Year-round yarns

Some yarns are best for cooler temperatures, and some work better in warmer weather. With all of the great blended yarns available these days, more yarns are starting to be used year round.

Berroco Maya is one of these yarns. It's a blend of pima cotton and alpaca in a chainette construction. The yarn is really lightweight, and the small amount of alpaca really softens up the cotton. For people with aversions to wool, this yarn has been a great option. 

When Maya was introduced for last spring, the colors were very pale. Gorgeous for spring and summer, but not really colors that will jump off the shelf during the other months of the year.

Last week we ordered our new Berroco yarns for spring and summer of 2014. New colors for existing yarns (like Maya) were also introduced, and on some of these, the new colors were already in stock. Normally we wait to take delivery of new colors of spring yarns until at least January, but because the fiber content of Maya makes it a true year-round yarn, we decided to take delivery immediately. And look how the new colors breathed life into the old ones!

This yarn is often used by our customers as a sweater yarn. Our Niche sweater sample (from Norah Gaughan Volume #12) has been tried on and made numerous times. 

Another popular sweater sample in Maya is the Chuparosa vest from Berroco Book #331. This is a flattering piece that can be worn over any sleeve length, making it great for winter wear.

It's also great for accessories, and our Bajada scarf sample, which takes just 3 skeins, is a fun knit. (Berroco Book #331.)

I grabbed 4 skeins of the new Hermosa Blue and started a new project over the weekend. Can't wait to finish it!

On the Needles: Jill

It's that time of the year... the air is cooler and I'm itching to start a lot of new projects. And you know how hard it is to limit yourself to just ONE project.

I'm really trying to be good about not having a million half-finished projects all over my house. But the other night my family room had about 8 or 9 vinyl project bags scattered about. In truth, some belonged to my kids (they have slacked off on their knitting since school has started. I'll cut them a break!)

I have a number of things on the needles right now. I recently finished the Little Boater Crew sweater (Thirteenth Little Sublime Hand Knit Book, knit in Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK), but it needs to be seamed! We're working on that today, so it should be hanging in the shop in the next day or so. 

Front of sweater

I started a Color Affection Shawl this summer. I loved these 3 bright colors of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine and thought it would be a simple knit. It is easy, that's for sure. But it's a little too boring for me... so I haven't made much progress. I have a trip coming up next month and will have some time to knit on the plane. Maybe it can be my project for that!?

Colors (l to r): Frove Mix, Grapefruit Mix, Orchid

I started a baby hat in June and really need to finish it! I must have misplaced it (I mean the yarn is SO tiny... it's My First Regia in 25 gram balls!) but now that I've found it I'm determined to finish it. Size 2 needles are a bit painful for my hands so I'll have to do it on a day when there's no gardening or interior painting on the schedule...

Pattern is in My First Regia Journal #005

This is what it will look like when it's finished: 

I started a sweater for myself two weeks ago with Berroco Remix, one of my all time favorite yarns. So far it's going really well, but I did set it aside when I found all of these other projects that are SO close to being finished. It's the Chic Knits Ariann Sweater. The feel of the Remix is just lovely!

And my Dreambird shawl is nearing completion! I think I have enough yarn left for one more feather, which will be a total of 14. It's going to block out nicely and I'm eager to see the finished result. The pattern was confusing, for sure! All of the moving of safety pins had me pulling out my hair, so I ended up making a spreadsheet in Excel that had row by row instructions. It was much easier to follow! But this was certainly NOT a project I could work on while watching tv. I pretty much needed to count each stitch. Oh well, it was still a fun project. 

Ella Rae Lace Merino and Noro Silk Garden Sock yarns

So that's 5 unfinished projects. Eeeeek! I better get a move on!

Great Lightweight Top for Summer

Today Sophie found a new top in the shop that fits her to a T. It's the Color Block Top in Noro Taiyo Lace. 

And it's a free pattern! And all sizes take just 1-2 skeins of Taiyo Lace. 

Customer Project - Spotlight on Lang Tosca Light

contributed by Shawn

We recently snapped a photo of a wonderful example of Lang Tosca Light yarn crocheted into a circular shawl. 

Our customer Florence shared this beautiful project with us and said it was created from a vintage (& unidentified) crochet pattern. The Lang Tosca Light yarn shading really is striking.

Lang Tosca Light looks great in knitted projects like this Wonderful Wallaby sweater too! 

Enchanted with Enchanted

Two new Kim Hargreaves books have been delivered to the shop and as usual, they are full of wonderful pieces to make!

The books are named Quirky and Enchanted, and they each have instructions for 21 beautiful designs. There are so many that I'd love to start right away! There are 4 in the Enchanted book that I'm seriously considering.

The Covet cowl is made with Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Lightweight, yet cozy, it can be worn and a cowl or pulled up around the head as a hood.

The Mystic Sweater is also made with Kidsilk Haze. It's got beads and is absolutely elegant, but would also look nice without the beads. Your choice!

Fate is a long collared sweater made with Rowan Alpaca Cotton. This worsted weight yarn is soft and warm... and machine washable. It's one of the coziest yarn in the shop.

Siren is a contour hugging ribbed sweater knit with Rowan Lima. This yarn is a worsted weight chainette construction. I like it both ways - with and without the belt!

Time to make some decisions!

Get the Look

This week, since all the talk is weather focused (thanks to a certain gal named "Sandy") our mannequin couldn't help but choose a gorgeous sweater made with Cirrus clouds, I mean, YARN. 

Another view of this sweater from the Berroco booklet: 

 And a few more views! (Courtesy of Berroco.)

Our mannequin has topped off this great sweater with a scarf that is a favorite with every customer who walks in our door. We spend more time convincing our customers that this scarf is NOT woven than it takes for them to pick out yarn to make it for themselves.

Scarf - detail shot

GET THE LOOK:

Sweater: Loret Sweater knit with Berroco Cirrus Yarn

Pattern: in Berroco Book #323 Cirrus  

Scarf: Linen Stitch Scarf knit with Koigu KPPPM Yarn

Pattern: Linen Stitch Scarf Free Knitting Pattern

Customer Project - Comfort Kitty!

Check out this child friendly 'comfort' sweater!  This project (sorry, pattern source unknown) was knit on request using machine washable Berroco Comfort Worsted yarn. Kitty is worked mostly in intarsia and details were added using duplicate stitch.  Our favorite part? 

Kitty is coming and going!

We're sorry... the shop was busy the other day when we chatted and snapped these pictures. We neglected to get the knitter's name!

What's our mannequin wearing?

Well she's getting so excited for the Berroco Trunk Show that's coming up (October 6th from 1pm-5pm) that she broke out her new Berroco Hillside Cardigan. This smart looking v-neck is worked in reverse stockinette and fastens with a single over-sized button. To spice it up, she's thrown on the Elsa Lace Scarf, and has creatively fashioned it into a tiny cowl, or necklace.

Sweater: Hillside Sweater in Berroco Book #324 Boboli, Borealis, & Boboli Quick made with Berroco Boboli Quick Yarn

Button: Find a fun one here! We would chose the Coco Square (1 & 3/8") 

Scarf: Elsa Lace Scarf in the Stacy Charles Knitscape Pattern Booklet knit with Stacy Charles Crystal Yarn

Kidsilk Haze Stripe Collection

We're loving the Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe yarn. Obviously it makes a gorgeous striped scarf (with NO work on your part!) 

but did you know we've got a pattern booklet for some gorgeous sweaters in this yarn?

More and more people are making sweaters out of lace weight yarn, and we think these are beautiful:

Most popular customer project

contributed by Emily

 

I’ve recently been noticing a decided upswing in customer interest in long sweaters – almost sweater dresses, but not quite! They are the perfect thing to layer over a pair of leggings with your favorite boots. Dress em’ up, dress ‘em down – either way they will give you that extra something special in your wardrobe.

My favorite designer for these tunics is hands-down, Kim Hargreaves:

Here's a great tunic from her Winter Blooms book:

Briar tunic

And here's another one from her Whisper book:

The "Sheer" tunic

New Noro Inspiration

contributed by Shawn

The new Noro Knitting Magazine Premiere Issue Fall 2012 (http://www.kyarns.com/product/noro-magazine-fall-2012/noro-knitting-patterns) is full of new Noro inspiration!

I loved the Crochet Slippers:

Crochet Slippers

So I immediately grabbed my new favorite color of Noro Kureyon and worked up a pair of these. They're a perfect summer adaptation of warm wooly slippers!

My slippers!

I love the Crochet Throw made of hexagon shapes.

Crochet Throw

This is a perfect crochet pattern alternative to the Modular Afghan that I love so much from the Knit Noro book.

I already have some favorite colors of Noro Silk Garden picked out for the Checkerboard Cap.

Checkerboard Cap

All you need is 1 skein each of 2 different colors of Noro Silk Garden yarn for this simple color work hat.

And, it you're inclined to begin your Holiday Knitting in July, then you might want to take a look at these classic hats: the Man's Slouchy Hat and the Man's Ribbed Hat.

Slouchy Hat

Ribbed Hat

Each hat can be done with just 2 skeins of Kureyon (1 skein each of 2 different colors). I think they are perfect designs that anyone would love to receive as a gift this winter.

The Cropped Jacket features a wonderful construction that shows off the Noro colors so well!

Cropped Jacket

Cropped Jacket - back view

The pattern calls for 984 yards color A and 656 yards color B Silk Garden Sock.  We no longer stock the Silk Garden Sock, so have already helped some people choose from the colors of Taiyo Sock yarn so they could get started on this one right away in time to wear for late summer!

I hope this magazine inspires you to pick up some new colorful knitting or crochet projects too!