YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #16
Tops - The First Must-Haves This Season | Yarnmarket Gets a Little "Twisted" | Bunches of Other New Yarns, Bags, Needles and Tools & Accessories | More Free Patterns and Fun Ideas for Upcoming Holidays | Knitting “Purls” of Wisdom | Profile of a Talented New Knitter | Yarnmarket Continues to Support Afghans for Afghans | Knitting in the News | Customer Service
We’ve been showcasing all the spectacular spring & summer yarns for your knitting pleasure in the April & May issues of this newsletter, so now it’s time to see what the knitwear gurus are specifically recommending you add to your wardrobe. Well, from our recent research, five words say it all – “tops, tops and more tops”! From Vogue Knitting to Family Circle Easy Knitting, spectacular tops are the featured projects: long, short, hot & funky, cool & classic, easy or intricate, you'll find an incredible variety of terrific options. The editors at Knitter’s Magazine got so excited they waxed poetic with “Flattering tops you’ll wear through the season, pretty & shapely, who needs more reason?”
So how can you tell which trendy new tops will look best on you? The key features in choosing the right style to suit your face and shape are the sleeves, the neckline and the overall pattern, so let’s look at some Yarnmarket examples of your options. We have all types of sleeve choices for the warm weather starting with open-weave long sleeves that beautifully disguise heavy or thin arms as in the Funky Open Weave Top, featuring Lana Grossa’s fuzzy new yarn Funky, and the Himalaya Lacy Top crafted of Recycled Silk from Himalaya Yarns.
Loose-fitting short sleeves are another great option for a slimming effect as you can see from the classic Berry Parfait Pullover from Cherry Tree Hill and the Sunflower Top from the sensational summer collection of Needful Yarns. Or try the “peek-a-boo” effect displayed in Needful’s lovely Tube Tank Top, in the Girl’s Fresco Tank Top knitted up in the wonderfully soft & nubby new Fresco from Sirdar, or in the more daring Pep Cut-Out Crop Top starting with a free pattern from Lana Grossa. Also accenting lovely shoulders can draw the eye away from trouble spots, and as the editors of Woman’s World point out, even deemphasize broad shoulders. This trend is beautifully illustrated in the Waikiki T-Strap Top, the Julia Evening Halter, the Pixel Wrap Shoulder Top, the Tratto Sleeveless Crop Top and the Sharda Bling & Suede Halter, just to name a very few from our Project Ideas department.
Your choice of neckline is a second way to accent your best features and distract from any potential weaknesses. The Anna Scoop Neck Pullover draws the eye to a lovely face as does the Choo Choo Crocheted Sleeveless Top, the Bamboo Ballerina Top, the Liya FX Evening Top, the Crochet Cotton Tape Top, the Mitered Neck Shell, the Choo Choo Summer Shell, and the Thelma Denim Crop Top with its eye-catching keyhole neck accent. On the other hand, V-shaped necklines can soften a square jawline or lengthen a round face as in the Snowflake Chunky Short Sleeve Top, the Zippered Short Sleeve Top, the Fresco Tank Top, the Cannes V-Neck Shell, and the Kitty Halter Top.
And don’t forget how the overall pattern or design can enhance your face and shape too. Use horizontal stripes to give a thin or straight-up-and-down torso more shapely curves or to break up a long torso as advised by the fashion stylists at Woman’s World. You can definitely see this advice take shape in the Salvia Striped Top, the Cascade Striped Pullover and the Dahlia Short Sleeve Pullover. Or choose vertical designs to lengthen a short torso or to slenderize a thick waistline like in the Wide Ribs Tee, the Couture Ribbed Top and the Cable Tee. Other geometrical patterns work well to draw the eye to your strengths too as you can see in the Mikado & Waikiki Pullover with its inverted triangle broadening the shoulders and slenderizing the waist and hips. Then take a look at the Fringe Offset Shell and the Gatsby Sleeveless Evening Top, both of which use an asymmetrical bottom line to slenderize a potential trouble spot for many.
With all these terrific options and so many more too, we’ve added a special category to our Project Ideas department, so you can quickly and easily find just what you’re looking for this season. Take a look at the Summer Knitting section for our top recommendations and keep checking back because we’ll be adding more projects all summer long!
Please join us in welcoming Twisted Sisters to our collection of fine yarns, and we are so excited about this addition we can barely contain ourselves! We know these superb, hand painted yarns and innovative, unique design books will quickly become your favorites too. We’re starting off the Twisted Sisters line in our store with their four spring/summer yarns supported sensationally by their three design books. Each yarn is available in Monochromatic Variegates (MVs), aptly named for the varying shades of their one foundation hue, and in Hand Paints that combine at least three of the MVs to create visual magic where each color blends with its neighbors and creates new, unique shades.
Outstanding Daktari and Daktari Hand Paints give you beautiful colors with sensuous texture in a 100% cotton, delicately slubbed yarn. Then luxuriously soft fibers with a subtle sheen highlighting the color changes is the best way to describe the fabulous rayon/cotton blend yarns Mirage and Mirage Hand Paints. All of these subtle color and textural variations give each strand of Daktari and Mirage a three-dimensional depth much like the subtle brushstrokes in an Impressionistic painting by Monet or Cezanne.
We’re almost as thrilled by the Twisted Sisters pattern collection as by their spectacular yarns because each of the Twisted Sisters books has a distinctive theme and design feature and truly showcases one-of-a-kind garments tailored to your own personal style. Double or Nothing, Double Trouble and Enchantress will so captivate and inspire you we bet you’ll be anxious to get started on a Twisted Sisters project as soon as possible. Just take a quick look at the Jaywalking Jacket, the Titania Ribbed Top, the Carmen Diagonal Striped Tunic, the Manon Top, the Desdemona Jacket and the Medina Tank Top, and we know you won’t be able to resist these trendsetting designs!
You’ve come to rely on Yarnmarket to have what’s new and cutting edge, and we’re keeping our promise to you this month with lots of new items. First off, we're welcoming another new yarn company to the Yarnmarket ranks and have added some of the classic summer lines of Cascade Yarns. What sparked our imaginations about Fixation Solid and Fixation Spray Dyed is the effect of adding less than 2% elastic to soft cotton with outstanding results as shown in the Cascade Patterns featuring Fixation. You’ll love the subtly striped Draw String Pullover, the Girl’s Ruffle Edged Top and the Halter & Shorts Set along with several sock and sweater patterns due in soon. Also we’ve added other terrific yarns from your favorite yarn companies including two fantastic ribbon yarns from Filatura Di Crosa – Malva and Sesamo; the multi-colored, multi-textured Waikiki from Crystal Palace; and Malibu, the wonderfully soft cotton blend with metallic accents from Katia. Then when you see what excellent projects support these new yarns, you’ll enjoy them even more, so take a peek at the Girl’s Malibu Crop Top and the Sesamo Evening Jacket, just to name two designs you'll love.
Also our Lantern Moon collection is growing by leaps and bounds with new bags and accessories. We absolutely adore the Needle Vase and are fighting over who will be the first to display her needle collection on her desk. Next check out the newly available totes like the wonderfully patterned Diamond Tote, the elegantly shaped Palm Leaf Tote and the spectacularly beautiful Taffeta Bag, each designed for accenting different outfits as a lovely handbag as well as for carrying different sized projects. Then the ultimate for storing your yarn stash is the Twisted Palm Studio Bag with room enough to tuck away beautifully quite a collection.
For our crochet customers and since crochet is predicted to experience a huge revival in the fall, we’ve added the beautiful Silk Crochet Case from Lantern Moon. You can even purchase an entire silk storage collection by choosing the color-coordinated Silk Needle Case, the Silk Needle Sleeve and the Silk & Seagrass Drawstring Box to complete the set. What a spectacular gift for that special someone or even for yourself!
We’ve also had great response to the Addi Turbo Circular Needles from Skacel, the ultimate in fast, smooth metal knitting needles. We're carrying the full line of all 8 lengths from size 0 to size 19 (up to size 36 where available) so that you’ll have every option you need for completing the lovely projects in our store.
Last but never least in our Tools & Accessories department, we’ve added the complete collection of Rhinestone Zippers from South West Trading Company. We know you’ve had trouble finding these sensational ways of jazzing up any project, so we’re carrying them as fashion accents along with adding free patterns featuring them. Just one quick look at the Zippy Purplexed Top, the Crocheted Ice Crystals Poncho and the Calypso Zippered Vest, and your creative juices will start flowing and you’ll be thinking of all the ways you can incorporate zippers into your projects. Also we’re working with South West to develop the Yarnmarket exclusive kit for the Blue Moon Crocheted Poncho that so many of you loved when you saw it in Crochet Fantasy magazine, so be on the lookout for its release in the next month or so.
You know how thrilled we were last month to be adding the spectacular yarns of Iris Schreier under the banner of Artyarns. Well, have we got a fantastic surprise for you! Iris has agreed to join our Free Patterns department and has ready her first Yarnmarket exclusive – you guessed it, a sensational top! The Silk Top with Fur Trim is the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. If you’re like us, you’ll want more than one of these lovelies in a variety of colors! By combining her Regal Silk (formerly called "Royal Silk") and her Silk Fur, Iris gets the best of superb sheen and marvelous texture and wraps us in velvety softness all in one project.
Of course, our other yarn companies have been adding free patterns too, and we’ve even featured some of them already in this issue of the newsletter. We've more than double the number of South West offerings by adding 7 new patterns this month. The two we've added most recently are the Butterfly's Breath Top featuring silky Calypso and the Crochet Hetaera Crop Top that combines Fur Real with Bamboo. We've also added a number of lovely garments to the Crystal Palace collection including the Mikado Lace Panel Top, the Fizz, Deco & Whisper Pullover, the Deco Stardust Tank and the Mikado Lace Pullover. For additional new freebies, be sure to check out the Free Patterns department frequently because we're adding more every week and you don't want to miss out on all the great options available.
Now we know you like to make your own personal fashion statement on any special holiday, and we agree that enjoying the holidays with family and friends is also one of the best times to show off new items in your wardrobe. With the 4th of July just 5 weeks away, you’ll want to be sure your wardrobe is ready for all those holiday get-togethers. We've just added some patterns from Lorna’s Laces that give you a great variety of options to show your patriotic spirit from Liberty Basic Socks to the USA Vest to the Old Glory Cardigan. Also take a look at the American Flag Scarf featuring Aurora 8 from Karabella for the perfect scarf accessory.
Also Father’s Day is fast approaching, and we’re just like you trying to find the perfect gift to please our dads most. You know how much Dad always loved those handmade gifts throughout your growing up years, so just think how much he’ll appreciate your taking the time from your busy schedule now and making him something. You can dress Dad up with the easy Party Necktie or get him ready for cooler weather with three easy scarf choices – the Big Wool Ribbed Scarf, which starts with a free Yarnmarket pattern; the Men’s Hot & Now Scarf, and the Men’s Rustic Scarf. For those golfing dads, check out the Good Day Golf Shirt, and we know Dad will love the Argyle V-Neck Vest or the Cabled Hat & Scarf set from the experienced knitter.
Since crocheting is such a hot option with fashion designers right now and is predicted to be the next handcraft due for a revival, we’re going to give you tips on how to convert a knitting pattern to crochet (and visa versa too since the same principles apply). We’ve also gotten our share of e-mails & phone calls lately asking for help with this task, so we know it’s a challenging topic ready for our special Yarnmarket treatment.
In several past articles on knitting tips, we’ve discussed adapting patterns for different sizes, the importance of gauge and how to test & adapt your gauge. Well, for this month’s topic, you may want to review those other tips because when you convert knitting patterns to crochet patterns, all of these topics are important once again. And, yes, there is some math involved too, so you’ll need to get out pen, paper & calculator since writing it all down is the best way to keep track of your calculations for each step. Since the process takes some time and explanation, we’ll cover the first three steps of the process for this issue of the newsletter and finish up next month after you’ve had a chance to practice.
Step 1: Choose the Right Pattern for Your First Conversion
For your first attempt, it’s best to start off with a relatively simple pattern using say, the garter or stockinette stitches primarily, because the stitch conversion will be easier. It’s also a good idea to stick with plied, single or ribbon yarns so that your crochet hook will glide smoothly over the yarn & you’ll be able to see your stitches easily. Ones to stay away from are the boucles especially medium- to large-loop styles because your crochet hook is likely to catch in the loops & your stitches will be hidden by the loops. To double-check a yarn’s texture/type, look at the “Product Information” box on the left of every Yarnmarket yarn page or use the Yarn Finder on the Home Page. You can also review the previous article on yarn textures to go over some definitions and examples from the store.
Step 2: Draw the Original Version of the Garment
If a detailed drawing of the knitted garment isn’t included in your pattern, you’ll need to make your own sketch before continuing. Using the gauge/tension listing as your guide and following the previous article on adjusting gauge, sketch out the knitted pieces of the garment. Be sure to include to the side the dimensions in inches (width & length) and in number of stitches & rows.
Step 3: Convert the Pattern Stitch(es)
Your next task will be to match up the original stitches used with their nearest equivalent in crochet. If you’ve stayed with the garter and stockinette stitches suggested in Step 1 above, your task is easy because single crochet is the best stitch match for either of them. Or you can use more expansive crochet stitches like double crochet (4 rows of basic knit) and treble crochet (6 rows of basic knit) to move things along more quickly, but they will also be more open weave than the original. If you’ve selected a more difficult pattern such as one with cables, shells or open-weave lace designs, you can still convert the pattern, but you’ll probably need a reference book or two to help you identify the stitches for the closest match to the original. Excellent additions to your library are the Harmony Guides because they have great photographs and directions for a wide range of knitting and crochet stitches. Specifically we recommend Volume 2 & Volume 3 for all types of knitting stitches and Volume 6 & Volume 7 for basic and advanced crochet designs. Not only will these instructional books help with your conversion, they’ll also intrigue you with almost 900 knitting options & over 500 crochet possibilities!
Now it’s time for you to follow Steps 1 through 3 for yourself. Then next month we’ll cover the other steps and take you through a simple example of a conversion from our Free Patterns department. But just remember one thing – you’ll have a close match but not an exact one no matter how well you follow the conversion steps. The only way to get the exact same look and style is to learn to knit!!!!
As we’ve mentioned in previous issues, Yarnmarket is supporting the efforts of the charitable organization Afghans for Afghans by providing $50 gift certificates for their periodic drawings. For their recent drawings, we sent certificates to Georgia Green, Lenore English, Margaret Koster, Benedetta Sarno, Irene Bensinger and Telette Kellar. We and Ann Rubin, director of the organization, thank these special women for their good works and donations of handmade items to the displaced women, men and children of Afghanistan. You too can get involved in this worthy international effort, so check out the afghansforafghans.org for more information on this “humanitarian and educational people-to-people project.”
This month we just have to break with our tradition of featuring a customer’s work because we’ve heard from so many of you saying you’re too new to knitting and crocheting to submit an entry to our “Showcase Your Talent” column. Well, we have a staff member, Michele, who’s also too modest about what she’s accomplished since she learned to knit late last fall in our Yarnmarket class. Michele has already knitted a number of great scarves for her family and friends including this month's featured striped scarf for her son Cade. Michele selected her son’s three favorite colors of K1C2’s Fleece — Marine Blue, Sky & Vanilla — and with a little help from her knitting instructor, she decided how she wanted to alternate the colors for a terrific, little or big guy accessory!
Are you wishing you could have your talent recognized too and as a Yarnmarket customer even enjoy a gift certificate for your efforts? Well, you can be in the spotlight and enjoy deciding how you’re going to spend your $30. Just take a few minutes and e-mail us at photos@yarnmarket.com with the details of what yarn, pattern, etc. from Yarnmarket you used along with a clear digital photo of the finished project. Who knows? Your project could be featured in the next issue of this newsletter!
We’re thrilled with your response to this new monthly feature, and we’ve been checking the media for fun, intriguing and educational articles about knitting, crochet, yarn, really anything related to the crafts we love so much. Here are a number of recent links for your entertainment and edification, so Happy Reading:
We're glad to see that knitting and crochet are continuing to gain new devotees from elementary school children learning from adults as in All caught up with knitting to children who learn from a peer in A Close-Knit Group that details how a nine-year-old girl taught others in the knitting club she founded.
Then the 20- and 30-somethings are still getting in on the act as in Back in the loop: New generation tends to its knitting and in This ain’t your grandma’s ball of yarn.
Even those in their 40s and 50s are returning to a craft they learned as children as you'll learn through one woman's story: I’ve found myself a tightknit, little oasis of calm.
So are women the only ones taking up needles and hooks? Not at all! Just check out Some ask: Dude, where’s my yarn?, It’s not all girls and knitting for Clarke and Newest frat craze is knitting to learn how men are getting involved and benefiting from these stress relievers.
Some of you may be wondering if the older generation has surrendered these handcrafts to the younger generations? Not a chance as you'll learn in No yarns for close-knit friends.
Also it's not just an American revival of interest as the article Knitting initiative crosses borders makes so clear when a Big Knit effort goes international from just one English county. Also the London Times has explored the phenomenon in Crochet comeback: Hooked on a classic, yet again, and one woman even turns her love into a traveling art exhibit as explained in
Knitting trip around Japan ties up more projects.
Speaking of artistic endeavors, you can read about how knitting and crochet are recognized as true art forms as explained in Heavy metal: Renee Koch crochets metal into art and in the profile of one artist James Walters Crochet Artist.
Knitting and crochet are also staying in the forefront of the design world in well established venues (A fashion hook from yesterday) and in the new fashion centers (Yana K Runaway Show Will Close Mercedes Benz Atlanta Fashion Week). Then learn of how one woman is using a scholarship for future design work in Designer’s award to help knitting.
We even see very practical advice on these fashions cropping up frequently as in Hole Lotta Love, in Camisole can keep crocheted sweater modest with "how to" tips on wearing open-weave crochet, and in an article on the latest uses of crafts: Slinky Summer Shoes discussing crochet pumps in Scotland.
We've also learned more about:
* the history of knitting in Knitting part of home life for centuries and Shepherd’s Knitting that explains a bit of the connection between knitting and crochet;
* how one woman helped the New England fishing industry with her talents in Knitting Nippers;
* a special festival in Jamaica -- Jamaica, Vermont, that is -- Fiber Festival returns to Jamaica; and
* how a hospital has added a yarn store on site in Beaumont Knitting Offers Stress Relief
You know we always want to encourage knitting for a better world, so check out these stories about knitting for charity:
* Woman keeps kittens covered that provides a profile of a woman helping the Humane Society;
* Completing their hitch one stitch at a time about female prisoners participating in the “Give Back Program”;
* Knitting neighbors about fundraising for cancer charity by selling scarves;
* two girls raising money primarily by crocheting scarves in Girls raise triple their goal for missions project;
* Kiwanis knits up hats and blankets for newborns involving an international organization involved in a charitable task;
* Troops need head gear – Calling knitters, crocheters; and
* Knitting with love explaining how yarn donations can be a great way to contribute too!
So be sure this summer to watch your local newspapers and bulletin boards for opportunities and special teachers like these Crocheting hobby subject of workshop. Or enhance your skills online through the Craft Yarn Council of America offers free lessons & tips or with articles like Designing with Knit and Purl that will show you all you can do with just the basics.
As you’ve come to expect at www.yarnmarket.com, we pride ourselves on our customer service and low error rate. Each order is carefully packed by Suzy, Kim, Tina or Phyllis. We have an occasional glitch, but 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 1-888-996-9276, and we’ll take care of it for you. Our customer service hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or you can leave us a message and we’ll get back to you by e-mail or by phone.
Thanks for reading, and have a Happy Father’s Day with your family and friends.
Also be sure to try out Yarndex.com, your new yarn reference resource and give us your feedback. Yarndex is a great tool for finding all kinds of yarn information whether you’re looking for the best substitution for a discontinued or hard-to-find yarn or general information to choose your new favorite for the season before going shopping.
And as always,
