YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #75
In This Issue:
Warm Weather Fashion Finds: Return to 1940s Classic Chic Plus Showcase Your Inner Athlete Outside the Gym | Stacy Charles Enhances His Spring/Summer Collection with Color-Coordinated Yarn Duo | Sirdar Introduces Gorgeous Bamboo Blend for Fashion-Conscious Women and Girls | Bring Glitz & Glamour to Your Warm-Weather Wardrobe with Stella Yarn | Crofter Yarn Family Now Has Snuggly Version for All Your Wee Ones | Everything's Coming Up Roses for Fiesta's June Flower of the Month | Announcing May Contest Winners Plus Customer Service Reminders
Warm Weather Fashion Finds: Return to 1940s Classic Chic Plus Showcase Your Inner Athlete Outside the Gym
As we've explored in our Spring 2010 Preview, we shared with you details about the return of the romantic look for spring along with the Top 10 colors for the season. Then in the May newsletter, we investigated the trendy nautical, striped look and the resurgence of printed designs. Now in this issue of the Yarnmarket News, we are exploring two more major fashion trends so aptly demonstrated on haute-couture runways around the world and then translated by our favorite retailers and knitwear gurus for our own warm-weather wardrobes.
Now first off, for those who prefer traditional styles and garments, the spring/summer collections have wonderful designs for your wardrobe. With this season’s flashback to the classic cut and tailored chic of the 1940s, fashion designers have created pieces reminiscent of Grace Kelly and Lauren Bacall in their glory days.
But these are the classic pieces of the 1940s with a more relaxed fit and excellent drape, and every designer seems to have a favorite garment: Chanel favors textured suits as usual; Burberry features double-breasted jackets and coats; Hugo Boss showcases flowing, luxurious silk pieces; and Ann Taylor excels with her lovely blouses and tailored slacks and skirts.
Of course, our favorite knitwear designers are giving us terrific knitted and crocheted options for our spring/summer wardrobes to keep up with this classic trend. Designers for Vogue Knitting International have given us numerous Chanel-inspired creations. The striking Kidsilk Haze Checkered Cardigan is a magnificent, boxy jacket that combines the romantic, the printed and the classic trends all in one jacket. Just choose your favorite five shades of lightweight, supersoft Kidsilk Haze from Rowan Yarns and invest in this addition to your multi-seasonal wardrobe for years to come.
Also as part of the retro 1940s movement, watch for the return of summer tweeds, an abundance of monochromatic dressing and the resurgence of the tailored vest and the boyfriend jacket with plenty of room and deep pockets. For example, Norah Gaughan and her design team at Berroco have enthusiastically embraced the call for a more relaxed fit, longer lengths and more figure-flattering styles. Just take a look at the Wylie Long Vest designed specifically for gorgeous Origami yarn, and you'll see what we mean. From the deep V-neckline to its tunic length, this sleeveless pullover is a fantastic layering piece for casual outings and as officewear. Also check out the Origami Crocheted Kirra Jacket, and you'll find this same type of drape and styling for those of you who prefer crochet projects.
Then as the editors of InStyle magazine featured recently, one of the other hot trends for spring and summer is bringing out your inner athlete in various sportswear-inspired pieces but not for just those things you'd wear to the gym when you're exercising.
Perhaps it’s the remnants of Olympics fever, perhaps it’s a new version of California Casual or perhaps it’s just that fashion is trying to keep up with our desire to have our wardrobe multi-task, but sportswear is being showcased everywhere and for almost every occasion. (So far we haven’t seen a sweatsuit wedding dress, but who knows what might be coming next?)
From the jersey sweat pants & tanks of Bottega Veneta to Donna Karan’s neon-bright biker shorts and from Alexander Wang’s body suits to the sporty zippered jackets of Balenciaga, you can definitely go from the tennis court to your favorite restaurant in style.
Especially hoodies are reaching a new level of acceptance and not just for the young and young at heart. Fiber artists such as Gina Wilde are experimenting with hoodie creations that are transformed by color combos and fiber gems into a whole new definition of haute couture. Gina's striking Migrations Weekender Hoodie features DK-weight, silk/wool blend Migration yarn by Alchemy. This sleeveless hoodie uses chevron stripes to embrace the magic of color in this versatile piece. It's perfect for layering most of the year, and we bet this one is sure to become a wardrobe favorite.
And, of course, we must live up to our promise to include new things for the little ones in your life, especially those little girls who so enjoy playing dress up. One of our favorite new designs for babies and children is the Lallo Pullover Hoodie superbly crafted of multi-textured, multi-hued Lallo yarn from Filatura Di Crosa. Also the Denim Jay Hoodie, the Handknit Cotton Rugged Hoodie and the Velvet Touch Hoodie are great examples of the sportswear trend and also have the advantage of being suitable for girls & boys.
Stacy Charles Enhances His Spring/Summer Collection with Color-Coordinated Yarn Duo
We know how much you enjoy the runway-inspired, high-fashion S. Charles Collezione pattern booklets that support those glamorous S. Charles yarns. So we're excited to bringing you more S. Charles fiber gems just in time for warmer weather and the official start of summer. Also these two fiber creations are great enhancements of our New Yarns for Spring/Summer department, so be sure to continue checking that area for new additions each week.
First off, we are excited to introduce Sari yarn marvelously crafted in Italy of 100% raw silk. "Sari" is a multi-plied fiber gem with a modern twist -- the plies are loosely woven into an unusual tape option that gives you elegant drape and superior stitch definition. Add that it's a quick-to-create chunky-weight yarn, and you have a terrific, matte creation that's both rustic and sophisticated for all your warm weather garments and accessories.
The second new fiber blend from Stacy Charles for this season is lovely Solaris yarn, a fantastic mix of rayon & linen. Every season we count on Stacy Charles to give us lovely fibers in gorgeous colors, and "Solaris" definitely lives up to our expectations. Fabulously crafted in Italy, "Solaris" has the subtle sheen of rayon along with the excellent durability, drape & stitch definition of linen. As a versatile DK-weight concoction, "Solaris" is perfect for lightweight spring/summer knitted and crocheted tops, vests, shawls, scarves and more. Even better yet, "Solaris" is dyed to match the color palette of "Sari" whenever you want to try out the oh-so popular monochromatic approach and team up garments and accessories.
Now you know you can also count on Stacy Charles to support these two new yarns with excellent projects to inspire you, so take a peek at the lovely designs in his new S. Charles: Spring/Summer 2010 - Bright Knits, Big City.
The specific projects for the new yarns and all in this one collection are:
The figure-flattering Sari Toni Pullover with its tunic length and cables that seem to float in place and sleeve edges and a neckband done with dropped stitches being unraveled to form a pretty panel;
The innovative Solaris Annie Vest, a great layering piece for multiple seasons;
The easy, classic Sari Drew Cardigan;
The figure-hugging Solaris Heidi Textured Tee; and
The diagonally designed Sari Arianna Top for terrific visual interest.
Sirdar Introduces Gorgeous Bamboo Blend for Fashion-Conscious Women and Girls
We the staff at Yarnmarket.com always get excited when we hear of a shipment of new yarns and books coming in from one of our all-time favorite yarn companies -- British Sirdar Yarns. So last week we were thrilled to learn that a new multi-seasonal yarn and a dedicated Sirdar pattern booklet had arrived. As another marvelous addition to our New Yarns for Spring/Summer department, we are introducing a great new easy-care, all natural fiber yarn plus the book that supports it.
Wouldn't it be great if you found a fashion yarn with the softness & luster of the Snuggly Baby Bamboo DK yarn you've enjoyed knitting & crocheting for your wee ones but with a sophisticated color palette? Now there's Sirdar's Flirt DK crafted of the same readily-renewable, lustrous bamboo plus a touch of wool for added durability & wearability. The sensational drape and excellent stitch definition of "Flirt" make it marvelous in all your stylish tops, cardis, scarves, shawls, bags, pullovers, actually all DK-weight knitting and crochet projects you have in mind!
And to give you lots of ideas and inspiration as to what kinds of projects you can make out of "Flirt," we highly recommend the gorgeous garments featured in Sirdar's Flirt DK (#371) pattern collection. Containing 17 projects for women and girls up to 13 years old, this pattern booklet is sure to give you plenty of options year round. Now our staff recommendations include:
The easy yet elegant Flirt Drape Neck Top with its unusual neckline where the yarn does all the work;
The feminine Lace Edged Cardigan as featured on the booklet's cover;
The summery, sleeveless Rib & Lace Tank for Intermediate knitters; and
For the little girls, the Flirt Cropped Cardigan for great layering options.
Bring Glitz & Glamour to Your Warm-Weather Wardrobe with Stella Yarn
Because we are committed to carrying the yarns you crave and know many of you have contacted us searching for a soft metallic yarn suitable for garments as well as accessories, we were excited to hear that the yarn aficionados at S. Charles were adding a new glamorous yarn to their collection for year-round sophistication in addition to "Sari" and "Solaris."
So when you crave haute-couture sophistication with sparkle & glitz, check out the wonders of Stella yarn of the S. Charles Collezione. Italian craftsmen have blended luxurious silk with shimmering lurex for this dressy option. Ideal for tops, vests, scarves, cardis, bags & shawls, actually any worsted-weight knitted or crocheted project that you want to dress up, "Stella" is definitely a shining star in the S. Charles family of fine yarns.
We've also gotten an early sneak preview of what Stacy is doing with "Stella" for the fall and holiday season, and we highly recommend that you be one of the first in your knitting and crochet groups to experience this gem for yourself.
Now to get you started with this lovely metallic, we are featuring the Stella projects in the wonderfully sophisticated, out-of-the-ordinary S. Charles: Spring/Summer 2010 - Bright Knits, Big City pattern collection. Each of the following projects feature sparkling "Stella" and there are many more to come:
The sleek, shimmering Stella Serena Camisole with its trendy double-strap design and
The simple, classic Stella Venus Vest with its face-flattering V-neck and subtle glitz and elegance.
Crofter Yarn Family Now Has Snuggly Version for All Your Wee Ones
And we're always on the lookout for those of you who love to knit and crochet for the wee ones in your lives, and Sirdar Yarns has created another marvelous baby & children's fiber gem along with great pattern support.
For several seasons Sirdar yarn aficionados have been enjoying the self-patterning wonders of Crofter DK and Crofter Chunky. Now explore the same terrific automatic fair isle patterning in baby color combos and neutrals with Snuggly Baby Crofter DK. This great addition to the "Snuggly" yarn family is crafted of the same 55/45 nylon/acrylic blend as perennial favorite Snuggly DK and has the same gauge (but if using Snuggly patterns, please adjust yarn quantities for differences in yardage). Also "Snuggly Baby Crofter DK" is machine wash & dry, so easy-care, knitted & crocheted baby and children's outfits and accessories are a breeze!
Now we know you probably have your favorite DK-weight patterns that you're eager to try out in "Snuggly Baby Crofter," but also the designers at Sirdar have done an excellent job once again with pattern support. The brand-new Snuggly Baby Crofter (#377) pattern collection is filled with 19 designs for babies and children up to seven years old. Just a few of the designs we particularly like are the Baby Crofter Easy Blanket that makes a big impression without taking lots of extra effort, the adorably feminine Ribbed Yoke Cardi for the little girls in your life and the unisex Baby Crofter Hooded Jacket to keep your children protected from cool breezes whether at the beach or in the air conditioning.
Everything's Coming Up Roses for Fiesta's June Flower of the Month
We know how much the past three months you've been enjoying brand-new, limited-edition Flower of the Month Collection colorways from Fiesta Yarn. We at Yarnmarket are excited to be one of the few stores in the U.S. to be chosen to offer this series, and we've appreciated your feedback on the terrific March Tulip color combos, the colorful April Gerber Daisy multis, the sensational May Tiger Lily creations and all the gorgeous Fiesta fibers. Now we have some hanks of two of the April Gerber Daisy yarns plus we still have coming in some backordered "Cottonista" and "Boomerang" from last month's Tiger Lily collection. But our stock is limited to what we currently have on hand and on order, so if you've been planning to pick up any of these, please be sure to order them soon to avoid disappointment. And you can always give us a call to get specific information on what we'll receive soon from last month's featured colorway.
Now for the 4th release in the series, the Fiesta fiber mavens have chosen the universally loved "Rose " hand-dyed in two fiber gems that are new to Yarnmarket and another that is one of Fiesta's best-selling yarn. Fossil evidence of roses in Colorado and Oregon proves that roses are native to the United States dating back over 35 million years ago. There are over 150 different species of wild roses in the northern hemisphere, and that doesn't include all of the cultivated varieties horticulturists have developed over the years and gardeners enjoy worldwide.
The rose in modern times is often associated with romance, love and passion, particularly red roses, but a complete language of rose colors has been developed by rose enthusiasts so that depending on the color of the blooms, you may be getting a secret message from your friend, relative or even secret admirer. Pink roses represent appreciation and are seen in "thank you" bouquets most often, while yellow roses indicate friendship. If you receive a lavender rose, then someone may be trying to tell you he/she is enchanted with you and has fallen in love with you at first sight. Or if you receive a pale peach rose can mean modesty and humility.
As you discovered with earlier releases, sometimes the yarns in the series are Fiesta yarns we already carry, but usually they are new Fiesta yarns for us. In all cases, the flower colorway will be featured in a pattern collection free with your yarn purchase for any of the three featured projects (required quantity varies by which project you choose). Then the color combo will be retired after its designated month, and that means you'll need to order your faves right away so that we can fill your order and re-order the yarn as needed within the designated month too.
Since we carry some but not all of the yarns in this collection, here is an overview of the remaining April & May yarns plus the new June/Rose collection (given in alphabetical order for your convenience):
Baby Boom is crafted of supersoft extrafine superwash merino with a touch of snap-back nylon for added wearability. It comes in a generous 440-yard hank and knits up at a DK/sport-weight gauge of 26 sts & 32 rows per 4” on size 4 U.S. knitting needles.
Ballet is a lovely DK-weight version of Ballerina's same alpaca/Tencel blend, and since we already carry this terrific fiber gem, please see the YM product page for all the technical yarn details.
Boomerang is a terrific worsted-weight superwash merino that comes in a generous 320-yard hank. The gauge for "Boomerang" is 18 sts & 25 rows = 4” on size 8 U.S. (5mm) knitting needles.
Cottonista is a lovely 50/50 cotton/Tencel blend so that it's wonderfully soft and supple. Each hank contains 110 yds. of this DK-weight beauty, and your knitting gauge is 21 sts & 26 rows = 4” on a size 6 U.S.(4.25mm) knitting needles.
La Boheme is one of our hand-dyed, ever-versatile worsted-weight yarns from Fiesta, and its wondrous 2-strand construction is simply scrumptious to knit and crochet for year-round enjoyment. (Please take a look our YM product page to see all the technical yarn details such as exact gauge, fiber composition and care instructions).
La Luz Multi is a DK-weight yarn crafted of 100% mulberry silk, the finest grade of cultivated silk in the world. It comes in 2 oz. hanks, each with 210 yds., and has a gauge of 23 sts & 29 rows = 4" on size 6 U.S. (4.25mm) knitting needles.
And last but certainly not least comes Rayon Boucle, beautifully spun from 100% rayon and then hand-dyed to Fiesta's exacting specifications for consistency. Available in 4 oz. hanks with 240 yds. per hank, this light worsted beauty has a stitch gauge of 20 sts & 24 rows = 4" on on size 7 U.S. (4.5mm) knitting needles.
Also this month we have three terrific projects to overview for you featuring the spectacular "Rose" colorway for June, one each in the three gorgeous Fiesta yarns, but please keep in mind that the yarns have different gauges & yardage so cannot be substituted in the featured projects. And remember that with the purchase of the yarn for any of these Flower of the Month projects, you'll receive the pattern booklet absolutely free. So start off with your favorite and then check out the other two from the booklet so that you'll have time to order more right away before the "Rose" colorway is retired later this month. So here is a quick overview of the three June projects:
The classic, elegant La Luz Rose Jacket,
The versatile, multi-seasonal Ballet Rose Shawl and
The feminine Baby Boom Tuxedo Shirt for year round style.
Announcing May Contest Winners Plus Customer Service Reminders
We're going to have declare May the month of contests because we had a contest running every week connected to our four publications. Please join us in congratulating the following recent winners and be watching upcoming emails for your next chance to win a prize package or Yarnmarket gift certificate:
Congratulations go to Katy W. of Lansdale, PA, for knowing that in the May newsletter Ellen Liguori was the designer of two of the three Fiesta Tiger Lily Flower of the Month patterns.
Also Betty M. of Fairfax, VT, won a Tahki prize package for knowing the four yarn brands distributed by Tahki Stacy Charles and featured in the May Spotlight newsletter.
Then Deb S. of Berkeley, NJ, who won the May Bulletin Contest and a $100 Yarnmarket Gift Certificate by knowing how many colors of new and current yarns were featured in that issue.
And last but certainly not least, congratulations go out to Susan H. of Corvalis, Oregon, for winning the Just My Type newsletter contest by knowing which featured project was least expensive and which was most expensive.
Also you know that we the staff of Yarnmarket.com pride ourselves on our customer service. Each order is packed with pride by Tina, Lisa, Amy 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.
Now these next few weeks are the time of year when we're getting ready to vacation and maybe planning ways to keep our favorite children, grandchildren, nieces & nephews busy and active when we're responsible for their care. What better way to relax on vacation and relieve stress than to bring along a fun knitting or crochet project. And no matter what your favorite young one's interests are, she or he will appreciate your taking the time to teach them about your passion for crafts. Also we have upcoming holidays to plan and enjoy such as Father's Day on on June 20th and the official start of the summer season the following day on June 21st -- well, we consider it to be a holiday and plan to enjoy it. So no matter what you're doing, where you're going or who you're with, remember that we're here to help you plan your next project, find a yarn sub for your favorite pattern and be sure to make Dad just the right knitted or crocheted gift on his special day.
Thanks for reading
and as always,
Happy Knitting & Crocheting!
Your Yarnmarket Knitting Store Staff
Be sure to keep up with the latest Yarnmarket & Yarndex news as it's happening! Contests, promotions, new yarns and behind-the-scenes fun can be found on:
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