ten years of quince in color, continued

So grateful to Meredith, our amazing Communications Coordinator, for her recent post on the colors of Quince! I'm here to pick up the thread and show off some designs using the final five colors that we've featured this month: Frost, Lichen, Iceland, Audouin, Caspian. You may have seen some of these on our Instagram channel in recent days, and I hope it's as exciting for you to see these favorites pop up over and over as it is for us to talk about and highlight them. 

Frost and Lichen were part of the original 37-color palette, with Iceland trailing close behind (the four gray Heathers had joined the family already when I came on in February of 2012). I was waiting and waiting (and waiting) in anticipation for Audouin and Caspian to come along several years later, as brown is my favorite color, so. Dream come true when those arrived on the scene. One of the things I find so interesting in looking over the photography of the designs featured below is how different a color can look with varying light and within different palettes, and of course between dye lots over the years.

When I started at the company, I wore many more hats than I do now, and one of the first things I learned was fulfillment, backing up our shipper. Picking orders is (the most fun, and) a great and very quick way to learn the yarns and colors. I had those dreams that many folks have when learning a new job, when the brain is processing and crystallizing new information—I knew all of the 37 of our core wool colors, in order, by color name and number, plus the gray heathers. Now it's been many years since I've done any fulfillment, but I still think of going through the shelves in that small space on York Street fondly.

We've had so many wonderful designs worked up in these beautiful colors over the years, it has been challenging to narrow them down for this post! I hope you will explore our vast pattern archive in search of more yarn-y inspiration.

Frost

Annabel is a Quince classic! One of the very first patterns launched ten years ago, and is included in our Prima collection. Indeed, Frost was one of the few sample colors available for designing before the whole range was in hand. This raglan, garter stitch pullover—worked seamlessly in the round from the top down—was designed by Carrie Bostick Hoge (and also made into a cardigan version shortly thereafter). Worked up in cushy, squishy Osprey.

Ashley Hurst dreamed up this sweet blanket, Foliose, as part of her Lost Coast collection, which we published in summer 2015. Also in Osprey, the easily memorized knit/purl motif is framed with a garter border. You might need a couple of them together for optimal social distancing, but who doesn't always need more blankets? Sometimes I think that's all I want to make.

Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre made five collaborative collections in the earlier years of Quince, all focused on our core lines, which we just called "Wool". Kara was one of Cecily's designs, included in Wool: Book One, which we published in August of 2011. It's worked from the bottom back hem in a T-shape, then stitches are picked up around the fronts for a ribbed trim. The allover lace alone makes me want to cast this one on right now.

left to right: Annabel by Carrie Bostick Hoge, Foliose by Ashley Hurst, Kara by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Lichen

Pomaika'i, designed by Melissa Schoenwether, was included in our Scarves, etc 4 collection, published in early 2015. Worked up in Chickadee, I love the combination of Lichen with Barolo—something I never would realize was a great pair until Pam picked it for the collection's palette.

Melissa LaBarre offered up Gladys for Wool: Book Two, published in November 2011, worked up in Chickadee. This uses one of my favorite lace patterns, and I love a slouchy hat. Thankfully I live in a place where many hats are necessary to make it through most of the year. The list of hats to make is always long in my corner.

Lotte came from Pam Allen, a simple cardigan in Osprey with a bit of embroidery in the yoke (in pretty Sedum), that we published in September of 2016. A sweet option for layering.

left to right: Pomaika'i by Melissa Schoenwether, Gladys by Melissa LaBarre, Lotte by Pam Allen

Iceland

Whitney Hayward designed Marsellus for us; the light gray heather is such a lovely base for all the cables and rich textures present in the piece. This was knit up in worsted weight Lark and published in early 2016. This is worked flat in pieces and seamed. Structure and portability while in WIP form…two things I really appreciate. Also I happen to love seaming.

Andersen was included in our Crochet collection in 2017, and was designed by Rebecca Velasquez. Worked up in Chickadee Organic Heathers, this is a sontag-style shawl, with ties that allow you to wear it on your shoulders and not have to fuss with shawl pins—perfect for doing actual work while wearing a shawl.

In Trin-Annelie's Winterwork collection, published this January, we included her stunning Harrington cowl, which uses 6 different colors of Chickadee and Chickadee Organic Heathers, including Iceland. It's reversible, with one side featuring pretty stripes, and the other a stained glass-like motif (shown here). The construction of it is such that if done well, it looks completely seamless.

left to right: Marsellus by Whitney Hayward, Andersen by Rebecca Velasquez, Harrington by Trin-Annelie

Audouin

Also included in Trin-Annelie's Winterwork is Clayton, a round-yoke pullover with Chickadee Organic Heathers in Audouin as the base. Chickadee in Slate, Bird's Egg, and Glacier are used in the pretty colorwork motif used in the yoke. The construction for this sweater is really interesting: Cast on at the widest part of the yoke with a waste yarn cast on, worked to the neck, then the sleeves and body are worked from that point to the hem and cuffs.

Watkins (in soft, chunky Puffin) was the darling of the Quince team when it was in production—about five of us made one. Whitney Hayward had made this cozy piece for herself, and we begged her to write it up for us. You can read about the colors each of us chose in making our own here and here. This cardi was published at the end of 2016. In the sample shown here, Whitney chose Clay, Apricot, and Sabine for her colorwork. If you've never steeked anything before, this is a great one to start with!

Hop la Vie was part of our Crochet 2016 collection, designed by Louise Bélair. This pretty cowl can be looped around, but we love it loose to show off its stitches. Worked up in Chickadee Organic Heathers.

left to right: Clayton by Trin-Annelie, Watkins by Whitney Hayward, Hop la Vie by Louise Bélair

Caspian

We released Shinbashi, designed by Stefanie Sichler, as part of our Scarves, etc 7 collection, published in fall 2018. Worked up in Lark, Caspian is paired with Chanterelle for a subtle striping effect that we love.

Dawn Catanzaro designed Quinton for our Core Wool celebration in 2019. The idea was to come up with a simple, classic fisherman's rib pullover with raglan shaping and a short funnel neck, and modernize it by adding a simple color block. We paired Caspian here with Sabine in Chickadee Organic Heathers. We made a sleeker, a-line version with Jasper and Sedum.

Buffalo River, designed by Ashlyn Holmes for Crochet 2017, features Finch in Caspian and Audouin, alternating with strands held double throughout. This wide, cozy wrap includes some sweet fringe and provides some serious warmth.

left to right: Shinbashi by Stefanie Sichler, Quinton by Dawn Catanzaro, Buffalo River by Ashlyn Holmes

Quince's palette will continue growing as time goes on. New favorites will emerge, I'm sure, but the classics remain in the hearts of many. Use our search field to enter in your favorite Quince color and see what comes up!

Be safe and take good care,

Jerusha