Yarn Market Knitting News!

YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #65 In This Issue: Stay Cool & Comfy Well into the Fall with Layers & Transitional Dressing | Discover This Sensational Fall Preview with Four New Berroco Yarns | Enjoy the Creativity of Norah Gaughan Plus Other Other Designers in New Pattern Booklets from Berroco | Debbie Bliss Creates Terrific Tweeds & Chunky Knits for Outstanding Fall Fashion Gems | Check Out Back-to-School Styles & Dorm Decor for Extra Comfort Away from Home | Knitting & Crocheting for a Better World: Yarnmarket & Afghans for Afghans | Customer Service Reminders Stay Cool & Comfy Well into the Fall with Layers & Transitional Dressing   Daylily Easy Garter Vest   As we discussed most recently in the July newsletter last month, surviving the hot days of summer is keeping us busy trying to stay cool yet refurbish our wardrobes for the upcoming days of fall (officially a little over seven weeks away). It's a tricky enterprise because it means trying to stay cool and comfortable plus preparing outfits that will move effortlessly from warm days to the cooler evenings to come without needing all new garments. So here's a rundown on the best styles that will keep you and yours comfy and up to date over these remaining days of summer and early days of fall.   Terra Tank & Cardi Twinset   First off, what Frances Renner, senior sales & marketing VP of Barneys New York, refers to as "seasonless dressing" or "transition dressing" are the official terms for our dilemma. (Now doesn't it make you feel better to have some fashion jargon to drop into your conversations???) And as we've seen recently, layering is the best way to stay fashionable & comfortable now & also keep up with the cooler weather to come. It's also a terrific way not to break the bank as you work on enhancing your wardrobe without starting over for the upcoming season. According to StyleBakery.com, creative layering is the only way to survive and maintain your fashion savoir faire. And in just four areas of our Project Ideas department -- Women's Tops, Women's Cardigans, Women's Vests and Women's Jackets & Coats, we have over 1140 layering ideas for you to try out. One of our favorite new layering projects is the Daylily Easy Garter Stitch Vest, a lovely, Advanced Beginner project from the innovative designers at Nashua. Designed for sizes X-Small to 2X, this front-buttoned top is a gorgeous way to update your wardrobe well into the fall and still flatter your body type. And in this case, the yarn does much of the work since Daylily yarn has beautiful tone-on-tone color combos with sheen & subtle shimmer. Also from Nashua, we love the simple yet lovely styling of the Daylily A-Line Cardigan, the face-flattering neckline of the Daylily Scoop Neck Cardigan, the terrific drape of the Silk Shrug Cardigan and the shaping & innovation of the Silk Trinity Stitch Cardigan.   Mica Ezrra Bolero Shrug   Then we know we can count on the cutting-edge designers at Berroco for fantastic ways to update our wardrobes and our new favorite for warm weather is the Mica Ezra Bolero Shrug. Cropped to fit easily over your favorite top or dress yet sized comfortably up to 2X, this little jacket is the perfect way to jazz up any outfit. Also from Berroco comes the sensational Lumina Accord Tank Top with its clever shaping and touch of glimmer for a dressier look. Of course, Gedifra's Creative Director Karola Gottwald always gives us great options with European savoir faire, and the airy, lightweight Amara Drape Neck Tunic, the shimmering Luminoso Tunic Tank and the fun, open-weave Amara Crocheted Layering Tank are all spectacular ways to enhance your collection.   Cotton Kapok Little Cardi   Also Lana Grossa is once again a design powerhouse with a terrific collection of projects to support their new earth-friendly yarns. Their latest collection includes lovely layering options with Italian pizzazz such as: The multi-textured Biosoja & Tempra Tank Top that can easily double as a vest in cooler weather, The cropped Tempra Scoop Neck Vest and The Biosoja Crocheted Jacket reminiscent of Coco Chanel. Then when it's time to put these elements together in a terrific set, check out the gorgeous Terra Tank & Cardi Twinset. Designed exclusively to take advantage of sensational Terra yarn from South West Trading Company, this twosome is ideal for warm or cool weather and looks as great with jeans for casual outings as it does with dress slacks or a skirt for officewear. Add that this project starts with a pattern free with your yarn purchase, and you have the perfect way to build up your wardrobe affordably. And last but certainly not least, we are living up to our promise to you to keep your favorite wee ones in fashion and up to date with the latest trends too. Just a peek at the preppy, classic Cotton Kapok Little Swanky Cardi, and you'll have a superb unisex project for all the little girls and boys in your life. Then check out the Cotton Kapok Zest Vest, also perfect for both little girls and little boys to wear as a tank top or a vest and featured in the same pattern collection from Sublime. Discover This Sensational Fall Preview with Four New Berroco Yarns   Lustra Lexeme Cardi   In looking forward to what types of yarns will be hot this coming fall and winter, we always count on our major partners to keep us in the know and up to date. We the staff of Yarnmarket are excited to be one of the first stores to have the complete fall/winter yarn collection in stock from the yarn gurus at Berroco. Known for extraordinary fibers, fantastic colors & wonderful patterns at affordable prices, Berroco has created many gorgeous yarns for the upcoming season, and we are launching the season and our recently released New Yarns for Fall/Winter department with four of their sensational fiber blends.   Sundae Danielle Hood   First off, when you crave a silk-like sheen without breaking the bank, check out affordable Lustra yarn. This single-ply wool blend has a luxurious hand and velvety feel for all your worsted-weight, fall/winter projects. Ideal for knitted & crocheted pullovers, capelets, jackets, ponchos, scarves, shawls, cardis, hats, bags & other accessories, "Lustra" is beautifully crafted in Peru of 50% wool & 50% Tencel for fantastic drape and softness. Also it has a lovely sheen to every strand that reminds us oh-so much of silk but without the hefty price tag. Just take a quick peek at the Lustra Lexeme Cardi, and you'll discover for yourself just how spectacularly "Lustra" works up. From its ultra-feminine ruffles to its strategic use of ribbing for versatile shaping in a variety of sizes, this sweater is a must-have for the season. Also check out the other sensational designs available in the Lustra-exclusive pattern collection -- Berroco #289: Lustra -- including the Lustra Loope Pullover, the Lustra Listeme Cardigan and the Lustra Logos Cowl Neck Sweater. Then for a trendy, scrumptious fiber delight that's ideal for all your quick-to-create projects, we now have in stock and ready to ship to you Berroco's super chunky Sundae yarn. Beautifully crafted in Italy of 50% wool & 50% acrylic, "Sundae" has terrific tone-on-tone hues all in the same single ply. The result is lovely heathered shades for all your knitted & crocheted jackets, sweaters, hats, scarves & other super bulky garments & accessories.   Blackstone Tweed Wrap   Add the marvelous pattern support in the Berroco #287: Sundae collection, and you have a terrific combo for your wardrobe. The ultra-flattering Sundae Danielle Hood as featured on the booklet's cover is oh-so lovely and so much more than just a way to keep your head and neck snug & cozy during the cold weather months. Then the Sundae Angela Cardigan demonstrates just how beautifully this yarn works up in a sweater jacket, and the Sundae Graff Crocheted Scarf shows its versatility in a neckwear project as well.   Vintage Wool Gondry Hoodie   Tweeds are ever-so popular this fall & winter too, and the yarn aficionados at Berroco have created Blackstone Tweed yarn to stand out from the rest. This worsted-weight, wool blend has the look of a nubby, rustic tweed without the harsh feel. With just enough mohair and angora mixed with the wool to add softness and loft, "Blackstone Tweed" knits up and crochets marvelously. Just think what great sweaters, jackets, blankets, cardigans, hats & scarves you can create this fall & winter. And when you are looking for tweedy inspiration of what to create, discover the 10 great projects in the Berroco #288: Blackstone Tweed pattern booklet. These projects make excellent use of the yarn's soft, fuzzy halo and terrific loft. The innovative Blackstone Tweed Noisette Wrap beautifully demonstrates the versatility of the yarn with its use of cables, textured stitches and even pom poms! Also the figure-flattering Blackstone Tweed Nuss Cardigan is a lovely wardrobe enhancer for a wide range of sizes, and the creative Blackstone Tweed Nog Scarf is made up of 12 motifs joined together in pairs and then sewn together to complete the overall shape. Classic Vintage Wool is the 4th new Berroco yarn for the fall & winter, and it's a stunning example of how the yarn designers at Berroco can combine the best features of the substantial, sturdy wools of years past with the latest technology for softness and loft. The result of their efforts is the ever-versatile worsted-weight "Vintage Wool." The perfect yarn for all your cool-weather sweaters, jackets, ponchos, scarves, hats, gloves & more, "Vintage Wool" has the velvety durability plus machine washability we bet will will quickly elevate it to your favorite go-to fall/winter option. And, of course, the prolific designers at Berroco have created a special pattern collection for this new yarn also with the booklet Berroco #290: Vintage Wool. From the functional Vintage Wool Gondry Hoodie yet with its terrific edging at the hemline to the unusual cuffs of the Vintage Wool Stefane Pullover, we love the way this wool/acrylic blend knits up. Also take a peek at the classic, wrap-style Vintage Wool Miroux Cardigan and the masculine Vintage Wool Beagle Pullover for several marvelous other adult designs too. Enjoy the Creativity of Norah Gaughan Plus Other Designers in New Pattern Booklets from Berroco   Norah Gaughan Volume 5   When we think of the designers at Berroco, we automatically think of Design Director Norah Gaughan and her innovative, geometry-inspired design style. We're very excited to have two new Norah Gaughan pattern collections to share with you this month along with a terrific pattern booklet for your favorite little girls.   Norah Gaughan Men   First up is Norah's new seasonal collection in her long-running series -- Berroco: Norah Gaughan Volume 5. Norah has really outdone herself this time with her two-part story for 14 glorious designs that will suit you whether you love tailored or flowing sweaters for fall & winter. The first section is aptly entitled "Fly Away," and in this part Norah features classic silhouettes embellished with lusciously draping flounces. Such instant hits as Peruvia Quick Heron Cardigan and the Ultra Alpaca Osprey Scarf are just two examples of Norah's gifted, distinctive sweater style. Then add the unusual Ultra Alpaca Felted Grebe Purse, and you'll get a real sense how Norah can transform even something as traditional as felting into something magical. The booklet's second section -- "Bright Women" -- is filled with seven sweater designs where Norah uses clear, bright hues to make quintessential guernsey and aran stitchwork come alive. For example, the Ultra Alpaca Hypatia Camisole shows Norah's outstanding ability to combine several types of stitches -- in this case, moss, ribbing and cables -- to create wonderful texture and eye appeal in a great cami that also works equally well as a layering vest as shown.   Berroco #291: Comfort Book for Girls   This season Norah has also turned her considerable design talents to creating some of the most wonderful menswear projects we've seen in a long time, and our fingers are itching to get started on some of these gems right away. Berroco: Norah Gaughan Men gives you a wide range of sweater, jacket and accessory designs for the men in your life. Norah's command of texture now definitely extends to men's projects in this collection of wearable masterpieces with striking graphic elements. For instance, we adore the terrific use of cabling in her Peruvia Wilson Cabled Pullover sized from X-Small to 2X. Norah uses classic cables to frame an impressive expanse of the textured honeycomb stitch, and the end result is a warm, stunning sweater any guy will love. Then discover her ability to create a plaid effect in the Cuzco Zura Zippered Jacket. Wide boxes of reverse stockinette stitch are sectioned off with ladders of twisted stitches and garter stitch to create this wondrous effect. Besides the terrific designs of Norah Gaughan, the Berroco design team has developed a booklet of back-to-school basics for your little lady all knit in popular weights of "Comfort" family, the itch-free yarns that have become instant classics. Some of our staff recommendations from Berroco #291: Comfort Book for Girls include: The delightful Comfort Bonfire Tunic, The colorful Comfort Chunky Taffy Cardigan, The comfy Comfort Flume Hoodie and The creative Comfort Caramel Tunic that can also be worn as a jumper dress over leggings as shown. Debbie Bliss Creates Terrific Tweeds & Chunky Knits for Outstanding Fall Fashion Gems   Luxury Tweed Riding Jacket   Just last week our Receiving Manager let us know that one of the new Debbie Bliss yarns is now in stock along with a terrific, brand-new pattern collection, so we made sure that we got this new fiber gem & book scanned right away and ready for your knitting & crocheting pleasure. When you want a traditional Irish tweed but crave softness too, experience the wonders of her newly released Luxury Tweed Chunky yarn. Building on the enhanced tweed formula she developed for Luxury Tweed Aran, Debbie has created this superb quick-to-create version for all your knitting & crochet projects just in time to get you ready for the hottest trend of the fall & winter -- chunky knitwear. Just imagine all the gorgeous jackets, pullovers, hats, shawls, cardigans & shawls you can create from this luxurious blend of high-quality fibers that's beautifully crafted in Kilcar, Ireland of 85% wool & 15% angora.   The Big Easy   We also have in stock for you new colors in many of your favorite Debbie Bliss classic yarns including: Baby Cashmerino, Cashmerino Aran, Cashmerino DK, Donegal Tweed Chunky Luxury Tweed Aran and Rialto Aran. Just look for the "new" banner on each of these yarn pages to identify the latest releases. And when you need a little inspiration for your tweed and chunky garments in these various weights of yarns, check out Debbie's terrific designs in her new pattern collection for chunky knits: The Big Easy. Featuring a variety of styles and types of garments for her chunky yarns, this book includes the flattering yet simple Luxury Tweed Riding Jacket, one of our personal favorites for the upcoming cooler weather. Its longer length, flared peplum "skirt," small notched collar and fitted bodice are figure-enhancing and perfect imitations of the classic design. Also the Luxury Tweed Chunky Cape Coat is a beautiful piece of outerwear as is the Luxury Tweed A-Line Coat. Check Out Back-to-School Styles & Dorm Decor for Extra Comfort Away from Home   Fiorista Wild Child Pullover   It's hard to believe that it's already August, and many of us are getting our children ready for back to school and preparing our college-bound teens and young adults for the big move into dormitories and apartments. So what are some of the best fashions for back-to-school young ones along with ways our favorite college students can benefit from our crafts and be reminded of our love and support? Of course, your staff at Yarnmarket have just the Project Ideas you need to inspire you. One of our latest unisex sweater styles -- the Fiorista Wild Child Pullover -- is crafted of cotton blend, self-striping Fiorista, so your little one is sure to enjoy this sweater for many seasons to come. The Sprout Sweater & Hat and the Landscape Gnarly Vest are also great styles for back to school that both boys and girls will enjoy.   Caribbean Crocheted Backpack/Purse   Backpacks and purses are also great items to knit and crochet for your favorite little ones, and of course, we have several suggestions for you in our Bags & Belts department: The colorful Caribbean Crocheted Backpack/Purse is just the thing for the little girls in your life. Then the funky Cable and Tail Girl's Backpack is the right choice for a definite fashion statement. Both boys and girls will enjoy the roominess of the Felted Backpack, and you can knit up the purse too from the same pack of yarn. It can be a bit more challenging to knit and crochet for your college student's new dorm room or apartment but we also have oodles of ideas that we guarantee they'll love. Personal care items are often a big hit, and we recommend you knit up a pair of Fuzzy Flip Flops for her to wear as slippers. Also for great skin care, check out the Aloo Knit Bath Puffy, the Aloo Crocheted Bath Mitt, the Flower Washcloth and the Cotton Chenille Washcloth that even starts out with a free pattern from Crystal Palace.   Silk Garden Blanket & Cushion   Also take a few minutes to cruise through our Home Decor, and you're sure to find great ideas for pillows, afghans, blankets and more to make your college student's abode more homey. Some of our favorites include: The Silk Garden Blanket & Cushion set with its cabled texture in those lovely, auto-striping color combos you've come expect from Noro, The trendy Big Wool Black & White Pillow both guys and gals will love, The funky Fourrure Throw Pillow to add pizzazz to her room, The earth-friendly Eco Cotton Patchwork Afghan from Debbie Bliss and created in strips of motifs that are then joined together, The unisex Denim Crocheted Pillow Cover for a quick decoration in any type of room and The Comfort Big Love Throw to surround her with your love and support while she's away from home. 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. As we've highlighted for the last two fall seasons, we'll 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 throughout the upcoming holiday months. To start off our showcase of knitting and crocheting for charity, we are updating you on Yarnmarket's involvement with afghansforafghans.org. In April a tea party and 91 wool shawls were given to the women who serve in the Afghan Parliament. These beautiful, lovingly made shawls were hand-knit or crocheted by American and Canadian women to show support and admiration for the female leaders of Afghanistan. They wanted to do something special for these women working very hard to serve their people, rebuild their war-torn country and role model for girls, so the idea of the tea party and handcrafted shawls were a way to show this type of support. We begin our focus on knitting and crocheting for a better world by honoring and recognizing those who have taken part in the Afghans for Afghans charitable efforts and who have been selected to receive Yarnmarket gift certificates:   Shawls Sent to Kabul for Female Members of Parliament   Steve Valenta Ann Jessup Janice Knudsen Kathy De Bari Robin VanderRoest Mary McKnight Elaine Graybill Juliet Hover June Kryk Anne Kenlon Suzanne Vierra Debbie Lloyd Bobbie Johnson and Marlene Priest These are just a few of the caring individuals who have helped Afghans for Afghans and given so generously of their time & talent. We truly can make the world a better place through our favorite hobbies! You can also donate to this worthy cause by purchasing sets of postcards photographed so beautifully by Marsha MacColl. Please check out Postcards For Sale for more details on this fundraiser. Customer Service Reminders You know that we the staff of Yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Amy, Lisa, Tina, Emily or Julie –- 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 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 September. 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.