Yarn Market Knitting News!

YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #63 In This Issue: Even More Fashion Trends: Rethink Necklines & Hemlines, Explore the Grecian Goddess Look & Go a Little Bit Boho | Check Out the Latest Yarns & Spring/Summer Pattern Collection from Teva Durham for Loop-d-Loop | Introducing a Fantastic New Baby Yarn & Book Now in Stock from Sublime | Enjoy Two New Spring/Summer Fiber Gems from Filatura Di Crosa Ready to Ship to You | Discover Terrific New Spring/Summer Yarn Colors & Patterns from Knit One Crochet Too | Remember Your Favorite Guy This Father's Day with Oodles of Project Ideas for All Skill Levels | Explore the Latest Free Patterns from Knitch Magazine & These Customer Service Reminders Even More Fashion Trends: Rethink Necklines & Hemlines, Explore the Grecian Goddess Look & Go a Little Bit Boho   Milena Scarf Neck Top   Thank you for your feedback and eager response to our early spring forecasting in the April newsletter when we featured feminine ruffles, layering with vests, boleros & shrugs, and the bright citrus and fruit colors so popular right now. Then in the May newsletter, we expanded our spring style options by adding geometrical pizzazz and floral feminine details. But as with most seasons, there are always more trends gaining popularity, so in this issue of the Yarnmarket Newsletter we're featuring three more for your knitting & crocheting delight: changing necklines & hemlines, exploring the Grecian Goddess look and adding some retro/boho to your wardrobe.   Seduce Pucker Baby Doll   OK, so now we need to consider the top and the bottom of any garment and explore how both our necklines and our hemlines are in the fashion spotlight this spring & summer. The major influence for both is the asymmetrical look so that at least some of our garments are not straight across and traditionally centered whether we are choosing our neckline or our hem. The editors of InStyle magazine feel a woman’s shoulders always look great, no matter her age, so they feature dress and top designs from Black Halo (Saks Fifth Avenue), Jay Godfrey (Nordstrom), Shoshanna (Neiman Marcus) and Banana Republic. Then the Marie Claire “Trend Spy” column previews how the celebrities are enjoying this figure-flattering neckline including Kate Winslet, Eva Mendes, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez. Once we learned of this terrific trend and how it can suit so many body types & shapes, we started adding sensational Project Ideas for you to create. One of our favorites is the Milena Scarf Neck Top where the lovely scarf accent is placed asymmetrically left of center rather than at the more traditional mid-point of the neckline. The same trendy approach is also beautifully demonstrated in the Fiorista Cap-Sleeve Henley since Gedifra's innovative Creative Director Karola Gottwald once again gives a new twist to the traditional by moving the front placket off center. Of course, Gedifra is just one of the many yarn companies experimenting with this trend, so also check out the Sublime Dressage Vest with its asymmetrical hemline and three fabulous baby/children's designs with asymmetrical waist accents -- the precious Tiny Tots Side Tie Cardigan, the short-sleeved Snuggly Side Tie Cardigan and the Baby Blatt Wrap-Around Top, this last one even starting with a free pattern from Bouton d'Or.   Alchemy Le Monde Bag   Then moving on to our second new spring & summer trend, from the flowing styles of Grecian dresses to the belted look of the Roman tunic, fashion has returned to ancient times for inspiration. As fashionising.com comments, “History and fashion repeat themselves, so don’t be surprised to find out that Roman-esque and Grecian inspired clothing are a key fashion trend in 2009.” The “goddess” style is a logical extension of the trend for asymmetrical necklines and is also a revival of the more modern version of the Grecian look from the 1920s flapper days and the popularity of empire bodices. Both in maxi-dresses and short little numbers, we can’t seem to go wrong with this choice no matter what our body type and shape.   Suede Baby Moccasins   So what are our best knitwear choices for the Goddess look, particularly in the figure-flattering empire style? We highly recommend the Seduce Pucker Baby Doll Top marvelously designed by Norah Gaughan, Creative Director for Berroco. This lovely use of the Grecian look is also oh-so figure enhancing that the pattern is sized from Small to 3X so that you're assured this top will suit many body shapes & sizes. You can also count on the designers at Bouton d'Or to be right in step with the latest trends with their shoulder-baring Surya Rameau Tube Top and subtly figure-enhancing Surya Ondine Top. Or if you'd like to combine geometrical styling with an empire bodice, take a peek at the Kyoto Empire Waist Top for the best of both of these styles. Our third featured trend is a retro look coming back into vogue once again this season. Bohemian styles and retro looks from the hippie days of the 1960s have been featured before, but now the runways are showcasing “Bohemian Chic” defined as a more sophisticated version of the style. As Harper’s Bazaar predicts, the surprise element is “a long, tiered gypsy dress or skirt for summer nights and urban parties, not the hippie trail.”   Suede Unisex Fringed Jacket   Then Elle takes the trend in a more avant garde direction with a “Born To Be Wild” feature. From silk tops and skirts by Dolce & Gabbana to loose-fitting jackets from Miu Miu and from tunic tops and contrasting pants by Louis Vuitton to brightly colored pullovers and pants from Missoni, Boho never looked so good. Of course, we can bring a little bit of "boho" into our wardrobes through our knitwear and also into the clothing styles we select for our babies and children. For example, the Alchemy Le Monde Bag brings a wonderful retro, geometrical touch with a sense of high fashion to our accessories collection year round. Who would have thought you could knit in circles, but Alchemy co-owner and lead designer Gina Wilde has certainly done it with this innovative approach. And what could bring back memories from the 1960s more readily than the ever-present peace sign so prevalent today in everything from bag emblems to fabric motifs and from jewelry to sandal decals? Now you know knitwear mavens have to keep up with this trend too, so be sure to consider the 1824 Cotton Peace Sign Sweater featured in the latest issue of Knit Simple magazine. Sized from 6 to 12 years old, this stylish pullover is sure to please the children and preteens in your life. You can even go a little bohemian with your beachwear this season, and many of the best options seem to revolve around Berroco's wonderful Suede yarn in part because it fringes like a dream in so many of these boho styles. With such 1960s creations as the Suede Bikini and the Retro Crochet Bikini, you can definitely show off your fashion sense all summer long. Even the wee ones in your life can enjoy this flashback to the past with some adorable projects too. Kat Coyle in her sensational Boho Baby Knits has created some terrific retro styles for the young ones in your life. Our first look at the Suede Unisex Fringed Jacket and the coordinating Suede Baby Moccasins quickly convinced us we'd found some terrific ways to keep our little girls & boys right up to date with the trends. Check Out the Latest Yarns & Spring/Summer Pattern Collection from Teva Durham for Loop-d-Loop   River Quartz Shell & Shrug   Innovative Teva Durham has been hard at work developing new yarns and project styles for her Spring/Summer 2009 Loop-d-Loop Yarn collection, and we're eager to share with you all her new goodies available as two great additions to our New Yarns for Spring/Summer department.   Birch Cabled Bag   To start off Teva's spring/summer family of yarns, we now have in stock a wondrous blend of shimmering rayon, durable linen, luxurious silk & subtle metallic to give you superb drape and softness in Quartz yarn. The lovely base strands are delicately wrapped by a thin thread of metallic for sophisticated elegance. This touch of metallic glimmers subtly in the light and is ideal for both dressy & casual outfits. "Quartz" is beautifully crafted in Italy of 54% rayon, 23% linen, 20% silk & 3% metallic. Then the yarn mavens at Loop-d-Loop have found a terrific way to enhance Teva Durham's original Birch yarn in the new version appropriately called New Birch -- they've increased the luxurious silk content yet kept the price the same! We love the added softness and subtle sheen from the much higher percentage of silk, and they've also kept its original rustic look that's been so popular. "New Birch" is totally interchangeable with original "Birch" in Teva's lovely patterns plus you now have a wider color palette available with more brights & neutrals. Of course, you can count on Teva to have superb pattern support for these new yarns along with her established year-round favorites. Check out her newly-released Loop-d-Loop By Teva Durham: Volume 4 for the figure-enhancing River Quartz Shell & Shrug, the Birch Cabled Bag, the retro Quartz Overall Tunic and the lacy New Birch Openwork Cardigan. Introducing a Fantastic New Baby Yarn & Book Now in Stock from Sublime   Cotton Kapok Dolly Stripes Cardi   We've known for many years just how much you enjoy knitting and crocheting for the wee ones in your life, and your response to the March Just Your Type Newsletter featuring our yarn category of Adorable Baby Yarns showed us once again that these types of yarns & projects are some of your favorites. Now for your knitting & crocheting pleasure year round, we've expanded our Sublime yarn collection with a fabulous new fiber blend ideal for babies, children & anyone with sensitive skin. Now in stock and ready to ship to you is unique Baby Cotton Kapok DK yarn. Kapok is a clever hollow fiber with a natural, thermo-regulating feature -- perfect for keeping wee ones cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The result of combining cotton with kapok? A fiber blend that's lighter than 100% cotton yarns, supersoft for delicate, sensitive skin & a delight to knit & crochet. For your convenience, the designers at Sublime have devoted an entire book to "Baby Cotton Kapok DK" so that you'll have plenty of options. Sublime 618: The First Little Baby Kapok DK Book is filled with 14 designs for wee ones from newborns to three year olds. Included in this collection are: The adorable Cotton Kapok Dolly Stripes Cardi, one of our personal favorites (no wonder this design is featured on the cover of the book!); The precious Cotton Kapok Little Check Blanket, a great baby gift year round; and The unisex Cotton Kapok Little Swanky Cardi for the girls & boys in your life who look great in the preppy, collegiate style. Enjoy Two New Spring/Summer Fiber Gems from Filatura Di Crosa Ready to Ship to You   Carioca Colorblock Tee   Now we turn to one of the European yarn companies we can always rely on for sophisticated, elegant fiber gems on the cutting edge of fashion -- the Filatura Di Crosa yarn collection from Italy. Brand-new for the season are two cotton blends just in time to enhance your warm-weather wardrobe all season long.   Semana Yarn   When you crave a cotton blend that's a bit intriguing, explore the wonders of Carioca yarn. Comprised of multi-colored strands with a subtle contrasting thread connecting them, "Carioca" has a sensational checkered tweed effect that reminds us of a master's artwork. Close up you can see the "dots" of color so to speak, but in a fabulous vest, top, pullover or bag project, the end result is a magical blending of hues & shades. Just take a quick look at the Carioca Colorblock Tee and the Carioca V-Neck Tunic Tank, and you'll see exactly the effect we mean. Then when you're looking for a lightweight, subtly dressy yarn option to enhance your spring/summer wardrobe, check out Filatura's fantastic Semana yarn. This multi-hued mini-boucle is wrapped with a shimmering metallic thread. That means you can dress "Semana" up or down and still have a superb lightweight garment with subtle sheen and glimmer. Perfect for knitted or crocheted cardis, tops, jackets, tunics, shawls, scarves and other accessories, "Semana" is beautifully crafted of 50% acrylic, 35% cotton, 10% nylon & 5% metallic polyester. And very conveniently for you, the pattern support for "Semana" is in the same pattern booklet as for "Carioca": Filatura Di Crosa: Spring/Summer 2009 contains the classically tweedy Semana Ribbed Cardigan with its short sleeves and round neck plus the trendy, versatile Cami & Detachable Shawl Collar. We especially admire this second design because it gives you two great looks in one (and the shawl collar even gives you a 3rd option when you wear it as a stylish neck piece in place of a scarf!). Both of these warm-weather beauties demonstrate how fabulously "Semana" knits up. Discover Terrific New Spring/Summer Yarn Colors & Patterns from Knit One Crochet Too   Ty-Dy Socks Yarn   We know you always look forward to what those creative folks at Knit One, Crochet Too have created for your spring & summer enjoyment. We now have in stock and ready to ship to you the latest new colors and new pattern leaflets in many of their best yarns. First off, we know you'll love all the new colors in your favorite Knit One, Crochet Too yarns, many designed for your year-round comfort and enjoyment:   Ty-Dy Pinata Toddler Tank   Now we have available eight new heathery hues of eco-friendly 2nd Time Cotton including summery "Frosty Purple," "Golden Sand," "Granite" & "Stonewash" along with the year-round splendor of "Claret," "Plum," "Adobe" & "Brick." The color palette of ever-popular, auto-striping, 100% cotton Ty-Dy has been expanded with the lovely color combos of "Forget-Me-Not," "Gold Rush" & "Midnight Sun." Last but definitely not least come three multi-seasonal, unisex color blends for Ty-Dy Socks yarn -- "Panama," "Butter Blue" & "Grapes." In addition to these great new colors, Helene Rush, owner of Knit One, Crochet Too, has continued her innovative design work and developed many new pattern leaflets for women, men & children. Some of our favorites include the following group of terrific options for spring/summer projects: The Ty-Dy Pinata Toddler Tank Top is a marvelously feminine, sleeveless pullover right in style with the ruffly, girly designs of the latest fashion trends. The lacy 2nd Time Cotton Audrey Vest gives you a variety of textures by blending various stitch patterns into one garment. The colorful Ty-Dy Diamonds in the Rough Socks project is just one of the terrific pairs you can create from the new Ty-Dy Sock Trio pattern leaflet. The dainty Babyboo Little Angels Dress is a versatile design that works equally well as a tunic top as it does worn as a dress. Remember Your Favorite Guy This Father's Day with Oodles of Project Ideas for All Skill Levels   His or Her Silk Necktie   Now with Father's Day coming up in just three weeks, we know that many of you are looking for some project ideas to create for your favorite guy in the family. You want to show him how much you appreciate his love and support over the years. And what could be a better way to show your feelings than taking the time to knit or crochet a sensational gift? Well, we have a variety of marvelous men's & unisex project ideas in our various departments including Adult Footwear, Men's Pullovers, Men's Cardigans, Men's Jackets & Coats, Men's Vests and even terrific Home Decor items he'll enjoy. We know you enjoy looking through your options yourself, but here are also some of our favorite staff picks to get you started.   Crofter Crew Neck Sweater   First off, why not design a silky soft necktie for him to wear for dressy occasions and/or when he goes to work? The His or Her Silk Necktie is a superb way to show how much you care since it's crafted of one hank of 100% silk Regal Silk by Artyarns. Add that this project starts with a free pattern from yarn guru & Artyarns founder Iris Schreier, and you have a fantastic way to celebrate his special day. Or another great neckwear project that won't break the bank is the Party Necktie. Just choose your favorite shade of 100% nylon Party Print as shown or Party Solid as a great alternative, and get started on this beauty right away beginning with a free pattern from Crystal Palace. Then when the guys in your life enjoy getting handcrafted socks from you, we highly recommend that you check out the many unisex designs we have available in our store. Berroco and Lang are just two of the yarn companies on which you can rely for superb sock yarns plus great pattern support.   Comfort Inverness Socks & Berroco Edinburgh Sox   Two footwear projects from Berroco stand out for us in particular because they are great unisex designs plus the yarns do much of the work for you. To start you off with a great idea, take a peek at the Comfort Inverness Socks. Knitted in auto-striping Comfort Sock Print, this pair gives you the look of multi-hued footwear without ever having to change colors yourself. Then the Berroco Edinburgh Sox project adds even more effortless patterning to the finished product since Berroco Sox gives you self-striping and a repeating jacquard design. Lang also manufactures superb sock yarns and has several great pamphlets to support their sock yarn family. Sockology contains several patterns in various sizes including the Jawoll Two-Color Striped Socks if you prefer coordinating your guy's favorite colors yourself. Also the pamphlet Sockology 2 has even more terrific sock styles -- 22 to be exact -- including the Jawoll Color Jacquard Men's Socks project featuring self-patterning Jawoll Color/Jacquard yarn. And, of course, depending on your skill level and how quickly you work, there's still time to make a vest or sweater for the special father in your life such as: The Men's Surf Stripe Vest showcasing three shades of Natural Silk Aran yarn in a great casual/dressy style; The Crofter Crew Neck Sweater with its easy-to-follow instructions and a terrific self-patterning yarn in a Fair Isle design; The classic, straightforward Organic Cotton Yoke Sweater featured in Sublime 611: Organic Cotton DK Book; and The summery Ecologie Cotton Summer Henley from Nashua Handknits featured in a recent issue of Knit 'N Style. Explore the Latest Free Patterns from Knitch Magazine & These Customer Service Reminders   Cocoon Fringed Bathmat   In our continuing efforts to coordinate projects and special offerings with the newly launched Knitch Magazine, we once again have available special free patterns you can download from Knitch for a limited time and then purchase your yarn & supplies from Yarnmarket.com. Or you can purchase the project on Yarnmarket, and we'll print out the free pattern for you as part of your project materials.   Jitterbug Pretty Basic Socks   First off, we have another great pattern featuring innovative Cocoon yarn from Rozetti, but instead of scarves this one is for a terrific home decor item. The Cocoon Fringed Bathmat will be a sensational addition beside your tub, shower or even bed so that your feet are comfy & protected. And this project is equally lovely when knitted in solid-colored "Cocoon" yarn as shown or in variegated Cocoon Multi for a more colorful option. Then the second free pattern opportunity on Knitch is for the Jitterbug Pretty Basic Socks project. Enjoy the stupendous colorways and super softness of Colinette's "Jitterbug" yarn even more when you can knit up this luscious pair of comfort for your tootsies. Using just one hank of yarn for women's size small or medium, this basic ribbed sock design takes full advantage of the color repeats & lovely texture of "Jitterbug" no matter which of the superb color combos you select. And last but certainly not least, 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 or Emily –- 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 all a Happy Father's Day on Sunday, June 21st. Also take time to enjoy those family get-togethers and vacation trips coming up during the warm-weather months. 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.