| |
YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #60
In This Issue:
Cold, Warm, Then Cool: Fashion Advice on Staying in Style Between Seasons | A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome to Colinette & Two Superb Yarns + One Fabulous Kit | Sensational New Yarn from Lang Just in Time for Cool Weather | Enjoy the Latest European Fashion Craze with New Yarns from Rozetti | Rowan & Debbie Bliss Get You Ready for Spring with Warm Weather Yarns & Fashions | Contest Deadline Quickly Approaching & New Videos Posted to Yarnmarket's YouTube Spot | Reminders about New End-of-the-Month Newsletter, Knitch Magazine & Customer Service
Cold, Warm, Then Cool: Fashion Advice on Staying in Style Between Seasons
Our biggest fashion challenge right now, and we suspect it's also yours, is what the heck to wear with the unpredictable weather we've been experiencing. Here in Ohio & the rest of the Midwest, one day it's cool. Then it's warm and we think spring is finally on the way, but oh, no! How wrong can we be when we then end up enduring frigid temperatures & arctic winds once again? And again we ponder what can we wear and stay in fashion no matter what the weather?
When we turn to some of our favorite designers and yarn manufacturers for advice, the two keys to seasonless pizzazz this year are layering and multi-seasonal fibers. Layering options come in a wide range of styles and sizes, but for this article we'll focus our attention on vests and wraps while considering what will work best for more than one season.
Our
Women's Vest department has been steadily growing and now has over 130 project ideas from which you can choose. We particularly like the styling of the Sublime Aran Cecile Vest because you can enjoy easy fit and beautiful lines in this lovely wrap vest from Sublime. Sensationally crafted of multi-seasonal Cashmere Merino Silk Aran yarn, the tie-wrap closure instead of buttons & buttonholes makes this garment easier to create & to wear. We also love the use of basic stockinette (knit on the right side & purl on the wrong side) plus simple ribbing for the front right edging.
Next take a peek at a spectacular design from Noro designer Jenny Watson as featured in her collection Noro Catwalk - Jenny Watson #1. The Kureyon Sock Olivia Vest gives you all those bold Noro colors you've come to expect but in a fine-gauge, fingering-weight yarn suitable for cool & warm weather. Add that bit of snap-back nylon from the yarn too, and fit won't be a problem either!
Now here's a lovely creation from Berroco showcasing fine-gauge, multi-seasonal Ultra Alpaca Light. You can create the Alpaca Felted Urbano Vest with the asymmetric look shown here or simply sew on the buttons directly across from the buttonholes for a more classic look. This is a fun piece for layering or to throw on when you leave the house on a cool day. And who would have thought that a felted garment could be so lightweight yet warm?
Other vest projects we highly recommend include the:
Felted Tweed Argyle Vest for a preppier look,
Colourscape Tempo Vest for a quick knit that's oh-so colorful and
Wool Clasica Boston Vest with its trendy shawl collar and double seed stitch texture.
In terms of project ideas for wraps, our Shawls, Wraps & Stoles area is full to the brim (137 to be exact!) with exciting projects for your wardrobe. We especially admire the design work of our own Sue Kawamoto in the Caledon Cabled Wool Wrap. Twisted cables run the length of the wrap with ribbed edges and a buttoned front to insure it stays in place. And with multiple wearing options, you can dress this garment up or down depending on the occasion.
And of course, we have many other wrap suggestions for you, so check out these staff picks for the spring:
Angora Super Crocheted Shawl, a stunning triangular shawl from Anny Blatt;
Insignia Broken Rib Shawl in stunning Insignia La Boheme from Fiesta Yarns and showcased in Knit "N Style magazine;
Ingenua Mohair Capelet from Katia;
Douceur et Soie Gossamer Shawl featured in Vogue Knitting: Scarves from the On-the-Go series;
Glaciar Del Cielo Cabled Stole starting with a lovely pattern from Aslan Trends;
Kidsilk Haze Crocheted Capelet from Interweave Crochet ; and
Phoenix Shawl staring with a South West pattern that's free with yarn purchase.
A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome to Colinette & Two Superb Yarns + One Fabulous Kit
This month please help us give a warm welcome to one of the most respected and admired yarn companies in the world today -- Colinette. For both the experienced yarn connoisseur & the discriminating beginner, Colinette Yarns are absolutely beautiful fiber offerings. With their well-respected reputation for hand painted fibers, Welsh artisans literally paint each skein by hand. And the results? The most amazing blend of colors. No wonder we hear "the art of Colinette" discussed with such awe around the world and at yarn conventions & industry meetings.
To launch the collection, we start off with the ultimate in easy care, 100% merino wool -- Jitterbug. "Jitterbug" yarn is crafted of such wondrously soft merino that it's sure to get your toes tapping. Spun as a traditional 4-ply, fingering-weight fiber gem, "Jitterbug" is superb for wearable & durable socks and also for fine-gauge, lightweight sweaters, scarves & shawls as well. The lovely colorways hand painted by Welsh artisans are spectacular, and each hank comes with a free sock pattern attached to the label as well. By the way, one hank makes a pair of adult socks (up to women's shoe size 10.5 & men's size 9).
Then as the perfect multi-seasonal yarn for this difficult-to-predict weather comes Giotto. Blending glimmering rayon with soft cotton plus a touch of nylon results in the exquisite "Giotto" by Colinette. This multi-seasonal ribbon yarn is a quick-to-create beauty with subtle contrasts built around the sheen & matte features of the fibers. Also each fiber absorbs the dye differently as the Welsh artisans hand paint each hank, so you have subtle differences in the shades of each colorway too. Beautifully crafted in Wales of 50% cotton, 40% rayon & 10% nylon in generous 156-yard, chunky-weight hanks, long-sleeved pullovers often start with just 4 hanks for the smallest size & tops with just 2!
In addition to such fantastic new yarns & fibers, the designers at Colinette also excel at fabulous pattern support. From the whimsical to the practical, all pattern books showcase the spectacular colorways and interesting fibers as you can readily see from the Colinette Books collection. From the ethereal designs & whimsy of Akashya to the marvelous practicality of Catalan and Colinette: Jitterbug, we know you'll enjoy the vast variety of styles. We especially recommend the all-seasonal Giotto Ronda Cardigan, the beautiful Jitterbug Ceroc Turtleneck, the easy-fitting Jitterbug Swing Jacket and the simple & classic Giotto Rosella Pullover.
But that's not all -- we are also launching a series of lovely kits from Colinette, and we're starting off with the ever-popular Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit. Working with the lovely yarns in this terrific kit will quickly show you how your next afghan project can be so much more than just something to cuddle up in. Using many of Colinette's superb, hand-painted fiber gems ranging from mohairs to cottons, you can choose between 6 different styles for your one-of-a-kind finished item. From the lovely Scalloped Throw to the geometric Blocks Afghan & Diamonds Throw and from the crocheted design to the traditional stripes, all the patterns are straightforward. Or if you want to wear these lovely fibers, then create the spectacular shawl pattern also included. Sizes range from 44" by 55" (the Scallops Throw) to 24" by 82" (the knitted shawl), so get your size 11 U.S. knitting needles or size K crochet hook out and get started today!
Sensational New Yarn from Lang Just in Time for Cool Weather
Since the fall, we've been hearing quite a bit of buzz about a new chunky yarn from Lang that's buttery soft and oh-so delicious to wear. And some of you have emailed and called us asking about this spectacular new fiber being featured in European magazines and blogs, so we've done our research and have an answer for you all.
Now at long last we have the sumptuous Andina in stock for your knitting & crocheting pleasure. Beautifully crafted in Switzerland of 100% baby alpaca, "Andina" is velvety, ultra-soft and crochets & knits up quickly on large hooks & needles. Ideal for pullovers, jackets, scarves, cardis & other accessories for any cool-weather occasion, we recommend that you choose "Andina" for luxurious texture combined with quick-to-create chunkiness. And you won't believe its incredible softness until you experience it for yourself.
And the marvelous designers at Lang have featured "Andina" in two of their recent pattern book releases:
Lang Book #164 with 32 fantastic designs for sweaters, hats, scarves, cardigans and our personal favorite -- the trendy Andina Double-Breasted Jacket and
Lang Book #165, which includes 27 projects for women & men and showcases styles to wear with denim.
Enjoy the Latest European Fashion Craze with New Yarns from Rozetti
Rozetti Yarns is relatively new to the U.S. handknitting world but is quickly becoming known for soft, fashionable fibers, and we are happy to announce that we have recently added them to the Yarnmarket family. The yarn mavens at Rozetti take pride in their color offerings and in delivering cutting-edge fancy yarns for knitters & crocheters to enjoy, and we are one of the first U.S. stores to have their latest fiber gems in stock and ready to ship to you.
Keep up with the latest fashion craze to hit Europe by exploring new Cocoon yarn from Rozetti. Add texture & ultimate softness to your year-round wardrobe when you knit & crochet fluffy scarves, plush wraps, nubby sweaters & more. Better yet, "Cocoon" is super chunky, so it's a definite quick-to-create option for everyone whether you're a beginner just getting started or a more experienced knitter or crocheter needing fast results.
In addition, we have in stock the variegated version -- Cocoon Multi, and we love these lovely prints too. Sensationally crafted of plush 1.5-inch "cocoons" attached to a nubby thread, "Cocoon Multi" knits up & crochets with sensational texture and velvety softness also and is one fashion yarn that's as much fun to work up as it is to wear.
Then we have even more good news for the launch of these two fabulous Rozetti yarns. We have permission from their U.S. distributor to give you free with yarn purchase a knitted scarf pattern or a crocheted scarf pattern, and since we love them both, we recommend that you get both of these projects:
My Sister's Cocoon Scarf is the perfect choice when you need a quick gift or something out-of-the-ordinary to jazz up your own wardrobe. Sensationally crafted of just 2 balls of "Cocoon Multi" from Rozetti Yarns, this rectangular piece of neckwear is just the thing to wear with a favorite pullover, jacket or coat all year round.
Then for all you crocheters, we suggest that even beginners should check out the Loopy Crochet Cocoon Scarf. Just follow the simple, illustrated instructions that come to you free with your yarn purchase. And before you know it, you'll have a wonderful scarf to add to your collection or to use as a gift, and the only things you need are a ball of "Cocoon" and a size K crochet hook!
Rowan & Debbie Bliss Get You Ready for Spring with Warm Weather Yarns & Fashions
Continuing with their commitment to environmentally friendly fibers, the yarn mavens at Rowan have created two new milk-protein yarns for your knitting & crochet projects. First off, mixing cotton & readily renewable milk protein (extracted from dehydrated & skimmed milk) makes Milk Cotton DK a wonderfully soft blend of wearability & durability. Also milk protein-based fibers have fabulous wicking ability to draw moisture away from the skin for added comfort. All these factors make "Milk Cotton DK" ideal for baby & children's knitwear plus garments for those with sensitive skin.
Then for those of you who prefer a finer gauge for your baby & children's projects, discover the wonders of Fine Milk Cotton. Spun as a classic fingering-weight option, "Fine Milk Cotton" has the same sensational blend of breathable cotton & readily renewable milk protein in a velvety soft gem and is machine washable so you don't have to worry about those little spills & stains with the wee ones. It's also great in those fine-gauge, lacy projects for your friends & relatives with skin sensitivities.
And, of course, the designers at Rowan have been busy creating marvelous new pattern books to support each of these terrific new yarns:
We love the 21 amazing garments & accessories jam packed into the Milk Cotton Baby Collection, especially the adorable Milk Cotton Baby Romper. And from your 1st peek at that smiling teddy bear on the chest, we bet your fingers will be itching to get started on this precious little gem. Just think too what a wonderful choice this outfit is for warmer weather so that your wee one stays comfortable and happy.
We also enjoy the 15 adult-sized patterns that fill the Milk Cotton Collection. Knitwear fashionista Marie Wallin has really outdone herself this time with a wide range of styles & outfits.
We've also added the very latest yarn, pattern collection and magazine from Debbie Bliss. As the premier yarn in her Fair Trade Collection, Debbie Bliss has worked with the finest Italian mills to develop her lovely Eco Cotton yarn. Authenticated as 100% organic through the BioRe textile chain, the cotton fiber is grown without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers or defoliants and is harvested by hand. Also the wide range of superb shades of "Eco Cotton" are achieved by using non-toxic, non-carcinogenic dyes, and all water is recycled and made drinkable. Of course, you can also count on Debbie for great pattern support and fabulous year-round "Eco Cotton" projects as are featured in both her new book Eco Fairtrade Collection and in the Spring 2009 issue of her Debbie Bliss Magazine.
Contest Deadline Quickly Approaching & New Videos Posted to Yarnmarket's YouTube Spot
First off, remember that the deadline for submitting your patterns to the contest we're co-sponsoring with the The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) is March 11, 2009, so you have about a week to get your submissions turned in. You can win Yarnmarket gift certificate in one of six categories -- Women's Fashion Classic, Women's Fashion Forward, Men's Wear, Children's Fashion, Baby's Fashion & Accessories -- and the one chosen as overall best design will receive a $1000 certificate.
Check out the contest rules & entry form for the complete details.
Also last month we told you about our setting up a Yarnmarket YouTube location so that you can view our TV previews for Knitting Daily plus other short videos and about how to subscribe to get notices about follow-up postings. Check out our latest posting through the February 16, 2009 entry on our Yarnmarket blog Shear Bagatelle, and get all caught up on the latest insider happenings at Yarnmarket.
Reminders about New End-of-the-Month Newsletter, Knitch Magazine & Customer Service
Last Tuesday we sent you the premier issue of our Just Your Type newsletter featuring one of our favorite Yarn Types categories -- Soft Merino Wool Yarns. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response and for telling us how much you enjoyed the feature article & yarn reviews plus the more extensive article, Merino Wool, that we posted in Knitch Magazine. Then on March 24th we'll be sending you the next issue of Just Your Type, and the spotlight will fall on one of your all-time favorite yarn categories -- Adorable Baby Yarns. Plus we'll post an even more complete article in Knitch once again, so be sure to be watching for that email.
And one more reminder, you know that we the staff of www.yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Amy, Lisa, Tina, Julie, Emily 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 if you need help with a yarn substitution, pattern question or advice on color combinations, just let us know and we'll do what we can to make your project successful.
Thanks for reading, and we wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day coming up plus we remind our American & Canadian customers that Daylight Savings Time starts this coming Sunday, March 8th, at 2 a.m. You'll need to "spring forward" and set your clocks for 3 a.m. instead so that you don't miss any of your important appointments the end of the weekend.
And as always,
Happy Knitting & Crocheting!
Your Yarnmarket Knitting Store Staff
Yarnmarket.com, BargainYARNS.com, Yarndex.com, Shear Bagatelle and KnitchMagazine.com are subsidiaries of Yarnmarket, LLC. Yarnmarket is an online yarn retailer with over 700 quality brands from over 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 more than 4500 yarns from leading manufacturers. Shear Bagatelle is the Yarnmarket blog, an inside view of all the happenings behind the scenes at Yarnmarket. Knitch Magazine is an online publication showcasing knitting and crochet fashions for yarn lovers.
| |
