April 2026 - Andrea Mowry
April's Beanie Brigade features our Juicy DK spun from 100% superwash merino, silky, bouncy, and wonderfully wearable. At 137 yards per 50g, Juicy DK offers just enough give for smooth drape while holding its shape through every stitch. It's the kind of base that makes knitting feel like a joy and wearing feel like a treat.
The featured colorway, Bruised Petals, is moody and alive, a complex purple that shifts like the last light of an April evening. It's romantic without being precious, and grounded enough to pair with almost everything in your wardrobe. Like the season itself, it holds both softness and a quiet edge.
This colorway was made for Tincture by Andrea Mowry. With its layered texture and thoughtful construction, Tincture draws the eye, the kind of knit that looks effortless and intricate all at once. The stitch pattern blooms beautifully in a rich, tonal colorway like Bruised Petals, each variation in hue adds depth to the fabric.
April Designer: Andrea Mowry
Q: Can you please take a moment to introduce yourself?
A: My name is Andrea Mowry, and I am the designer behind DreaReneeKnits patterns! I love all things crafting, including sewing and spinning, but knitting will always have my heart. Especially when it involves color and texture!
Catch a tour of Andreas Studio here!
Q: This month's featured hat, the Tincture Hat, was published in 2017, and we love it for its classic design, so we are still knitting it 9 years later! What do you think it is about your designs that makes them feel timeless?
A: I think having a good blend of relaxing knitting with something that holds our interest (IE mosai knitting, like in the Tincture Hat), creates a joyful experience that is fun to return to. I love to explore with color and texture, and while you can get really playful with the color palette, you can also stick with combinations that continue to play a starring role in your wardrobe. I think this guarantees that even bold designs will have longevity in your outfit rotation. I always hope that my patterns offer a blend of knitting that is fun to do and fun to wear so knitters want to keep coming back to them time and again!
Q: How do you think your design style has evolved over the past decade of publishing?
A: Oh this is fun to think about! I think what has really stood out for me, is after designing for over 10 years, I have pay a lot of attention to what I am grabbing out of my closet time and again. The more we do something, the more we can dial in what gives us the most joy - both to knit and to wear. I started off mainly designing accessories and shawls. These days, the first ideas that pop into my head are always sweaters! I wear them so much, and love to style them with all the things I have sewn. One thing that hasn’t changed - I still always ask myself “What would bring me the most joy to knit right now?” It never steers me wrong!
Q: Were there any specific inspirations for the Tincture hat?
A: I have always loved herringbone stitch patterns, and this playful take on it using mosaic knitting really interested in me. I first used this stitch pattern in my “Across the Pond” cowl, and I really love how when you look at it at an angle, the color work looks like big knit stitches.
Q: What do you love about knitting hats?
They are a great palette cleanser, and where I live - you can’t have too many! Hats are a great way to learn about a new-to-me yarn. They offer comfort, as an easy, portable project. They make fantastic gifts, and I know they will get a ton of use!
Q: How does the role of joy play into your design process from start to finish? And has this changed at all over time?
A: I begin every project with the question “what will bring me the most joy right now?” And I let that guide me through out the whole process. What colors make me feel happy? What yarn feels really good as it passes thru my hands? What would I be super excited to wear and add to my wardrobe? What stitch pattern is so fun I keep saying “just one more row..” This practice has guided me since the beginning and still does!
Q: Mistakes are inevitable. At what point did mistakes stop feeling like failure and start feeling like information?
Honestly, mistakes often carry a sting, but once the initial disappointment wears off, I always learn something new. When we make mistakes, we get to figure out how to fix them. Or we learn more about ourselves, what brings us joy and what doesn’t. What works and will translate well into a pattern, and what is too confusing and sucks all the fun away. It’s all information that given time, has helped shape me as a maker and designer!
Q: Can you tell me what colors you are drawn to and what connections they might hold for you?
A: All of them! Ha! But if you are going to make me choose, my favorites are minty blues, mustard yellows, poppy reds & oranges, pink, lavender...Okay I am just listing all of them. Living in one of the cloudiest states, I think color adds a much needed brightness to everyday life. It perks me up, makes me feel happy and keeps me excited about what I am making.
Q: Beyond knitting, you love to spin and sew, how do your creative practices differ? Where do they overlap?
A: Knitting is my everyday craft, while spinning and sewing tend to be a bit more seasonal for me. I find I like to sew more in spring and summer, and spinning ramps up in the fall and winter. I love sewing garments to pair with my hand knits and always feel the most like myself when I am wearing a me-made outfit! Spinning has offered me a much better understanding of my knitting. I now understand why certain yarns work best for certain and projects, and there is just something so magical about knitting with handspun yarn! At the end of the day, knitting is always with me. I don’t leave the house without it!
Q: If you could invite knitters here to try one small, doable practice in their making, what would it be and why does it matter?
A: Ask themselves the same question “What would bring me the most joy in my making right now?” We live in a world where we are constantly getting input and influence from the outside world. I find that asking this question can help ground us and remind us of what we actually like and enjoy, which leads to a more fulfilling project.
Q: Do you have a knitting “rule” you quietly ignore?
I always block in my knits in hot water. Now - I’m not saying anyone else should. But it works well for me ;)
Q: What sustains your love of knitting on days when it feels hard?
Casting on a comfort project. For me these, are the projects that I have knit before. Usually something small, that I can finish in under a week to give me that sense of accomplishment. Because they are a repeat knit, I am confident in how it will turn out, and I’m not glued to the pattern because I am already familiar with it!
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Andreas Socials