In Episode 153, our featured interview is with the Italian-based yarn company mYak, known for its close collaboration with Tibetan nomadic herders to create luxurious yak yarns. Since our first conversation with them back in 2018, mYak has grown and evolved in inspiring ways. This episode not only explores their latest yarn collections but also dives into fascinating stories from their adventures and projects high in the mountains of Tibet. As always, we also share updates from our own knitting, with two finished projects in Bring and Brag (including a fashion show) and a very special new project in Under Construction.
mYak
Finding mYak
- Website: myak.it/shop/
- Instagram: @myak_fibers
Fibre Gentili: fibregentili.com
Bring & Brag
Andrea's Pura Vida Top
The Pura Vida design is finally complete. I approached this piece with a relaxed mindset—knitting intuitively, without swatching, and letting the design unfold as I went. Remarkably, it came out quite close to what I had envisioned.
I’m especially pleased with the sleeves: full through the upper arm, with soft gathers at the cap that create a lovely shape. Instead of a traditional set-in sleeve, I opted for a modified drop shoulder with a square underarm and shallow cap, adding gentle volume at the top. The proportions feel balanced, with the cropped waist and sleeve length working just as I’d hoped.
One detail I’d change in the future is the back neckline. Though I shaped it with a slight curve, dipping about 1.5 cm below the shoulder seam, it wasn’t quite enough—the shoulder seams have a tendency to drift backward. A small adjustment, but something I’ll keep in mind for future designs.
Tutorial - Smocking
The special feature of my Pura Vida top is the smocking around the hem and cuffs. I used a slightly different technique than I did on my April cardigan and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. So, I created a short tutorial for you, followed by a mini-fashion show of me modeling the top on a beautiful meadow in the Black Forest.
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Fern Sweater
Madeleine has finished her Fern Sweater and is very pleased with the end result. It knit up quickly on 4mm needles and the lace pattern is simple and easy to memorize: 2 yarn overs per pattern repeat, every few rows.
The only drawback is that the lace just below the armholes can become slightly loose after those stitches are put on hold while knitting the body first. Madeleine noticed that the weight of the needles stretched the yarn overs, which also served as the edge stitches. When it was time to knit the sleeves, she attempted to tighten the yarn overs by twisting the stitches before knitting into them. While this helped somewhat, in hindsight, she would have omitted that row of yarn overs beneath the armholes altogether.
Fashion show - Fern sweater & Swiss Yarn Festival
Two weeks ago, we visited the Swiss Yarn Festival for the fourth time! I really love this event, as it has an intimate, welcoming vibe and is very multicultural! We didn’t have time to cover the whole festival this year, but we did film the fashion show, which features knitwear from both bigger brands and independent designers. We also included a short segment of Madeleine modeling her Fern sweater in the SYF marketplace.
Under Construction
Varde Rundfeldt Sweater
Madeleine is still working on the Varde Rundfeldt men’s sweater for her fiancé. Since she decided to replace her original main colour, a bright blue, with a darker navy blue, Madeleine has reknit the bottom section of the yoke. On the old yoke, she has picked up the row that she intends to graft together with the newly knitted, lower yoke section. The next step will be to graft both sections together!
Having to knit this bottom section again, gave her the chance to add in some extra short rows before the colourwork starts. This will help to tilt the yoke forward, hopefully, lowering the neckline at the center front a little.
What we are wearing
Andrea is wearing her Effie by Kim Hargreaves during the interview and her Pura Vida Top on the couch. Madeleine is wearing her Fern Sweater by Knitting For Olive on the couch.
Credits
- J. S. Bach, The Well Tempered Klavier, Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp major, BWV 848, performed by Kimiko Ishizaka, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
- Jump by The Pointer Sisters, from the album Break Out (1983 Version – Expanded Edition), ℗ 1982 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, Provided to YouTube by RCA/Legacy
- I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra, from the album Come Fly With Me, ℗ Collector´s Series, Provided to YouTube by Glory Days Records
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Summertime, from the album Pure Ella, ℗ 1957 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc., Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group
- Italian Folk Music Serenade, from the album Italian Favorites, Music of Italy, ℗ 2014 Music of Italy, Provided to YouTube by TuneCore
- They Can’t Take That Away from Me by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, from the album Ella & Louis, ℗ 2012 Violet Hill Records, Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
- My beloved Snow Mountains by Sangnayangjin, from the album Tibet in My Heart, ℗ 2006 China Record Corporation, Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
I may be able to help with the shoulder problem. I teach dressmaking and pattern-drafting. I won’t go into it here but email me if you would like my suggestions.