More Fall & Holiday Fashion Trends: Metallics, Glamour, More Volume & Accessories
Now that we're well into the fall season, we know you've been knitting and crocheting up a storm following up on our fall fashion advice in the Yarnmarket newsletters for August, September and October. Well, we've been adding exciting new creations to our Project Ideas department so you'll see what you need to keep you & yours fashionably dressed with plenty of gift ideas too. We've also been checking out all of the advice for those special holiday fashion trends of 2007, and there are definite ways you can spice up your eveningwear without breaking the bank. Although the advice from the runways of Paris, Milan & New York can be extreme at times, we've been busy translating the trends into wearable, figure-flattering knitwear designs to fit a variety of personal tastes & styles.
To start off our eveningwear spotlight, we think the editors of Vogue Knitting International are definitely right on the cutting-edge of fashion when they point out that "Metallics are back with a vengeance for the holidays." But the key to incorporating metallics & glitz into your wardrobe this November & December is to know when and when not to flaunt it. As the website womensfashion.suite101.com so aptly demonstrates, "Holiday fashion always calls for a little shine, but the sparkle and glitter shown in this season's clothing has been positively blinding!" Their philosophy is that "As long as a look doesn't overwhelm, some glitz and glamour can brighten anyone's mood."
So in keeping with our promise to give you lots of stylish options, we went on the hunt for subtle glitz and glamour or what Lucky magazine featured recently as "hints of metallic thread for a luxurious effect." One of our absolute newest faves for dressy occasions is the Luxor & Micio Evening Jacket from the haute-couture design powerhouse of the S. Charles Collezione. In the knitwear industry, Stacy Charles has long been known for his crew of innovative designers who are always fashion forward and gifted in providing chic, sophisticated garments with exquisite uses of color and surface design & texture. And this stunning evening jacket is no exception. With the subtle metallic thread of two hues of Luxor and the textural diversity of Micio, this elegant coat gives you figure-enhancing vertical striping and a sophisticated silhouette. Add the deep V-neckline and the slanted lines of the front, and you'll readily see why this jacket is so suitable for a range of figure sizes & types.
Two other sensational yet subtle ways to add a little glitz to your wardrobe with a subtle metallic thread are the Gossamer Shawl with Ruffle and the Ruffle Neck Top, both spectacularly rendered in shimmering Gossamer from Karabella Yarns. We can certainly see why "Gossamer" is such a designer's favorite for elegant accessories as with the Vogue creation -- the Gossamer Scallop Shawl. And with almost 35 shades now available and more due in before the holidays, "Gossamer" definitely fits the call for subtle glitz & glamour.
But when you're in the mood for what Elle magazine calls "blazing your own trail with over-the-top glam," check out the Metallic Sequin Scarf from Berroco's premier designer Margery Winter & selected to be showcased in Vogue's extraordinary 25th anniversary edition. This clever combination of two ever-popular Berroco yarns -- Metallic FX and Lazer FX -- gives you plenty of the bling you crave, and yet by featuring this beauty in silver & gray hues, the accessory follows the advice of fashion.about.com to keep "embellishments like sequins, trims and studs in basic colors" so that you avoid overdoing the bling.
Or if you prefer following along with designer Marc Jacobs' recent obsession with glitz & bling for even casual outings, take a peek at the Universal Stuff Poncho where the subtle metallic of Wild Stuff from Prism and the velvety softness of Muench's Touch Me trim can definitely make your own personal style statement.
Then to continue with previously highlighted styles, we've added a variety of projects that feature lovely cabling, volume & shaping for different body styles and wonderful accessories to enliven any wardrobe. Be sure to take a peek at these lovelies:
The sensational O-Wool Classic Cabled Coat superbly combines cables & "hedgerows" (bars) in this sweater from Vermont Organic Fiber Co. Even better yet, it's crafted of 100% certified organic O-Wool Classic, so you're helping the environment at the same time that you're creating a wonderful wardrobe addition.
Then as a follow-up to the trend for volume & subtle figure enhancement, we recommend the Peruvia Tilted Duster Jacket from Berroco's design director Norah Gaughan. With its geometric shaping & graceful draping from the trendy empire waistline, no wonder this gem was selected to grace the cover of Interweave Knits for the fall!
Also we suggest you take a peek at two extraordinary accessories. First off, for those felting aficionados out there and for those wanting to try something a little different, the Peruvia Knotty Felted Bag is just the thing. With its unique knotted handle on one side & 2 fun pockets on the other, this tote in terrifically practical & trendy. Your hardest decision will be choosing just three contrasting hues from the 20 available in Peruvia so that you'll have these fabulous stripes. Also our all-time favorite British designer with a distinctive style all of her own, Maggie Jackson of Maggi Knits has combined two color-coordinated yarns yet with extremely different textures to give you the Clarin Misty Wool Scarf. And both of these terrific accessories are great to knit up for yourself or as a gift for your favorite someone.
And of course, the upcoming holidays are one of the most popular times for you to craft marvelous gifts for the babies & children in your family. First off from Maggie Jackson comes the Doolin Unisex Tweed Cardi. With its British classic styling, this loose-fitting jacket is an easy fit, and the front & side vent toggle buttons make it simple to get on & off. Then for a great matching accessory, check out the Doolin Tweed Hat. Also keep in mind that both of these items knit up quickly in Maggi's Tweed Fleck Chunky as shown or in Maggi's Thick Wool/Merino Chunky for a single-hued effect.
Then last but definitely not least, we recommend the Fleece Rubber Ducky Blanket from Knit One Crochet Too for all the precious babies & toddlers in your life. Just adorable in three shades of solid-colored Fleece yarn, but use your imagination and see what wonderful variations you can design for a distinctive blankie in your little one's favorite colors. Who's to say that ducklings have to be yellow and not pink, green, blue or brown? Even the variegated hues of Fleece Multi would be a great touch, if not for the critter, then for the background or border.
A Special Yarnmarket Welcome to Two New Partners in the Impressionist Collection
This month we at Yarnmarket are excited to announce a major expansion of our exclusive Impressionist Collection where we have asked the premier yarn gurus in the hand-dyed yarn industry to give us their artistic interpretations of 8 Impressionist paintings from the 19th century. In just a few short months we're now adding to our Artyarns and Lorna's Laces gems two new partners in this special initiative. With the support of the up-and-coming Uruguayan yarn aficionados at Rio de la Plata and the creative artistry of your favorite Twisted Sisters, we have now added three more yarns, all of which include sensational interpretations of the masters' work.
First up from Rio de la Plata comes a superb fingering-weight yarn that will inspire you to knit and crochet much more than socks. Merino Sock is deliciously soft in a generous 400-yd. hank. With one touch, we bet you'll agree that this lovely yarn certainly stands out from the crowd of sock yarns now available. The artisans of Rio de la Plata have even handpainted each strand using their special "Lana del Artista" technique so that each of your creations will be a fabulous work of art.
Then Rio's yarn gurus developed a marvelously versatile worsted-weight yarn of 100% Uruguayan merino that is buttery soft. Merino Pampa has the same thick & thin texture of kettle-dyed Wool Multi and Wool Solid, but this time the fiber is handpainted with the "Lana del Artista" method in the eight Impressionist colorways. Add that this fiber gem is feltable, and you have the perfect choice for your fall/winter & felting projects.
The Twisted Sisters have also put their creative genius to work and developed eight brilliant interpretations of the exclusive colorways. Kicking off their "Impressionist Collection" is Zazu Hand Paints. From the bright hues of "Monet's Garden" & "Spring Bouquet" to the evocative neutrals of "Ballerina Blues" & "Paris Rain," we know that you'll find the ideal colorway to express your personality. Add that "Zazu Hand Paints" has a versatile gauge that can range from DK to fingering just by a switch in needle size, and you have a terrific choice for your lightweight shawls, socks, sweaters and accessories.
To demonstrate just how lovely these new Impressionist interpretations work up, check out the first in our latest Impressionist free pattern series -- the Zazu Impressionist Socks. Built around a basic sock pattern from Yarnmarket staffer Sharon Will, this sensational pair of socks are truly transformed by the lovely alternating colors of "Les Fleurs" as interpreted in "Zazu Hand Paints" from the Twisted Sisters. And keep in mind that each pair you knit up will help you discover your artistic creativity too!
Stay Warm & in Fashion with New Yarns & Colors from RYC (Rowan Yarn Classics)
We so enjoy this time of year when the new fall yarns and colors keep arriving every few days, and with classic fibers so popular right now, we were especially thrilled to see the new goodies from RYC (Rowan Yarn Classics). From a hard-to-find 4 ply to a wonderful new bulky option to a luxurious tweed, the yarn mavens at RYC are really pulling out all the stops.
We recommend in particular the new additions to the popular "Cashsoft" family of fiber blends. We've paid careful attention when you've told us how hard it is for you to find wool blends in a 4-ply fingering weight, so we've added Cashsoft 4 Ply for your knitting & crocheting pleasure. Now you can create wonderful lightweight garments in the same blend of cashmere, wool & acrylic that you so enjoy in Cashsoft Aran, Cashsoft DK and Cashsoft Baby DK. With its baby-soft texture and terrific color range, you have a great selection for your multiple-seasons baby clothes, children's garments, lacy shawls and classic hats & gloves.
Then rounding out the "Cashsoft" family is Cashsoft Chunky to cover your bulky-weight projects. When you need a machine-washable, quick-to-create yarn, select "Cashsoft Chunky," and you're sure to get great results in your pullovers, cardis, scarves, hats & many more year-round creations.
RYC has now also entered the luxury fiber marketplace with a spectacular cashmere offering with a touch of silk for added lusciousness. Cashmere Tweed mixes Italian craftsmanship with 90% cashmere & 10% silk to give you velvety softness & texture in a woven, subtle tweed for all your classic knitting & crocheted styles. Perfect for luxurious sweaters, indulgent shawls, sensational hats & scarves, really any worsted-weight project you have in mind for yourself or that special someone.
Also you'll want to check out the newest shades added to the RYC collection of classic yarns. The yarn gurus at RYC have added lovely new solid hues to several of the most popular established yarns including four new neutral & rich colors in lovely boucle, quick-to-knit Alpaca Soft and a trendy plum & a chocolate brown in both Cashsoft DK and Cashsoft Aran.
And you know you can count on their spectacular designers for sensational RYC Books & Patterns to support each of these yarns. Just for this fall & winter, the RYC designers have developed four new books to support the new & established yarns of the seasons:
Classic Accessories: Book Twenty contains timeless modern & vintage designs featuring "Cashsoft DK" and "Cashsoft 4 Ply."
Classic Tweed: Book Twenty-One is filled with lovely sweaters and accessories for women & men, many crafted of "Cashmere Tweed" and designed by ever-popular Martin Storey.
Classic Travel: Book Twenty-Two also presents the traditional designs of Martin Storey but always with a twist and even more sensational when crafted of "Cashsoft Chunky" and "Cashsoft Aran."
Then last but certainly not least comes Classic AM to PM: Book Twenty-Three with 16 of Martin Storey's modern designs featuring such top-quality alpaca yarns as boucle gem Alpaca Soft.
Be on the Cutting Edge of Haute Couture with New Yarns from the S. Charles Collezione, Tahki & Filatura Di Crosa
When you want to stay on the cutting edge of haute couture designs, you know that you can count on the designers of the Tahki Stacy Charles family. Also the yarns from the three companies developed and distributed by Tahki Stacy Charles are magnificent, especially the latest additions to Yarnmarket.
First comes the latest in Tahki's collection of luxurious fibers at reasonable prices. The spectacular silk/merino blend Savoy uses Italian artistry beautifully to mix 52% silk with 48% merino for subtle sheen & ultra-softness. And we bet you won't believe how buttery soft each strand is until you get to experience this worsted-weight gem for yourself. Just imagine all the extraordinary items you can knit & crochet -- scarves, sweaters, gloves, really anything you'll enjoy wearing right next to your skin.
Then we've also expanded our fiber offerings from the S. Charles Collezione with two yarns new to Yarnmarket. Even better, company founder Stacy Charles has made such additions even easier because all of the yarns in the collection are carefully created to be color coordinated for mix-and-match ease.
Two such high-fashion yarns for year-round style are Cosmos and Venus. Both of these lovely fiber creations are great as companion yarns to add just a touch of the ever-popular shimmer because of their rayon content. Or work them up alone in glitzy tops, shawls, scarves & accessories for more glam and bling this holiday season. Since they're also both that versatile worsted weight, they're easy to substitute in your favorite pattern or design too.
Then from Filatura Di Crosa we recommend New Smoking to add glamour to any design. We can certainly understand how this stunning yarn got its name because it's smokin' hot for eveningwear & dressy garments. Whether knitted or crocheted as a companion yarn for a subtle metallic shimmer or used by itself for absolute sparkle & bling, "New Smoking" will definitely help you make a fashion statement for the upcoming holidays.
Then last but not least, you know you can count on these high-fashion yarn companies for wonderful pattern support, and you really should check out the entire Tahki-Stacy Charles book collection for a complete overview. But for the very latest fall/winter fashions, take a look at these four marvelous booklets:
Filatura Di Crosa: Fall/Winter 2007 containing a variety of cardigans, vests, wraps, scarves, hats & more in new & established yarns;
S. Charles: Fall/Winter 2007 with its 15 beautifully detailed, haute-couture fashions for women;
Tahki: Tweed Collection including 14 beautiful sweaters, vests, bags, hats & scarves; and
Tahki: Fall/Winter 2007 with its 20 stylish creations to update your cool-weather wardrobe.
Get Ready for the Upcoming Holidays with Lovely Decor Items & Fun Gift Ideas
First off, thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to our feature on handcrafted toys last month, and following up on your requests, we've recently expanded the Toys projects area. We especially recommend the Fleece Teddy Bear from Knit One Crochet Too for your favorite little one. Shown in the traditional brown & cream of the classic stuffed animal, consider other color options such as the pinks & blues also available in cuddly soft Fleece. Or consider how much fun you & that precious little girl or boy can have with a teddy mixing solid-colored "Fleece" with its coordinating color combo in Fleece Multi. Give your imagination free rein and who knows what spectacular results you'll achieve (and we'd like to see any variations too please!).
We also know that you're gearing up for the holidays in other ways especially when it comes to decorating your home. Our Holiday Items department is ideal for great ideas for decorating, home decor and even gift wrapping suggestions using yarn & even knitted garments like curly scarves.
Whether you're celebrating Hanukkah in traditional blue & white (or silver & blue) or the Christmas celebrations in green & red, the Holiday Garland is a quick & easy addition to your mantle, stair railing or archway. Just by mixing three novelty yarns from ever-popular Crystal Palace -- Tingle, Fling Solid and Squiggle Print, you can have this lovely decoration in no time, and this one even starts off with a free pattern!
Then festive pillows enliven any decor, so check out the Menorah Pillow finely crafted of Cashmerino Aran by Debbie Bliss. Or consider the Softwist Striped Bolster Pillow combining three complementary shades of Softwist from Berroco and looking just like a large peppermint candy.
Of course, stockings for each member of the family are lots of fun, and one of our favorites is the Snowman Stocking for those who love winter weather & activities. Then the felted Enchanted Forest Christmas Stocking by innovative knitwear guru Cat Bordhi is an extraordinary creation and definitely not the typical, run-of-the-mill design.
And you don't want to forget your furry members of the family with their special stocking too, and with these three designs, you're sure to find the perfect choice for Fido or Kitty:
The Bigfoot Christmas Stocking is large enough for all those fun toys & treats you want to give your canine companion.
Or check out the special design of the Cat & Mouse Christmas Stocking with its clever motifs of mice & paw prints.
And for one of the most innovative designs we've ever seen, take a peek at the Doggie Christmas Stocking with its display of doggie bones, paw prints & colorful striped accents & treatments.
Knitting & Crocheting in the News
We've been watching the news alerts for several months now to find the most interesting, entertaining & inspiring craft-related articles for you, so sit back and enjoy the following recent tidbits from the media & personal blogs.
First off and in keeping with the trend for handmade toys this year, learn how to make your favorite little one a special stuffed toy in Keepin' it real fake, Part LXVI: hand-knit iPhone edition. We've seen several examples of this clever project over the past few months, but this version has been the hottest link and the most often referred to.
Next is the description of an incredible prototype for a voice-activated knitting machine. Two students from the University of the Arts in Berlin -- a fashion designer and a product designer -- adapted an old knitting machine so that a vocal message can be translated into a knitting pattern. Read about this fascinating experiment in Voice Knitting Machine.
Equally fascinating is a new type of yarn described in Glow yarn: making the world a better place for pedestrians. Just think of all the applications for added safety that would help runners, bikers, even children all dressed up in their Halloween costumes and out on the streets in the dark. We'll definitely be watching for this new innovation to hit the market when we go to the next industry yarn convention.
We've been saving a really fun story from Los Angeles (but a national phenom too originally started in Houston, Texas) because we think the "fuzzy" graffiti one writer found in Los Angeles looks more like holiday decorations than subversive designs! Check out the feature article LAist: Knitta Please Tags LA for a great way to decorate your favorite telephone poll.
And you know how much we encourage you to think of ways to use your crafts to make the world a better place, right? So we're showcasing several recent efforts to give back to the community and help the needy:
A designer joins her colleagues in helping the homeless at a local get-together as explained on her blog in Charity Knitting: Knitting for the Homeless,
Volunteer Molly Miller of Wisconsin is recognized for her efforts to provide scarves for 250 needy individuals in her community (And congratulations to...) and
Our colleague Ann Rubin, founder of the nonprofit organization afghans for Afghans, has won the prestigious Jefferson Award in her community. Read all about her accomplishments and why it's so appropriate that the initiative started in the San Francisco Bay area in the article Jefferson Award: Ann Rubin of afghans for Afghans.
Customer Service the Yarnmarket Way
You know that we the staff of www.yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Alma, Amy, Lisa, Tina, Suzi, Julie or Debbie –- 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.
Also we're available to help you be sure you have all of the knitting & crochet supplies you need for the upcoming major holiday gift-giving season. We can suggest projects & patterns, select lovely color combos, even figure out yarn substitutions as needed for patterns you already have. Just let us know how we can help out & we'll be sure to do our best to support you in your love of our favorite crafts.
Thanks for reading, and please enjoy the upcoming November holidays with family & friends -- Veterans Day in the U.S. on November 11th (Remembrance Day in Canada) and Thanksgiving on the 22nd. And remember our advice to take time for yourself as you prepare for the upcoming celebrations and get more involved in the holiday madness & shopping craziness.
And as always,
Happy Knitting & Crocheting!
Your Yarnmarket Knitting Store Staff
Yarnmarket, BargainYARNS and Yarndex are subsidiaries of Yarnmarket, LLC. Yarnmarket is an online yarn retailer with over 500 quality brands from 50 leading manufacturers, plus patterns, books and accessories. BargainYARNS provides discounts on fashionable yarns and accessories. Yarndex is a free online yarn directory offering detailed information about specific yarns from leading manufacturers.
