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YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #48
In This Issue:
Transitional Dressing Tips: Building Your Wardrobe from Winter to Spring | A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome Goes Out to Nashua Handknits | Get Ready for Spring with Two New Yarns & Lots of New Colors from Berroco | Also Check Out New Yarns & New Hues from Knit One Crochet Too | Explore the Recent Expansion of Our Exotic & Unusual Fibers Department | Thank You for Taking Our Recent Survey & Remember Customer Service -- the Yarnmarket Way
Transitional Dressing Tips: Building Your Wardrobe from Winter to Spring
So even though our extra six weeks of winter are still trickling along as evidenced by the rash of snowstorms & ice storms this week, we're all turning our attention to the spring & the advent of warmer weather. What we're working on and recommend for your wardrobe is to think of "transitional dressing" as referred to in Harper's Bazaar or "in-between, seasonless" fashions according to Vogue. And some of the best tips we found for preparing your wardrobe to move from winter to spring were from the independent contributors of Helium.com.
According to Georgina S., "It comes down to the art of layering," and she along with others recommends vests, shrugs, shawls and cardis to wear over your favorite long-sleeved blouses & turtlenecks. You can even expand their usefulness by wearing them later on with sleeveless or short-sleeved styles when the weather changes.
So, of course, we've added some great layering options lately for you to enjoy all year long worn over some of your favorite outfits or in some cases worn alone as a sleeveless top when the temps rise. For example, we love the classic yet trendy Cropped Linen Jeans Vest from Berroco, generously sized up to a 2X (a 52-inch chest). And this little pullover is very versatile and can easily be worn over a special blouse as shown, with a short-sleeved top as the weather warms up or even by itself during the hottest summer months.
From Berroco too comes the Ultra Alpaca Light Medallion Shawl designed by Norah Gaughan with her signature hexagons. Then consider the Kerrie Wrap from Maggie Jackson, the fashion guru & founder of Maggi Knits. The drape of the Maggi's Angora Yarn combined with the trim knitted in Maggi's Thick Wool/Merino Chunky Yarn makes this a real standout in any crowd.
We also like the layering potential of the Micio "Shrug It Off" Shrug for Intermediate knitters. Crafted of soft, fuzzy yet lightweight Micio from the S. Charles Collezione, this little bolero-style top is the perfect accessory for many seasons. Another multi-seasonal shrug to check out is the Himalaya Rainbow Shrug designed exclusively for Recycled Silk.
You can also use lovely cardigans to build twinsets or wear with your best blouse or long-sleeved top. Take a peek at the Kid Classic Fern Cardigan to see how well that type of layering can work, and we bet you'll appreciate its feminine, wrap style & lovely drape!
In addition to layering techniques for your transitional fashions, but sure to continue to add color to your wardrobe through your accessories. One project bag that really caught our eye is the Iro Earl Tote Bag. Taking full advantage of the auto-striping abilities of Iro yarn from Noro, this tote works well to carry your craft supplies as shown. But it can be used as a great diaper bag or even hold your food & beverages for that 1st spring picnic in the park!
Then another fun bag with multi-seasonal potential is the Cotton Jeans Rope Bag from RYC. With its belt loop styling & rope detailing, this bag is sure to be a winner with the young & the young at heart.
And last but never considered least come the projects we've added to keep your favorite little ones in style & on the cutting edge of fashion. We start off with a baby booties project that even helps you be environmentally responsible. The unisex Craft Newborn Baby Booties are designed exclusively for eco-friendly Craft yarn from the Vickie Howell Collection. Now here's an adorable way to give that new little one plenty of everlasting hugs & kisses while keeping his or her little tootsies warm & comfy during all seasons.
Then for a marvelous spring/summer project for girls ages 4 to 12, choose the Colibri Pullover from Katia. No wonder little ones & preteens alike enjoy the asymmetrical hemline plus the feminine ribbon accents. All of this European panache definitely makes for a distinctive, trendy yet lightweight sweater. Also the Colibri Bolero and the wonderfully nubby & lightweight Margarita Bolero are ideal to create and have that special little girl or preteen enjoy now & throughout the spring & early summer.
A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome Goes Out to Nashua Handknits
This month we at Yarnmarket are very excited to be welcoming a new company to our family of over 600 yarns -- Nashua Handknits. Since its introduction to the marketplace in the Fall of 2005, Nashua Handknits has quickly become a major contender in the North American handknitting arena. Known for an emphasis on natural fibers - cotton, wool, alpaca, kid mohair & silk, Nashua yarn gurus add synthetic fibers only to bring out each yarn's best features when knitted, crocheted & worn. And with their brand-new "Natural Focus" yarn collection, Nashua has enhanced their offerings to include eco-friendly options.
To start us off and in keeping with Nashua Handknits' emphasis on natural fibers, Natural Focus Ecologie Wool is sensationally crafted in Italy from 100% wool. Its thick & thin, 2-ply construction gives you added texture & interest in any aran-weight knitting or crochet project. Plus its subtle, tone-on-tone color variations come from eco-friendly natural dyes for what Nashua calls a "back-to-nature" look & feel.
Then as the terrific complement to "Natural Focus Ecologie Wool" & to continue the eco-friendly theme, check out Natural Focus Ecologie Cotton. Beautifully spun & dyed in Italy from 100% pima cotton, Nashua's "Natural Focus Ecologie Cotton" is a great DK-weight choice for environmentally responsible knitters & crocheters. Using only natural dyes from plants, nut shells, wood and elements such as indigo, sandalwood & chestnut, "Ecologie Cotton" gives you lovely pastels & tone-on-tone shades. Superb drape & stitch definition make it perfect for your spring & summer wardrobe including cardis, tops, pullovers & even home decor.
And last but certainly not least, you know we wouldn't be adding a new yarn manufacturer unless they were proven to have excellent patterns available. To support the sensational Nashua Handknits fiber line, Creative Director Susan Mills has developed a wonderful collection of designs from some of the best American & Canadian aficionados. The Nashua pattern collection is based on lifestyle themes -- work, play, family, relaxation, celebration. The terrific patterns help North American families enjoy all aspects of North American life. To support the "Ecologie" family, we now have in stock and ready to ship to you the Natural Focus Spring/Summer 2008 pattern book. With superb designs included for both the wool & for the cotton, this marvelous collection is a great choice year round.
Get Ready for Spring with Two New Yarns & Many New Colors from Berroco
We know how much you look forward each season to seeing what the yarn wizards at Berroco have invented for your knitting & crocheting pleasure, and we have two new spring/summer yarns now in stock for you.
First off, we're marveling at how well named Berroco's Seduce yarn really is because it definitely seduced all of us from our 1st look & touch. Crafted with fine Italian craftsmanship in a corded, slightly nubby strand, "Seduce" helps you knit & crochet a light, lustrous, breathable fabric with little effort. We especially enjoy the way each of the fibers absorbs the dye at different rates for a luscious tone-on-tone sheen. Of course, when you consider that "Seduce" is beautifully spun from 47% rayon, 25% linen, 17% silk & 11% nylon, you quickly come to understand how special this fiber blend is. We recommend you knit & crochet "Seduce" yarn into fabulous spring/summer garments such as tops, wraps, shawls, shrugs, scarves & more.
Then as so many of you have requested, we now have available the outstanding new rayon/linen beauty Linen Jeans. When you crave a yarn with the drape of your favorite T-shirt and the comfort of stone-washed jeans, we highly recommend you check out this new fiber gem from Berroco. Woven from a light strand of heathery linen & rayon, this wondrously soft ribbon tape yarn is available in natural linen hues along with traditional denim & vegetable shades. This new yarn from Berroco is also sensationally crafted in Italy, but this time 70% rayon is blended with 30% linen for flowing drape & style yet terrific comfort & wearability.
Next take a peek at some of the new shades & color combos we now have in some of your all-time Berroco favorites just in time for spring & summer fashions. The two new lovelies in Bonsai -- "Haruna Green" & "Hotaka Gold" -- continue the beautiful earthtone theme for this color palette. Then with eight new shades of Touche for a total of 34 shades, we know you'll find the perfect choice for you and your friends & relatives including such trendy springtime brights as "Salmon," "Sachet" and "Sweet Pea."
Of course, Norah Gaughan & Margery Winter, Berroco's powerhouse design team, have been busy applying their creative genius to what styles best suit these new fiber offerings & colors and have developed four new pattern collections featuring them:
Berroco: Norah Gaughan Volume 2, which includes designs for all four of these lovelies;
Berroco #270: Linen Jeans with patterns for eight stylish tops & sweaters plus a shoulder bag;
Berroco #271: Bonsai.2 filled with top, vest, bag & shrug designs; and
Berroco #272: Seduce/Lumina jam-packed with 10 trendy styles including tops, sweaters, shawls, scarves, even necklaces.
Also Check Out New Yarns & New Hues from Knit One Crochet Too
As we've mentioned before, socks were hot, hot, hot for 2007, and the way 2008 has started out we can easily predict that sock yarns & footwear projects will be equally popular if not more so. Therefore, we're excited to announce that one of your favorite yarn companies -- Knit One, Crochet Too -- has recently entered the sock arena & has introduced two surefire winners for sock lovers.
First up, when you're looking for a different "spin" from traditional sock yarns, look no further than Soxx Appeal Print. With its subtle texture & snap-back stretch, "Soxx Appeal Print" yarn is tremendous when knitted and crocheted in socks, baby goodies, lacy shawls, really any fingering-weight project. And since it's beautifully crafted of 96% superwash merino wool, 3% nylon & 1% elastic, you get machine washability along with sensational color combos from neutrals to brights.
Then totally color coordinated to complement the variegated hues of "Soxx Appeal Print," the yarn gurus at Knit One, Crochet Too have developed Soxx Appeal Solid. We love the slight nubbiness & well-crafted stretch of this machine washable, fingering-weight yarn. Just think of the distinctive socks, treasured baby garments, lacy shawls & terrific hats & gloves you can knit and crochet with this lightweight gem. And imagine how you can color coordinate the two in striped garments like the Barred Striped Socks or use the solid to accent the heels & toes in footwear and use the multi for the body of the sock.
Also new to the Knit One, Crochet Too line-up for spring & summer are new hues in several of their ever-favorite yarns. From the spring-like green of #8558 in Douceur et Soie to the three new color combos of perennial fave Ty-Dy, we can definitely tell that Spring is on its way! Also we've added six new heathery solids to our 2nd Time Cotton collection so that you can stay up to date with all the latest trends and be environmentally responsible at the same time.
As always, Helene Rush, owner of Knit One, Crochet Too, has included several gorgeous "Soxx Appeal" patterns to inspire you including:
Unisex Soxx Appeal Baby Cables Socks (#1494) that would make a great gift for your favorite someone;
The Soxx Appeal Jungle Tile Socks (#1496), classic, ribbed design transformed by the sensational color options & snap-back stretch; and
The two sock versions included in the Soxx Appeal Longstocking Socks (#1500), both the knee highs shown & an ankle-length version too.
Explore the Recent Expansion of Our Exotic & Unusual Fibers Department
From the time our Exotic & Unusual Fibers department was introduced about 18 months ago, you've been enjoying many of the rare & exotic yarn offerings we have included. Now we are extremely excited to be able to offer you in limited quantities the rarest, most luxurious yarn in the world today -- Vicuna distributed in the U.S. by Windy Valley Muskox. For those who have enjoyed Qiviut and Guanaco, you already know the luxury & extraordinary quality these types of fibers can add to your wardrobe. But what makes "Vicuna" even more rare & sensational?
As the ancestor of the modern-day alpaca & close cousin to the guanaco, vicunas are known as the "bearers of the golden fleece" for good reason. Vicuna is the rarest & finest hair fiber available in the world, & these animals live only in the upper altitudes of the Andes Mountains. Since each animal produces only about 4 ounces of harvestable fiber each year, that also adds to its rarity. Vicuna fiber is lighter, softer & warmer than any other hair fiber -- even the guard hairs are soft! -- and since the fiber is sensitive to chemical treatment, vicuna yarn is left in its natural color -- a spicy cinnamon shade.
Also vicunas were nearly hunted to extinction because of their fleeces, but in 2002 a certification process was developed to insure that vicuna fiber was legally obtained by which vicunas are rounded up, sheared alive, returned to the wild & then not sheared again for at least another two years. Windy Valley's Vicuna is imported from Peru following these strict guidelines & meets all certification standards.
Now enjoy yourself thinking of all the lacy shawls, feathery scarves & other lightweight accessories you can create with laceweight "Vicuna" in its natural shade -- a lovely cinnamony hue. But don't take too long planning your 1st Vicuna project -- remember we'll have it in only limited quantities due to its restricted access & limited availability each year.
Thank You for Taking Our Recent Survey & Remember Customer Service -- the Yarnmarket Way
A big heartfelt thanks to all of you who participated in our newsletter survey and a special congratulations to Kathryn D. Barrios of Stamford, CT, who won the drawing for the $100 gift certificate. We really appreciate all of your feedback on our monthly newsletter & bulletin and enjoyed reading your supportive comments about our strengths and the areas for improvement at Yarnmarket. We were especially excited to learn that over half of you read the publications as soon as you receive them and another third of you read it the same day -- a much quicker response time than usual for e-newsletters.
As you requested, we will continue to feature the extensive collection of yarns, patterns, books & projects available in our store. We'll also keep in mind you like to keep up with the latest trends but sometimes like to skim the text, so we'll shorten articles where possible & use lists to help with skimming through the material. We'll also continue to expand our Free Patterns area because we know how much you love having those to get you started on various projects. In addition to those already featured in this issue, check out several other recently added free patterns including the Meringue Baby Blanket, the Cashsoft DK Hood and the Up On The Rooftop Stocking.
We also appreciated your praise for our customer service, and we the staff of www.yarnmarket.com especially take pride about this aspect of our business. Each order is packed with pride by Lisa, Tina, Suzi, Julie, Debbie, Alma or Amy –- 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 we wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day and a Happy Easter later this 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.
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