What the Beans Made in 2025: Part 2
Sweater Weather, but Make It Staff‑Edition
Welcome back to our annual Staff Project Roundup, which, honestly, feels like one of my favorite traditions. Every year, we gather up all the things we stitched while juggling work, kids, pets, travel, Netflix binges, and those “please just give me 10 quiet minutes with my needles” moments.
And this chapter? It’s all about garments. The long-haul, heart-forward knits. The companions that sat beside us on couches during movie nights, traveled in our suitcases, and made their big debuts at dinners, parties, and maybe a hallway fashion show or two in the warehouse.
These pieces carry actual memories in them. I love that.
Let’s meet the stars.
Frankie Sweater - Laura’s Earth‑Tone Masterpiece
Yarn: Yarn Citizen Harmony DK (Driftwood + Sand)
Pattern: Frankie Sweater by PetiteKnit
I might’ve been the one knitting this, but Aiyana absolutely did the heavy lifting -she picked the colors. (Color choosing is not my happy place.) I’d been itching to make this sweater for ages and even convinced a friend to knit one with me. It just felt like the definition of slow fashion: classic, wearable, endlessly layerable.
And then, of course, when I took it to be photographed, Salwa, our CFO, tried it on and immediately refused to take it off. So… I gave it to her! She wore it to Thanksgiving dinner, which honestly made me the whole day. A sweater shared is a sweater loved, right?! And really, it just gives me an excuse to make another one.
This time, I'm thinking Yarn Citizen Affinity and Trinity Cashmere in Seasalt and Aurora. Already excited about it.
Sensory Snapshot: Harmony DK blooms into this soft, velvety fabric that feels gentle on your skin -like the perfect worn-in hug from someone you adore.
The Downbeat -Laura’s Dark & Dreamy Raglan
Yarn: Madelinetosh x MDK Atlas (Horror Hostess)
Pattern: The Downbeat by Elizabeth Smith
Right alongside the Frankie Sweater, I started The Downbeat, because apparently I can’t knit just one thing at a time. I’ve been totally obsessed with the MDK x Tosh collab we did, and this deep chocolate Horror Hostess shade? I mean… wow. It’s moody in the very best way.
This became my downstairs-evening project with Doug, the one I worked on during our Netflix marathons. (Stranger Things, anyone?) What really surprised me was how unbelievably soft the sweater got after I soaked and blocked it. Like, melt-in-your-hands soft.
Jimmy’s Tip (aka my friendly PSA): knowing what I do about hand dyes -and the fact that Tosh dyes only two skeins at a time -I alternated skeins every other row for consistency. It’s a tiny extra step that makes a huge difference. 🙂
Emery Vest - Allison’s Two‑Yarn Collaboration
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy Cashmere (Sprout) + Sandnes Garn Tynn Silk Mohair (Spring Green)
Pattern: Emery Vest and Pull by Joji Locatelli
Allison has this magic touch when it comes to pairing yarns -she’ll hold two bases together and suddenly it’s like, “Oh. Of course those belong together.” Her Emery Vest is the perfect example: crisp stitch definition from the Classy Cashmere, wrapped in the soft little halo of that Tynn Silk Mohair. It’s modern, airy, and just… joyful.
Every time she tried it on, I kept thinking how wearable it is. The kind of vest you can throw over a dress for brunch or layer with a long-sleeve tee when you want to feel cute but effortless -which is basically my entire aesthetic goal in life.
Sensory Snapshot: The merino + mohair pairing feels like a soft breeze brushing over your skin. Gentle, light, and unbelievably cozy without being heavy.
Chunky Seamless Poncho -Laura’s Indigo Statement Piece
Yarn: Yarn Citizen Unity Worsted (Indigo) + Yarn Citizen Trinity Cashmere (Seasalt)
Pattern: Chunky Seamless Poncho by Churchmouse Classics Patterns
If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of Kit and John at Churchmouse. Their poncho patterns are basically comfort food for my knitting brain -simple, clean, relaxing stockinette. Perfect for those stretches when I just don’t have the brainpower for anything else.
For this one, Lena helped me pick colors (thank goodness). It was my first time combining Trinity Cashmere with Unity Worsted in a sort of tweedy, marled way, and oh my gosh… the Indigo Unity Worsted against the soft Seasalt cashmere? It just glows. Deep, rich, cozy -like the knitting equivalent of your favorite worn-in denim jacket.
This poncho kept me company through a lot of those “just sit and breathe” evenings. It’s one of those projects that feels good in your hands and even better on your shoulders.
Camp Wilkerson -Laura & Allison’s Multi‑Color Adventure Wrap
Yarn: MDK x Madelinetosh Atlas (Horror Hostess, Deep, Mansfield’s Garden Party, and Gracenote)
Pattern: Camp Wilkerson by Caitlin Hunter
Before my trip to Vietnam to film Knitstars, I asked Aiyana and Allison to help me pick a project to take along. I really wanted to use Atlas (I told you -I love this yarn!) and I’d been itching to play with a handful of colors together. They landed on Camp Wilkerson -part shawl, part blanket, part “whoa, did you actually make that?” situation.
They also said it’d make a great shop sample which… fair. And, truthfully, we all knew there was a decent chance I wouldn’t finish it before I got home, so Allison very smartly chose a pattern and color combo she’d enjoy knitting too. It became a group effort in the best possible way.
Sensory Snapshot: Atlas is pleasantly woolly -warm, sturdy, comforting, but never scratchy. It has that classic wool smell and feel that makes you want to curl up immediately. The good stuff.
