 |
        |
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #6
In This Issue:
Hot New Fashion Trends for Fall | Update on Free Patterns | Projects! Projects! Projects! | Sensational New Yarns | Always More to Come! | Book Recommendations from the Staff | Knitting “Purls” of Wisdom | Ideas for Holiday Gift Giving | Congratulations to a Talented Customer
We know that fashion trends are one thing you consider when choosing your next knitwear project, so just what are the hot new trends for fall? Well, the fashion mavens agree on three that are newsworthy: the classics are back, accessories are going in some fun new directions, and there’s one must-have wardrobe item for all ages and all sizes. Knitwear classics are very prominent on the pages of fashion mags this fall and range from the basic ladylike cardigan a la Katharine Hepburn to the sensuous pullover of such 1950s movie stars as Marilyn Monroe and Rosalind Russell. Cowl and round boat necklines are extremely popular as face-flattering frames along with fur trim on the collar and cuffs, adding a little more movie star glamour. As More magazine writer Lois Joy Johnson puts it, these are “classics with an unexpected edge.” Then when we think of accessories, we have to keep in mind that they include more than just scarves, hats and gloves nowadays. Instead think of jackets, capelets, bags for every essential including cell phones and PDAs, even vests as fashion additions to complement your main outfit. The September 2004 issue of Lucky prominently features sweater vests from preppy to ultra-mod, crocheted hats with flower accents straight out of the 1960s, and knit capelets in every color and fiber imaginable. So if you have time to create just one fall must-have for yourself or your favorite teen, what should it be? The fashion gurus say a poncho is the “in” look this season, and we have to agree. Just take a look at any sales flyer or in-store display. From Nordstrom to Wal-Mart, you’ll see ponchos prominently featured in a wide range of styles, colors and materials. New approaches include asymmetrical designs, lacy stitch patterns and shoulder-baring necklines, a little something for all ages, sizes and personal preferences. Also remember the styles from last year that are still influencing women’s fashions – suede, fringe, menswear designs. And the hot new color? Green in any shade but especially emerald green as a wardrobe staple that blends well with the neutrals you already have from last year. But the most important thing to remember? Select whichever fashion trends fit your personal preference and lifestyle best! Keep up to date by checking out Fashion Era’s Fashion Trends 2005.
We’ve gotten a great response to our Free Patterns section, and thank you for your comments. Special thanks to Crystal Palace and Cherry Tree Hill for their continuing support of this effort. We’ve added several free crochet patterns because of your requests including a spring/summer top (Choo Choo Crocheted Sleeveless Top and a fall/winter scarf -- Labrador & Fizz Crocheted Scarf. Now we’ve recently expanded the department to include free patterns from our Yarnmarket staff and from outside designers. Check out Yarnmarket free patterns currently available for flip flops, a shawl and the No Struggle Shrugawl, our version of a combination shrug/shawl. Thank you so much for making our projects section one of the most popular areas of our site, and whenever available, we are adding at least one project for every new yarn in our inventory. In response to your specific requests, we’ve added more scarf options, children’s outfits, knitting projects using larger needles, and crocheted items like the Girly-Girl Crocheted Capelet, so please let us know what you’d like to see. Here are just a few of our recent favorites:
Starting with a free pattern from Cherry Tree Hill, take a look at the Merino Boucle Hat & Scarf Set, ideal for that upcoming crisp autumn weather. You’ll love the beautifully textured results you knit up with ease from a very straightforward pattern. We all now know ponchos are the must-have for fall, and we have the perfect ponchos, capes and capelets for you and your family. A precious poncho for that special little girl is the Fringed Suede Poncho using Suede, one of our most popular Berroco yarns. The added benefit? This pattern includes up to size 10, so you can make a poncho for all the children in your family. Or if you’re looking for your next poncho, choose the retro look in Cape Mod Poncho. This project even has a new feature we’ve introduced – multiple sets of color suggestions for you – so check those out too! Now looking ahead to those upcoming holiday galas, what would make a better addition to your wardrobe than a spectacular jacket or stole of Lavish and Zoom, two extraordinary new Berroco yarns? You have two projects to choose from – the Lavish & Zoom Evening Stole and the Lavish Evening Jacket. Can’t choose just one? Then you’ll have to make both in different color combos to be doubly prepared for those dressy evenings out. It seems as if every few days we’re introducing new yarns to our store, and several of our absolute new favorites are from the innovative designers at Gedifra. Wait until you experience Sheela for the first time. This medium-loop boucle is just the fun, funky new look you’ll want for your next sweater, vest, jacket or accessory project. Tagliato is an ultra-soft, variegated fleecy yarn with a very creative structure and intermittent furry tufts. And what can we say about Chapello and Barocco that hasn’t already been said by the knitwear reviewers? We give a double thumbs-up to both – Chapello, the long shag, eyelash yarn in a variety of super color combos, and the trendy multi-textured novelty yarn Barocco with the glittering metallic accents.
As we promised last month, we’ve also expanded our popular Crystal Palace and Berroco lines and have added five of their yarns in the past two weeks. One of our personal favorites is Glam from Crystal Palace, the narrow ribbon yarn with one side a matte finish and the other a metallic sheen. This glamorous addition to our inventory will work well for the evening outfits you have planned for the holidays. We even have a free pattern available for the Glam Sleeveless Evening Top that we know you’ll love! Other new Crystal Palace yarns are the ultra-soft eyelash yarn Poof and the glittery new tissue eyelash yarn Fling. Two extraordinary offerings from Berroco are Zoom, the latest advance in faux fur yarns, and Crystal FX the new metallic eyelash option that works well alone or as a companion to other fine yarns from Berroco. Of course, new yarns from other popular yarn designers are now in stock too. From Sirdar we’ve added the new novelty yarn Fizz that combines fuzzy tufts and tissue-thin fabric eyelashes and Funky Fur Magic with furry automatic striping built right in. Also Fringe from Cherry Tree Hill is a new ribbon yarn you must check out because it combines the luster and beautiful colors of Sachet with the stylish trend of automatic fringing. As we’ve suggested before, check our store often so you’ll see the very latest spectacular yarns and fun products we have available for you. We have several additional new yarns coming from Gedifra including Pellicia and Fashion Trend Astrakan. We’re not done expanding our Crystal Palace line either, so watch for Raggedy and Soiree along with new yarns coming in from Berroco and Rowan, and much, much more. We know you’re always eager for more, more, more, so keep checking for our latest additions.
Continuing with our staff recommendations on books, here are the ones we’ve picked for your late summer/early fall reading and knitting fun: For the upcoming sweater season, Simply Beautiful Sweaters gives you a marvelous collection of 20 sweaters and tops with easy-to-read instructions even beginners can follow successfully. From noted knitwear designer Erika Knight, Simple Knits for Cherished Babies is a must-have for outfitting that precious little one in heirloom-quality sweaters, blankets and accessories. For the older children in your family and for the young at heart, have fun creating the whimsical toys and scenery from around the world using the World of Knitted Toys. Speaking of gifts for children and teens, check out Melanie Falick’s Kids Knitting as a way to pass on your love of knitting to the younger generation. Or select Harmony Guides Volume 1: Knitting Techniques as a great general reference guide for any newbie.
OK, lately we’ve discussed checking your gauge and reading patterns successfully. So what could be left? How about blocking? No, I’m not talking about a sports maneuver here. I’m referring to the process of wetting or steaming your handmade items so that they’re the shape and size you’ve worked so hard to create. For washable yarns and certain patterns, blocking can also highlight your outstanding stitchery, balance out uneven knitting tensions, soften the yarn texture, and set the finished seams and woven yarn ends. So when to block or not to block? That is the question. You can block any washable yarn you choose, but don’t block lurex or novelty yarns with lots of texture because you’ll diminish their sheen and textural features (most are dry clean only anyway). Also you can use wet blocking, the gentler technique and the most universally used, or steam blocking (NOT ironing), which sets the pieces more permanently. However, don’t steam block patterns designed to stand out from the rest of the garment (think cable patterns and the garter stitch) or ribbing you want to remain elastic like at the cuffs, waist and neckline of a sweater. Other ribbing such as the front band of a cardigan can benefit greatly from steam blocking and so can lacy patterns. You’ll need a few basic supplies to get started: long straight pins like the Flower Head Pins available in our store, a tape measure, and a blocking board or large carpeted area that will be undisturbed while you block the garment. For wet blocking, you’ll also need a spray bottle or a large, damp bath towel and a large plastic bag. Or if you’re steam blocking, then you’ll need a steam iron and a pressing cloth or large piece of cheesecloth. I know one knitter who uses an inexpensive Indian-type rug with a very fibrous surface as her blocking board. I use one of those cutting mats seamstresses use because the measurements are already there and the surface is made to be forgiving of gouges from rotary cutters, so it’s fine with pinpricks. You can even make your own by layering a particle board with heavy batting or foam and stapling a sheet of canvas or other durable fabric to the wood. The actual process itself is straightforward, and most reference books give the basics for wet and steam blocking. You can even turn this process into a family project. I still remember fondly when I was a little girl learning to knit from my grandmother and proudly helping her lay out the knitted pieces on her big wooden kitchen table ready to be blocked. So Happy Knitting and Happy Blocking!
It’s just about time to start thinking of those holiday gifts and stocking stuffers you’ll need before too long. Besides those spectacular knitted items you’ve planned and the books you can give to encourage others to get started, we recommend two new items from Lantern Moon. The Sheep Tape Measure is absolutely adorable and perfect for any knitter, crocheter or seamstress on your list. We also have fallen in love with the Silk Needle Cases, and our hardest decision here is narrowing down to a favorite of the five color options.
Congratulations to Libby Bernick for being our August pick from the recent “Showcase Your Talent” submissions. Libby made three beautiful belts from Noro’s Daria Multi, and she’s sharing the pattern with us! Check out the Free Patterns from Yarnmarket for the Easy Daria Multi Belt in a few days, and you too can be wearing this gorgeous belt. Want to be considered as our next “Talented Customer of the Month” and receive a $30 gift certificate? Just send an e-mail to photos@yarnmarket.com with the details of what yarn, pattern, etc. you used from Yarnmarket along with a digital photo of the finished product.
At www.yarnmarket.com we pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Alma, Susan, Jodi, Lynn or Lori – and we’re happy to say that although we have the occasional glitch, we have an over 99% accuracy rate. And if something does go wrong, we’ll do everything we can to make it right for you…right away! Just send us an e-mail at orders@yarnmarket.com, or call us at 888-996-9276 and we’ll take care of the problem. Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET Monday to Friday.
Click Here to Visit yarnmarket.com
|
