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Showing posts with label project of the week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label project of the week. Show all posts

Apr 30, 2021

Spring...I mean...Summer Has Sprung! Time to do the Project Shuffle

Temperatures are rising....rapidly! Suddenly all our current more wintry projects (yes... I'm looking at you Icelandic Lettlopi Car Coat....you too Noro Ito Striped Giant Shawl....) Now my wandering eye doth wander towards lovely cool cottons, linens and finger gauges fingerings weight silks and delicate merino blends. Sigh....the perils of being a feckless knitter are many....which all you monogamous knitters just can't understand.... LOL 

Berroco doesn't help matters either by each week highlighting loads of beautiful projects and yarns that make my fingers itch to cast on!  This week is one of my favorite newer yarns: Cambria. Check out the Virtural Trunk Show for the new collection patterns.

 

I'm dying to cast on something. Last summer I was drawn to this shrug ...

but today with the suddenly warm temps the tank top looks appealing....
 
 
You may remember this Project of the Week from last summer: 
Kits still available and these would be fast, easy knits. 

Blaine is a brand new free Knit Bits pattern and this also looks fun with an interesting pattern but super easy construction. Think it's two squares seamed together into this airy, lacy little summer tee. It's a Berroco Project of the Week. If you're wanting it head to our Cambria online page and order up. Patternn free download. Find how many hanks for your size and order away! 

Finished Bust Measurement:  (40, 44, 48, 52) [56, 60, 64, 68]" Shown in 44" with 2-4" suggested +ease

Cambria: (7, 8, 8, 9) [10, 11, 12, 13] hanks (#7938 Trefoil shown in photos)

If any pattern appeals....just head to the Berroco pattern page, figure out how many you'll need and order up. Include a note with your order the pattern name and we'll make sure to include a complimentary pattern with your order. Same for shopping in the shop: just let us know which pattern you're making and we'll include the pattern on the house as our thank you.

Now my dilemma: how to tell my Lopi Cardigan Coat it's stuck in it's dark bag until temps turn cold again! LOL Well....maybe it'll make the cut for "Which Projects Get To Go On Our Beach Trip?" packing list. Because June at the ocean can be chilly, foggy, grey and perfect for knitting! In the meantime I'll be probably casting on some new summertime project because....well...casting on is what I do best! 

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

 



Aug 27, 2020

Project of the Week: Ana and Arshile Remix Kids Kits

Welcome to the Project of the Week: Ana & Arshile in Berroco's Remix. Squeeeeeee!! Adorable Kids in Adorable Sweaters!!! (And these two models are siblings too)

Project of the Week Kits: Ana & Arshile

Ana Pullover
Chest: 24 (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)”
3 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls Berroco Remix (100 grs), #3922 Buttercup on model

Arshile Hoodie  

Chest: 20 (21, 22, 24, 26, 28)”
3 (3, 3, 3, 4, 4)
Berroco Remix (100 grs) *color on model is discontinued; #3991 a good sub*

Kits available to purchase here online

We love Remix!


Remix has been on our shelves since it's debut ages ago. A few ago Berroco switched its put-up style into wonderful center pull balls. Now we're madly, deeply and crazy in love with Remix!! Much easier easier to shelve and we don't chase "tribbles" all over the shop when the suddenly popped out of the cubbies. Based on its success, now we have two weights available: Remix (worsted) and Remix Light (dk/sport) and both available in our online shop.

Why oh why do we love Remix? It's a perfect blend for washable, soft, durable, tweedy garments of all kinds. Items made turn out like a well-worn and loved sweatshirt that you grab every time because it's so comfortable. Because it's non-wool blend is super washable and very strong items hold up great over time. The colors are a beautiful muted, tweedy palette. A fantastic year-round yarn that you'll enjoy using, even when temps hit triple digits. Read all the Remix details here.

 

How is it made?

It's most unique and amazing aspect: It's a 100%  recycled yarn with a fascinating process!! Berroco yarn uses a low-impact manufacturing process patented in France. Remix was the result of over a year of collaborative work between mill and textile engineers.

Here's Berroco's description:

Remix is made up of 100% recycled fibers, meaning that it’s a blend of nylon, cotton, acrylic, silk, and linen—a combination that yields a sturdy yet soft yarn. Garments and high-quality commercially knit fabric panels left over from the ready-to-wear industry are collected from across Europe and sorted by fiber, then color. Because these pieces are pre-dyed, there is no need to dye them again, which saves water and prevents water pollution. Instead, colors are created by carefully blending garnetted fibers. Garnetted fiber is the result of shredding old textiles to make a new, fleece-like fiber that is ready to be spun into a new yarn.

I'd never heard of "garnetting" fibers! Amazing they can take leftover scraps from clothing industry and turn it into yarn! With no overdying!!?? Simply amazing. 

Curious how yarn is made into balls or hanks? Here's a video showing Remix process. This is an older video showing the previous style of balls....you know those annoying round tribbles we're always having to chase around the shop? Well.... they've grown up now and stay on their shelves so much better! Plus the center pull ball is a dream. 

Patterns Galore

Reading behind the scenes accounts by designers is a great way to learn new tips and gain insight into a yarn or design process. Here's two to check out.

 Donna's Ode to Remix  & Kirsten's Homa Sweater

For more inspiration there's loads of Free Patterns! here and here. On Berroco's website you can see all Berroco Remix patterns here.

One last shout out for #303 Remix Family Collection. This is the debut pattern collection and its one of our favorites.  This is an actual family modeling beautifully all the items.  Papa, Mama and Baby Bears all showing off the great items made up in Remix. Classic patterns for the whole family.

We sell all the Berroco patterns as digital & printed copies. Eventually we hope to add our favorite patterns to the website but for now just give us a shout!

Aug 14, 2020

Berroco Virtual Trunk Shows

Loving how people are getting innovative in these crazy times! The wonderful owners of Berroco from get-go embraced change and jumped right in, finding new ways to help their shops survive and thrive during the shut downs. We so appreciate this. Warren and his gang are still doing it!

Virtual Truck Shows

Berroco has made great little video trunk shows highlighting the new patterns and yarns. Fun to see the still photos and videos of models moving around in the patterns! This 360 angle helps show off patterns nicely. Helps give a sense of how the sweaters move and drape on the body. Below is the video for Mochi, a new fall chunky yarn. Purchase in our online shop here.

 

 Links to Berroco Virtual Trunk Shows:

Mochi

Artetsia

Tiramisu

Providence & Aerial

Millefiori Light Luxe

Coco & Macro

Have fun being inspired! Shop has the new yarns Artesia, Mochi, Millefiori Light Luxe stocked and up online. The new colors of Providence, Macro and Coco arriving early September.

 


Back in March Berroco also quickly revamped their operations to support their shop owners in a way that was unprecedented. Within a few weeks they launched the Project of the Week program. This let customers order up wonderful projects from us and Berroco would ship directly to our customers. We could also order up even just 1 ball of yarn if that's all a customer needed to keep sane during the stay at home months. The owners and staff immediately set about coming up with ways to support their LYS's and are we ever so grateful! You can read about it here and here   See all the Project of the Weeks here on our website. Even now months later Berroco still doing the program so if you see one you want just let us know. You can find them listed in the Kits section of our website. You may still see some kits in your Berroco KnitBits newsletter.We're happy to order those up even if not shown on our website. Just give us a call or email.

Our Online Shop - A Searching Tip

Go to our online shop (www.maisieblue.com). Click on the Search icon (magnifying glass) top Right corner. A search box pops open at top. Enter "Berroco" and you should see drop down list of all Berroco yarns currently listed in our online shop. Click on one you're looking for.

This nifty method works with other brands too: Noro, Queensland, MadTosh, Araucania, etc... You can also type in "puzzle" " gift certificate" etc.... 

 

That's it for this week! Now I'm at home, hunkering down to stay cool in this heatwave. Triple digits is not my favorite temp! Hope everyone able to stay cool and happy this weekend. 

 

 

Jul 16, 2020

Project of the Week: Summer Silk Kits-Evrenden and Chatwyn

Berroco continually inspire us all year. They keep putting together more projects of the week than I can keep up with! This week's is with one of our favorite summer yarns: Project of the Week: Summer Silk, a perfect cotton/silk blend chainette style DK weight yarn. We have plenty in stock and the two patterns make for delightful projects as our summertime temps climb.


First up a lovely, cozy shawl: Evrenden
 
Perfect for cool summer nights, fall mornings when chill returns and snowy walks in winter.

Details
Approximately 62" long x 23" (at widest point)
yarn
4 balls #4020 Madras(shown)
needles and notions
24" circular needle, size 8 (5.00 mm) or size to obtain gauge
Cable needle
1 st marker
 
gauge
19 sts and 32 rows = 4" in Garter St (after blocking)

The pattern is worked from side to side, with short rows to create the curved shape. (Kim's tip: Short Rows easier with the German Short Row Method. See Carole Feller's awesome video tutorials. You'll never break out in cold sweat when you see the dreaded "w&t" in a pattern, ever again!


The second option is Chatwyn-quite possibly a perfect little summer boatneck tee! It begins with the yoke pattern, knit horizontally, and then is worked from the top down for an easy finish. Looks like a fun, non-stressful knit too.

Details
Shown in size 36"
finished measurements
Bust—33 (36, 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57)"
Length -  21¾ (22, 22½, 22¾, 23¼, 23½, 23¾, 24, 24½)"
Note:  This garment was designed with approximately 2–4" of ease.  Please take this into consideration when selecting your size.
 
yarn
 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7) balls #4021 Soiree (shown)
 
needles and notions
16" and 29" circular needles, size 7 (4.50 mm) or size to obtain gauge
4 st markers
4 removable st markers or safety pins
1 st holder
 
gauge
22 sts and 32 rnds = 4" in St st
46 sts = 9" and 32 rows = 4" in charted pattern

How to Purchase
Pick your Pattern......Choose your Color......Order up in our Online Shop!

For Pickup orders: in checkout section, change the option from Shipping to Pickup. You can also leave additional instructions in the note field too.

Or if you prefer, pick up the Old Blower (phone) and call in your order. Shop hours currently are Mon thru Fri 11-3pm.

**Chatwyn is based on your chosen size-so there's extra step with this pattern. Measurements above are for finished garment with 2-4" of ease. We always suggest you measure twice:
1) upper bust (right up under armpits, around chest above fullest part).
2) full bust measurement (around fullest part).

Use these two measurements to choose which size best for your particular pattern. For example, Chatwyn is not form-fitting and you want it to really fit nicely in the top of shoulder. Too big it'll hang lower on arms/wider neck opening/more fabric by underarm; Too small arms will hike up/neck narrower. Adding length easier adjustment with this pattern, so really lean on the bust measurements when deciding.


Our available color options as of today