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Make a gigantic impact with Color
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| Fassett’s Patchwork Designs |
It’s easier than ever before with Regia’s Design Line by Kaffe Fassett
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Rowan’s Master Colorist, Kaffe Fassett, has created beautiful combinations for Regia Yarns. Those of us familiar with his work can spot a Fassett design a mile away, and love them all. But of course the knitting patterns were so daunting–combinations of fair isle and intarsia, with complex color changes using often dozens of colors and yarns in one project!
Now Fassett revisits some of his favorite shapes and patterns using combinations of these variegated yarns with each other and solids. Get fabulous results with simplified technique!
The great color combinations
of Regia Design Line
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| Kaffe Fassett’s colorways |
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.
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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.
We love this color, Curry–it’s in all the runway collections. Why
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not knit a single skein ChaCha scarf to spice up your black, grey, brown, red, or olive winter coat and keep your neckline warm at the same time? Now through Saturday December 10, buy Curry only at 25% off!
 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 2nd 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.
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?
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!
This was a great TNNA market! I came home feeling newly energized and enthusiastic about knitting & crochet: new yarns, new designers, fashion trends. It was actually the most exciting Market I have attended, even though there were fewer exhibitors and fewer attendees than previous markets. Maybe it was just that all the excitement was distilled down and distributed among fewer people.
I arrived Thursday afternoon and went to a class on intentional patterning of hand-dyed yarns. I need to actually try it out on some of our yarn before trying to communicate it to all of you.
Friday I spent most of the day in class with Cat Bordhi, (you’ve heard of her, right?) learning more about writing up patterns for kits. Cat is one of those people who just “charges into the fray” and somehow things come out right. So much energy!
Monday morning I spent with Lily Chin, in a class on interpreting fashion trends. What a fun and knowledgeable lady — she is soooo talented, and she talks a mile a minute.
I hope to use these classes to increase the interest in our newsletters as well as our products and patterns that we offer to you.
Next post, pictures!
Handknitting.com Blog 