We love the idea of Mother/Daughter knits. Combine that with some of our favourite socially aware yarn – Manos Del Uruguay (they offer women in rural Uruguay the chance to earn a fair income), and the talents of designers Libby Summers, Anniken Allis and various others, and we’re nigh on in knitting heaven!

Artesano Yarns have just released three new pattern books. The first, Mother & Daughter, uses Mano Serena – a blend of baby alpaca and pima cotton that sounds divine. Apparently the yarn is hand dyed in copper kettles “to create a marbled, subtly striated effect that forms a rich palette of glorious colours.”

Just in time for winter, Manos del Uruguay have released a new twist on their popular silk blend range – Silk Blend Fino.

Like the other silk blends in the range, the new yarn encompasses 70% merino wool for softness with 30% silk for lustre and drape, but is spun as a lighter and longer 4ply (fingering) weight.

This Monday marks the beginning of Fairtrade Fortnight, and Artesano Yarns are launching two new colour ranges to celebrate.

Both of the yarns are from Manos del Uruguay, the only yarn company we know that has achieved the status of full membership of WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization).

What this means is that all the yarns they supply are sourced through small producers, making it possible for craftswomen to remain in the localities where they live, keeping families together and preventing rural population drift while increasing the perceived value of the role of women in the local community. So many positives!

The fact that the hand-dyed yarns then sold on by Artesano are utterly irresistible doesn’t hurt either, so why not play your part in Fairtrade Fortnight by treating yourself to a few hanks of the luscious Lace or Serena yarns?