YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #69
In This Issue:
Baby, It's Cold Outside: Take Your Outerwear to the Next Level for the Latest Trends | Yarnmarket Creates Exclusive New Yarn Collection with a Little Help from Our Friends | Knitwear Design Maven Teva Durham Develops New Loop-d-Loop Yarn & Book for Fall & Winter | Enjoy New Manos del Uruguay Yarn & Pattern Collection to Enhance Wool Clasica Yarn Family | Tahki Introduces Magical New Self-Striper Plus Pattern Booklet to Amaze Your Friends & Relatives | Check Out Gorgeous Shawl Pin Collection Just in Time for Your Gift Wish List | Keep Up with Latest Trends, Reviews, Features & Free Patterns in Winter "Addition" of Knitch Magazine | Customer Service Reminders & Important Holiday Shipping Info
Baby, It's Cold Outside: Take Your Outerwear to the Next Level for the Latest Trends
As we have discussed in past newsletter issues, we're constantly researching the latest trends and adding stylish new projects to keep your wardrobe up to date and cutting-edge, and this fall has been no exception. From the fabulous shows of Fall 2009 Fashion Week held in the major fashion capitals of the world -- New York, Milan, Paris and London, we've showcased all the common themes echoed throughout the world featuring two of those trends -- the British look and bright colors balanced by neutrals -- in the September Fall Fashion Preview. Then we spotlighted two more -- the lady-like styling of the 1940s & '50s plus the resurgence of headwear in all its varieties -- in the October Fall Fashion News article. Last month in the November newsletter, we clued you in on the latest ways to add pizzazz and sparkle to your holiday outfits & accessories.
Now in this issue of the newsletter and for several months to come, we'll be featuring the major trends for Winter 2010 and showing you gorgeous selections from our Project Ideas department to enhance all aspects of your wardrobe. This month we're exploring ways to stay snuggly, comfy & warm now that the temps are falling and are focusing on taking your outerwear to the next level in trendy styles.
One of the most prevalent influences for the winter is the revival of the basic jacket and coat, and heavy emphasis has been placed on making a new coat the centerpiece of your outwear collection. All haute-couture designers featured various styles of coats, jackets, ponchos, capes and long cardis in their runway shows, so knitted and crocheted pieces were definitely the darlings of the designer set.
From the oversized collars of Oscar de la Renta to the fur cuffs & collars of Donna Karan and from the tweedy looks in the spotlight for Miu Miu & the major emphasis on military detailing like big buttons with the double-breasted styles by Moschino and Burberry Prorsum, the major runway fashions have definitely influenced your favorite knitwear designers from our most popular manufacturers too!
We at Yarnmarket know that you like to browse for yourself, and we do have a wide range of project ideas for jazzing up your outerwear collection this season. Just check out our Women's Jackets & Coats, Hats, Gloves and Baby & Kid's Ponchos & Jackets departments for some great coats, jacket and accessories sure to stand out in any crowd. And here are some hot staff picks to get you started with your adventure.
We've learned over the years to count on such distinctive, creative designers as Debbie Bliss to keep us up to date with the latest trends yet with their own special modern twist, and this season's creations from Debbie are no exception. The Cashmerino Trapeze Coat is simply stunning in her distinctive style and lovely use of cables. Now this project is a definite year-round investment in your wardrobe because it will serve you oh-so sensationally well into the spring. With its wondrous drape & shaping built around versatile Cashmerino Aran yarn, this jacket is distinctive and yet classic at the same time. And with its use of A-line styling, this knitted garment will suit many body types & shapes.
Another design powerhouse we can always rely on for the latest trends is Berroco wonderfully led by Creative Director Norah Gaughan. The classic yet out-of-this-world Blackstone Tweed Nonpareil Jacket is just one recent example where this talented design team has combined trendy A-line styling and a highlighted empire waistline a la Badgley Mischka and added their own stand-out touches. Just look at the textured collar and front button bands, and you'll see what we mean.
In addition to investing in trendy jackets and coats, you can also jazz up your wardrobe with colorful accessories. Headgear in particular is all the rage and is an inexpensive way to modernize your outerwear collection in a variety of ways. For example, well-known Nicky Epstein was inspired by auto-striping Mini Mochi yarn from Crystal Palace, so she has created much more than just a simple hat with her clever Mini Mochi Slouchy Bow Hat. Featured in her new pattern collection Knitting a Kiss into Every Stitch, this modernized version of a headwear classic is a must-have for yourself and all the girls & women on your gift list.
Then no wonder the editors of the new Interweave Accessories magazine chose the trendy Donegal Tweed Beret with its little modern touches. It's knitted traditionally on double-pointed needles but you could easily substitute circulars if you prefer and check out the little twist that finishes off the top of the crown!
Of course, our wee ones have to be in style too and yet stay snug & warm all winter, so we recommend that you keep their wardrobes up to date with these fashion trends also by checking out our Baby & Kid's Ponchos & Jackets and Baby & Kid's Hats, Scarves & Gloves project areas. Just take a peek at the feminine Luxury Tweed Bell Sleeve Coat from Debbie Bliss and you'll find a wonderful demonstration of playing "dress up" with your best girl. Also the eco-friendly Milk Cotton Tabitha Coat and the precious Cashmerino Jacket with Vent are other standouts for the little girls in your life.
Yarnmarket Creates Exclusive New Yarn Collection with a Little Help from Our Friends
We the staff at Yarnmarket.com are very excited to share with you a brand-new, Yarnmarket exclusive yarn collection and a new way to support a worthy endeavor. This month we launch the Abbey Collection Yarns and are featuring our first release in the series -- supersoft Abbey Merino yarn. Inspired by the artistry of an American monk, Yarnmarket has worked with fiber artist & colorist extraordinaire Iris Schreier to capture the colors and spirit of the monk's original paintings. Six of his paintings have been interpreted in this high-quality, 100% extra fine merino fiber along with six complementary, tone-on-tone, hand-dyed solids.
Iris has commented on how delighted she is to have been selected for the Abbey Collection project and in describing her inspiration for the colorways, she says, "When I first saw the pastels, I was struck by the spirit of serenity they conveyed. I took great care in interpreting the monk's works, and I'm truly delighted with the results."
To support this spectacular new yarn, we already have available the following Yarnmarket-exclusive projects all of which start with a free pattern ready to download:
The cap-sleeved, multi-seasonal Abbey Mock Turtleneck Pullover,
The funky, cleverly designed Asymmetrical Pullover,
The versatile V-Neck Pullover that works equally well as a top as it does as a vest for layering and
The inspirational Abbey Cross Scarf that would be make a great gift for your pastor, minister or priest.
We'll be adding more paintings and inspirational colorways to the series in future months, so check back to explore all of your Abbey Collection options. Also keep in mind that $1 from the sale of every hank will be donated back to the monastery as our way of supporting those who live and work there. (The monastery and the monk have requested anonymity.)
Knitwear Design Maven Teva Durham Develops New Loop-d-Loop Yarn & Book for Fall & Winter
In looking forward to what types of yarns will be oh-so popular for cool-weather fashions, we always count on our best designers to keep us in the know and up to date. We the staff of Yarnmarket are eager to receive the new fall/winter yarn collections and books from talented Teva Durham of Loop-d-Loop yarns because we know Teva will apply her extraordinary design gifts to various fiber blends and concoctions. Known for her interesting use of shaping & cables, for this fall & winter Teva brings us a terrific new yarn and an outstanding pattern collection as her piece de resistance.
First off, as a marvelous enhancement of our recently released New Yarns for Fall/Winter department, we are now featuring Teva's new Granite yarn. When you're looking for fast results but crave something with texture & a modern twist, "Granite" is just the super chunky merino blend you need. Constructed as a single ply wool roving yarn, "Granite" is a plush fiber gem with a nylon thread stitched down the center of each strand for added texture, durability & stitch definition. With its natural heather shades, "Granite" maintains a rustic look yet has an incredibly soft hand with warm, lightweight results in your knitted and crocheted garments & accessories.
For example, her new pattern collection Loop-d-Loop By Teva Durham: Volume 5 showcases several Granite creations including the innovative, beautifully shaped Crossed Ribs Vest. It's no surprise to us that such a superb design is sized from Small to 2X because Teva's fashions are what real women can wear yet still be totally in vogue. Also her new take on a traditional knitting approach is aptly demonstrated in the Granite & Moss Fair Isle Ruana.
Of course, her latest collection features other great examples of her knitwear design talents, and we highly recommend:
The creative use of cabling in the Granite Branching Cable Cardigan that's also sized up to a 2X;
The feminine yet quick-to create Tundra Rosebud Mesh Shrug with its open-weave styling & dressy look; and
The elegant Birch & Fern Top-Down Pullover with textural contrast at the hem and yoke and a silhouette inspired by vintage French knitwear.
Enjoy New Manos del Uruguay Yarn & Pattern Collection to Enhance Wool Clasica Yarn Family
When we hear that a new shipment of yarn and pattern books has arrived from Manos del Uruguay, we know we're soon to be blessed by many tactile and eye-catching delights. We always give our imaginations free rein even before we've opened any of the boxes, and we're very excited to be introducing the long awaited expansion of the wonderful Wool Clasica yarn family.
Building on the beauty and reputation for high quality results of their beautiful tone-on-tone Wool Clasica Semi-Solid yarn and superb variegated Wool Clasica Space-Dyed yarn, the Manos del Uruguay cooperative has created "Wool Clasica Naturals." Blending together natural, undyed wool (white, black & "dark" black) with each other and with lovely overdyed hues gives you the gorgeous color palette of "Wool Clasica Naturals" yarn. The results are fantastic with a striated, marled effect for a tweedy, self-striping look. Add that "Wool Clasica Naturals" is beautifully crafted by Uruguayan artisans of 100% pure handspun wool with minimal processing for the undyed options, and you have an eco-friendly option besides the yarn's aesthetic appeal.
It's no wonder that the editors of Interweave Knits chose Deborah Newton's fantastic Wool Clasica Coat as the cover design for the Fall 2009 issue! Also take a peek at the Manos Collection 11: Wool Clasica Naturals devoted to this new Manos creation used alone and coordinated with the other "Wool Clasica" varieties. From the lovely lines of the Wool Clasica Eva Jacket to the stunning elegance of the Wool Clasica Adriana Coat, this booklet is jam packed with cool-weather projects we bet your fingers will start itching to make!
Tahki Introduces Magical New Self-Striper Plus Pattern Booklet to Amaze Your Friends & Relatives
When we're planning out which yarns and pattern collections will be best to add to the Yarnmarket collection each season, we always turn to our major partners to keep us in the know and up to date. And we're always eager to receive the new fall/winter yarn collection and books from the yarn gurus at Tahki yarns. Since they're known for beautiful classic fibers, fantastic colors & wonderful pattern support, this all-American partner has created one more gorgeous yarn for fall & winter, and we bet you're going to find it as "magical" as we are.
For quick-to-create projects with plenty of magical self-striping action, explore rustic Presto yarn. With a touch of thick & thin texture, "Presto" is sensationally spun from a variety of fibers resulting in two yarn strands side by side: one crafted of wool, acrylic & mohair for a roving-like look and the other a thin, shiny thread made of nylon and giving great contrast. No wonder "Presto" is named after a magician's favorite word to introduce terrific results at the end of a conjuring trick because we bet your friends and relatives will think you've magically created superb scarves, sweaters, jackets, hats, shawls & much more for them from this marvelous fiber concoction.
Then we can also count on the designers at Tahki for gorgeous pattern support for all the yarns and the Presto booklet is no exception. Tahki: Folklorica - Presto provides you with 7 projects for garments & accessories built around the very best features of this special yarn. For example, this wide range of "Presto" projects includes:
The stunning Presto Patchwork Fitted Coat where panels of seed stitch alternate with panels in a ridge pattern done in a separate colorway for unusual color blocking;
The triangular Presto Flying Geese Shawl with its lovely chevron patterning;
And last but certainly not least, the perky Presto Honeycomb Beret and its matching Presto Honeycomb Collar, both of which use interesting button accents.
Check Out Gorgeous Shawl Pin Collection Just in Time for Your Gift Wish List
Now just in time for you to get for your favorite someone or to put on your own wish list, we are now carrying a spectacular collection of shawl pins and sticks in our Fashion Accessories department. Crafted by JUL Silver in the USA and in Indonesia, these wonderful accessories are so much more than a way to keep your shawl or scarf in position.
First off, JUL creates the unique Naturals Shawl Pins using all natural materials. Handcrafted from wood, bark & shell, these shawl pins are unusual and gorgeous. Also the faint aroma of the original material sometimes lingers such as with those made of cinnamon bark. Each shawl pin is accented by a lovely rosewood stick and comes in its own silk drawstring bag.
Also the affordable JUL Colors Shawl Pins are a great option, and you have the widest range of choice with this collection. First, select your favorite shade of high-quality resin, then decide if you prefer the matching resin stick or a rosewood stick as a contrast, and finally choose your favorite combination.
Then if you prefer metal for your shawl pins and are using them on a heavier weight yarn (worsted or thicker), we recommend that you go with either the lovely Moire & Vine Shawl Pins or the ultimate in JUL shawl pins -- the Silver Filigree Shawl Pin. We love the intricacy of the designs so aptly mimicking moire fabric, the vines found in nature and filigree silverwork from generations past. All you have to do is choose your favorite metal -- brass, bronze or sterling silver -- and leave the gorgeous, high-quality craftsmanship up to the designers at JUL.
And the knowledgeable folks at JUL Silver have also created the perfect options for those of us who like knitting and crocheting with lighter weight yarns such as DK, sport, baby, lace and even gossamer/featherweight. For those delicate, special projects only the right design will do and JUL has two choices depending on the type of shawl or scarf you're wearing.
For DK to baby weight yarns, they recommend their JUL Shawl Sticks. With stylish gemstone and silver accents, each shawl stick is truly a work of art, and with the complementary hardwood pre-selected for you by the designer, all you have to decide is which gemstone you prefer: turquoise or black pearl.
Then for laceweight and lighter projects, the JUL Lace Sticks are ideal because they're so lightweight they won't drag down your garment yet are substantial enough to keep your shawl or scarf closed. Just choose which overall design you prefer (Off Center or Water Hole), and then decide if you want the rosewood with silver accents or the rosewood only design.
Keep Up with Latest Trends, Reviews, Features & Free Patterns in Winter "Addition" of Knitch Magazine
Thank you for all of your feedback on the past issues of our new quarterly magazine -- Knitch, and we're excited to announce that the new Winter 2009 "Addition" is now available for your reading pleasure. We've expanded on many of our Fall 2009 features and updated them for the colder weather, and we've even done some forecasting for seasons to come.
We know you'll enjoy the interview with designer Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton along with the insights you'll gain from designer and blogger, Shannon Okey.
Other features in Knitch we highly recommend include:
Account of a recent trade show attended by Knitch staff: the Premiere Vision Pluriel trade show in Paris,
Winter Fashion Spotlight showcasing headgear trends for the winter,
Anatomy Of A Mitten featuring all the basic steps for creating a pair,
Knitters' Critters explaining a new yarn collection coming to Yarnmarket and a contest in the works right now,
A spring forecast looking way forward in Fashion Preview for Spring 2011 and
Four new Free Patterns Available Exclusively on Knitch from the pull-down menu on the Home Page: the Preemie Watch Cap, Preemie Marble DK Cap, the Abbey Asymmetrical Pullover With Pocket and the Bow Tie Scarf.
Also to be sure you don't miss any of the upcoming issues, sign up to receive an email alert to let you know when the next issue is available online. Just click on the "Newsletter" link in the upper right hand corner of the Knitch Home Page, and register today.
Customer Service Reminders & Important Holiday Shipping Info
You know that we the staff of Yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Amy, Tina, Lisa, 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.
Also these next few weeks are the major gift-giving season of the year for most of us, so remember that our staff knitters will be glad to help you choose the right project for your favorite someone or advise you on the perfect gift that crafty someone in your life. Also with the family get-togethers coming up and all those hours in route, be sure you have a variety of projects lined up to enjoy & keep you entertained as you wait in airports for your flight to be called or you travel by car from place to place.
Then to help you plan out your purchases over the next few weeks, we've already posted the Holiday Shipping Schedule for your convenience. And even if you're looking for the perfect gift at the last minute, you can always select a customized Yarnmarket Gift Certificate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and still get your "present" delivered in time.
Thanks for reading, and in the upcoming weeks we wish you Happy Hanukkah beginning the evening of December 11th, Merry Christmas on December 25th, Happy Kwanzaa on the 26th and Happy New Year's on January 1st.
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.
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