Retailer Spotlight: Gather & The Winter Lamb Sweater

Photo © Gather

Well, isn't that a beautiful lineup of sweaters?

Bailey here (KW marketing gal)! I'm writing to let everyone know about one of our amazing retailers and share a gorgeous new pattern that they designed in Lucky Tweed, The Winter Lamb Sweater! Gather is a community-centered fiber arts retail store, studio, and gathering place in the heart of western Massachusetts. Their studio is nestled in the Purple Valley, adjacent to the Williams College campus and woven into the vibrant cultural fabric of the Berkshires.

Gather co-founder Ashley Weeks Cart saw the new hit movie The Sheep Detectives, a mystery comedy-drama based on the 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Leonie Swan, and fell in love with the sweater Rebecca Hampstead wears in the finale.

Photo © Nicholas Braun on Instagram

Ashley saw the similarity between Rebecca's sweater and our Lucky Tweed in the color golden and decided to make her own version, and the Winter Lamb Sweater pattern was born.

"The Winter Lamb Sweater is an ode to the ones who arrive out of season and find their place anyway. Inspired by the gentle symbolism of the winter lamb - resilience, tenderness, and the quiet strength of standing apart - this relaxed, oversized sweater is the kind of piece you reach for when you want to feel held." 

Worked seamlessly from the top down, the pullover features a raglan construction with a subtle purl detail, German short-row shaping at the neckline, and simple rolled edges at the body and cuffs. It's the perfect pattern for a beginner knitter looking to make their first garment. 

I fell in love with this sweater from the first moment I saw it. I recently shared on the KW Instagram that I love simple stockinette sweaters, and boy does The Winter Lamb fit the bill! It's the kind of sweater that can be styled with anything: jeans, a cute skirt, heck, I'd wear it with sweats around the house!

I plan to cast on this sweater the moment more Lucky Tweed arrives at our warehouse. We're expecting a large order in November which will include seven new colors that Kate and Courtney designed on their most recent trip to Ireland (more on that soon!).

The mill that makes Lucky Tweed (Cricket and Erin, too) is a heritage woolen mill in Donegal, Ireland. Making beautiful yarn takes time and care, and that's a process we are unwilling to rush.

Kate and Courtney's workstation, where they hand-carded the new colors

While I don't like having to wait to cast on until the yarn gets to the here, I'm trying to use the delay as a lesson in patience. In a world of instant-gratification, next day delivery, and online shopping, knitting forces you to slow down, wait, and live in the moment. This is just another part of the process of making something beautiful.

That said, if you're anything like me and want to be one of the first to cast on when when Lucky Tweed arrives this fall, make sure to sign up for our newsletter. That way you'll be among the first to know when we have it back in stock!

Bravo, Ashley & the Gather team for a gorgeous new pattern!