Yarn Market Knitting News!

	YARNMARKET.COM NEWS ISSUE #86 In This Issue: Spring Fashion Trend: All-American Classics Return to the Runway Even Those Created by Non-Traditional Designers | Tahki Introduces Lovely New Italian Cotton with Texture & Pizzazz | A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome Goes Out to Embraceable Wraps as Another Way to Support Women's Cancer Research | Aslan Trends Expands Fantasy Yarn Collection with Three New Fiber Gems | Debbie Stoller and Stitch Nation Join the Yarnmarket Family of Yarns | Still Time to Get Mom a Great Gift Plus Some Customer Service Reminders Spring Fashion Trend: All-American Classics Return to the Runway Even Those Created by Non-Traditional Designers   Nobori Cabled Tank   Last month we started our spring preview with the return to the minimalist, unstructured lines of days gone by plus overviewing the very hottest hues of the season including Honeysuckle and Coral Rose. So we're now continuing to check out some of the latest trends from the runways of Paris, New York, London and Milan so that we can share what we are adding to our spring/summer wardrobes. As usual, there are numerous fashion styles we can follow, and we must choose the right styles to suit our body types and own personal preferences. But we are all sure to find something suitable for our many different tastes/needs as interpreted by such a wide range of designers and knitwear gurus.   Violena Striped Vest   One trend that dominated the spring high-fashion shows was the return to traditional, All-American classics even from non-traditional designers. Each season we expect All-American classics from Tommy Hilfiger, and this season from his micro-mini tennis skirt to his nautical outfits featuring red, white and blue stripes, we are thrilled with his traditional offerings so easy to add to our current spring wardrobes. And the casual, Jackie Kennedy-inspired pieces in the Michael Kors collection are ideal for all body types and shapes, so as you can see -- various approaches to stripes is a major trend for the season. But when you’re searching for the All-American look interpreted by non-traditional designers, you have superb options there too. One striking example this spring is the revamped cowboy/cowgirl look around the world and not just in the American Southwest. Even Dolce & Gabbana adorned their models with cowgirl boots so that they could strut their stuff on the runway, and Western fringe, cowboy-styled hats and Western-themed pockets abound in the collection of Roberto Cavalli. And check out how Western-inspired snakeskin has infiltrated even such a classic collection as Coach purses and outfit accents!   Linsey Bayarri Cardigan   Of course, it's a little more challenging for knitwear designers to recreate such looks as snakeskin through knitted and crocheted pieces, so stripes definitely rule the knitwear runways of the world this spring and summer. In some cases, the designers have relied on auto-striping yarns to do much of the work as we shared with you recently in our Just My Type newsletter featuring self-striping and tweedy yarns. In other cases, the knitwear gurus have used more classic examples of striping by combining several shades of the same solid-colored yarn for the same effect and a little more creative challenge. So let's look at some specific examples of how you can add these trendy styles to your wardrobe. First off, we have a terrific example of how one of Noro's new self-striping yarns gives us a gorgeous addition for our multi-seasonal wardrobes. The Nobori Cabled Tank is the perfect warm-weather top and it's also ideally designed for layering. From its scoop neckline to its subtle A-line shaping, this tank works beautifully for many body sizes and shapes and will be gorgeous worn as a vest too or under your favorite suit jacket or cardigan in the fall. Add that it's crafted of airy, lightweight yet quick-to-knit Nobori, and you have a fast, easy way to enhance your wardrobe.   CottonTail Sailor Top   Another great example of using an auto-striping, self-patterning comes in the Linsey Bayarri Cardigan from Berroco's wonderful team of designers ably led by the oh-so talented Norah Gaughan. This unstructured jacket gets its gorgeous patterning from using two color combinations of Linsey Colors, a sensational blend of breathable cotton & durable linen. The sections of this cardi are knitted as triangular pieces in this modular knit to create a stunning watercolor pattern that is sure to get you compliments every time you wear it. Then for the more traditional approach to striping, we turn to Karola Gottwald, Creative Director for Gedifra, and one of the most exciting garments we've seen in a long time. Using three complementary yet subtly contrasting hues of solid-colored Violena yarn, Karola has inspired us with the Violena Striped Vest. We all know that vertical striping can be figure flattering and used to draw attention to our best features. Well, this beautifully shaped vest draws our attention to the model's gorgeous face and lovely neck while emphasizing her assets and minimizing any figure flaws. It is knit in one piece with bright, narrow stripes on a darker background, but you could also use more contrasting shades to add drama to the garment. The vest is ribbed all over with a garter border, one large button to hold it closed at the neck and the front left open for an interesting layered look. Now here's what we call simplicity with that special European touch! And, of course, we must include some striping examples for our wee ones too. Sirdar's new self-striping Snuggly Smiley Stripes DK certainly has an abundance of examples, and we love such looks as the adorable Smiley Stripes Cropped Cardi, the precious Collared Bolero and the oh-so feminine Scalloped Cardi. But the more classic, nautically inspired look that we highly recommend is the CottonTail Sailor Top as featured in the current issue of Knit Simple. This version of the classic sailor pullover is knit in stockinette stitch with a wide collar and a picot edging. There's just minimal striping too so that you can practice switching out yarn colors even if you're an Advanced Beginner. And for the little girl's version, check out the sensational Sublime Little Sailor Girl Cardi that also uses just two yarn colors. Tahki Introduces Lovely New Italian Cotton with Texture & Pizzazz   Ripple Twist Front Top   Every time we the staff at Yarnmarket get a chance to see the latest offerings from our favorite yarn gurus, we can hardly wait until we start getting all of the lovely new things in stock. Now we're excited to announce that we have another new spring Tahki Yarn in stock and ready to ship and have added it to our New Yarns for Spring/Summer 2011 department. When you crave a cotton yarn with a modern twist, discover the wonders of Tahki's Ripple yarn. Beautifully crafted in Italy of 100% mercerized cotton, "Ripple" is woven to be airy with great yardage yet spun as that ever-versatile worsted weight. Every inch or so there's a "ripple" or wider section of the woven fabric to give you superb texture reminiscent of rippling waves on the ocean. Just take a peek at the Ripple Remsen Twist Front Top, and you'll see the gorgeous texture and excellent drape of this innovative new Italian cotton. This pretty layering top has front edges that are twisted before being joined to form a mobius-like effect to give a great focal point for any outfit. And, of course, there are other lovely "Ripple" projects ready to inspire you too. For example, we love the way "Ripple" drapes so beautifully in the Ripple DeGraw Tank Top knitted in the round. Then take a peek at the Ripple Clinton Vest for a quick and easy addition to your wardrobe. And last but certainly not least we have the innovative Warren 2-Way Jacket that can be worn various ways for totally different looks. A Warm Yarnmarket Welcome Goes Out to Embraceable Wraps as Another Way to Support Women's Cancer Research   Embraceable Cotton Chill Chaser   Another much anticipated spring shipment has arrived from a new yarn company and one that we've eager to add for some time because of their charitable initiative. Embraceable Wraps is a wonderful non-profit organization established to help women undergoing chemotherapy. Founders Terri Eisenfeld and Lois Geisler started off their group by providing wraps, hats, blankets and socks to make chemo patients as comfortable as possible. They have now expanded their mission to raise funds for women's cancer research & education through the sale of yarn also. The first yarn available from the Embraceable Wraps collection is Embraceable Cotton. Beautifully crafted of 100% mercerized cotton, "Embraceable Cotton" feels as good against your skin as it does when you work with it. Perfect for knitted and crocheted lightweight scarves, caps, shawls, tops, even baby items, this DK-weight beauty is a terrific investment. Also the inspiring color names are a sensational reminder of the hope provided through your yarn purchase. Such color names as "Ray of Light White," "Together We Heal Teal," "The Power of Pink" and "Victory Violet" say it all. Then to give you additional pattern inspiration for your "Embraceable Cotton projects, Embraceable Wraps Yarns has joined with the pattern designers at The Sassy Skein to give you terrific pattern support. All are designed to take best advantage of superb "Embraceable Cotton" in these various designs: The simple Embraceable Cotton Healing Cap with its feminine ribbon detail; The lovely triangular Embraceable Cotton Chill Chaser, a great shoulder-hugger for chilly spring evenings or air-conditioned offices; The ruffled Snuggly Scarf to accent the neckline of your favorite blouse, cardi, dress or jacket; The versatile TLC Wrap that is long enough to be worn as a comfortable scarf or wrap; The lovely Eyelet Shawl with its open-weave beauty; and The Bring Me Orchids Wrap featuring a lovely striped stole. Aslan Trends Expands Fantasy Yarn Collection with Three New Fiber Gems   Fashionist Jacket/Vest   Every season when the yarn company representatives start visiting us, we're always eager to see what Aslan Trends has cooked up for the new season. And this spring's dynamic additions are definitely living up to our expectations. First off, for the fashionistas in the world, Aslan now has a super chunky fiber blend that's on the cutting edge of the latest trends. Spun in Brazil as an innovative 2-ply yarn, Fashionist yarn has one ply of thick & thin acrylic roving twisted with one ply of wool with a consistent thickness. The resulting texture is just gorgeous when knitted or crocheted into quick-to-create jackets, tops, bags, shawls, scarves and other accessories.   Magic Garden Magic Scarf   As a lovely example of just how beautifully "Fashionist" works up, enjoy the quick-to-knit Fashionist Jacket/Vest. Created in an open-weave design on large needles (size 19 U.S.), this cropped jacket is worked up with short cap sleeves that can easily be pushed back to achieve the look of a gorgeous vest too. Just pair this beauty with your favorite top or camisole, and you'll be right in vogue from spring through the fall. Even better yet, this pattern comes free with your purchase of the yarn for this project! Then as a wonderful complement to super chunky "Fashionist" comes chunky weight Rainbow yarn. As a part of their fun fantasy yarn collection, the yarn mavens at Aslan Trends have created this chunky-weight wonder so that you have a variegated, quick-to-create option. Beautifully spun and dyed in Brazil of 95% acrylic & 5% polyester, "Rainbow" has lovely color variations reflecting the range of hues in the natural phenom for which it is named. Also it's spun as a thick & thin component yarn with variegated strands twisted together by a thread. The end result is a gorgeous texture for fast knitted & crocheted scarves, shawls, hats, jackets, tops, bags and more!   Rainbow Shell   One such example of how lovely "Rainbow" is in a finished garment is the iridescent Rainbow Shell. Knitted on large needles (size 15 U.S.), this fun tank top also has open weave stitching at the neckline and at the waist to give it added shaping and detailing. And remember that the pattern also comes free with your purchase of the yarn for the project. The last new Aslan Trends yarn for the season takes us to that ever versatile yarn weight for which we all have a collection of patterns. Worsted-weight Magic Garden yarn gives you a lovely, variegated effect with a fabulous sheen. Spun in Brazil as a traditional plied yarn, "Magic Garden" is dyed with lovely contrasting marled strands for a colorful, tweedy look. And since it is that oh-so popular worsted weight, "Magic Garden" knits up and crochets beautifully into stunning scarves, tops, jackets, sweaters, shawls, cardis & accessories for year-round fun. We know that you probably have numerous worsted-eight patterns that would be beautiful knitted or crocheted in "Magic Garden," but we also love the free-with-yarn-purchase pattern available from Aslan Trends. The Magic Garden Marcia Scarf is cleverly designed and gives you a different type of feminine accent for your favorite outfit. It also has a knitted flower adornment sewn onto the pocket divide of the scarf to give it extra Pizzazz Debbie Stoller and Stitch Nation Join the Yarnmarket Family of Yarns   Hug Me Pullover   For years we've been enjoying the wonderful knitting books and patterns from Debbie Stoller, the New York Times best selling author and founder of the whole Stitch 'n Bitch movement worldwide. Known for her wit and attitude and for including everything you need to know to create the perfect project, Debbie has now joined forces with Red Heart to create a brand-new line of 100% natural, 100% affordable yarns. In exciting, eye-popping colors and supported by the type of hip, contemporary patterns that have branded Debbie as a “superstar," we bet the three yarns of Stitch Nation will quickly become needlecrafters’ favorite new basics. To start off the collection, we have superb Alpaca Love yarn, a wonderful basic with a touch of luxury. Beautifully crafted in Peru of 80% wool & 20% alpaca, "Alpaca Love" has that plush, soft feel of alpaca without the high price tag. Great stitch definition is a plus with smooth, even results you'll love in all your worsted-weight projects like hats, gloves, sweaters, jackets, ponchos, scarves, bags & shawls.   Crocheted Taffy Scarf   Just take a peek at the free downloadable pattern for the Alpaca Love Hug Me Pullover, and we bet you'll quickly fall in love with this terrific blend. Your precious wee one will look all grown up in this trendy striped pullover with a rolled collar. Your most challenging decision will probably which three colors of "Alpaca Love" to combine for these marvelous results! Or for an adult design option, we recommend the Alpaca Love Cabled Chapeau with its fantastic newsboy brim and cabled accents on the crown. Next enjoy the wonders of beautifully soft Bamboo Ewe yarn sensationally crafted in Turkey of 55% readily renewable bamboo and 45% durable wool. The result is a sensationally soft, classic yarn with a loose twist, a subtle sheen and a touch of fuzz for all your worsted-weight shawls, scarves, hats, bags, afghans, sweaters, ponchos and jackets year round.   High Tide Baby Blanket   We particularly like the clever Bamboo Ewe Crocheted Taffy Pull Scarf. By combining four contrasting shades of solid-colored "Bamboo Ewe," you can create a superb accessory to accent any jacket, cardi or top. Just crochet your design lengthwise and then add fringe to each end. Also the Bamboo Ewe All-Day Beret is another free downloadable pattern for you to try out and this is one our fingers are just itching to start. And just think -- you need just one skein to create this beauty since "Bamboo Ewe" comes in generous 100-gram, 177-yard skeins. Then to round out the dynamic trio comes Full o' Sheep yarn so named because it's sensationally crafted of 100% Peruvian wool. As a classic yarn, we bet that "Full o' Sheep" will quickly become your go-to basic once you knit or crochet with it. As a single ply yarn, it has fabulous loft & texture and is great for felting projects such as bags, hats & more! Also this soft aran-weight wool comes in a wonderful color palette of brights and neutrals so that you can keep up with all the latest fashion trends. And we love how Debbie Stoller has used "Full o' Sheep" yarn for blankets and throws and now has available several free downloadable patterns for you. For example, the High Tide Baby Blanket makes an adorable yet practical baby gift to keep the new little one in your life snuggly and warm. Knitted in a chevron pattern using seven shades of "Full o' Sheep" yarn, this creation far surpasses the typical stockinette or garter stitch baby item crafted by so many. Also the Weekend in Stockholm Throw is a true masterpiece of stitchery with its granny-square designs that are then assembled into this marvelous blanket. Still Time to Get Mom a Great Gift Plus Some Customer Service Reminders When you need to select the best gift for your crafty mom or grandmother, check out our various sensational departments for gifts. First off, take a peek at all of the suggested staff picks we have listed in our Gifts area. Here you'll find a wide range of choices to fit your budget. Then for even more specific options, we recommend that you consider such departments as Kits, Knitting Needles & Crochet Hooks, Accessories, Tools, Bags & Cases, Fashion Accessories and Project Ideas. This last category is particularly convenient because you can pick out a finished garment or accessory you think she'd like to make and purchase all the items she'll need to make it with just one click of your mouse. Instant Gift Certificates And if you are one of those folks with not enough time in your busy schedule to get the perfect book, knitting kit, yarn or tool delivered to you and then sent to your mom for Mother's Day on May 8th? Well, let us take care of all that for you with our gift-wrapping service. For just $5.50 per order, we’ll gift wrap your present including your personal message to Mom, and send it right along. What could be easier than that? Well, the only thing simpler would be sending an Instant Gift Certificate you can print out yourself and put in her card or have us email to her. Gift certificates are great for those of you who hate shopping & going from store to store in search of the ideal gift. Or maybe you have friends and loved ones who like to pick out their own gifts. Take it from us, gift wrapping & gift certificates are our definition of stress-free, no-fuss shopping and gift giving! 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 Janice, Amy, Lisa, Tina 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 all a Happy Mother's Day on Sunday, May 8th. Also take time to enjoy those get-togethers with family and friends during the other May holidays including Memorial Day in the U.S. and Victoria Day in Canada. 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! 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