The other day, I found myself with a bit of unexpected downtime in the shop. It was the Summer Solstice, and with the sun shining and the temperatures soaring, everyone seemed to be outside soaking up the magic of the longest day of the year.

Inside the store, though, things were calm. And maybe because I finally had a chance to slow down, I started really noticing all the colours around me. We’ve had so many beautiful new shades arrive lately, and I found myself completely inspired. Which is funny, because if you know me, you know I tend to wear the same colours over and over again. I love my comfort zone ok. But something about seeing all those skeins together made me want to be a little more adventurous.

I started playing with combinations I might never normally consider. Some palettes felt soft and tonal, with subtle shifts and muted shades. Others were bolder and more unexpected. A bright orange beside a rich purple. Colours that shouldn’t work, but somehow absolutely do.

Maybe it’s the season, but lately I’ve also been finding inspiration everywhere. A close-up flower on a walk. rocks along the shoreline. The colours in a sunset! Nature has a way of putting together palettes that are both surprising and perfectly harmonious. And it got me thinking.. maybe we don’t always have to stay within our usual colour stories.

Wollmeise DK Solid in blue fox and Merlot

German hand-dyed 100% superwash

Bramble Ridge DK in Black Forest, Pucker and Lapis

Hand dyed in Mission BC, 85% Superwash Merino / 15% Nylon

Fireweed violet Sock in Chai and Prairie Sky 

Hand dyed in Winnipeg, fingering-weight yarn with 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon.

Sweet Georgia Trifecta Fine in Atlantis, Popcorn, Chili Pepper, Sea Glass

Spun and hand-dyed in Canada. A 3 ply fingering with 75% untreated Bluefaced Leicester (BFL) wool, 15% Mohair, 10% Silk

Estelle SW Merino Worsted in Lime and Plum

Made using 100% Superwash Merino Wool that is also Oeko-Tex certified, it’s soft enough for the most delicate skin!

La Bien Aimée Cashmerino in Mononoke and Jasper

These hand-dyed skeins are created in Paris, France, by Aimée Gilles and her team, known for their signature colourways and luxurious fibre blends of 75% Superwash Merino, 15% Cashmere, 10% Nylon.

Sweet Georgia Flaxen Silk DK in Moonlight and Black Truffle 

Dyed in Vancouver DK with 65% silk and 35% linen

Yarn Indulgences in Beachcomber and Orange Crush (in store only right now)

Hand dyed in New Brunswick sport weight with 100% Peruvian highland non Superwash wool.

Les Garçons Été in Black Rose, Linen and Vintage Orange.
Hand dyed in Montreal. This is a British Sport made from a blend of 50% Pima cotton, 30% silk,and 20% linen.

Bramble Ridge in Cotton Candy and Undyed

A fabulous new bade hand dyed in Mission BC. A fingering-weight yarn, 70% Organic Untreated Wool & 30% Linen.

Wollmeise DK Solid in Blumig and Kuken

Ok Wollmeise again but it’s too good.. German hand-dyed 100% superwash DK.

Full Moon Fibres in Sunny Yellow and Grandeur.

Hand dyed in Ontario, Canada. Fingering weight 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Nylon.

If you’re anything like me and tend to reach for the same favourites every time, perhaps your next project is the perfect place to inject something a little unexpected. You don’t have to abandon the colours you love. Maybe it’s just adding one wild card like a bright pop, an unusual pairing, or a shade that makes you pause and think, “Could I pull that off?”

Who knows? You might surprise yourself. I’m certainly tempted to.

Happy making, and here’s to trying something new.