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! 

may newsletter: springtime in the shop

The newsletter is way overdue! 2016 flying by and loads of new things in the shop. Pardon me for the length....it's a long one.

Quick Links 

Calling all Crafters: YarnBombers Needed
New Indie Magazine: Making No. 1
Upcoming Class: Brioche Cowl

Keep reading for Yarn, Book and Gift highlights...

NEW SPRING YARNS: Loads! 

Elemental Affects: Very Excited!! 100% grown, milled, spun and natural dyed in U S A! The dyeing actual happens in Southern Calif too.We're stocking two lines: Fancy Tiger Heirloom Romney in the shop now. Picture are just a few of the colors we have and it's easy to order more. A truly special yarn: Very wooly, rustic and gorgeous.Here's just a few of the range of colors in stock:

 

Coming in July Sheltand: A 100% North American Shetland fingering yarn  perfect for fair-isle, which is very trendy at the moment, not to mention shawls, sweaters, etc.... I can't wait for it to arrive!!

Debbie Bliss 

Debbie Bliss is in the house! We now stock  Baby Cashmerino. It's this little dude's fault....He's so dang cute I just couldn't resist. We have this cardigan sample (as shown) and Cathy working up a second in Giant's colors!

  

Coming in June: Brand new Cashmerino Tonals in all 10 colors. Love me some tonals!

 

Berroco

Our favorite company has new spring yarns in the shop and lovely pattern books. They're a staple and always first off the mark with new lines.

  

Corsica made me gasp with joy when our rep pulled out the color cards back in Nov (yes....we buy months in advance-in fact just finished buying fall-winter last week). Okay...this yarn is amazing: 90% pima cotton and 10% cashmere! But best of all.....machine washable! It's a DK with generous yardage so a excellent value. Touch of cashmere noticeable and did I mention.....washable? (yes....I did but it bears repeating!)

 

The palette is my favorite-perfect for summer. Such a great yarn with endless possibilities. Shop sample, Skylark pictured below so come by pet it! Probably my favorite yarn this season.

 

Pattern booklet #370 Corsica is mix of half crochet and knit which is touch. Makes me want to grab a hook!

 

   

 

*Berroco's nifty 360 view: each pattern pg. has a wee video of garment so you can really see it properly*

 

Mykonos:  "Modern, minimal and timeless" is description of this new pattern lineup. Perfectly easy toss on and wear kinda garments. The yarn itself a slinky, cool to the touch blend of linen, cotton and nylon with fantastic drape yet sturdy and a hint of elegant sheen. Color palette opposite spectrum from Corsica. It's rich jewels and neutrals.Grecian inspired....pass me the ouzo!



Patterns are fantastic! Great wardrobe building garments good for casual, office or dress up. I'm fixating on skirts, so considering this pattern but in Mykonos. Which highlights another reason we love Berroco: their patterns can easily substitute with other yarns in their lineup (new and old). Mykonos, Corsica, Fuji, Fiora, Folio, Linsey, Seduce patterns pretty much interchangeable gauge-wise.

 

Next newsletter will highlight these new or expanded lines now in the shop:

Classic Elite: Fortuna, the semi-solid sister to Bella Lino and their cousin Firefly
Queensland: Sunshine Coast(oh my so yummy!) and Rainbow Beach (DK version of Painted Sky, Painted Desert and Brisbane line of yarns)

Sneak Peek: 

Coming in Jun-Aug

Louisa Harding: Pittura
Debbie Bliss: Rialto Socks (so new not even on website yet!)
Classic Elite: Seedling Multi
Juniper Moon Farm: Zooey Aran, and Cumulus
(and lots more colors of Moonshine & Herriot-all weights)


whew..... ya'll still with me? we're not done yet...on to the books...

WHAT TO READ

A few of our current favorite books on the shop shelves:

Lisette's List: I'll always read Susan Vreeland....she's consistently good and brings the art history world to life. One of my favorite authors since her stunning debut, Girl in Hyacinth Blue.

Lemoncholoy Life of Annie Aster. This is an under-the-radar debut novel. To be honest....looking at new titles last summer this beautiful bright yellow cover caught my eye. The description captured my interest and then looking at it's sales history in Midwest distribution center amazed me. Way off the charts! Customers enjoying this quirky novel.

My Wish List: A great book group pick. 1) well-drawn characters 2) a glimpse of contemporary life in Arras, France, 3) a poetic novelette (that's my fancy word for "short") and 4) provides great potential for discussion: what would your wish list be if you won the lottery?

Stars Over Sunset Blvd: The latest from customer favorite, Susan Meissner. Many loved her earlier work I discovered last year, Fall of Marigolds. Then I sought out her other books to stock and those too didn't disappoint. I per-ordered  heavily this newest novel months before it released, that's how much we love this author. Her hook: There's usually two people/time periods linked by a physical object (New York/vintage scarf, WW2/wedding dress, etc.) This one centers on the hat worn by Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the Wind."

Maisie Dobbs' latest: I'm in the middle of finishing #11 A Dangerous Place so I can read #12 Journey to Munich, the newest installment (still in hardcover). Again.... Winspear does not disappoint. The drums of war beat louder and louder as Maisie's timeline gets closer to the outbreak of WW2.

Meet Me in Atlantis: Summer is coming....time to break out the mico-history/travelogue books. This is latest by the author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu. Mark Adams is a self-titled "unadventurous adventure travel writer." He turns to the lost city of Atlantis for his recent inspiration. I confess....I'm a huge Atlantis junkie so this is perfect summer reading! He travels around the world to investigate current research, theories and beliefs using Plato as his travel guide.

Newsletter Books: Purchase Here (use FREESHIP promo as our thank you!) 

*choose your title from drop down menu*

FOR FUN: BLOGS WE LOVE

The Mason-Dixon Knitting Ladies (Kay & Ann) are hilarious! No other blog makes me laugh so hard. They've back daily with hilarity knitters love. Sadly their awesome books out of print but guess what.....there's a coloring book and it arrives in our shop in July!

Few funny posts of late I loved:
Insta-Kit (OMG....I totally have at least 5 of these kits...)
Luxury Meets Practicality (where we learn knitting and dentistry work together)
How to be a Balabusta  (where I learned more useful yiddish)

And there's the occasional tongue-in-cheek videos. A couple favs: the futuristic documentary Grey Knitters (riff on Grey Gardens) and the chart-topping music sensation, Pardon Me (I Didn't Knit That for You!)

*disclaimer: only for the die-hard knitters because the humor may be lost on non-knitters....who will wonder about the sanity of knitters after viewing their videos....*

GIFTS etc

 Bee House Return of our favorite teapots! I have a couple...well...a few actually. Love them!

 

 

SerendipiTea: New favorite teas: Jasmine Oolong (green), Black-n-Blue (flavored) [shown left] and Burroughs' Brew [shown right]. I'm a jasmine convert now. Found a light, clean green-ish tea I like. The others are perfect for upcoming summer weather. Fruity (tart blueberry) and Nutty (coconut-makes you feel like you're on a beach sipping tropical drinks). [no jasmine pick because frankly...it wasn't very pretty!]




Root Candles:  Finally we found a new favorite jar soy-candle company. Illume switched to tins (which we don't like) so left us in lurch when it came to candles. Our Auntie always sold Root in her shop and now we are too! Amazing smells, colors and selection. We have Anjou Pear, Apple, Lavendar, Pomegranate-Lime, Salted Caramel (omg smells good enough to eat!), Crisp Linen, and French Vanilla. They've been making candles since 1869....yep....that's a long time!!

 

Hydra: New line last fall restocked. Great aromatherapy line. More balms, teas and new: mini shower bursts. Cold & Flu Buster works great!

Coloring Books & Supplies

Still going strong! Fresh new titles and supplies in stock. . There's literally a global coloring pencil shortage.  I immediately started ordering and back ordering colored pencils, water color pencils, felt pens so we've to those in stock.

Newest coloring arrivals:Wellspring's mini travel books and bookmarks!

 

Future Releases: 2017 Calendars. Watch for these to arrive starting in July.

Until next time.... Cheers!