Chunky Cable Cowl Pattern

We have been busy bees over at Woolarium the last few months. Behind the scenes there has been much thinking, much planning, much knitting. But it has all been worth it - for today we launch the first of the patterns that we have been working on!

We're very proud to introduce you to our Chunky Cable Cowl pattern, exclusively designed by Leisl Shanley for Woolarium. Created with beginner knitters in mind, it's a fabulous introduction to cabling, and is sure to keep many a neck snug and warm in the colder months!



The cowl is knit up in Spud & Chloë Outer - a lovely super bulky weight yarn composed of superwash wool and organic cotton. Knit using 10mm needles, this is a quick, fun knit - making it ideal for Christmas gifts. The yarn is so deliciously soft that you'll want to make one for everybody on your Christmas list, especially with a cable pattern as easy as this one!

The pattern is free with every purchase of Spud & Chloë Outer. 2 skeins results in a cowl approximately 95cm long, however if you like your cowls to be longer we recommend using 3 skeins.



Our cowl is knit up in shade Rhino (7220), which is a gorgeous soft grey which works beautifully with dark winter coats. However, it took us ages to pick a colour for the sample, as there are so many lovely shades to choose from. You can view our range of Outer colours on the Woolarium website.



We've had so much fun creating this pattern, and hope you love it as much as we do. Many thanks to our model Kate (who has requested one of her own in payment!), and to Spud & Chloë for creating such a gorgeous yarn to work with. We're looking forward to seeing our customer's versions!

Summer Tees

It's soon to be summer, which means that it's time to slip, slop, slap - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat - and if that shirt happens to be a gorgeous hand-knitted one, then all the better! For when the sun is beaming down and the mercury is rising, there is nothing better than the feel of cool, crisp natural fibres on the skin, like cotton, linen and bamboo.

Sharron and Leisl at Woolarium are both planning some lovely summer tee knits - here's the shortlist of their absolute favourites!

Hane by Kirsten Johnstone is a beautiful design that looks stunning for both day and night. With gently gathered side shaping and an asymmetrical drape, this tee will suit all body types. The pattern comes with 6 design variations, including sleeves and sleeve ruffle. Designed for linen, we think the Shibui Linen would be perfect for this garment. Leisl is going to make hers up in the Poppy colourway, so if you head into the store over summer you might be lucky enough to see her wearing it!




Another beautiful design is the Irokata Tee by Olga Buraya-Kefelian. This colour-blocked tee is made for 4 ply yarns, and once again the Shibui Linen would be ideal. Short row techniques employed for the neckline and colour shaping mean that minimal finishing is required - hoorah! We love how cleverly Olga designs her knits, and this one is another winner.

This being Melbourne, however, you can never trust the weather to stay warm and settled for long. When the cool wind blows in, a versatile top with longer sleeves is often required - like Boxy by Joji Locatelli. With a wide body and slim, flattering sleeves, this easy knit is the ideal top for cooler days, or for covering up in at the beach. Knit in a 4 ply yarn, we think the Spud and Chloe Fine, Rowan Wool Cotton or Shibui Staccato or Linen would be lovely choices.

Last but definitely not least is this gorgeous tank top designed by Sharron herself! Called Vertical, this beautiful design is knit up in the wonderfully drapey Baby Bamboo. Designed with relaxed summer days in mind, this top will look equally good over pants as it does over your favourite bikini! The lace centre stripe gives this classic design a modern edge, and it is sure to become a summer staple. Simply purchase yarn for this divine tank, and the pattern is yours for free!

If you purchase the yarn by mail order, drop us a note and we'll include the pattern in your parcel. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to seeing all your lovely summer knits - be sure to pop into the shop to show them off to us if you can!

Blue Sky Alpacas

If you have been into the Woolarium store lately, you may have noticed that we have several walls of yarn. And if you looked more closely, you may have been delighted and thrilled to discover that one of these walls contains the glorious, the wonderful, the dazzlingly spectacular yarns from Blue Sky Alpacas!

Both the Blue Sky Alpacas and their off-shoot brand Spud & Chloe are high-quality yarns with sumptuous finishes yet hard-wearing capabilities. Coming in a huge range of colours ranging from bright contemporary hues to more classic shades, the yarns are available in a wide variety of plys and fibres, including organic cottons. Let's take a closer look!

The yarns in the picture above are, from left to right:
Metalico - 5 ply yarn made up of 50% Baby Alpaca and 50% Silk.
Sport Weight - 100% Baby Alpaca in an 8 ply
Techno - A chunky weight yarn comprised of 68% Baby Alpaca, 10% Extra Fine Merino and 22% silk
Worsted Cotton - 100% Organic Cotton
Outer - A super bulky yarn, made up of 65% Wool and 35% Organic Cotton
Extra - 10 ply, comprised of 50% Baby Alpaca and 50% Fine Merino
Sweater - Another 10 ply, this superwash yarn is 55% Wool and 45% Organic Cotton
Fine - 4 ply, made up of 80% superwash Wool and 20% silk.

We are proud to be the only store in Melbourne to stock both of these ranges. Not only are the yarns themselves absolutely lovely to knit with, but they also come supported by a fabulous range of patterns, which you can see in-store.

We also have the full range of colour cards, so if you can't find the right shade or ply for your project, just let us know and we can show you the other types of  yarn available and then order them in for you.

You can peruse our range of Blue Sky Alpacas and Spud & Chloe in our online store - and don't forget, we offer free shipping with every purchase, no matter how big or small!