New Yarns and an Old Favorite Returns

It’s been a while since I showed what yarny-goodness is in the shop, in between all the book reviews and book drives…so here’s some fiber-fill tidbits for a change…

New Summer KAL

It all started with Lisa’s lovely knitted Summer Flies shawl. Then the next week Charlene had one and now Cathy is casting on. So let’s have a KAL this summer.

It’s a sweet little shawlette (but easy to make larger if desired) and the patterns keep your interest. Plus it’s an interesting style of casting on, so it’s also educational too. The designer just posted a nifty tutorial for the cast on which helps make sense of it. It’s been a very popular pattern so check out all the gorgeous variations on Ravelry.

Maybe I’ve finally found the perfect pattern for my malabrigo silky merino stash that just isn’t happy with any of the three patterns I’ve tried. Yippee! An excuse for a new cast on!

New in the Shop

Mohair!

Knit1 Crochet2 Douceur et Soie

 

I now understand what it’s like to “knit with a cloud.” Ethereal, fluffy, so very soft. While it’s a very thin lace weight yarn somehow it’s okay.  Not only is it luscious to knit with . . . it’s fast! Use size #10, super simple lace pattern and cast on immediately for a stole. That’s my recipe for happy springtime knitting.

I’m making Mollie’s Wrap and loving this pattern for couple of reasons: 1) dead easy pattern 2) designer and I were both inspired by reading The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil and a mohair shawl heroine knits. I was inspired to order up mohair for the shop and designer designed a shawl pattern. Kismet!

  

Next up for me: Mohair doubled with a multicolor sock yarn. Or if I’m very ambitious I’ll use Noro’s Kirameki, probably the finest lace yarn I’ve ever seen (literally thread-like) but in swoonworthy colorways.

 

Kirameki is lovely on its own but with a bit of mohair for companionship Kirameki is divine! Not to mention a whole lot easier to knit, since this yarn is super fine lace and very very skinny.

Cotton/Linen

Berroco’s Linsey

This is the yarn I’ve been most excited to get into the shop this spring. Not only is Linsey a great for warm weather garments but it also would be perfect for market bags, washcloths, afghans, shawls, baby clothes. The addition of linen helps avoid the natural stretch of cotton so this will be great for sweaters.

13 colors of this new stunning summer yarn. It’s a cotton / linen blend in an amazing palette: 7 multicolor/self-striping and 6 coordinating solids. The designer so loved how the multicolors turned out she handpicked shades and had them create matching solids. The pattern booklet has lovely patterns too (Watch audio slideshow). My two favorites are Vives and Larroca:

But can I commit to a full-blown sweater? Or should I stick to my usual mode of fast and quick for instant gratification and choose Palau or Sorolla? Lately I’m so into vests. They always catch my eye but not something I ever wear. Maybe because they lack sleeves therefore potentially a faster knit; something I might actually finish? :)

 

Noro Taiyo Sock and Silk Garden

 

The newest Noro Sock Yarn is cotton! And soft! Way softer than the Kureyon’s wooley-hand, or Silk Garden softer-but-still-know-it’s-got-wool. Taiyo has a lovely cottony feel that’s a pleasure to knit. Perfect for warm weather that is coming soon. Currently on the needles:  Phiaro Scarf 

Now you’ll have to get creatively visual because my scarf will eventually look like this:

It’s a highly modified version of the Phiaro Scarf but this was the inspiration. It’s a scarf knit in the round with tons of drop stitches. Then you cut (yes . . . I said cut. . . ) some of the drops to make the fringe. Pretty trippy.

Speaking of Silk Garden . . .

 

New colors of the worsted weight: #258, #272, #87. Little itty bitty pics don’t do justice to these colors. I’m dying to use them in a Mitered Crosses Blanket.

And yes . . . I admit it. This is part of my post-earthquake/tsunami order placed because I wanted to make sure to support Mr. Noro and his amazing yarn company. I just didn’t expect it to arrive all at one and so fast!

Last but not least…the Laguna Bag returns!

Thrilled! That’s how I felt when Namaste recently sent out email announcing the return of the Laguna bag.

Remember this great bag? Remember me bemoaning the fact it was discontinued last fall? I call it the Mary Poppins Bag since I know I could stow away a lamp, kitchen sink and still have room for even more new knitting projects. That’s my kinda bag. Then it was discontinued last year to my heartbreak. sniff, sniff, pout, pout… Well…..good news…. It’s back!!

The Laguna Bag is back in 4 colors: eggplant, peacock, red and black.  Now Mr. Laguna  can happily sit next to it’s friends (Zuma, Hermosa and Hip Holster) upon the shelf.

And drumroll….. A new bag coming in July! Mini Messenger. In black, eggplant, lime, peacock and red. 

(p.s. we’re so ecstatic at everyone’s response to the book drive for joplin! thank you so much. we’ll be accepting donations all summer long. thank you again!)