist to vintage patterns, while muted, classic colors can preserve the timeless elegance of a design when the design details are more modern.
- Creates Visual Interest: The interplay of colors adds depth and dimension to patterns. Our strategic color choices add to a project’s visual interest and contrast, drawing attention to key aspects of the design and making the finished piece more engaging.
Affects Yarn Performance: How yarn colors interact can impact the overall look and feel of the finished product. You’ll notice that some designs in our new pattern collection utilize more than one yarn. Proper color selection ensures the yarn’s texture complements the pattern, producing a cohesive and polished final piece.
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So there you have it! We hope our modern vintage collection inspires you to try new techniques you might not have attempted before and reach for Yarnalia colors that might be outside your comfort zone. While our yarns are available in a wide range of colors, these pieces were intentionally designed and curated with color at the forefront. Knitting up one (or a few!) of the pieces from our new collection? Be sure to tag us @yarnalia or #createwithyarnalia. We can’t wait to see what you make, your color selections, and how you style your new creations!
