Sometimes, you really just want a black sweater

But make it hand-dyed.

Before I ever knew what a style icon was, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy was mine.

To me, style transcends the thinness, blondness, and whiteness that we see in the media and which everything (::waves hands::) seems to try and tell us is the only way to exist.

Style is for all of us.

Style is how we define ourselves for the world. It’s the clothes that make us feel most at home in our bodies.

When I was a youngish woman navigating marriage, motherhood, and career in the late 90s/early 2000s, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy¹ showed me that simple colors and simple silhouettes could be remarkable.

The yarn I have for you today is for when you want to make yourself a classic black sweater, only you want it to be more than just black. You don’t want flat black, you want rich and tonal and hand-dyed.

Please meet my newest colorway, Starling.

I’m offering it on two bases: Cashmere Blend and/or Mohair-Silk Lace. It would make the most Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-esque black turtleneck. Or drop shoulder sweater. Or classic round yoke sweater.

You can make a fingering weight sweater with Cashmere Blend only, or a worsted weight sweater by holding both bases together.

This offering is a preorder, so give me 4-6 weeks to get the base in hand and dye your yarn, but, as always, I’ll get it to you sooner if I can.

Sew an affirming “note to self” into your finished projects

Spending the time to knit or sew a garment for yourself is like showering yourself with love and care. During good times, making something for yourself is an exercise in joy. During anxious times, it can be soothing; and during difficult times, it can be healing.

This phrase is my own "note to self." I drew the phrase (you are loved) with California poppies (a favorite) and had it digitally printed on satin clothing labels. I sew one of my "notes to self" into every single thing I make, and it always always makes me smile. 

I think you'll love sewing them into your garments, too.

I have two different “notes to self” in the shop right now:

One label is digitally printed on satin and the other is woven, so be sure to read the item descriptions to get the version you want. (Or get them both!)

I’m really happy to get these in the shop. I’ve been dithering on whether or not to list them because I’m still deciding which printing method I like the best, and I finally decided that offering them is better than perfection. (If you’re also trying to give up perfectionism, you might like this edition of my Sunday letter:)

Why I'm no longer striving for perfection

As always, thanks for being in my circle. I am rooting for you!

Warmly,
Anne

1. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy died in 1999, but her sense of style and iconic photographs of her outfits absolutely dominated my imagination as I moved through some formative phases of life. Even my choice of wedding dress (in 2002) was influenced by CBK, something I didn’t realize until seeing proofs of my own wedding photos.