Back-to-School, Super Cool Fashions for All Ages to Stay Current & in Style This Fall
Well, those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are still hanging in there so we still need ways to keep cool. But since we've been covering those styles for several months now, it's time to start planning for the fall season and cooler weather. Also now that our children, teens and young adults are heading back to school & college over the next month or so, we need to focus on what's hot on campus for the fall and how those fashion trends are affecting even the haute couture designers of Paris, Milan and New York.
"Academia" or what Vogue Knitting calls "Back-to-School Cool" is the fall fashion trend we're featuring this month. More specifically, we'll take a look at how layering with vests & tanks has taken over the fashion scene along with empire styles, large totes & bags and the updated version of the classic twinset of a coordinated, matching top & cardigan.
We're super excited about several of the new bag projects we've added recently to our Project Ideas department, so let's kick off this fall preview with the trend for large tote bags. You see them for sale in all the department and discount stores -- from Nordstroms to Target -- but with our featured projects you can create your own custom version or even create a distinctive gift for your favorite friend or relative. The designers at Berroco have developed the sensational Zoom Felted Peruvia Tote, and we know this bag is set to be an all-time favorite. We also highly recommend the Cotton Jeans Rope Bag from designer Martin Storey for RYC. With the kind of simple yet cutting-edge touches Martin is known for, this bag is terrific for the young & the young at heart.
Then considering all of the options we already have in our projects area when you think of the tanks, vests & sleeveless tops we have available, you might wonder if there can be many more ideas out there. Well, wonder no more because we have added several sensational garments that can be worn as tops or vests for the multi-seasonal use featured in Harpers Bazaar and More magazines recently. Just take a quick look at these lovelies, and you'll see what we mean:
The Cashmere Canapa Cami from Hemp for Knitting/LanaKnits is equally sensational worn as a warm-weather top as it is layered over your favorite blouse or turtleneck when the temperatures start dropping;
Another sensational vest idea that doubles as a short-sleeved cardigan is the Mariko Bamboo Tape Vest. With its simple shaping combined with modern pizzazz, this one is a must-have for year-round panache.
Then to go with your new "Cotton Jeans Rope Bag" already featured, check out the Hope Cotton Jeans Vest crafted of the same wonderful fiber from RYC.
For Advanced Beginners looking for a 1st vest project, we strongly recommend the easy yet spectacular Easy La Boheme Vest featuring multi-strand, multi-fiber La Boheme from Fiesta Yarn.
Last but certainly not least is a quick peek at the empire or "baby doll" style so popular today. We're featuring the Tartelette Baby Doll Top to help you see the limitless possibilities of this design that's kind to so many body sizes & shapes.
The other way to look at layering is to explore the updated, modernized twinset, and we have several new options for you with this trend also. The Lacy Silkience Top is a sleeveless shell/vest that looks even more terrific when teamed up with the Silkience Flair Cardi. Both of these garments are great multi-seasonal options that are attractive, comfortable & affordable designs from Ella Rae. Then for a more elegant option for your wardrobe, we have the Posh Boxy Cardigan featured in Vogue and crafted of Classic Elite's luxurious silk-cashmere blend Posh. Just think what sumptuous layering options this short-sleeved jacket will give you!
And you know we wouldn't forget those special little girls in your life who are counting on you to keep them up to date with the latest fashion trends! Of course, the past few weeks we've added more projects to our Baby & Kid's Stuff area and to the Children's Tops department, and they're right in line with the upcoming styles:
The Bettina Striped Love It Dress from Berroco combines the empire, baby doll styling being featured in all the mags along with numerous layering options as the weather gets cooler.
Then the Tiny Tots Front-Tie Bolero is a great layering accessory for babies & little girls up to 6 years old.
One more option that's a complete outfit is the Snuggly Lacy Sweater Set, also from Sirdar. This collection gives you a matching sweater, hat & shoes/booties to keep your little girl on the cutting-edge of cuteness!
Now we also have to remember that "back to school" means those special things we can make for our children so that they know we're thinking of them while they're working hard at their studies. Special projects like these will vary depending on the age of your student:
Instead of large tote bags, younger children will like backpacks & purses for carrying all of their essentials. Something like the Felted Backpack & Purse will have her smiling, or when you check out the Knit One, Crochet Too pattern for the Paint Box Color Felted Backpack (#1310), you'll see that it has many auto-striping options.
College-age teens will love a hand-made reminder from home when they get a little homesick, so how about making her or him an afghan or throw to snuggle up in? The Ella Rae Classic Throw is an easy, unisex design and with over 60 colors from which to choose, you can match any dorm room's decor quickly & easily. Also the ever-popular Charlene Chinchilla Glace Afghan has been a comfort for many seasons now.
And what about the little things your college students can use every day and be reminded of your love & care? Take a peek at the Fuzzy Flip Flops, the Angora Bed Socks and the Whisper Cotton Chenille Slippers she can wear & enjoy in the dorm. Or whip up a quick knitted washcloth for him by following the Cotton Chenille Washcloth free pattern or the more feminine version for her in the Flower Washcloth. Just use your imagination, and we're sure you can tell us lots more ways you've found to bring a little hand-made comfort into your students' lives.
An Important Update on Our Exclusive Impressionist Collection Plus Info on New Sock Yarns & Sock Club News
Your enthusiastic response to our exclusive Yarnmarket Impressionist Collection colorways has been sensational, and we know you want to know the most recent news each month. Our latest addition to the collection is right in keeping with the trend for twinsets this fall because we've added a free sleeveless shell pattern just for you. Take a peek at the Regal Silk Side to Side Shell, and you'll find another surefire winner from Artyarns designer Sharon Sorken. This gem combines Regal Silk with Beaded Silk for the same type of elegant simplicity & classic loveliness as you've found in her coordinating garment -- the Regal Silk Side to Side Jacket. Now that's what we call the ultimate in twinsets & layering!
Also we have lots of sock-related updates including 3 new sock yarns and information on our 2 sock clubs currently being offered.
First off, we have new fingering-weight sock yarns from 2 of your favorite yarn companies -- Crystal Palace and Cherry Tree Hill. Crystal Palace brings you two terrific new corn/nylon blend sock yarns called Maizy Solid and Maizy Print. With all the wonderful color combinations possible in their coordinating hues, you can give your imagination free reign & come up with all kinds of socks, baby clothes, shawls & lightweight accessories that will crochet & knit up well in these eco-friendly creations with snap-back elasticity.
Then from Cherry Tree Hill we have their first fingering-weight merino/nylon blend, of course available in those lovely colorways you've come to expect from company founder Cheryl Potter. Her new Sockittome is as fun as its name and built upon the ever-popular Supersock Merino formula. Enjoy that lovely softness & terrific colorways now with the added durability of nylon.
Also we have the up-to-date info on the latest releases for the limited-edition Tofutsies Sock Club Yarn and for the Jawoll Aktion Sock Club 2007 Yarn. The August color combo in the Tofutsies is in stock, and we're thrilled to report that everyone on the waiting list is getting a ball. We also have a few balls available as open stock, but they will go quickly, so order yours immediately so you don't miss out on your favorite. Also both the August & September color combos are now in stock for the Jawoll Aktion and the pre-orders are shipping today & tomorrow. We still have some Aktion balls not on pre-order, but as with the Tofutsies limited-edition colors, when you see a colorway & patterning you love, order it!
Speaking of pre-orders, let us remind you that pre-ordered items and backordered items are totally different as to the shipping fees and as explained on the sock club product pages. When we run out of a currently available item & it goes on backorder unexpectedly, we absorb the shipping fee of sending it to you. But with a pre-ordered, limited-edition item such as the sock club colorways, we state up front that the shipping will be delayed and that shipping will be charged for each release. Currently we're operating within a system that automatically emails you about backordered items & free shipping. However, as we've explained, pre-ordered & backordered items have different shipping policies. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our auto-email system so that we can continue to offer you exciting new opportunities like these recent sock clubs.
Other Fab New Yarns Now in Stock for Year-Round Pizzazz from Berroco, Noro, Trendsetter & Crystal Palace
Now in the last few weeks we've been adding other spectacular new yarns to see you through the fall and beyond, and two of our favorites come from Trendsetter Yarn. One of Barry Klein's best design yarns and the one he favors for elegant tops, jackets, scarves & shawls is Checkmate. A lovely ribbon yarn with many modern twists, "Checkmate" alternates a wide, shimmering checkerboard with a narrower, matte-finish, suede-like ribbon for thick & thin variety. You can see in a number of Checkmate designs in the Trendsetter pattern collection just how beautifully it works up too. Also brand-new from Trendsetter is the 100% organic cotton masterpiece called Pakucho. Completely grown, dyed, harvested & processed with no pesticides, herbicides or agri-chemicals, this one is a great year-round option for those of us allergic to wool and who prefer to purchase earth-friendly products.
Next from ever-popular Eisaku Noro, we have in stock his latest creation Niji, a fluffy boucle with an interesting fiber blend. You know just what to expect from this color master, but as to his fiber choices, expect the unexpected here with Niji's mix of wool, kid mohair & silk plus a touch of nylon. Also Noro has turned "Niji" into a fall/winter powerhouse as he demonstrates in the designs from his latest pattern collection Noro Volume 22. So just imagine the knitted & crocheted tops, sweaters, scarves, jackets & more you can create with this light-worsted gem.
We also now have in stock 3 lovely new yarns from our special partners -- Berroco and Crystal Palace. We have always admired the innovative talents of the yarn gurus at Berroco, but the development of their new Comfort yarn exceeded even our expectations. "Comfort" truly is a modern, ultra-soft version of the classic American worsted-weight yarn with its 50/50 blend of superfine acrylic & superfine nylon. "Comfort" has the soft twist of a much more expensive yarn, so this one is lovely & a great deal.
Then last but certainly not least come 2 terrific poly fleece creations from Crystal Palace. We can certainly see where Puffin Solid and Puffin Dot get their name because the velvety "puffiness" of each strand is as soft as puffy cotton balls. Just imagine how you'd love to cuddle up in a sweater, afghan or jacket crafted of quick-to-create "Puffin" this fall, winter & spring!
Yarnmarket Welcomes Debbyware to Our Books & Patterns Area Plus More Colors Available in New Zealand Kits
When we added the ever-versatile & popular Cotton Classic from Tahki Yarns a few months ago, we knew this DK-weight fiber was extremely popular with designers and that there would be many opportunities to offer you exciting new pattern support from outside the Tahki collection. Well, the first of these opportunities is here because we at Yarnmarket are excited we've added the Debbyware pattern collection featuring "Cotton Classic" in all designs. The Debbyware collection is known for innovative yet straightforward creations that will definitely have your little one standing out in a crowd. These designs are just adorable, and from the whimsical hats to the practical blankets and from the high-fashion booties to the coordinating sweaters, we know you'll enjoy these gems. Now just to highlight a few of our personal favorites, take a peek & ooh & aah over:
The scrumptious Cupcake Beanie Pattern that looks good enough to eat;
The universally appealing Birthday Blanket Pattern for that upcoming baby shower;
The Stars & Stripes Hat Pattern with its coordinating sweater -- the Anchors Away Cardigan Pattern;
The ever-popular Baby Beret Pattern; and
The adorable Bunny Booties Pattern we can't wait until springtime & Easter to knit up!
Other goodies suitable for oohing & aahing are the new colors we just got in from our favorite New Zealand designer Stephanie Quattrini. Check out the latest in the Hanz On Creativity kits especially the new color combos for Stephanie's Freeform Bag Kit, the Whimsical Wrap Kit and the Woven Wonder Bag Kit. We've added color combos so that you can do more color-coordinated outfits between the wraps, shawls, scarves & bags. We've also added brand-new colorways with evocative names like "Water Lily" & "Wisteria" to mention just a few. So take a peek & enjoy planning which kit you want to work up next. And remember what extraordinary gifts any or all of these kits will make for upcoming celebrations.
Update on Knitting & Crocheting for a Better World: Yarnmarket & Afghans for Afghans
Starting with our upcoming September issue of the Yarnmarket.com News, we'll be featuring once again a variety of charitable organizations & non-profit groups who can use your crafty skills. As we begin our work on the gifts we are making for our friends & relatives over the next few months, we encourage you to take time to join us in helping those less fortunate than ourselves. As we highlighted last fall, we will be featuring some of our favorite charities along with ones you recommend. Now to suggest a non-profit, charitable group for us to feature, just e-mail the newsletter editor and share your suggestions. Please provide any details you have about the organization including the website address, contact person's name, e-mail address, etc. Then watch future issues of this newsletter for updates through the upcoming holiday months.
To start off our features on knitting and crocheting for charity, we are updating you on Yarnmarket's involvement with afghansforafghans.org. We begin by honoring and recognizing those who have recently taken part in the Afghans for Afghans charitable efforts and who were selected to receive Yarnmarket gift certificates:
Heather Zimmerman
Lissa Walter
Ji Sohn
Franny Heald
Perla Rothenberg and
Janet Grover
These are just a few of the giving individuals who recently helped Afghans for Afghans have enough hats -- over 700! -- for the Afghan Mobile Mini Circus for Children to distribute across this war-torn nation. The current project is in conjunction with Church World Service to provide blankets, hats, mittens, socks, sweaters & vests for youth ages 7-18. For more details about this effort, check out Afghans for Afghans/Campaign, and you'll get all the information & guidelines.
Customer Service Reminders
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 or Alma –- 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 to keep you inspired on your next vacation or business trip -- you know you don't want to be sitting on the airplane or riding in the car without your next project in hand. Just let us know how we can help out & we'll be sure we get your package to you by whatever expedited delivery method you choose.
Thanks for reading, and we wish you a great start back with the school year this month or with that end-of-summer vacation trip you have yet to enjoy. And be sure to spend quality time with family & friends over the Labor Day weekend in the U.S. the beginning of next month.
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.
