The Purl Report: Sequins and Skillcations
A knitting cruise? I'm knot so sure.
Welcome to the Purl Report, a weekly digest of knitting and fashion news.
This very first PR (that stands for Purl Report, in case you weren’t paying attention) is coming to you from a quiet café in Brooklyn, where I’m attempting to plan a super last-minute vacation. If you’ve got any recs please drop them below, but keep in mind I was recently laid off and do not have a trust fund (both of which are also great reasons to smash that subscribe button).
Happy knitting!
The Purl Report: June 3
News
My Favourite Things Knitwear released camisole no. 12, a mock-neck sleeveless top with a vertical seam at the center back. Designer Louise suggests a fingering-weight cashmere, though I might try this camisole with some scrap merino I’ve been looking to offload…
Petite Knit released the Bea Top, a boxy boatneck tank worked with two strands of fingering-weight yarn held together (a cotton blend is suggested in the pattern). There are a million versions of this pattern on Ravelry, but PK designer Mette remains the GOAT for legible, mistake-free patterns. Plus, you know the finished project will fit perfectly.
Wool and the Gang re-released the Mathilde sweater, their collaboration with knitwear designer and internet hot girl Mathilde Roien. This pattern has haunted my Pinterest since it was first released in October 2025, and it’s easily my favorite WATG collaboration to date. (I have a love/hate relationship with WATG, which is a wonderful concept with less than stellar execution.) More collaborations with Mathilde, please!
Travel publications including Condé Nast Traveler and Afar have caught on to the knit-aissance thanks to craft-driven vacations. How does a “craft-driven vacation” differ from any other trip one takes with needles and WIPs in tow? It’s all about intention. Wellness, of course, is at the top of the list, as spas and health retreats emphasize crafts of all kinds for their mental health benefits. As CNT writes:
“The arts are not framed as optional extras or ‘creative breaks,’ but as part of the same ecosystem as movement, rest, and recovery…While craft-led trips are on the rise, the ‘skillcation’ (as it’s dubbed) remains a relatively new concept. More and more resorts are starting to offer guests creative outlets that will outlast their stays.”
On the other side of the coin, Afar published a piece about “adventure knitting,” a term conceived of by a 78-year-old knitter named Judy Fawcett. Along with a collaborator, Fawcett organizes “expedition-style knitting trips” to Antarctica, the Galápagos, and Newfoundland. As Afar writes, “They go to hard places, and they knit.”
“Each trip weaves the fast with the slow in different ways. Sometimes, guests literally knit during activities like wildlife-watching—Fawcett shows me a photo of her knitting among penguins. Other times, it means hikes between skill workshops and specialized experiences, like private tours to meet the lace-makers for the Moulin Rouge.”
In the same piece, Afar mentioned a number of other travel opportunities, from knitting tours in Iceland to knitting cruises in the Mediterranean. Why knot?
Speaking of vacations, resort season is upon us. Crocheted separates are currently dominating the market, but looking ahead to 2027, I spy ruffles (Louis Vuitton), tonal color combos (Tory Burch), and casual cables (Khaite) in our future. More on those trends to come.
Trends
Airy silk mohair blouses are trending for the umpteenth season in a row. I’m partial to this Khaite top in olive green with a wide scoop neck and set-in sleeves. (I couldn’t find an exact pattern dupe, but Petite Knit’s Cumulus Blouse O-neck is a great jumping off point. Knit with one strand of mohair held together rather than two, and nix the i-cord finishes.)
The sequin yarn trend is coming for all of us—not just the under 25 crafters. Airy, sparkly knits can easily skew Limited Too when done in synthetic shades of turquoise and hot pink, but the right pattern can instantly elevate the look of sequins. It’s all about a tasteful level shine, quality fibers, and a modern silhouette. The Aura Tee by Aurora Studios is an easy, grown-up option that’s perfect for summer.
On the topic of sequins, a friend of mine forwarded this skirt that I can’t get out of my head. A mohair high-slit skirt strung with transparent paillettes? Color me intrigued.
WIPs
Another game of yarn chicken lost. I’m about 75% of the way finished with the Rose Top by Mathilde Roien, but I’ll have to wait until my spare skein arrives in the mail to finish it.
I’ve just cast off sweater no. 33 by My Favourite Things Knitwear, which I made with yarn I frogged from a previous project. I’m not in love with how this one came out, but that has less to do with the pattern more with the fact that the color (Woolfolk Tynd in color 22) just washes me out. (More on this sweater and the frogging process to come at a later date.)
Culture Corner
In a past life I was an entertainment reporter, which means I know what I’m talking about. This is what I’m watching, reading, and listening to while I knit.
The Euphoria series finale was devastating and beautiful in its own way. Despite its largely negative reviews, I thought the third season was well done; it’s hard to watch, yes, but in all the right ways. As with previous seasons, the visuals are stunning, the plot is just the right amount of fantastical, and the acting is impeccable. I also teared up seeing Eric Dane and Angus Cloud on screen. Emmys for everyone, please!
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