Summer is for Super 10

Super 10 Butterfly Cotton Our favorite!If you think cotton is just for dishcloths, you haven’t met Super 10, the superior choice for DK weight cotton for both crochet and knit Crochet this beautiful overblouse Westminster Fibers have come up with 2 new booklets, and each has very wearable patterns that will become staples in your wardrobe. Hands Down Favorite We had a sample of this vest in #3995 Persian Red at Stitches West and literally could not meet the demand!  This is a real winner in a simple lace pattern,  you will love it no matter which one of the more than 80 colors you choose. Super 10 has so many great qualities:  it’s machine wash and dry, won’t split, won’t pill, won’t shrink, it’s  soft, colorfast, and has a permanent shine. Of course it’s fabulous for adult garments, including shawls and sweaters, but you can use Super 10 for household items  (placemats, pillows, handtowels), baby items (blankets, hats)  and of course kids love it!

Summer Cuties

Summer is for Kids! Made with Super 10! Sassy Skein Patterns are sooooooo cute and so easy to knit in wonderful Super 10! These patterns are now on sale — 25% off through June 30.  Choose a few now; in stock only. If you find one of these patterns and want the kit with Super 10 Cotton, just email us and we will put it together for you!

New Spring Yarns from Berroco!

From Berroco:  Lago
a gorgeous, very drapey, textured yarn with a bit of shine.  Beautiful vibrant colors and easy to knit, with a very nice booklet.

 And then there’s Versa
another very different yarn.  This one is two tapes, each variegated, then joined together for an incredible color statement.  You will love it and the style book too!

New Rowan Yarn: Summerspun

New for the Season!
The yarn companies still call these Spring/Summer, but I call them Year Round yarns, because you can wear these indoors all year around.

At Stitches West most people hadn’t seen them yet, and they all attracted a lot of attention.

From Rowan:  Summerspun!
This is a completely different kind of yarn–one ply of cotton and one of merino, with gorgeous variegated colors that won’t pool.

 

 

 

 

There’s a dedicated pattern book too.

Yet-to-be-appreciated Yarns, Part 1

Some great but yet-to-be-appreciated yarns
This season there have been a lot of changes in the yarns available for knitters. There have been a lot of yarns discontinued, and a lot of new introductions.  In times of economic uncertainty, it’s no surprise that crocheters and knitters return to their favorites.  But there are some that I have tried, and deserve a closer look.

Lang Donegal     

Tweed is a trend, and this yarn is much more than a rehashed version of other tweeds.  Donegal has a DK gauge, but it is thick and thin (sometimes very thin).  If you are an intermediate knitter who hasn’t worked with thick and thin yarns, you will have to pay attention.  Donegal fulls on blocking, meaning that what looks like holes as you knit will fill in more solidly after blocking.  This quality makes Donegal an interesting choice for crochet, too!  A big plus–This is a yarn that is a man magnet!  I have a pullover OTN for John, and when our two sons were home for Christmas they both immediately snatched it up saying “this is nice!” (and they live in CA & AZ–not sweater country)  Just be sure to stick to the darker, neutral colors.  After showing off the patterns in the Lang Vintage book, they were all judged to be winners by my houseful of men.  The 50g skein has over 200 yards, so it goes a long way.

Big

Vogue Knitting’s Cover Sweater featuring Cortina Nuvole

   BIG,
Astrakan by Lang

& even

BIGGER yarn
    Berroco’s Link

Yes, all the fashion magazines, the knitting and the crochet magazines, and the TV/internet style shows  are showing big, Big, BIGGER knits! And they’re so gorgeous, and they’re fast to knit, but… but…. but….

“Super-bulky knits look great on a 5′ 10″, 90 lb model, but not me! They’re so pricey with so little yardage! And they’re so heavy–who could wear all that?! Even if you’re skinny, it weighs a ton!”

The answer is Yes, you can wear these yarns, if you choose wisely.   Here are some tips:

• Accessories–scarves, hats, muffs–give the fashion look without being overwhelming
• Look at the cost of the garment, not the price of the skein.  Most of these yarns are cost-effective.
• Remember to keep the fabric and the fit loose–unless it’s an outerwear coat or jacket, these yarns shouldn’t be firmly knit.  They also not meant to be knit into sweaters that are close-fitting; instead choose patterns for layering garments.
• Natural fibers are heavier than synthetics.  In these super big yarns, a synthetic portion or blend is a big plus in keeping them light enough to wear.
• “Cable knit” yarns, where the strand is really a knitted tube, are much lighter to wear, and warm too.

A Quick Link to all our Big Yarns!

Super Big Luxury from Rowan

This design in "Winter Warmers"

 Alpaca Chunky
This super-soft and snuggly yarn is a natural extension of Rowan’s Lima.  Since super-bulky yarns are so in fashion, it makes perfect sense to create a bigger, chunkier alpaca yarn.  This yarn is put up in 100g skeins, with about 76 yards, so as to minimize the number of ends you have to deal with.  And there’s a Rowan book Winter Warmers, with patterns for Alpaca Chunky, too.

Here’s a gift from me to you to get you started:

Knit in alpaca chunky

Simply Snuggly Luxury Scarf

This reversible scarf will make you want to go out in the cold just so you can wear it.  Or make it for someone else — Sometimes the recipe for a fabulous gift is deceptively easy!

2 100g balls Rowan Alpaca Chunky
US size 15 needles

Cast on 18 st, and work in this pattern

Row 1:  K3, P3 repeat across
Row 2:  K1,P1 repeat across

Continue in pattern until just enough of 2^nd ball remains to bind off.  Weave in loose ends.  Block lightly to stabilize the stitches.  Finished size about 6” by 66”.

Tip:  When working with circular chain constructed yarns like Alpaca Chunky or Lima try joining balls this way.  Using a tapestry needle, thread the new end up through the center of the yarn tube of the old end for about 4-5 inches, then out the side.  Remove the needle and gently pull back on the yarn to bury the ends.  Then just continue knitting.

 

2012 Calendars are here

It’s that time of year again! The calendars for 2012 are here.    Without equal, here’s the

Helen Hamann  2012 Calendar

      The 2012 Calendar contains a new pattern from Helen for every month, plus two bonus patterns for Nov/Dec of this year.

Lots of accessories in this one–great for smaller projects.

You get the beautifully photographed 14 month calendar, plus a code to download any or all of the 14 patterns.  What could be better?

New from Lopi:

Einband

A beautiful new design

the lace weight Icelandic yarn that’s next-to-the-skin soft

This yarn is so beautiful, and it’s made for fabulous lace garments!  We saw and felt this yarn at TNNA, and just had to have it so we could offer it to you.  And in the tradition of other Lopi products, this yarn is a wonderful value for the lace knitter.

Click on the picture above for the Einband pattern book, and click here for the 46 fabulous colors!

Stitch Diva strikes again!

Special Sale!

New Crochet and Knit patterns and favorites from Stitch Diva!

Our good friend the Stitch Diva, aka Jennifer Hansen, has new drop-dead gorgeous patterns, and every one deserves to be on the red carpet!

Andalusia can be worn at least ten different ways–you are going to want at least one of these in your closet.

Stitch Diva patterns are innovative, interesting, packed with instructional photos, and they all come with Jennifer’s great tutorials posted on the web so you will “get it.”

All Stitch Diva patterns 15% off through November 14!