Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Learn all about silk yarns in Just My Type

Jan has just sent out her fabulous "Just My Type" newsletter with loads of interesting information about silk. Did you know that the method of manufacturing silk was top secret in China until about 2600 BC?

Just My Type not only teaches you all about this fabulous fiber, it also includes information about fashionable patterns you can make for your spring and summer wardrobe.

This is Pat (of Pat and Michele's Handy Dandy Yarn Stackers) modeling a pretty Artyarns silk top for summer.

Yarnmarket is happy to offer Iris Schreier's gorgeous "Regal Silk" collection, including our own Impressionist Regal Silk and Impressionist Beaded Silk in eight Yarnmarket-exclusive color combos. We've just added the ultimate fiber gem for eveningwear -- Beaded Silk & Sequins. It's one of the most elegant yarns we've seen this season, and will be perfect for summer patio parties.

Be sure to subscribe to our Yarnmarket newsletters so you'll receive your copy of Just My Type each month.

What's Happening at Yarnmarket

Boy, you'd think that things would slow down during the spring but we're busier than ever! Lori has tons of boxes of new yarns to unpack so that Jan can get them online for our shoppers.

That means that Pat and Susan are scanning their hearts out so you can see all the new yarn colors online.

Jenny, Michele and I are delighted that we got KnitchMagazine.com up, loaded with lots of new spring articles. Now we're working on summer updates and the autumn edition.

And Stef is banging away at the computer, adding lots of new projects. If you haven't taken a look at it, the Projects area is a really quick way to buy everything you need. Stef pulls together all the supplies needed for -- say, a gorgeous Artyarns Impressionist Collection scarf -- and then all you need to do is click once and all the items are put into your shopping basket.

Of course, if you've already got some of the items, you can un-click them. (Sheesh! Is that even a word -- UNCLICK? You have to click to un-click it, so it doesn't really make sense, does it?)

Anyway, we've got over 2500 projects online -- many thanks to Stef who's really worked hard to add them -- and a lot of knitters find them very helpful.

Our pickers and packers (bless them!) are all very busy because we've got lots of orders to go out every evening. Not only are they kept running with all the Yarnmarket orders, they also have to trek across the lot to our Western Headquarters - BargainYARNS -- where we put all our sale items.

Tina and Brenda are busy making sure the packages are all labeled and ready to go when Marlin arrives in his UPS truck to get them. And that brings me to --

IT'S TIME FOR MARLON TO PUT ON HIS SHORTS.

Yes, ladies...we all look forward to the spring when Marlon dons his brown UPS shorts and his legs come out of winter hibernation. I'm thinking of holding a special Yarnmarket event to celebrate the occasion.

So that's what's happening.

Oh, one more thing. Remember Josh? He's now happily working at Battelle after getting his marketing legs at Yarnmarket (sorry, I couldn't resist) and we've received news that his wife, Shelley, is expecting. And what's even better is that they're expecting a baby! Woohoo! We haven't had any babies at Yarnmarket...though we're hoping that Brenda gets a grand-baby one of these days. She wants one so badly that I'm thinking of having one for her.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Yarnmarket bulletin for spring features new yarns and patterns

Jan has just sent out another Yarnmarket Bulletin that's jam-packed with great ideas for spring and summer. She's featuring new yarns from Sirdar, South West Trading Company and Aslan Trends plus new colors in many of your favorite spring-summer yarns from Berroco. In addition to wonderful new yarns & colors, she's also presenting some terrific ideas to help you keep up with the trends for spring & early summer. And as always, she's presenting some new projects to add to your wardrobe -- or perhaps the wardrobe of a little girl you might know. This Princess Ruffled Pullover by Rowan is really adorable. Check out all this helpful information plus new books, magazines, bags & tools to inspire you. Be sure to subscribe to the Bulletin so you won't miss out on any future editions.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Jumpin' Jitterbugs! Look at these pretty socks

When we got the new Colinette Jitterbug yarn a few weeks ago, I was really knocked out by the colors. So was Alex...so he recruited me to knit up a pair of socks in Jewel, a pretty deep blue streaked with reds, yellow, oranges, greens and other colors that really pop . The result is probably the nicest pair of socks I've created!

Colinette Jitterbug yarn is sumptuously soft merino that's spun as a traditional 4-ply, fingering-weight. The lovely hand painted colorways are spectacular and each hank comes with a free sock pattern attached to the label. But that's not the sock I knit. I used a Franken-pattern that I created on my own using pieces of other patterns because:

a. It's easy
b. It's got nice ribbing right to the toe
c. It's easy.

Easy really counts with me!

We'll be putting the pattern up on KnitchMagazine.com when it launches later this week, so if you want it, be sure to go to the magazine to visit our Free Pattern section. Or, better yet, sign up now so you'll get an Alert when the magazine is released.

We've got lots of Jitterbug in stock in 9 glorious colors. Now that I've made this pair in Jewel I think I might need to knit the whole set.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Hysterical LED Sheep Video

Yarn reviewer Barbara Rottman sent us a link to this funny video, and I thought I'd share it with our readers. I wish I had time to do such wonderfully goofy things on so grand a scale!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

New Impressionist Yarn makes a very nice impression...if I don't say so myself!

I'm so excited! We just added another fantastic Impressionist Collection yarn and it's really beautiful. Impressionist La Boheme was created exclusively for us by our good friends at Fiesta.

La Boheme is the only 2-stranded fiber blend of its kind where the strands are hand-dyed at the same time. This gives the yarn a unique color saturation and coordination that you really can't find anywhere else. The mix of rayon boucle and fluffy kid mohair provides pretty shimmer blended with delicately lofty texture.

The overall result is lovely drape and color combos for year-round elegance.

I haven't yet decided what to try with this yarn, but I think this summer shawl is gorgeous and I might want to give it a try. The entire project is available on Yarnmarket.com (that means that all the supplies are in one easy-to-find spot for quick ordering) and the pattern is free with yarn purchase.


We also have a pretty criss-cross scarf pattern that's free with purchase. That's our Pat in the photo. You might recognize her from a lot of the patterns you find online with Yarnmarket because she's our resident model. We're all so happy that Pat enjoys helping us out with the modeling because...well...some of us don't like to have our picture taken.

Michele is our resident photographer who does such a great job shooting our yarns and models.

Be sure to take a look at this original new yarn because it comes in all eight Impressionist color combinations.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

April Newsletter Just Released - New Yarns and Patterns!

Jan has released her April Edition of the Yarnmarket Newsletter. In it, she presents the Spring Fashion Forecast for layers, feminine details and bright accent colors. Additionally, she welcomes to Yarnmarket Alchemy Yarns, an exciting new addition to our shop.

She also presents some marvelous new spring yarns and books from Berroco, two new cotton blends from Gedifra, and two gorgeous new Impressionist Collection patterns.

Be sure to subscribe to the Yarnmarket Newsletter so you'll receive our newsletters, bulletins and special alerts.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Knitting is good for you!

A recent study from the Mayo Clinic confirms that knitting can not only help keep your brain active, it also has great physiological benefits such as stress reduction, pain management and improvement of your immune system!


Watch CBS Videos Online

UPDATE - Today I feel goofy enough to give away yarn.

The winner of the yarn, and the 27th email, came from Esther in Germany! I also gave away a couple of other gift certificates...just because I felt like it.

The first person to respond got one just for being so quick. And then a lady in Toronto won one for being the first Canadian Raveler to respond.

I was surprised to see entries from Europe and Scandanavia...which is great because it shows how truly global Ravelry has become.

Thanks so much to all of you who participated. Keep your eye out for more spur-of-the-moment giveaways.



Okay, Ravelers...here's your big chance to win a skein of gorgeous Alchemy yarns. The 27th person to send me an email at deborah@yarnmarket.com will win a gift certificate for $35. That should cover the cost of a single skein plus shipping.

Why 27, you ask? Because that's how many years I've been married to Alex.

So stop whatever it is you're doing and send me an email. I'm sitting here all alone at my computer...and I just love to receive mail!

Oh...I almost forgot. One entry each, please.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Quake Victim Spent 30 Hours Knitting

I just read this on TimesOnline from the UK. A lady who was trapped by the earthquake in Italy spent her time knitting!

Another of those rescued today was Maria D’Antuono, 98, who said that she had spent 30 hours knitting as she waited to be freed from her ruined home.

"I worked, I knitted," said Mrs D'Antuono, from the village of Tempera, close to L'Aquila. The redoubtable nonagenarian told rescuers that she was in good health when she was found this morning, according to Sky TG24.


We're going to try to find that incredible lady. And when we do, we're sending her some yarn!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Alchemy has arrived at Yarnmarket!

We're really excited about the addition of Alchemy Yarns. For years, we've lusted after their gorgeous fibers and colors, and we're elated to finally be able to offer them to our customers.

Alchemy Yarns of Transformation are truly luxurious hand-painted and dyed yarns for knitting, crocheting and weaving. The colors are positively glorious -- they look particularly stunning in the patterns designed by the company's owner, Gina Wilde. We're now also offering wonderful Alchemy books and patterns, too!

The lines we've just added online are Silken Straw, Silk Purse and Haiku.

Alchemy Silken Straw is a pure silk ribbon that has a wondrous sheen and the fabulous color blends Alchemy Yarns are known for. We've got both Colorways and Elements and they're absolutely fabulous. This is a DK-weight that magically softens as you work with it and is even softer yet after the completed projects are worn and washed.

Alchemy Silk Purse is 100% slubbed silk with Colorways and Elements versions (representing earth, air, water, fire and metal). This brilliantly colored yarn has great texture, and it's super soft with a superb sheen. We recommend it for scarves, shawls, tops, sweaters & more.

Alchemy Haiku Colorways and Elements are superbly crafted of 60% mohair & 40% silk. The brushed mohair fiber blend has beautiful shimmer from the silk and terrific loft from the mohair. This yarn is a great choice for projects that are sumptuously soft against the skin.

Be sure to check out all our new Alchemy yarns. We're really excited to be adding them to our roster and we hope you enjoy knitting with these wonderful creations by Gena Wilde.