WYS Winwick Mum Collection yarn – colour inspiration

Hellooo!  It’s lovely to see you back again, and thanks once again for all your comments!  I’m doing my best to keep up with replying to them all, and although I’m a bit behind, I promise you that I do read them and appreciate them very much!  As much as it’s super-exciting, I’ve been quite nervous about sharing this new yarn with you as it’s something so different from anything I’ve done before, so I’m really glad that you approve! 🙂

After telling you all about how the Winwick Mum yarns came about the other day, I thought I’d tell you a bit more about the colours of the yarn today, and where they came from.  There are four shades in the collection (four!  I’m surprised you couldn’t see my grin from where you are when WYS said that’s what they wanted! 🙂 ) and I knew exactly what I wanted each of those four shades to be – although that’s when I learnt that there’s quite a difference from having colour shades in your head to being able to show someone else what you’ve got in mind!  Luckily for me, Sarah the Colour Genius (seriously, that should really be her job title) at West Yorkshire Spinners has a magic box full of colours and also a magic ability to understand what’s going on in my head – but more of that later.

Look at all those colours!  Don’t you just want to riffle through them all?  It’s incredible to think that there are so many subtle nuances to each of the colours and I could have quite happily have played with those cards for some considerable time, but there was work to be done!

I had put together some sheets with the types of colours that I wanted and we talked for some time about what sort of stripes we’d have, which colours worked well together and what would fit in with the existing Signature range.  It wasn’t just Sarah (who’s really the Dye House Manager) and me, this was a whole team effort which also included Managing Director Peter, Sales Director Richard, Brand Manager Steph and Senior Marketing Executive Rhiannon, and I have to say that it felt rather surreal and very grand to be sitting around a table having conversations about my yarn!

I wanted the colours of the yarn to reflect the overall theme of Winwick Mum; that is, looking for the extra-ordinary in the everyday, and you might wonder how this would translate to yarn colours.  If you’re a regular reader, it’ll come as no surprise to you that my first choice was purple, and in particular the purples that are in the amethyst tumblestone that I have carried around in my pocket for as long as I can remember.  I can’t tell you why I even started doing it, other than that I love the colours.  (I also carry a rose quartz and a hematite pebble – an excellent worry stone! – and I like the weight of the three of them together in my jeans pocket.)

What I love most about my amethyst stone is the way the bands of colour ranging from deep Roman Emperor purple to white are perfectly ordered by nature.  All that’s been done to this stone is that it’s been polished up and there the bands are, as if all they were waiting for was the moment when they would be put in rock tumbler and they could appear – ta dah! – as if by magic.

Sitting at the meeting room table at the West Yorkshire Spinners’ mill in Keighley, I did wonder if I was going to sound as if I was completely off my rocker as I explained that I’d like a yarn shade to look like a pebble I carried in my pocket, but Sarah simply turned the stone over in her hand and nodded.  “I can do that,” she said.

See?  Colour genius!

This shade is called Hidden Gem, because that’s what this amethyst stone is with it’s bands of colour hidden inside an ordinary-seeming rock, but also as a reminder that there’s always something beautiful to see if you look for it.  “Look up at the buildings, look at the architecture,” I was always told.  “Look about the world around you, see what you can see.”  I definitely consider myself to be a noticing kind of person, and the name “Hidden Gem” sums up my blog perfectly: looking for the extra-ordinary in the everyday.

And you can’t see it yet, but this is perfect amethyst yarn.  It sounds a bit cryptic – but all will become clear!  I don’t mind telling you that when I saw the sample that became the ball of yarn you can see here, it brought tears to my eyes.  That’s how good Sarah is at knowing what’s going on in my head.

It’s so new, it doesn’t have a label!

The next shade is Seascape – blues and greens, the colours that you’d find in sea-glass, in the sky and in the sea all along the coast.  All of my childhood holidays were spent in the same seaside town in North Wales and I have such fond memories of the town, unmodernised and with few other tourist visitors; of long walks along the cliffs after our dinner in the evenings and being able to sneak out of our guest house and down to the beach before anybody else was up in the mornings to walk along the unmarked sand and listen to the waves and the seagulls.  It was another time, long before the internet, mobile phones and even before there were more than three channels on the TV and whilst I wouldn’t change my life today, I make no apologies for my nostalgia.

And because Wales is part of this island that we live on which is not known for it’s endless summer sunshine, I also remember paddling in the sea in my wellies because it was so cold and wet and we weren’t welcome back at our guest house before 6pm (that’s the 1970s for you!); my Dad making igloos out of windbreaks and tarpaulins which we huddled under and tried to make sandcastles around the doorway without actually having to go outside, and flasks of tea steaming up the car windows as we sat admiring the view from clifftops (or in the case of my brother and me, being bored and wanting to know how long before we could go back down to the beach).  Ah, the good old seaside holiday!

One particular inspiration for this shade came from the blown glass fishing floats that were very popular as interior decorations in the 1970s.  Ours hung in the bathroom at my parents’ house for years and years until it became unfashionable and my Mum decided she no longer wanted it, so I gave it a home instead.

I’ve also used the float as inspiration for the pattern that goes along with the yarn – oh, didn’t I mention that there would be patterns to go along with these new yarns? 😉 – but I’ll you more about that another day.

I am thrilled with the way that this shade has developed; it is absolutely what I had in mind when I thought of a seascape and I don’t think it could have turned out any better.

Unless you’ve only just found my blog, you’ll know that we’ve got a dog and I’m out for a walk with him every day, whatever the weather.  One of our favourite walks is around the Sankey Valley Park, a short car drive away from Winwick, and especially in the spring when the meadow areas adjoining the footpaths are full of wild flowers and so this shade, inspired by them, is called Wild Flower.

I’ve chosen my very favourite wild flower colours – blues such as the cornflower blue of a spring sky …

bluebells …

forget-me-nots …

and the blue of the chicory that grows wild along the footpath;

Source: https://hapalochlaena.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/bees-in-chicory/

pinks such as these tiny flowers that we see each year but I still don’t know what they’re called …

(Edit – thank you to Paula for telling me that it’s Claytonia sibirica – pink purslane.  I’m so glad that I know now! 🙂 )

and ragged robin.  I’ve got some of this in my garden now too.

Source: www.perfectplants.co.uk

There are yellows in abundance in the buttercups in the garden (these are the only wild flowers that small daughter was ever allowed to pick) …

Cowslips …

Primroses …

and lesser celandine.

Purples in the aquilegia that have self-sown all around the garden …

and greens … so much green as the landscape comes back to life after the winter.  You’ve only got to look at the photos above to see that there’s green everywhere, so that had to be in my wild flower colour choice too.  So many colours all around us and all we have to do is notice them …

It wasn’t until I put the colours together that I realised that it what looked perfect in nature wasn’t such an easy blend for a yarn, but once again, Sarah the Colour Genius nodded and said, “Leave it with me, I can do something with that.”

And oh boy, she really has!  This shade was perfect on the first sample that I saw and I love the way that it knits up and the way that it makes me feel when I’m knitting it.  You can’t fail to feel good when you’re knitting with such happy colours!

Finally, for the last shade, I wanted something more muted; something that would have a pop of colour but also a darker tone and not be as bright as the other shades because bright shades aren’t to everyone’s taste.  I must have had my husband in mind as he has always until very recently only wanted me to knit him black socks although I am doing my very best to persuade him out of that – and his name was used as the working name of this yarn at the mill whilst we thought about alternatives which has amused everyone no end!

In my mind’s eye, I could see a landscape like this one …

Source: www.pinterest.com

and one day the name came to me in a flash: Brightside.  There’s always a bright side to everything and I do my best to remind myself of that at times when it would be easy to feel despairingly overwhelmed by what’s going on around me.  I liked the idea of a dark colour – not black, though, which isn’t always easy or pleasurable to knit – with primary colours to be a visual reminder that the darkness doesn’t last forever.  That sounds a bit deep for a sock yarn and maybe it is, but as the yarns are intended to reflect the theme of Winwick Mum, I thought that Brightside might reflect my Monthly Musings where I try to find the bright side in something that has occurred – once again looking for the extraordinary in the everyday.  (Also, Mr Brightside by The Killers has been small daughter’s favourite song for months and months so there may have been some subliminal messaging going on too!)

I wasn’t sure whether navy blue or grey would be the right colour, and after some experimentation, a parcel arrived for me in the post …

A whole pile of blues and greys to choose from to make sure we got the right shade!  I didn’t realise that there were so many different shades of blue in the various WYS ranges but they’ve got a massive selection of yarns in different blends.

This has been the downside of living an hour and a quarter’s drive away from the WYS mill  – it’s not been possible to just pop in for a quick look at something, so there have been lots of phone conversations, photographs exchanged by email and parcels through the post but amazingly, it’s all worked out!

This is Brightside now with the navy blue that I chose from that pile you can see above (and no, I didn’t keep all those balls of yarn 🙂 ) and I think it looks pretty good.

In fact, “pretty good” is an understatement as I am absolutely besotted with each of these colours now that they’ve been created as Winwick Mum stripes.  I don’t think there’s any way that I could choose just one to be my favourite – I have four favourites here!

The West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply Winwick Mum Collection is to be officially launched at the CHSI Stitches show which runs from 17 February 2019 so there are only a few more weeks to wait before you’ll be able to see the yarn “in the wool”, as it were 🙂  Stitches is a trade show so not open to the public, but if you own a yarn shop and you’re coming along then you’ll be one of the first to see the yarn, and if you’re a customer and like what you’ve seen so far, there’s time to ask your Local Yarn Shop to put in an order when the yarn is available.

So what do you think of the colours?  I hope you like them! Over the next week or so I’ve got plenty more to tell you about them and of course you’ll want to see how they knit up.  And that photo shoot I mentioned a couple of posts ago … there’s plenty of exciting stuff to come!

 

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56 Responses

  1. suskwatch says:

    Wowee!Fabulous colours Christine. The amethyst is my favourite or is it? Looking forward to seeing them in my LYS.

  2. Jane O'D says:

    All fabulous Christine! Brightside is my favourite, closely followed by Wildflowers. A wonderful achievement

  3. Lynne says:

    Oh Christine, they are all lovely and like you I don't think there is a favourite amongst them. When they are launched I will have to buy all four of them, but then the problem will be, which one do I knit first!

  4. Unknown says:

    Love them! Really enjoyed reading the thinking and stories behind all of them. So loved reading this blog – you were so meant to write blogs!! Thank you. My heart feels full today 🥰

  5. Nicola says:

    They are all fabulous and it was fascinating to hear about the inspiration behind them. It's also really interesting to find out how much thought has to go into translating inspiration and ideas into colours that work together and fit into the general wys palette. One of the things I love about their yarn is how well their bases and colours work with our light and weather and these slide in beautifully. Well done to all.

  6. Acres of Crafts says:

    Love the colours, and get the logic behind them. Cannot wait for it to appear in the shops.

  7. Pam says:

    You are a tease, keeping the patterns a secret. I wish that I had a yarn shop so that I could get a first look at all that yarny gloriousness. I will do the next best thing and contact my yarn shop and order 2 of each colour and a copy of any patterns. Then it will be back to the waiting game. Each colourway, as you unveiled it, became my favourite so I just have to have them all. Thank you.

  8. Unknown says:

    Oh wow! These are so beautiful. I now know what my first yarn purchase post stash-busting will be! A ball of each of these so I can knit some socks for myself (not anyone else – how selfisgyus that?!). Well done Christine, you are a wonder!

  9. Meg says:

    Those colours are all so lovely and so special that they have been chosen from parts of your life….can’t wait to see them knit up.
    I have decided that, although I was not going to buy any yarn this year, this will be my treat when I have recovered from my ‘new shoulder’ op scheduled for Valentine’s Day !
    Well done Christine, you are and continue to be such an inspirational lady xxx

  10. Miverscorner says:

    I love them all and I will be adding them to my stash �� Can you tell me where I can purchase them?

  11. Brenda says:

    Beautiful – just beautiful 💕

  12. The Prayerful Weaver says:

    Ooh, such lovely colours! I'm drawn to Hidden Gems and Wildflowers…but that might change. I'm not a sock knitter (yet!) although I do knit occasionally, and crochet most days. However, I'm thinking I'd like to try out your yarns in my new passion of weaving. As this is sock yarn I'm hoping it'll be strong enough to use for the warp as well as the weft. Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures with your yarn. Liz xx

  13. Unknown says:

    Love the colours and particularly love the explanation as to how the colours evolved. Just beautiful

  14. Unknown says:

    I love all the colours, they are all beautiful. I hope to buy some soon, if they ship to Japan.

  15. Lorraine Ramsay says:

    Oh my goodness they are fabulous. Cannot wait to buy them all & make gorgeous socks! I think the amethyst is my favourite but I really love them all. Congratulations on your wonderful achievement cx

  16. Ma Dashper says:

    Christine, this is such amazing news and I am very proud to know you. Well done. 🙂

  17. Doodlebug Gail says:

    Oh wow – what an amazing blog post! I love all of them and will definitely be purchasing ALL.OF.THEM – my favourite is Hidden Gem ……. I've always been a purple loving person – I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that it's also my birthstone.

  18. happy hooker says:

    WOW! I need all these in my life. What an exciting time you must have had selecting the colours and names. And I'd love a job like Sarah's – playing with yarn and colour all day…bliss! xxx

  19. Sue Wild says:

    A lovely selection of colours and I’ve enjoyed your explanation of how they’ve come about. I looked forward to seeing the patterns that go with the yarn.

  20. Poppypatchwork says:

    Such a tease, I love the shades and can't wait to geth them on my needles.

  21. Tiffany says:

    This marvelous adventure into yarn creation could not have happened to a nicer person! Fabulous colours and great stories to go with them 🙂

  22. lilysgrannie says:

    I love all of them and the story behind them Hopefully, they will be available here in the US too.

  23. Book Squirrel says:

    You do realise you will be responsible for breaking my yarn diet? Lovely shades and colours though, who could not be tempted!

  24. Chris Knowler says:

    Love all the colours. I can't wait to see the patterns that you have written to go with them.

  25. Unknown says:

    All are lovely but my favourite ���� is the seascape and if I ask my daughter to buy it for me I won't be breaking my yarn ban will I?

  26. Jean says:

    The amethyst and seascape are my favourite. I can't wait to see how they knit up.

  27. Amy says:

    I love all the colours! I am really eager to knit each one up.

  28. Attic24 says:

    This is such a lovely write up of your journey (well the Colour bit of the journey), a perfect glimpse behind the scenes. I think colour designing is fascinating and I wish more designer makers would share their inspirations and back stories, it really makes me feel connected to the product you're showing us. Fabulous….so proud of ya!!

  29. Anonymous says:

    Congratulations! My favourite is the 'Seascape' yarn. I'm looking forward to seeing how the patterning/striping works out in socks and shawls. – Ruth

  30. Unknown says:

    Ive spent so much in my mind!!! I cant wait to try these, they are all wowzers. I think seascape is my very favourite of 4 favourites!! Congratulations x

  31. Mary says:

    I live in the US and want to find a quilt shop carrying this yarn. Please tell us the names asap. Thanks.

  32. Helen says:

    Wow, the colors just keep getting better and better. Best of luck, not that you will need it with these gems.

  33. selina says:

    OMG they are ALL amazing! such beautiful colours! though I half expected the 'Brightside' wool to be much darker but it is as bright as the rest of them! gosh, i might even be tempted to buy some if i can get it, i usually purchase through 'Loveknitting' site, if they get them & they're not too expensive.
    ooo Winwick Mum's exclusive yarn! can't wait to see it knitted up
    wonderful post
    thanx for sharing

  34. Unknown says:

    Seascape is fabulous. My colours! Beautiful.

  35. Unknown says:

    Just wonderful….congratulations Christine, absolutely beautiful and thanks for sharing your inspiration for each. Now which one to choose first!

  36. Catherine says:

    I’ve fallen for seascape andthe flower colours one. When will they go into production?

  37. Susan Rayner says:

    So gorgeous – I see a very expensive time coming up and my stash expanding! Could never choose a favourite between the colours so will have to have them all!! Well done and congratulations on such lovely choices!!

  38. The other Lynne says:

    Oh my! And I had sworn to start working through my stash. Even the skeins I had put outside in the cold Canadian arctic weather that Those pesky moths had chewed. Please let us all know when we can purchase those delicious looking yarns.

  39. Jennyff says:

    I am having at least one of each, they are delightful and I really want them now. Huge congratulations.

  40. Lenore says:

    I love all the colours and can’t wait to knit them up. Congratulations Christine on a dream come true. Xx

  41. Julie says:

    Choose a favourite you said … how?? they are all so lovely. Looking forward to having a squish of them at my LYS.

  42. Lilly's Mom says:

    Oh my, this is so exciting that I know the designer of this yarn! Woohoo…I love all the colorways you designed. All of them are lovely and I'm so happy for you. Congratulations on this wonderful achievement that we can all enjoy. Hugs, Pat

  43. Zoe says:

    Lovely! This is so exciting. I will definitely find a yarn store that carries these and will get them all. I think Hidden Gem is my favorite, at least at first glance. Well done!!

  44. Maggieann says:

    I have four sets of dpn’s ready and waiting I don’t have to decide then which one to knit first I will be knitting all four (here goes!!!!!!!). CONSECTUTIVELY or all together but I will be fair two for me and two for hubby
    Well done Christine money in my wool pot ready and waiting xxx😘😘😘👍👍👍👵👵👵

  45. gillian davies says:

    Wow all four please hope black sheep will have them,can't wait to squish them!

  46. luluknitts says:

    Christine, they are FAB-U-LOUS!!! Truly truly scrumptious! I have made space in my sock drawer for four new pairs which I'll be starting just as soon as the yarn is available and I can't wait. In order of preference I'd say it's probably going to be Seascape, Hidden Gem, Brightside and Wild Flower, but that of course could change on a daily basis. Mum will love Seascape and Wild Flower so they will probably be winging their way to South Africa in the not too distant. Huge congrats! xxx

  47. DJ says:

    Don't forget us California girls…I want them tooooooo.

  48. Unknown says:

    Superb colours!

  49. Unknown says:

    I can't wait! I want a ball of each <3
    Wendy

  50. Judith says:

    I'd never given much thought to the process that goes into producing some of the beautiful coloured yarn we all love so much, but reading the story behind each of them is a real joy. I think the flower one will be my first choice, but they are all beautiful. Congratulations!

  51. Anne Bridger says:

    Really love the new shades Christine can't wait to see them in the shops and knitting socks in my favourite shade.

  52. Dino says:

    Congratulations Christine! They are all fabulous and I know I will have to have at least one ball of each color. Your story of their conception and development is fascinating. There are no local yarn shops withing 60 miles or more from me. Will these be available at Wool Warehouse or other online shops?

  53. Unknown says:

    I absolutely love all of them. I am so excited for you and us…..us being all your fans!!!!! I am in the United States so am already plotting. You are my inspiration. 2018 was my "Year of the Sock". I am hook because of you!!!

  54. Stashaholic says:

    Will you have any Canadian retailers? How can I get it on this side of the pond?

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It should be available through any WYS stockists that choose to stock it in their stores so hopefully it will be in Canada! xx

  55. Unknown says:

    All are beautiful, Brightside caught my eye. Don’t forget the girls from North Carolina!

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