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YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #26
Spring Fashions Hit the Streets with Elegance, Flattering Fit & Natural Fibers | Half a Dozen New Yarns Plus New Colors for Your Favorite Spring Projects | Exciting New Tools & Fashion Accessories to Inspire Your Creativity | Select Your Next Project from the New Books & Magazines Now in Stock | "Purls" of Wisdom: The Early History of Knitting & Crocheting, Part 1 | Customer Service the Yarnmarket Way
With the latest spring showers and warmer weather lately in our part of the U.S., we're starting to believe that spring is really here to stay and are excited to get our spring projects underway. We're working on cropped jackets, shrugs and lacy outfits as previewed in the March newsletter, but you know there are always more than just a few trends to keep up with! So next let's take a look at three more trends to keep you stylish & up to date this spring.
One of the biggest trends that women of all ages & sizes can embrace is the figure-flattering, loose-fitting tunic top. Based on Pantone Color Institute's seasonal survey of the designers of New York Fashion Week, the top aficionados love tunics as an essential part of what they're calling the "femme look." You'll see "voluminous and childlike styles given an urban twist when combined with streetwise sportswear." In keeping with this trend, we have a number of fun tops in our Project Ideas department, especially in the Women's Tops and Children's Tops areas. We love the Tartelette Tunic crafted of K1C2's lovely Tartelette ribbon yarn, and the beautiful, lightweight Deco Stardust Tunic with Mosaic Trim that starts with a free pattern from Crystal Palace. Also Tahki's Siena Tunic and the Megan Cotton Twist Tunic from Berroco fit this trend perfectly and give you elegant lines along with body-slimming design. Then for tunics that definitely stand out in a crowd, check out the Carmen Diagonal Striped Tunic with that extraordinary touch you've come to expect from Twisted Sisters along with the Couture and Pep Tunic with European flair from Lana Grossa. And we can't forget those young fashion mavens -- those little girls and preteens who want to keep up with the latest styles too. For them, choose the Cotton Cashmere Tunic from Debbie Bliss that looks equally lovely with or without the embroidery around the neckline.
Another important style making the rounds this spring is the classic vest for a preppy, sporty look in both womenswear & menswear, and you can adapt this style to fit your preferences with the various choices in our Project Ideas department. For your favorite guy, go with the ultimate preppy look of the Argyle V-Neck Vest, handsomely crafted of Rowan's Handknit DK Cotton and definitely a gift he will treasure for years to come. Or create the Men's Surf Stripe Vest from his 3 favorite colors of Natural Silk Aran by RYC Yarns. Then for yourself, you can knit up a coordinating Women's Surf Stripe Vest and make the two of you a stylish couple on the cutting-edge of the preppy trend. We also love the figure-flattering lines of the Emotion Wrap Vest from Lang and the Sleeveless Crossover Top by Debbie Bliss, especially since each of these can be worn over a variety of blouses, shirts, camisoles or even alone through the summer and early fall. Those precious little ones can be in style along with Dad and Mom too with such terrific styles as the Zebra Caribe Tunic Vest from Cherry Tree Hill and Sirdar's Girl's Fresco Top that works as a vest or as a tank top.
One other trend to keep in mind is which fibers are best to keep you cool, comfortable & fashionable this spring. The knitwear gurus worldwide are calling for cotton & linen to be hot, hot, hot, & we at Yarnmarket are supporting this trend with a wide range of cotton & linen options. Take a look at our listing of Classic Cotton Yarns, and you'll find 29 cotton & cotton-blend lovelies for your favorite projects including Needful's Kim & Kelly; North Country Cotton, Plush & Cotton Boucle from Cherry Tree Hill; stretchy Fixation Solid & variegated Fixation Spray Dyed, both from Cascade Yarns; and Rowan's terrific quintet of All Seasons Cotton, All Seasons Cotton Printed, 4 Ply Cotton, Denim & Handknit DK Cotton. Then based on how popular Maggi's Linen has become since we added Maggi Knits to our collection less than 2 months ago, we know you're already following the trend of knitting with linen. You loved the Gortrush Scarf or Wall Hanging so much when we featured it that we've added 2 more linen scarf projects: the Ballyward Scarf or Shawl with its multiple wearing options and the Creggan Scarf with Frilly Roses for an extraordinary design to add to your accessories collection.
We're receiving and unpacking all of those spring yarns as quickly as we can & again have many new lovelies to introduce for your knitting & crocheting pleasure. In keeping with the emphasis on linen's being all the fashion rave, we've added Geranium from Needful Yarns, a sensational, lightweight linen blend for spring & summer knitwear. Combining linen with acrylic & rayon gives Geranium added softness in a thick & thin, narrow zigzag strand twisted with a fine silken thread of accent color.
Also we absolutely adore the 2 new yarns from Lang because they're so out of the ordinary. First off, the Lang yarn gurus have used new textile research to develop Emotion, a cotton blend that lets you enjoy the benefits of knitting & aromatherapy all at the same time. Tiny micro capsules are spun into the yarn fibers so that as you handle and wear the handmade item, the scent of natural essences like ginseng, aloe vera & lavender is released evenly, easily & cleanly. And it's machine washable -- what a treat! Then take a look at Lido, an iridescent, shimmering ribbon yarn that's great for tops, cardigans, pullovers and more this spring & summer.
Two other surefire winners for spring & summer come from South West Trading Company. Amerah is spectacularly crafted of 100% raw silk, which gives you wonderful woven texture along with lovely variegated color combos in brights & muteds. It's definitely a great choice for tops, scarves and accessories during those warm-weather days ahead. Also try out the variegated hues of Twize for a terrific tweedy effect. Because it's made of 100% bamboo, you'll love its silky, cool softness against your skin in pullovers, tops, bags and accessories.
Last of the new yarns but never least is the latest haute-couture development just in from the S. Charles Collezione. Known for cutting-edge style, Stacy Charles has designed Za Za in a wide zigzag style with plenty of texture & splendid color combinations. This one is guaranteed to give you quick-to-knit, super chunky results in your spring & summer outfits.
We've also added new colors in several of your favorite fiber creations, so take a look at the wonderful spring & summer color palettes. With 6 new colors in Maggi's Linen, you're sure to find the right shade for your next linen/cotton blend project from Maggi Knits. Also we bet you'll enjoy the new hues in other popular yarns like Baby Aiko & Baby Bon Bon, both from Filatura Di Crosa; Sirdar's Funky Fur & Funky Fur Magic; and new shades in 3 stunners from Rowan -- Cotton Braid, Cotton Glace & 4 Ply Cotton.
In our Knitting Needles & Crochet Hooks department, we've added a special set for all of you who enjoy your Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles Kit. In addition to the 2 sizes of Extension Cords you can purchase, we now carry the Denise Interchangeable Companion Set. It includes cords, end buttons & extenders for those of you who might have lost an item from the original kit and also so that you'll have matching cable lengths for the straight needle pairs you can create.
Then in our Fashion Accessories area, we've added several items from South West Trading Company. Along with pink & taupe Rhinestone Zippers in all sizes, we now have in stock 2 terrific tools to help you create the ultimate handbag. First, try out the Magic Purse Form, the perfect way to keep your new purse from sagging & losing its shape. Made of lightweight, flexible plastic, the form is designed to work for a 8.5" by 7.25" by 2" purse with minimal sewing. With a fabric or knitted lining, you can create the lovely Bamboo Handbag by following the instructions included with the form. Also use South West's Magnetic Purse Snap to complete your bag project and keep all of your essentials & goodies safely tucked away.
Then for all of you who want to try weaving but aren't ready to invest in a large loom, Ashford has developed the portable Knitters Loom just for you.This compact option makes for exciting weaving any time & any place since it folds in half with your weaving safely in place & is easy to transport -- to the park, to class, to work on your lunch break, even to the beach. The Ashford Knitters Loom is also designed to accommodate those fancy, funky yarns, and you can weave a scarf in just 2 hours!
OK, we've already given you lots of ideas for new spring & summer projects, but you know you can count on us to have the latest new releases from your favorite yarn companies & magazines too. We have new books from Lang, Tahki-Stacy Charles, Needful, & Maggi Knits, so here are our top picks just for you:
The lovely, traditional styles of Tahki: Spring/Summer 2006 and Tahki Cotton Classic;
Needful's Book 304, filled with spring/summer styles for tops, accessories, even a bathing suit;
Runway-fresh, haute-couture fashions in S. Charles: Spring/Summer 2006;
European flair & pizzazz in Lang Book #154 with lovely creations for new Lang yarns -- Emotion & Lido;
Two booklets also from Lang -- Lang Summertime with fashions for women & girls and Sockology 2 containing classic sock patterns for the whole family, from toddler sizes to adult men;
The distinctive style of Maggie Jackson for spring & summer in MaggiKnits #10: The Lacy Look and MaggiKnits #11: Squares & Frills;
Fantastic styling in the Filatura Di Crosa: Spring/Summer 2006 Collection; and
Tahki-Stacy Charles: Crochet, featuring 22 crochet projects.
We have also added another new knitting magazine to the Knitting & Crochet Magazines area: Knit 'N Style. Just look at that innovative crop top featured on the cover of the June 2006 issue, and you'll see why we couldn't wait to add this one to our offerings. (By the way, that winner on the cover is crafted of splendid Daktari from Twisted Sisters and is available in our Project Ideas department as the Daktari Mitered Crop Top.) Then catch up with the latest designs from your other favorite mags including the newest releases from Vogue Knitting International, Interweave Crochet, Creative Knitting, Knit Simple, Crochet!, Interweave Knits, and Family Circle Easy Knitting.
We enjoy our handcrafts today & even are passionate about our own special ways of knitting or crocheting. But have you ever wondered just how your favorite came about? And why are there various styles we can follow and sometimes three, four, even five or six different ways to accomplish the same task such as casting on stitches to start knitting a project? Well, a look back through time will help us to understand and appreciate even more fully our favorite pastimes, and we'll start with knitting since it is the older handcraft of the two.
Because of the biodegradable nature of yarn fibers, the exact origins of the handcraft of knitting are unknown, and the geographical location is particularly murky. According to geocities.com, some speculate the craft originated in Persia, while others cite the Middle East, North Africa, China and even Japan. However, the earliest archeological evidence of knitted garments is a pair of knitted socks discovered in Egyptian tombs dating from between the 3rd & 6th centuries A.D. Socks and stockings are logical first uses of the craft because knitting was ideally suited to shaping a garment at a time when sewing & fabric weren't so flexible. Other early examples of knitted items related to the church such as cushions, purses for religious relics and liturgical gloves found throughout Europe as explained in Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book.
Kari Cornell, the editor of For the Love of Knitting: A Celebration of the Knitter's Art, explains that originally knitting, like most methods of textile production, was probably practiced mainly by men, while women spun the wool into yarn. As the craft developed through the Middle Ages, we see examples that show Renaissance painters were familiar with knitting because they even depict the Madonna knitting a shirt in the round on double-pointed needles. This surely illustrates that knitting was a suitable task for women by this time, but it was the law of supply & demand that actually had the greatest influence on the spread of the craft. As Kari Cornell puts it, "Upper-class Europeans had begun to favor the comfort and versatility of stockings knit from wool and silk, and it wasn't long before the poor were knitting stockings, gloves, caps, and shirts as a way to make money."
During the 15th through 17th centuries, knitting guilds developed throughout Europe, each one specializing in a particular garment and usually staffed almost exclusively by men who had completed a long and involved training process. However, it wasn't until improved metalworking techniques led to uniform knitting needles in the 18th century that knitted garments could be produced in any great quantities. Then came the Industrial Revolution and the development of the knitting machine and knitting mills that quickly replaced the guild system for mass producing items. Knitting still remained a respected family activity especially in the Scottish Isles, and in times of economic hardship or war, all members of the family practiced the craft for survival and to donate blankets & garments to the soldiers.
Sound a bit familiar when charitable organizations today gather handknitted helmet liners, socks and caps for soldiers stationed throughout the world? These fascinating details about the history just make us appreciate our handcrafts even more, and next month we'll delve into the origins of crocheting and see what the historians and archeologists can tell us.
Not enough time in your busy schedule to get the perfect book, knitting kit, yarn or tool delivered to you and then sent to all those special friends or relatives you want to remember for upcoming birthdays, for Easter or even for Mother's Day? Well, let us take care of all that for you with our gift-wrapping service. For just $5.50 per order, we’ll gift wrap your presents in paper suitable for any occasion you designate with your personal message, and send it right along. What could be easier than that?
Do you hate shopping & going from store to store in search of that perfect gift? Or do you have friends and loved ones who like to pick out their own gifts? Yarnmarket also offers Instant Gift Certificates you can print out yourself or have emailed to the recipient. Our definition of stress-free, no-fuss shopping and gift giving can definitely help you survive the trials & tribulations of any gift-giving dilemma!
These are just additional ways at www.yarnmarket.com that we pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Alma, Joni, Phyllis, Tina or Kim –- and we’re happy to say that although we have the occasional glitch, we have an almost 99% accuracy rate. 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 the problem. Our customer service hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy your upcoming Easter & Passover celebrations with family & friends.
And as always,
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