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YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #51
In This Issue:
Enjoy Patio Style Dressing, Bold Colors & the "Silk Road" This Spring & Summer | Yarnmarket Adds Two Premiere European Sock Brands to Our Rocking Socks Department | Explore Other New Sock Yarns Now Available from Zitron, South West Trading Co. & Noro | Check Out the Expanded Elsebeth Lavold Collection for Fashions to Adorn You All Season | Discover Supersoft Babyboo from Knit One Crochet Too Plus New Children's Colors from Sirdar | Take a Peek at an Exciting New Fashion Yarn from Sirdar Plus Additional New Spring Colors | Customer Service Reminders & a Yarndex Update
Enjoy Patio Style Dressing, Bold Colors & the "Silk Road" This Spring & Summer
As we mentioned in the May newsletter last month, with the arrival of warm weather, we're busy enhancing our spring & summer wardrobes with the latest trends. And of course, you can count on us to keep you up to date with the latest fashion styles when you're so busy with the end of the children's school year, your gardening & other outside activities, vacation plans and such. So here's a rundown on the hot styles for late spring & early summer along with new projects we're featuring for women & children.
First off, what NBC's Today Show fashion editor recently referred to as "patio dressing" is all the rage & filling the racks at all the stores from upscale department stores & boutiques to discount clothiers. So what exactly is "patio" dressing you're probably asking -- loose-fitting, unstructured tops, jackets and sweaters like you would wear to a cookout or cocktail party outdoors or a get-together on the patio.
As a recent issue of Vogue explained it: "Maximum style is the must-have in flowing garments for every occasion this season." And we really appreciate this trend because the new fashions are actually comfortable and wearable along with being "figure friendly" for many body sizes & shapes. So let's look at some of the great options we have for you in our Project Ideas department.
One of our favorite new projects in our Women's Tops area is Norah Gaughan's totally unique Seduce Loop Top. In a clever twist, Norah makes this one piece go from a demure twinset to a dramatic tunic. Simply drop the cardigan off your shoulders & let it unfold. The construction is unique as well because you knit the garment as if it were two separate easy tops, but the tank is cast on with scrap yarn that's later removed & the loops are then used as the cast on for the faux cardi. The look & design are incredible, so be sure to check out the before & after photos.
Next for additional tunic ideas with unstructured, flowing lines, check out these terrific projects from some of your favorite designers:
The Siam Lacy V-Neck Tunic is a real stunner from the S. Charles Yarn Collezione and is definitely figure friendly.
The Corntastic Sunshine Tunic works up beautifully in three shades of eco-friendly Corntastic from Kollage.
The Ecologie Cotton Mesh Cover-Up is an easy-to-wear crocheted addition to your warm-weather wardrobe. Designed by aficionado Vickie Howell, this open-weave pullover is sure to add pizzazz & style to your summer wardrobe.
Another major trend for well into the fall that everyone is discussing is what the NBC fashion editor referred to as the "silk road." She was describing the significant increase in silk fabrics & yarns and what a huge impact they've been having on the haute couture shows of most of the major designers. The ready-to-wear market is starting to show the influence, and of course, we want to stay up to date too with our Impressionist Collection silk yarns. We already have the bold color combos so popular right now (like "Monet's Garden" & "Irises" -- two Yarnmarket-exclusive colorways).
So in cooperation with Artyarns founder & design guru Iris Schreier, we've developed the Regal Silk Draped Vest. With soft, flowing lines, wonderful drape & an asymmetrical bottom edging, this pull-on vest is a one-size-fits-most accessory. But the pivotal design feature is the silk fabric at the front & neck edge that's been hand-dyed to match the Regal Silk exactly.
And knitted, crocheted & felted totes and handbags are still hot, hot, hot for this spring & summer, and we have one in particular we're featuring for this issue of the newsletter. The knitted Bluebell Handbag is a terrific design using four multi-textured yarns from Rowan. It's also a terrific project for someone just starting out with colorwork & design because the instructions are so straightforward.
And last but certainly not least, we are featuring an adorable little shrug for the young ladies in your life. The Bubbly Tie Front Shrug in this short-sleeved version & loose-fitting body. Sized for babies & newborns up to 7 year olds, this little cardigan will quickly become her favorite when crafted of wonderfully nubby Snuggly Bubbly yarn by Sirdar.
Other real winners we've added lately to the Baby & Kid's Stuff department include:
The Corntastic Sherbet Top & Skirt that will make your favorite little girl look scrumptious;
The Snuggly Jacket with Collar featuring Sirdar's ever-popular Snuggly DK; and
The absolutely precious Snuggly Bamboo Daisy Cardigan that's supersoft & has wonderful embroidered details.
Yarnmarket Adds Two Premiere European Sock Brands to Our Rocking Socks Department
This month we at Yarnmarket are very excited to welcome two of those well respected sock manufacturers in all of Europe. First off, we welcome Austermann Yarn, known throughout the world for blending high quality fibers with European panache & flair. Always on the cutting-edge of fiber innovation, they are perhaps best known for their Step yarn family with aloe vera & jojoba oil infused into each yarn strand. We have added both of the innovative "Step" yarns and are excited to preview each of them for you.
The original Step was a major development in the handknitting industry because the yarn gurus at Austermann were able to infuse each yarn strand with non-greasy, moisturizing aloe vera & jojoba oil during the spinning process. These two enhancements guard against skin dryness & inflammation through at least 40 washings, so both your hands as you knit & your feet as you wear the finished socks will benefit. Then the Austermann yarn developers went even further by creating Step Duett with the same wonderful additions but in coordinating pairs or "duets" of color combos. And it's easy to group the pairs because 58 goes with 59, 60 with 61 and so forth.
Secondly, join us in welcoming Schoeller Stahl to the Yarnmarket family of yarns. With over 100 years of experience in the handknitting industry, Schoeller Stahl offers creativity combined with success. Quality & affordability are their main goals, and they are well-known worldwide for their outstanding Fortissima line of sock yarns. We are eager to share with you the four Fortissimas we've chosen to add including solids & variegated color combos.
Plush, comfy Fortissima Teddy Solid and its multi-hued sibling Fortissima Teddy Color are terrific DK-weight choices for everything from socks & slippers to wonderfully soft baby & children's clothes. So with these two coordinating fiber gems we suggest you think of fun, colorful projects for multi-seasonal use.
We also have in stock and ready to ship to you two of Schoeller Stahl's traditional, fingering-weight yarns from their Fortissima collection. Fortissima Mexico Country Colors is a wondrously soft wool-nylon blend with a slightly fuzzy halo. And we know you'll love its superb color blends inspired by beautiful landscapes worldwide. Then for a modern update of traditional wool blend sock yarn, consider Fortissima Mit Bamboo for an environmentally responsible choice since it's crafted of 25% eco-friendly bamboo. Just think of all the terrifically warm socks, lightweight sweaters, lacy shawls, even baby blankets you can make with these two yarns!
Explore Other New Sock Yarns Now Available from Zitron, South West Trading Co. & Noro
We know how much you enjoy the stunning felting yarns produced by Zitron including Turmalin, Loft Color and Unikat. Well, we've been listening to your requests and have now added three of Zitron's stunning sock yarns plus two undyed options so that you can experiment with hand-dyeing your own colorways.
As the grandfather of the rest so to speak, Trekking XXL sets the standard for high-quality sock yarns in Europe. A terrific, self-patterning, multi-colored wool blend, one generous ball will make a pair of adult socks, and we bet you'll have the greatest challenge in choosing just one of its terrific color combos.
Then for breathtaking beauty & the 1st hand-dyed Trekking yarn, take a peek at Trekking Hand Art. We were very excited when we heard about this new yarn, but we were even more impressed when we saw & touched this supersoft fiber gem and noticed on the label that it's machine washable!
For those who prefer eco-friendly fibers, we recommend Trekking Pro Natura with its lovely solid hues & color combos. You get the benefits of a fine wool plus the soft feel & added strength of bamboo. We bet you'll enjoy knitting with this lovely yarn so much you'll want to use it for more than just socks. "Trekking Pro Natura" is perfect for any fingering-weight knitting or crochet project you're planning.
When you crave a way to express your creativity & develop a one-of-a-kind knitted or crocheted garment no one else will have, we recommend you combine either Trekking Pro Natura Undyed yarn or Trekking Undyed yarn with the Culinary Colors Dye Kit from Knit One Crochet Too. That way you can create colorways that are as bright or as subdued as you prefer and in all your favorite shades. And you can also use these lovelies undyed in their natural, creamy color for wonderful garments & socks too.
For great sock & garment ideas for the Trekking yarn collection, take a look at three new patterns/booklets: Sock It To Me Again containing 13 sock pattern ideas and the mother-child sweater duo of the Trekking Women's Henley and the Trekking Child's Henley.
In addition to these new yarns, we now have in stock and ready to ship two exciting new releases in limited edition colorways. First off, you'll want to get your order in for the June 2008 release of the Tofutsies Sock Club.
And remember that this beautiful colorway in an environmentally responsible fiber blend comes with 2 sock patterns free with yarn purchase (and not available any other way!).
And for those Noro aficionados out there, we received our shipment of the new color combos in Kureyon Sock earlier than expected, and we've already been selling the new hues without advertising their arrival. So be sure to choose your favorites and get your order placed to avoid backorders until later in the summer, even possibly early fall.
Check Out the Expanded Elsebeth Lavold Collection for Fashions to Adorn You All Season
When we first learned that fiber artist Elsebeth Lavold was developing a bamboo yarn with a boucle texture, we were fascinated by the concept and could hardly wait to see the finished product for ourselves. We now have in stock her new bamboo-blend Bamboucle and it's definitely living up to all the hype. This yarn offers the best of both worlds in a versatile worsted weight -- the natural fibers of bamboo, cotton & linen with a touch of nylon for added durability. Add small boucle loops for interesting texture, and you have a marvelous, multi-seasonal option that's easy to knit & crochet & comfortable to wear.
We've also added all the available new colors in her other yarns plus several of her newest pattern collections:
Lovely new solid hues in hemp/cotton blend Hempathy;
Terrific multi-seasonal options in supersoft Silky Wool;
Book #12: A Walk in the Park featuring wonderful projects in "Silky Wool"; and
Book #14: The Dreamweaver Collection containing lovely designs for especially the new "Bamboucle."
Discover Supersoft Babyboo from Knit One Crochet Plus New Children's Colors in Popular Sirdar Yarns
We are thrilled to announce that we've expanded our Adorable Baby Yarns area by adding another wonderful fiber blend that's well supported by patterns. Babyboo by Knit One, Crochet Too gives you a sensational mix of eco-friendly bamboo & durable, snap-back nylon in a DK-weight option. The name is oh so adorable but don't let it fool you because this fiber gem is great for adult knitted & crocheted projects too. Follow the example of such well-known designers as Shiri Mor & use "Babyboo" for intarsia & colorwork to make excellent use of its snap-back figure shaping.
Also as part of our continuing focus on yarns for the precious little ones in your life, we've added all of the new colors & patterns/booklets available from Sirdar for spring & summer. Here are our staff recommendations of new items to check out:
New colors in the oh-so popular Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK;
Trendy new hues in Snuggly DK and in matching Snuggly Bubbly;
The new pattern collection for "Snuggly" yarns called Little Sweet Peas (#332) with an adorable collection of garments for girls & boys up to 7 years old;
The unisex Snuggly Baby Bamboo Pullover for wonderful edging & neckline options;
The precious little girl's Tiny Tots Side Tie Cardigan with its tweedy look for that fashion-conscious little one; and
The Fair Isle V-Neck Cardigan using a yarn that does all the hard colorwork for you.
Take a Peek at an Exciting New Fashion Yarn from Sirdar Plus Additional New Spring Colors
Building on the success of last spring's eco-friendly yarn release Just Bamboo, the yarn aficionados at Sirdar have developed another fiber gem and we can't decide which one is more lovely. Just Soya is beautifully spun from 100% soybean fiber and is incredibly smooth & silky -- a definite "feel good" yarn against even the most sensitive skin. Add that the soybean plant adds valuable nutrients to the soil as it grows, requires no pesticides for successful production and is entirely sustainable & renewable, and you have a terrific yarn choice that helps you "do good" as well.
Then as an excellent complement to this lovely 100% soy concoction, we recommend you check out the new colors in the other eco-friendly Sirdar yarn -- "Just Bamboo." Add to the lovely new shades the just-released Just Bamboo (#334) booklet filled with 12 fashionably elegant styles, and we know you'll want to get started on some of these projects right away.
We especially recommend the Just Bamboo Scoop Neck Pullover featured on the cover of the book but also available as a pattern leaflet. Also the Just Bamboo One-Button Cardigan features the casual styling & unstructured drape so popular today.
Customer Service Reminders & a Yarndex Update
You know that we the staff of www.yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Tina, Alma, Amy, Julie or Lisa –- 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 as an update on Yarndex.com, your yarn reference resource, in recent months we've added so many new yarns & companies that we've passed the 4500 yarn milestone. That's almost four times the number with which we launched Yarndex.com in January 2005, so we've come a long way in a short period of time. Also remember that you can search in a variety of ways on the site to get the information you want in the best format for your use. And for those of you who haven't checked out the site yet, please do so & send us your suggestions.
Thanks for reading, and we suggest you enjoy "Knitting in Public Day" on Saturday, June 14th (also known as Flag Day in the U.S.). For more information on this event & how you can participate, check out the World Wide Knitting in Public website.
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 600 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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