new Berroco Spring/Summer 2022 has arrived!

 Isola

Temps rising (sort of....) and that means summertime shop shuffle begins in earnest. Cottons, linens, silks and rayons now take center stage.  Berroco’s new Isola is a gorgeous tonal gradient blend cotton/linen/rayon. 

 

The combo of cotton/linen/rayon provides breathable, strong yet a wonderful drape. Perfect for summer garments. Another plus: machine wash cold, lay flat to dry. Drape is gorgeous and we have a shop sample of Keshi. 

Pattern Booklet #434 Isola has variety of garments, perfect for warm weather making and wearing. The yarn has a subtle think/thin, slubby texture. It highlights the hint of sheen (thank you rayon!) and has a lovely cool touch on the skin. 

Remember: Linen while at first feels crinkly and rough....with wear and washings, softens up beautifully.  Generous yardage in each lovely cake (284yds) for a DK (#3) yarn which need no winding. Another bounus!

Vivo

Next up is Vivo,  slubby 100% cotton multicolor! Not easy to find great multi color cottons so we're thrilled with Vivo.  A lovely bright palatte screams summertime fun (dripping popsicles fruity tropical drinks, coconut tanning cream....). 

Pattern Booklet #433 Vivo contains variety of knit and crochet. Vivo also a DK (3#) weight and washable! Well....machine wash cold, lay flat to dry. This means 1 big yarn cake (317yd) could easily work up into a small stroller blankie or cuddly lovey blanket to be cherished for years. Or better yet... one of my new found addictions: Baby Sweaters! I go for the 3-6mo size and one Vivo is all you'd need. The simpler the better to show off the gorgeous colorway. Or if finishing isn't an issue for you...try one of these lovely new patterns below:

Top: Agate, Ameterine, Beryl
Bottom: Moonstone, Sapphire, Tourmaline

I’m in love with Tourmaline, a deep V-neck, sideways constructed loose tunic. It's crochet so first I must perfect my crochet skills.... This pattern could be a good one for that. It's long repeats same crochet stitch. Finally might cement in my brain between a sc, dc, hdtrbl..... 

Another fun knit is Beryl: A simple sideways tee with bold geometric colorwork using 2 colors of Vivo. Easy-peasy knit in just 2 pieces. Always key when looking at potential summer patterns: easy to make? Because frankly when it's hot outside you want easy, mindless projects. But not too easy! Colorwork shape will keep you on your toes. 

We have a shop sample of Sapphire. It's always nice to have a finished garment sent by the company. Better than half-fiinished WIPs lying on display with the needles attached. Sapphire is a short cardi, perfect over tanks or summer dresses to ward off cool night breeze or A/C cranked to high. The textured stitch pattern also means not too boring a knit too. 

Vivo Virtual Trunk Show 

Check out the trunk show above to see all Vivo patterns prancing around your screen. Berroco does wonderful Virtual Trunk Shows for new yarns. View all on their youtube website. There you'll find great how-to technique videos and behind the scenes at photoshoots as well. 

Fun feature: Berroco's 360 Views 

Most booklet patterns have this on the Berroco pattern webpage. It helps seeing a pattern this way to better evaluate if it's the right one for you. Just search for pattern name on their website, click on the 360 View pic (see big red arrow? that's what to look for). You can also find them on the youtube website too. 

Whenever I'm considering a Berroco pattern, I always check it out this way first. It's useful seeing the yarn in  motion too. Gives you sense of how it moves, drapes and appears in real life. [Disclaimer: Be prepared to spend way too much time pattern trawling] ;)

Pima Soft 

Super super soft pima cotton! And I’m serious… it’s amazingly soft. Slight slubby, thick-n-thin structure. Lots of great patterns in Booklet #431. It’s a DK, 100% Pima cotton (one of finest grades of cotton) and working with it is a dream. Easy on the hands, a wonderful range of happy, bright colors. Perfect for baby and kids items. Washable. Just tumble dry low or lay flat. Cotton shrinks with heat so lay flat is best (or tumble dry no heat to help speed things along).

Top: Miligrain, Basse Taille, Filigree
Bottom: Faience, Trellis, Riveria

Again...my new favorite cast on obsession a perfect option: Wee Little Baby Sweaters! I can finish a 3mo sweater. It's my new "swatch" and Pima Soft is next in my Shop Sample Queue (after I finish my Pluma and Vintage Baby sweaters...more on those in future newsletter). 

Coming Soon: Pima Soft Trunk Show at the shop Jun 3-13th 

Summer Sesame

I know...this isn't a new yarn. But there's new colors.....and.... lots of cool designs using the new yarns + summer sesame in innovative ways. It's a soft yarn with lots of color, texture and feels good again skin. 

Like this one where the yoke uses summer sesame to create a cool gradient of designs. People will think you're genius at using lots of different colors when the secret is just summer sesame! 

Summer Sesame has a lovely soft, cottony feel with the beautiful color palettes. It's a bit larger, tidier version of Medina - another summer yarn we love - with a nice feel against the skin. A customer loves making simple cowls (double loop size) with 1 ball of Summer Sesame. It's a perfect accessory to ward summer cool breezes when sitting at the beach watching sunsets! 

Here's a fun free pattern I just found on Ravelry: Op Art Shawl  Designer states its her modern interpretation of the Old Shale stitch pattern but in a modern, long triangle shape shawl. Free pattern has two versions: 4 color or a 2 color. 

Use Summer Sesame + Modern Cotton DK (or Pima 100, or Pima Soft).  Check out katgarippa's Op Art Shawl. Love how the two yarns play together. This is right up my alley. Fun interesting pattern, easy to memorise, swaping yarns and a carrot-dangling with multicolor yarn - this keeps me knitting a bit longer than if it was must solid color. I'm not above tricking myself into working on WIPs to get closer to the coveted Finished stage. [Oh dear..... I'm now fighting the urge to cast on yet another shawl...... this isn't good......] 

Oh look! Fun crochet pattern called Maisie by Donna Yacino! [quick distraction from casting on Op Art with a crochet pattern....which I can't do easily.....]Love how crochet is experiencing long-overdue popularity lately! Did you know granny squares are hot again?! Nope.... I won't go down the granny-square rabbit hole..... because I'll never finish this newsletter if it do! I'll save it for a whole granny square post in the future. 

Back to Berroco Summer....

We have loads of Modern Cotton, Modern Cotton DK and Pima 100 which are work-horse cotton yarns long a shop staple. The Modern Cotton has cotton/rayon and it's amazing for warm-weather garments with a great drape and cool touch. 

Pima 100 is a awesome 100% pima cotton (one of finest grades of cotton ytou can get). Great for summer tees, skirts, kid's garments and blankets. One customer makes bundles of washcloths in range of colors to give as gifts. Truly a fantastic yarn. 

All yarns available on our website or in the shop. New colors of all the Modern Cottons and Pima 100 due to arrive this month. We're slowly adding pattern booklets to website. Here's Berroco Patterns page. More will be added but if you want to order head here! Or better yet pop into shop. Berroco has new Stock Check feature so any yarn we don't stock, we can easily order up for you. Just ask! 

Whew..... made it without stopping to cast on a new project! That's progress. Didn't get to talk about Medina (Our Messy Rocker Chick Yarn- We love you Medina...but dang you're one messy ball of yarn...but worth it!) or the awesome Portfolio Vol 7  But it's Now it's Time for Tea!