It's new magazine season! Friday May 25th saw the release of both Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 25, and Laine Magazine Issue 5. We are truly spoilt for choice these days with new ideas and inspirations. You can read our blog post with yarn pairing for Pom Pom from the other day, and we've decided to do the same for the new issue of Laine as well. laine-magazine-issue-5-cover-kwa First up is Adrift, a beautiful crescent shaped shawl with alternating bands of texture, designed by Veera Välimäki. It looks like a perfect antidote for those wanting a break from the more wildly patterned shawls that have been popular for the last while, while still being interesting to knit and practical to wear. Since the main feature of this pattern is texture, a solid or semi-solid yarn is best in order to see the pattern. We think Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply with it's wool/silk blend would tick all the right boxes for this. laine_5_veeravalimaki_7_medium2Next up is Brennivin, designed by Thea Coleman. This drop shoulder sweater is knit from the bottom up for a seamless finish. It features a vertical lace pattern on the fronts and back, as well as a generous deep ribbed collar and practical pockets. A semi-solid yarn such as the Vivacious DK from Fyberspates would still show off the lace pattern while creating plenty of depth of colour in the stocking stitch sections. laine_5_theacolman_4_medium2Another shawl in the issue is Elevate, designed by Susanne Sommer. This large rectangular wrap features a two colour brioche knit on the bias and attached i-cord borders for a lovely, tidy finish. As it uses two colours there are plenty of options to personalise your own version. With so many shades to choose from, John Arbon's Knit By Numbers DK lets you go for either a high contrast or two more subtle shades. laine_5_susannesommer_4_medium2 Kuru is another boxy sweater, this time designed by Laine's Jonna Hietala. This is a design that really lets the yarn shine, with a top down seamless construction. We carry the yarn called for, the absolutely stunning Terra from The Fibre Co. The yarn is an alpaca, merino and silk blend, with subtle colour variation and nubs of silk. We can see this pattern becoming a wardrobe staple that you reach for over and over again without even thinking about it. issue5_jonnahietala-8_medium2 Knit dresses are a less common garment, but Lotta by Marie Greene is a great one to consider. Depending on the finished fit desired it works well with more or less positive ease. The top has textured stitches on reverse stocking stitch, which then switches to regular stocking stitch for the body before transitioning to rib for the hem and cuffs. With a garment like this you will want a good amount of drape in the yarn to stop it from being too stiff. Nua, a wool, linen and yak blend from Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches will maintain the stitch definition while also being a yarn appropriate for warmer weather. laine_5_mariegreene_6_medium2 Meerschaum are a sweet pair of lacey socks from Sachiko Burgin. Knit in a heavier sock yarn these would be super fun to knit, and cozy to pull on when the temperatures dip in the evenings, perhaps while curled up on the sofa in front of a fire? We think nothing could match better than knitting these up Hey Mama Wolf's Sock #4, which is all dyed using organic natural dyes in Germany. laine5_sachikoburgin-2_medium2 Another shawl from this issue is Midsummer Rose. This stunning oversized shawl uses a combination of lace and twisted stitches to create textures that flow from one to the next throughout the pattern. The stitch patterns fit together well, so it can be easily made bigger or smaller by adjusting the number of pattern repeats worked. A shawl this lush and gorgeous deserves a yarn of equal footing, so we would recommend Beyul by Kettle Yarn. This yarn is an absolutely luscious blend of merino, silk and yak which creates fantastic drape and stitch definition. issue5_lenetosti-3_medium2 This issue is so strong with classic shapes for everyday wearing, and Nutkin by Clare Mountain is a fantastic addition to the list. Knit flat for structured seams and easy portability of pieces, it stops short of being too simple with a textured panel on the sides. We have a few sweater quantities of the recommended yarn, Islington DK by Kettle Yarn Co. laine_5_claremountain_nutkin_medium2 Another classic shape with a twist is Scandinavian Spring, by Sus Gepard. This cardigan has a fairly basic shape, but is knit with a textured stitch and two yarns held together for a more interesting look. It calls for a laceweight mohair and a 4ply yarn to create a finished fabric that is light and airy without loosing too much structure. We recommend Kid Silk Lace from Hedgehog Fibres and the Fyberspates Scrumptious 4ply. laine_5_susgepard_6_medium2 Last but not least is Svelge. Designed by Berangere Cailliau, the sweater features comfortable dropped shoulders and an oversized fit. It is knit seamlessly from the bottom up, with sleeves picked up and knit down afterwards. It features a sweet lace detail in the v-neck that both adds some visual interest and keeps the sweater wearable. The v-neck is written in two different depths, depending on your taste. We think that Cumbria from The Fibre Co. is an equally classic yarn for such a classic sweater shape. laine_5_berangere_1_medium2 That's our round up for Laine Issue 5! We can't wait to see what you might make from this issue, don't forget to let us know if anything catches your eye as well. Issue 5 is on sale in person or online now.