La Bien Aimée
Hand-Dyed in Paris, with a color language you recognize immediately. For projects that are meant to look like art.
The story
La Bien Aimée – the beloved – began in 2008 when Aimée Gille, an American in Paris, opened the city’s first knitting café: L'OisiveThé. What started as a Blog about personal knitting projects evolved into one of the most renowned artisanal dyeing studios in the world.
In her Paris atelier, Aimée and her team hand-dye every batch – with a sense of Color that lies somewhere between painting and haute couture. The Color palettes are complex, layered, and unmistakably French: refined tonals, bold speckles, and gradients that look like watercolors. Over 500 unique Colors on 30 different yarn qualities – La Bien Aimée is not a mass producer but an artist with a yarn spool.
The Yarn
La Bien Aimée Merino Singles
A single-ply fingering yarn made from 100% Superwash Merino that carries color like no other yarn. The single strand has a slight sheen and wonderful stitch definition – color gradients, speckles, and tonals really stand out here.
With 366m per 100g skein, the Merino Singles offers generous meterage. The yarn is soft, has a pleasant hand feel, and drapes beautifully – perfect for shawls, scarves, lightweight sweaters, and anything where color is the focus.
As a single ply, the yarn is a bit more delicate than multi-ply alternatives. It rewards careful knitting with a result you won’t forget.
Why La Bien Aimée?
There are many hand-dyed yarns. What sets La Bien Aimée apart is the color language. Aimée Gilles Colors are not just pretty – they are thoughtful, emotional, and often surprising. A color like Bois de Rose is not simply pink, but a complex interplay of dusty rose, muted mauve, and a touch of gray that evokes weathered wood.
For knitters who want to tell stories with color, La Bien Aimée is the right yarn. It is not an everyday yarn – it is for special projects that you plan carefully and knit with love.
Care
Although superwash, both La Bien Aimée and we recommend Hand Wash with mild Wool Wash. This keeps the hand-dyed Colors vibrant for a long time. Dry flat. For projects with multiple skeins: alternate every 2 Rows to balance color differences between skeins.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Single Ply mean?
Single Ply means that the yarn consists of a single, lightly twisted strand – unlike 2- or 3-ply yarns. The result is a soft, smooth strand with a slight sheen and excellent stitch definition. Single Ply shows Colors especially vividly but is somewhat more sensitive to Pilling than multi-ply yarns.
Is La Bien Aimée superwash?
Yes – the Merino Singles are superwash treated. Nevertheless, we recommend Hand Wash to preserve the color intensity in the long term. Hand-Dyed Yarns deserve this care.
How do I deal with color differences between skeins?
For every hand-dyed yarn, switch skeins every 2 rows (alternate) if you use more than one skein in the project. This way, you avoid visible color boundaries.
What are Merino Singles best suited for?
Shawls and scarves (the colors stand out especially well in large areas), lightweight sweaters, accessories, and projects where color plays the main role. Also wonderfully combinable with a mohair secondary thread.
How many Colors does Bonifaktur have in stock?
We offer a curated selection of the most beautiful La Bien Aimée Colors. Since hand-dyed Yarns are produced in limited batches, the Assortment changes. Check back regularly or contact us for special color requests.
Discover La Bien Aimée Merino Singles
Hand-Dyed in Paris – each Skein a unique piece.
To the La Bien Aimée Assortment