Have you had a chance to try out one of the newest yarns in space? We are so excited to have Julie Asselin yarns, and wanted to get to know the team a little better. Read on to get to know Julie and Jean-Francois, and be inspired.

Tell us a bit about your team…what makes them unique / creative / different?

Julie started dyeing yarn in 2011 being always curious about how things are made, she wanted to know how yarn was made and how dyeing occurred.

After a couple of experiments she started researching mills in Canada and the US and produced the first yarn in our line, Zetta a bulky Fino Wool/Alpaca Blend, together with Green Mountain Spinnery out in Vermont. After that,  many other yarns came to be created together with our mill buddies. Most of our yarns are spun in Canada, then the US and Japan for one of them.

About 7 years ago, Jean-Francois her husband joined her in the dyeing of the yarn.

We are now a team of 4 people all working together to bring our yarns to life. We all multi task and every member of our team is essential to the process, we often say that we couldn’t do without our unity and reliance.

We are all knitters and plot many projects for our needles while prepping the yarns to go to our retailers.

Where do you seek inspiration for your color ways?

We are very nature oriented so inspiration comes from the forest, our garden, people that we know etc.. Sometimes also a color reminds us of a moment in time. We usually produce colors then name them. Now that we have a consistent color palette we tend to fill in gaps when we create new colors so we get inspired in the dyeing room by just letting the colors speak to us and then they are given a name.

What do you love most about the Leizu yarn base?

The addition of silk to the blend lends just the right amount of sheen, drape and at the same time resistance to make it our go to for anything. It hold up well, minimum pill thanks to a good twist in the yarn and longer staple fibers, we could go on and on . The dyes also takes beautifully on the fibers, very vibrant colors 🙂

What is your all time favorite design done in one of your yarns?

Nydia

Sizes:

1 (2, 3, 4, 5) 6, 7, 8, 9 {10, 11, 12}

FINISHED BUST CIRCUMFERENCES

• In Inches: 29.75 (32.75, 36, 39, 42) 45, 48, 51.25, 54.25 {57.25, 60.25, 63.25}”
• In Centimeters: 74.5 (82, 90, 97.5, 105) 112.5, 120.5, 128, 135.5 {143, 150.5, 158.5} cm

Circumferences are for the finished cardigan worn closed. Cardigan is intended to fit with approximately 0–2” (0–5 cm) of negative ease at the full bust. Full-length, long sleeve sample shown in size 2 with negative ease.

Needles:

• US 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 32” (80 cm) or longer, or needle size necessary to obtain correct gauge
• US 4 (3.5 mm) circular needle, 32” (80 cm) or longer, or needle size .5 mm smaller than gauge needle
• Appropriate needle(s) in both sizes for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round

Double Date

Sizes:

XS (S, M, L, XL) {2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL}
Bust circumference: 37.5 (41, 46, 49.5, 52.5) {56, 60.5, 64, 68.5}” / 95.5 (104, 117, 125.5, 133.5) {142, 153.5, 162.5, 174} cm

6” – 8” / 15 cm – 20.5 cm positive ease in the bust circumference intended

Note that sizes 4XL – 5XL were not test knitted.

MC: 860 (977, 1,103, 1,231, 1,339) {1,482, 1,616, 1,717, 1,804} yds / 786 (893, 1,009, 1,126, 1,224) {1,355, 1,478, 1,570, 1,650} m DK weight yarn
CC: 289 (305, 326, 406, 432) {459, 538, 607, 657} yds / 264 (279, 298, 371, 395) {420, 492, 555, 601} m DK weight yarn

Needles:

• US 6 – 4.0 mm
• US 2½ – 3.0 mm

Kari

Sizes:

XS (S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X).
Finished bust circumference 85 (94, 103.5, 111, 122.5, 133.5, 137.5)cm / 33.5 (37, 40.75, 43.75, 48.25, 52.5, 54.25)”.

Kari is designed to have approx. 5-7.5 cm / 2-3” of positive ease around the bust.

Needles:

• Needle A (for the Broken Seed Stitch sections)
  One 80 cm / 30” circular needle, and a set of needles for working small circumferences in the round (DPN’s, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars) in size needed to obtain gauge listed.
  Suggested needle size: 3.5 mm / US #4.
• Needle B (for the mosaic sections)
  One 80 cm / 30” circular needle, and a set of needles for working small circumferences in the round.
  Suggested needle size: 3.75 mm / US #5.
• Needle C (for the finishing of the neckline and the button bands)
  One 80 cm / 30” circular needle and a set of needles for working small circumferences in the round.
  Suggested needle size: 3 mm / US #2.5.

Foramina

Sizes:

• A (B, C, D, E, F) / 32 (37.5, 40, 45.5, 50.5, 58.5) inches / 81 (95, 101.5, 115.5, 128, 148.5) cm.
• The measure is taken from the biggest part of the bust including 0 to 5 inches/12.5 cm of positive ease.

Needles: