Why we Love... Keira

Next in an intermittent series of why we love our yarns! 

Fiber Content

Keira is made from 100% superwash Merino wool. We like dyeing superwash wool yarns as they take color brilliantly and easily. We dye Keira in our full range of monochromatic colors as well as Babettes and Wild Irises. 

Construction

Keira has a dense, high-twist 4-ply construction, making the resulting yarn very round with excellent stitch definition.  The knitted fabric is substantial, drapes well, and has bounce.  We like it for simple, squooshy garter stitch, and textural elements like cables, bobbles, and picots.  The smooth surface and high twist provide a great space for you to confidently add beads to your knitting.

Yardage

We put Keira up into generous 560-yard skeins, making it a great choice for single-skein shawlettes, cowls, and ponchettes.

Projects

Here at the studio, we have knit a variety of projects in Keira, from shawls and hats to sweaters.

Furinji is a great one-skein project perfect for any color of Keira, solid or variegated. Veronica and Babs have knit versions with added beads to the fun fringe detail.

Hello, Hello is a wonderfully big swoop of a shawl. This asymmetrical two-color shawl designed by Kirsten Kapur features repeating bands of color and texture that create a beautiful and wrappable accessory.

Jeera is a hybrid piece. It is knit like a cowl, but designed to look like a semi-circular shawl draped around the neck. It is worked in alternating bands of garter stitch and a very simple textured openwork stitch pattern and begins as a shawl knit flat. When the top edge reaches the appropriate length, the two ends are joined and worked in the round to the end. A picot border finishes the piece. This shawl-cowl is substantial and and drapey, making it a versatile piece to wear. Bunch it up around the neck or pull down over the shoulders for a capelet look.

Keira was the yarn of choice for the September 2016 installment of our Knitting Tour. Inspired by the twists and turns of the ancient trade route known as the Silk Road, this matching lace hat and fingerless mitts set is an ode to the network that connected eastern and western China.

Nurmilintu is a free pattern with alternating bands of garter stitch and lace, adjustable for lots of sizes. We've made one in Mantis Keira.

Long Tailed Hat... sometimes you've just got to have fun with all that yardage. The long tail on this hat makes a perfect little scarf - and since it’s attached to the hat on your head, you aren’t likely to lose it. It’s also a great way to use an entire skein of Keira (you can even make a tassel with any leftovers to embellish the end of the tail). 

Flower eyelets decorate the front and back of this feminine cropped cardigan. Worked seamlessly from the top down, compound raglan sleeve shaping ensures a great fit for all sizes, and deep single rib hem and cuffs maintains the body-celebrating style. A simultaneously worked garter button band and minimal finishing keep Flylette simple.

The cropped lace Punchwork Cardigan goes great over dresses and skirts - or just a tee and jeans! The body is worked in one piece to the underarm, then joined with the elbow-length stockinette sleeve to work a seamless raglan yoke.

Keira’s heavy fingering weight is a perfect match for spring knitting in Treillage. Knitters need lightweight transitional sweaters to take them through spring’s unpredictable weather, and this seamless, top-down design in Keira checks all the boxes. Its eyelet raglan shoulders and lace front promote airflow and breathability, while the 100% wool yarn protects the wearer from a sudden spring chill. Pairing its body-conscious front with a draping, longer back design, this pullover flatters a range of figures and will quickly become a wardrobe favorite.

 What have you knit up - or queued - in Keira?