May 2014 Newsletter

We love everything about Koigu! From the fantastic people who founded such a wonderful company, to their signature hand painted palette of infinite colorways, Koigu is truly one of a kind. Earlier this year, at VK Live in New York City, Laura and Kristen got together with Koigu owner Taiu and her daughter Kersti for dinner at a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde themed restaurant to catch up and have some fun (Kersti picked out the restaurant, it was quite an experience). Over dinner, Taiu mentioned this American Merino yarn that she had just bought. She was only able to get a limited amount before it had been discontinued and could no longer get more.

As you might have noticed, we love one-of-a-kind stuff, especially of the yarn variety. We asked Taiu if she'd be willing to let us take it off her hands, preferably dyed in as many lovely Koigu colors as possible, and thankfully, she agreed! The American Merino has started pouring in, and will continue to do so in more and more colors as fast as they can dye it. Of course the colors are AMAZING, and the yarn is an irresistible squishy soft light sport weight that is both vibrant and unique in that distinctly Koigu way. We hope you love it as much as we do!

Try it out on a scarf like the Sunday Knits Sunday Scarf or Churchmouse's Diagonal Lace Scarf & Wrap, or get your knit on with the Top Down V-Neck Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple or Yvonne from CocoKnits.

We met the incredible folks at Anzula a few years back, and have been dying to bring on their yarns ever since! One of the biggest reasons we love their yarns is the sumptuous blend of fibers they use -deliciously soft superwash merino, often paired with luxurious cashmere, and a touch of nylon for extra stability - but what seals the deal is their gorgeous color palette of tonal eye candy. Finally, this spring, we were able to make it happen (thanks to all of you who helped us clear out the Malabrigo Dos!), and Laura placed our first Anzula order. We couldn't be more thrilled!

We now carry 5 different bases of Anzula yarns: For Better or Worsted, Cricket, Squishy, Cloud, and Nebula! For Better or Worsted would be gorgeous as Tin Can Knits' Antler Cardigan, while the Cricket would make a stunning Trapeze Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple. Two colors of Squishy or Nebula would be great as the Clockwork Shawl from Stephen West, and the Cloud would make an amazing Crashing Waves shawl by Grace Akhrem. Any way you knit or crochet them, these exquisite yarns will make your fingers sing with delight!

Denise has expanded their line of Denise2Gos to include a Medium Set, and we couldn't be more excited! The Denise2Go Medium Set features larger needle tips in the same go-everywhere case that lets you knit wherever and whenever you want to work on your current WIP. The Medium Set includes needle tips in US sizes 10.5, 11, 13, and 15 in fun shades of bright pink, green and purple. The set also has a US J crochet hook, cords in 14", 16" and 19" lengths, as well as 2 end buttons and 1 extender so you're covered for all of your chunky knit projects.

We couldn't resist creating a limited edition set to accompany the rollout of Denise's new Medium Denise2Gos. Just in time for spring and summer knitting, the first Limited Edition set of its kind is called Tropical Soiree and features whimsical prints from Valori Wells' Wish fabric collection. Ideal for slipping in your beach bag or carry-on, Tropical Soiree can go with you on any summer trip! The larger needle options are great for churning out quick vacation projects and creating loose, flowing fabrics in finer yarns for breezy knits you can wear during the warmer months. Keep an eye out for more one-of-a-kind sets in the coming months, as we continue our tradition of limited edition Denise2Gos!

Don't miss these new yarns for spring from Debbie Bliss! Four colorful strands plied together are the defining feature of Juliet, a sport weight cotton-acrylic blend from Debbie Bliss. The marled appearance of this yarn, in combination with the perfect amount of drape, creates an alluring fabric with lots of character. Juliet works wonderfully for lightweight spring and summer projects like the sleeveless Peplum Top, which is both feminine and fashion-forward! We also love the Simple Top and Skirt for mix-and match separates. These patterns and more can be found in the new Juliet book from Debbie Bliss, giving you plenty of inspiration for what to knit next with this amazing yarn.

For you natural fiber lovers, Debbie Bliss has also just released Mia, a delightfully soft 50/50 blend of cotton and wool. This DK weight yarn comes in a beautiful range of bright, summery solid colors - perfect for cool, lightweight garments like warm weather cardigans and pullovers. We especially love the Cable and Lace Cardigan with its short sleeves and slim fit, making it ideal for wearing over sundresses and tanks. There are even more great patterns for women, men, and children in the Mia book from Debbie Bliss. Or, check out the Spring/Summer '14 issue of Debbie Bliss Magazine for some truly amazing designs for kids using Mia!

Noro Ayatori, Kirara, Koromo, & Takeuma Now 33%-45% Off!
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.... But why not score some good deals as a result!?!? Noro is discontinuing four of their gorgeous yarns - Kirara, Koromo, Ayatori, and Takeuma; and now YOU get to benefit! Ayatori is a wool and silk blend DK weight (similar to Silk Garden Lite) and makes beautiful sweaters and accessories. The Koromo takes advantage of the coolness of cotton blended with wool and silk (similar to Taiyo) for a heavy worsted weight yarn that is great for spring and fall garments. DK weight Kirara has a touch of angora for some über-softness in a palette of summery self-striping colors. And lastly, the Takeuma gives you a more tonal color option in shades that blend well together in the same color families! Snag some now before they are gone for good!

Araucania Molina Now 50% Off!
We managed to get our hands on some Araucania Molina, a yarn not currently distributed in the US, and at a discount to boot! Now is a great time to add this hand painted yarn to your stash before it disappears. A soft and squishy merino wool, blended with baby alpaca, Molina is artfully dyed by the hands of Araucania's experts, making it a truly beautiful yarn. Available in a variety of brightly variegated colors (including some bordering on neon), this DK weight yarn is perfect for garments and accessories! Try it out on the Knitting Pure and Simple's Top Down Drape Front Cardigan or Grace Akhrem's Tangled Branches Hat.

Top Shelf Totes Sale Yarn Pops -20% off!
We love Yarn Pops! These bags are such a great way to keep your yarn neat and tidy while you knit (and to prevent the paws of your furry friends from making a mess!). Not only that, they are just so darn adorable! Select Limited Edition prints in the Single, Double, Gadgety (which has space for your iPod or iPhone), and Totable sizes are now on sale at 20% off. Be sure to take advantage of this rare sale before they are gone!

Alabama Chanin Kits on Sale: 50% Off!
Love Alabama Chanin but haven't yet had a chance to try your hand (literally) at applique and hand-sewing? Now is as good a time as any with all of these gorgeous kits at 50% off! Try out the Bloomers Corset Top, the Swing Skirt or the Market Bag from the Alabama Stitch Book and see how easy (and addicting) hand stitching really is! Everything you need, including pre-cut and stenciled Organic Cotton Jersey fabric, thread, fold over elastic (when needed) and an Alabama Studio Style garment label, is included.

Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk DK & DK Print Now 50% Off!
Need a little more luxury in your life? Then the Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk DK and DK Print are the answer! Rich colors with the sheen of silk are now available at a great price. Two or three skeins are all you need for a scrumptiously silky cowl, like Ann Norling's Cowl on the Diagonal. They won't last long, so be sure to snag some before they are gone for good!

We recently started sponsoring the High Fives Foundation, an organization based in Truckee, CA (where our first shop was located) that supports athletes who suffer debilitating injuries. They also have an awesome helmet-wearing awareness program called "Helmets are Cool" that teaches area youth about the importance of wearing helmets during ANY mountain-based sport pursuit. We are thrilled to support this organization and are now donating $.05 from every order we receive!

A couple of weeks ago, Doug and Laura attended a fundraising gala for the High Fives in Reno, and Jimmy Beans Wool provided the table centerpieces - yarn bouquet arrangements featuring Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Brittany Birch Wood Needles. Well, some of those centerpieces ended up as props for the photo booth, and we couldn't help but giggle at how these arrangements turned "edible." They do look pretty delicious though, so we can't blame these gals at all!