So have you seen our new Chroma yarn colors?

We’ve had the samples in the office for several months and we’ve been dying to show them to you! I think this is my favorite batch of colors we’ve put out – both the neutrals and the super cheery brights.

The color I first fell in love with was Sandpiper – it reminded me of so many trips to the Oregon Coast, probably one of my favorite places on earth.  I immediately grabbed a ball of the fingering weight and cast on for yet another Sockhead Hat.

I’ve seriously made at least a dozen of these hats – they’re fun to make and great for movie or TV watching projects.  I wear them all the time in the fall & winter too – in fact, I wore this one when I went on a day trip to Mount St Helens.

I love how these colors blend together – the blues, the cream, the browns. In fact, after I finished my hat, I decided I wanted to use it again,  along with Weather Vane and Fog Bank for a big crochet granny square throw.

I love crocheting with Chroma. It’s just a basic granny square pattern (like this one) which I just keep adding on to. I haven’t quite finished yet, but I started with 2 skeins of Weather Vane, then used 2 skeins of Sandpiper.  I’m ending it with 1 skein of Fog Bank – but it’s been much too hot (hello summer!) to work on for a long period of time lately. Crocheting a blanket in fingering weight yarn seems like madness to me but it’s getting quite big now and will be perfect for me to bring along on my holiday to the coast in September.

Then, naturally, I cast on for another Sockhead Hat.  This time I wanted to go bright & grabbed the Sugar Cookie colorway. The teals & pinks just look so sweet together!  I’ve only been working on it while watching movies in the theater but it’s coming along nicely.

I shortened the brim by a couple of inches (so I won’t need to fold it over when wearing it) and will probably not make it quite as slouchy as most of my Sockhead hats.  It’ll be a nice cheery hat to wear during the grey cold days of a Pacific Northwest winter.

What do you think of the new Chroma colorways?  Our thumbnails are small but if you want to see how the striping pattern is in each colorway, check out the online catalog (page 29) – you’ll see full swatches of all the colors

The post Knitting (and crocheting) with Chroma appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Wool of the Andes Superwash BULKY yarn!

Last year when we first introduced Wool of the Andes Superwash in our classic worsted weight, it was love at first sight: easy-care with my favorite wooly yarn. And now, we have a bulky upgrade to this wooly and washable yarn: Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky!

I love using bulky yarns for everything from quick gifts to chunky, oversized accessories – and don’t forget sweaters too! Available in 30 stunning hues, this bulky weight adds infinite pattern possibilities to your queue – personally, I have a lot of friends that are soon going to be parents and this is definitely going to be my go-to yarn for quick knit baby blankets (oh, and lots of big, cozy cowls for myself too)!

Here are a few of my favorite patterns for bulky yarns that would work perfectly for Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky.

Chevron Baby Blanket by Nona Davenport

Checked Cowl by Kerin Dimeler- Laurence

Rolling Waves Beret by Sarah Bulin

Dog Napper by Kristi Porter

To see more patterns, click here.

You can find both weights of Wool of the Andes Superwash here:

Wool of the Andes Superwash Worsted Yarn

Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky Yarn

The post Introducing Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky Yarn! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

We have a brand new yarn out today!

The Big Cozy (the name always makes me think of one of my favorite movies, The Big Sleep) is a super bulky alpaca/wool blend that is SO SOFT.  I haven’t actually worked with super bulky yarns in years so I figured I should play around with it.  I grabbed the largest needles I own (size 13) and a skein of both Marine Heather and Finnley Heather and decided to make a hat!

I cast on 42 stitches (because it’s the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything.  Also it worked with my gauge.) and did a little ribbing, a little striping and a pompom.  It took less than 3 hours!  I wrote it up as the Laniferous Cap pattern – and it’s free!  It only took 1 skein of the Marine Heather and just a little bit of Finnley Heather.  I didn’t have much left over of Marine Heather so if you don’t want the stripes, you’ll probably want to get another skein of your main color, just to be sure you don’t run out!

The fabric with size 13 was so dense, which makes it great for a winter hat – no wind getting through to freeze your ears.  I liked it so much, I ended up making a second one with Garnet Heather and Finnley Heather, this time with an even bigger pompom!

I can’t wait to actually wear them!  Unfortunately, we still have summer weather here (90s this weekend!) so it’ll be a while.

I really love this yarn – it’s so fun to have projects done within hours rather than days.  I’ve been playing around with our new Jumbo needles and a couple of skeins of The Big Cozy – I love the fabric with the size 50, even if it’s hard to get used knitting with such huge needles!

Now that I’ve gotten back into using big needles/hooks and super bulky yarns, tell me some of your favorite projects – I need to make more!

The post New Yarn – The Big Cozy! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Diadem DK was a very special and very limited edition yarn that first made its appearance during last year’s epic Cyber Monday sale. The metallic hues were incredible and the plush DK weight of this alpaca silk yarn was absolutely lovely – which is why we are so happy to see this yarn back in an array of saturated solids inspired by prized jewels and gemstones.

In addition to the heavier DK weight, we have Diadem Solid Fingering in the new shimmering single-hued shades as well! The blend of alpaca and silk gives this single-ply yarn an amazing sheen with a delicate drape – perfect for winter-worthy accessories like cushiony scarves and luxe infinity cowls.

Diadem DK Crocheted Infinity Cowl

A yarn like Diadem doesn’t need a lot to let it shine, so my first Diadem DK project was crocheted in a simple half double crochet through the back loop – worked lengthwise and then seamed. The above version uses Copper and Argent together for a modern color blocked aesthetic, but I’ve since made equally amazing solid colored versions.

I’m really itching to start a new cowl following the same pattern, but using three colors instead of two. Here are a few of my favorite color combos with Diadem Solids:

I seriously LOVE the new solid shades in Diadem, I just know that this is going to be the yarn for special holiday gifts for friends and family (and myself, who am I kidding!) – what are some of your favorite color combos in Diadem?

You can find both weights of the new Solid Diadem yarns here:

Diadem Solid Fingering Yarn
Diadem Solid DK Yarn

The post Diadem Solids! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

The difference between a pile of yarn and the launching pad for your next creative masterpiece is color coordination. A thoughtfully-curated color palette will bring cohesion, beauty and sparkle to your project.

One of my favorite projects this year was compiling an array of Palette wool samplers. From the lip-smacking juicy Candy Rainbow to the soothing neutrals of the Woodland Cabin, these color samplers will make your planning your next project a breeze (and more affordable, as the samplers are at 10% discount!).

Here are a few of my favorites:

Candy Rainbow Sampler

Encore Sampler

Fire Opal Sampler
Woodland Cabin Sampler
Pink Swirl Sampler
Herbal Wreath Sampler
Aegean Sea Sampler

The post Color Made Easy appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

I’m working on a mutimedia project with Swish yarn in rainbow colors, to be completed in coming weeks. I had a few scraps left, so I thought I’d add a neutral and cast on for a sweater for my daughter. 

There was one catch: Swish is worsted weight, and I use fingering weight yarn, almost exclusively. I don’t know when it happened. When I first took knitting up so many years ago, everything I did was worsted weight. Through the years, however, I’ve just loved how fingering weight projects turn out: light as a feather, really professional looking, and so much more portable, too! Especially for children’s clothing, the scale seems just right.

My problem now is that my older daughter is 2, and she actually needs clothing pretty consistently (hello stains, I see you). I have so little time, so I’ve challenged myself to make a few worsted garments I’m hoping she’ll wear. This current sweater (pattern here, I’ll be leaving off the applique) is in Swish Dove Heather, with stripes of Serrano, Orange, Honey, Peapod, Twilight, and Eggplant   I’ve been loving how fast this sweater is to make. The ease of top-down shaping and the fun of color changing are making it a quick and enjoyable project. I think the non-itchy warmth of the Swish will be perfect for my opinionated toddler. The machine washability of it will be perfect for her opinionated mother!

Do you have a favorite yarn weight, or do you just look at patterns and enjoy doing whatever the pattern requires? I think as time goes on, worsted weight garments might find a permanent place in my queue. Maybe one day I might even think about Bulky! Can you hear me gasping?!

The post Welcome, Worsted! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

One really fun task I did this year was creating new yarn colorways. We started with Stroll Tonal, a super soft, washable treat for the feet. As a team, we decided on a set of new colorways, and then I mocked up our visions in my design program to send to our manufacturer.

Lest you be fooled by the ostensibly simple process of picking colors, let me bring to your attention how surprisingly difficult it is to find a range of yellows that don’t turn either rusty brown or baby custard yellow at some point – or choosing greens that don’t morph into an enchanting snot hue.  It was a fun challenge, and I think the new tonals turned out marvelous!

From the smoky, dark Train Station to the happy, golden rays of Poppy Field, these new colorways will bring beautiful complexity to your next project! Check them all out here – your toes will thank you for it.

The post New Colors for Your Feet! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

I finally just started wearing socks again last week. Having a clinically-diagnosed, severe case of OCD (Obsessive Christmas Disorder: Any adult that is overly excited about Christmas and has a more than normal preoccupation with Christmas decorations and clothing or has more than two Christmas trees), my subconscious is constantly on the look out for Christmas cues – those magical markers that point the way to that sacred time of year. Socks are one of them. When my feet are no longer in commando mode, I know it’s at least October, and to the OCD, October is officially when the Christmas season begins (perhaps OCD could also stand for Obsessive Crafting Disorder??)

Just in time for the Christm … err, I mean Sock Season, we have four beeeeeeautiful new colors in Stroll Hand Painted, our super-soft and washable sock yarn. I adore the handcrafted ambiance of this yarn!

Here are the lovely new shades:

The delicate and understated elegance of Herbal Wreath:

The eye-catching glamour of Hollywood:The perfectly-pastel palette of Sweetie:The refreshing forest stroll of Woodland:

Along with our new Stroll Tonal colors, I helped create these new colors for Stroll Hand Paint, mocking up the colorways in my design program before sending them off to our manufacturer. One of the great things about working as a graphic designer in a digital world is that my work is easily fixed and updated with a just few magical clicks of the mouse. The heart-breaking ‘oh-crap-we-just-printed-two-thousand-copies-with-the-wrong-date” moments that must be the bane of print & product designers rarely occur in my world.

The permanence of tangible products such as yarn is therefore a little terrifying to me, but also incredibly rewarding. If you mess up, there’s no going back. However, there is something supremely satisfying about holding something you helped create in your hands. A thing you can touch, not just click, refresh or download. As I’m sure you’ll agree with me, this is significant part of the joy of crafting.

Speaking of the joy of crafting, have you started your holiday projects yet? What’s on your to-make list (besides socks, of course)?

The post Another Treat for Your Feet appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

One of the things I love about our new pattern collection, Northwoods (and there are so many things), is how sophisticated and polished all the project are, while still being down-to-earth. They’re all just so wearable, you know? And the cable stitches add a lot of interest without being overwhelming to knit. Today, I’m highlighting a couple of my favorite patterns from the collection, with some exclusive images from the photo shoot that I couldn’t fit into the book.

When I saw the samples, I was so immediately smitten with the delicate cables of the Snowy Thicket Mittens, knit in heavenly soft Andean Treasure, that I cast on for them right away. This is my first time using Andean Treasure, in the new light gray Finnley colorway, and oh. my. goodness. It is SO soft and silky that now I want to use it in EVERYTHING. Sweaters, scarves, hats, tea cozies, you name it.  I just finished one mitten and am fighting second mitten syndrome as hard as I can so I can power through and wear these as soon as it gets cold!

With its big collar and all-over lattice of cables, the Freeport Cardigan is just so casually elegant. I think it’d be a perfect sweater for looking good at the brunch scene, while remaining cozy and comfy with minimal effort. The choice of Wool of the Andes Tweed really accentuates the rustic-ness of the cables.

I adore a big, snuggly cowl that keeps my neck and chin warm while looking fabulous, and the Gaufrer Cowl, our cover project, completely delivers on all fronts. The elaborate cable pattern is so old-worldly and chic and Swish Worsted has such a wonderfully smooth, fleecy feel to it. AND it’s reversible, so you’d never have care if the right side is showing or not.

There are other amazing projects in this collection, like a men’s cabled zip-neck sweater (!) that will make any guy look like a rugged outdoors enthusiast, a gorgeous pair of zig-zag mittens, a cute cabled hat, a sweet snowflake pullover, and an adorable scarf with pom-poms (you know how much I love pom-poms!) Check out the printed book here and the e-book here (and of course we have each one available individually). Happy knitting!

The post Northwoods Pattern Collection appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

It’s here! It’s here!!

As you may have noticed – our annual cyber week sale has started and this year, it’s better than ever! In addition to the 800+ yarns and colors that are on sale, we also have a selection of special limited-edition yarns including the return of a few old favorites.

And as for exploring the BIG SALE – I’ve compiled a handy guide to navigating all of the stellar deals with my top 10 must-have yarns!

1. Diadem Fingering in Azurite $6.80 (regularly priced at $16.99 – save 60%!)

Not only is this yarn ahhhh-mazing, Azurite is a dreamy color that reminds me of the stormy pacific ocean waters.

2. Hawthorne in Concordia $5.50 (regularly priced at $10.99 – save 50%!)

I’m a sucker for bright and unexpected colors when it comes to socks – and this colorway in Hawthorne is no exception.

3. Lindy Chain in Sagebrush $2.25 (regularly priced at $4.49 – save 50%!)

I’m a planner and that extends to my crafting tactics as well! Sagebrush in Lindy Chain is the ultimate yarn and color for that perfect top just in time for when summer arrives.

4. Chroma Worsted in Groovy $5.00 (regularly priced at $9.99 – save 50%!)

Seriously, everyone needs a rainbow accessory to chase away those winter blues.

5. Capra DK in Admiral $4.00 (regularly priced at $7.99 – save 50%!)

Super-soft and undeniably luxurious, this navy hue is sure to be a classic.

6. City Tweed HW in Snowshoe $5.00 (regularly priced at $9.99 – save 50%!)

Another classic tweedy hue that is not to be missed, this creamy shade will make scrumptious accessories and cozy sweaters.

7. Biggo in Haze Heather $4.25 (regularly priced at $8.49 – save 50%!)

The holiday gifting season is just around the corner, and nothing beats a soft & squishy bulky yarn for those last minute projects!

8. Swish Worsted in Green Tea Heather $2.35 (regularly priced at $4.69 – save 50%!)

Lately, I’ve found myself knitting lots of baby items – and Swish is always on the top of my list for soft and washable projects.

9. Palette in Tidepool Heather $1.75 (regularly priced at $3.49 – save 50%!)

Balls of palette are simply irresistible to have in one’s stash and are infinitely useful for everything from hats to toys.

10. Wool of the Andes Worsted in Shire Heather $1.35 (regularly priced at $2.69 – save 50%!)

Another staple in any fiber fanatic’s yarn stash and this lush shade of green is ideal for mens and womens projects!

To discover your very own top 10 list, you can shop the big sale here:

THE BIG SALE

PS – Select Knit Picks merchandise is 15% off, find it here!

The post The Big Sale has arrived! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Say “hello” to the lovely new Felici Fingering colors! There are four brand new colors (Sorbet, Rustic Cabin, Mountain Stream + Blackberry Jam) and two old favorites (Time Traveler + Rainbow) in limited quantities so once they’re gone, they’re gone.

I’m so thrilled with how the Rustic Cabin colorway turned out in particular. I think they’d make a snazzy pair of men’s socks with some bright color pops between the more subdued brown and red sections. Are you going to snap up a ball or two during our sale? I’m planning a pair of Frankenfingers gloves from Elizabeth Green Musselman’s pattern in Rainbow once my holiday gift knitting is officially done.

Aren’t those stripes great!? I can imagine how great a long pair of mitts in any of the colorways would look!

The post Felici is BACK! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Here at Knit Picks, our love for yarn is followed closely by our love for color. So it is with much delight that we announce that our beloved 100% wool Palette is now available in 8 glorious tonals! The tones of each color dance gently from dark to medium to light, creating a stunning, yet subtle effect.

I’m absolutely in love with the hot pink Hibiscus, and think it would make a gloriously  sassy pair of socks. On the other end of the spectrum, the soothing neutral tones of Gull would make for a lovely sweater. Mix and match the new shades, or pair with our current Palette for supporting neutrals and a full complement of heathers.

These lovelies are limited edition, so grab them before they flit away!

The post New Yarn: Waves of glorious color with Palette Tonal! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Way back, before I started working at Knit Picks, I fell in love with a yarn called Main Line – a worsted weight cotton/wool blend yarn.  Unfortunately, it was discontinued awhile ago, but we’ve brought it back in sweet cheery colors, just in time for our Big Sale!

I am personally a big fan of cotton/wool blend yarns – I live where the weather is pretty mild 80% of the year, so this blend is perfect for my knitwear.  The cotton feels great against my skin, while the wool gives it just a bit of warmth during the chilly spring or fall days.   It’s also easier for me to work with than 100% cotton – the wool adds a little more give so my hands aren’t so achy when knitting with it for long periods of time.

I placed a sweater quantity order this week for the color Sagebrush (love that color!) for a springtime cardigan for myself!

It’s also turned into my go to yarn for winter running accessories too. I love to run outside, but when it does get chilly here, I need something to wear on my head that won’t overheat me, but will keep my poor ears from falling off from the cold.  Since it is mainly cotton, I would certainly recommend knitting or crocheting at a tighter than usual gauge to minimize any stretching.

But don’t wait too long to order this lovely & versatile yarn, this is a special reserve yarn line, back for only a limited time!

Check out all the colors here:

Main Line

The post The return of Main Line appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I love Stroll Brights. I think in the last office meeting here at Knit Picks I might have been referred to as “Our Lady of Stroll Brights”. I’ll take it! Now that my favorite yarn is back for as long as it lasts (and I know that won’t be long), I thought I might do a round-up of some great projects done in Stroll Brights. Perhaps you’ll find some neon inspiration, too.

I made my toddler a Stroll Brights hat in one day. I started it in the morning and by the end of her nap, my daughter Penny had a new hat that thrilled her (see above).The pattern is great, and though Penny has always had a pretty large head, I did make it a bit smaller than the smallest size (details can be found on my Ravelry page). I used Pucker and Pickle Juice for the scallops, with Stroll in Ash for the base. I added a pompom too, made from the green Clover pompom maker and all three colors combined. Unfortunately, the hat has been lost in what I call The Great Daycare Ether. I’m casting on for another one, soon. This time she wants purple, so I’ll be using Vibrant Violet, maybe with Razzleberry or Sour Apple scallops! With such amazing colors, I really can’t go wrong.

Stacey made some pretty amazing cowls with Stroll Brights + Big Cozy. Quick to knit and oh so warm, why not pick up a couple skeins of yarn and treat yourself to this knit, made with her free pattern. You won’t be able to take off your cowl this winter, I promise!

Remember Hannah’s Color Affection Shawl? So pretty, and such an amazing color pop, especially for those who live in neutrals.  The pattern gives you the chance to play with Stroll Brights and other colors, but why not combine a couple neons for a serious color shake-up!

Speaking of combining Stroll Brights , when this yarn came out I just grabbed a skein of each color and started playing. What resulted was this neon toddler vest using every color (plus black, of course). I’ve made a lot of baby colorwork vests before, so I just cast on a number of stitches I felt comfortable with for my daughter Penny’s size, and charted my own colorwork patterns as I went. It took me about six months and by the time I was done, Penny was almost too big for the vest. Nevermind! I have a baby daughter, too. In about six more months, I think Lulu will wear it well. Life is about second chances, right?

Of course, I have further plans for my future with Stroll Brights. I’m working on a blanket, and I’d love try a garment for myself. I’m stocking up on colors now that it’s back in stock for a short time. I just can’t get enough. I think it’s funny that for a sock yarn, no one in the office has yet to make Stroll Bright socks! Does neon inspire you? What are your favorite neon projects? “Our Lady of Stroll Brights” would certainly love to see :).

The post Leave No Stroll Bright Behind appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

The weather has definitely taken a SHARP turn towards dark and windy winter this past week and I’ve pulled out all of my favorite worsted weight short sleeve sweaters as armor during my mad dashes from house to car. I love the medium weight fabric of worsted wool but I hate smothering in all of those cozy layers whenever I duck into a steamy coffee house so I usually opt for short sleeves in my heavier sweaters. So practical and so much faster to knit! My newest sweater is a shortened version of  Clare Lee’s free Brick sweater sweater from Ravelry in  Wool of the Andes Tweed Down Heather. This pattern is a great basic sweater shape with raglan sleeves that’s easy to customize with little duplicate stitch motifs and changing the length of the sleeves and body to suit your mood (and the weather).

Down Heather is one of my favorite grey and I realized that it was the perfect shade to represent Portland’s cloudy skies which also meant that it needed a little rain cloud duplicate stitched on at the end to top it off!

I fiddled around with different cloud shapes with my handy knitter’s graph paper but just couldn’t get the right shape. Eventually I turned to Ravelry for some ideas and found the perfect Cloud motif on Tricksy Knitter’s site and happily duplicate stitched it on after I was finished.

I can’t wait for the rains to clear and the next clear, crisp, golden morning so that I can walk through the neighborhood in this sweater. Eventually it will disappear as another layer under my heavy winter jacket as I bumble around the neighborhood, but there will be those brief (glorious!) moments when it shines on it’s own around the house or in those cozy tea houses I like to visit.

The post The Perfect Layering Sweater appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Welcome to the beginning of our monthly yarn sale! Each month, we will be featuring a different yarn line at a delightful discount – and for the entire month of March, you save 20% off all Wool of the Andes Superwash yarns. And yep, that includes every single color in both the worsted and bulky weights plus the Wool of the Andes Superwash Bare yarns!

This washable woolly wonder is one of our favorite go-to yarns for everything from sweaters to accessories and even home decor projects like large, cozy blankets. Need some project inspiration? We’ve got plenty of ideas to share with you!

Wool of the Andes Superwash - Worsted Weight Patterns

Evergreen Cap

This classic cabled hat takes just two balls of Wool of the Andes Superwash in worsted weight – perfect for staying warm during these last few chilly weeks of winter.

Driver’s Mitts

These fingerless mitts are just the thing when you want a pint-sized project for instant gratification – ideal for a weekend project!

Ethos Vest

Looking to dig into a larger project? This longer tunic-length vest is simple and classic, a perfect winter basic to take you from the colder months through spring.

Efflorescence Throw.

Superwash wools are ideal for home decor projects like blankets, throws and afghans. Easy to care for and easy to love, this pattern uses an array of Wool of the Andes Superwash worsted colors for a modern ombre twist.

Wool of the Andes Superwash – Bulky Weight Patterns

Diamond Cowl

This design packs a lot of punch with just one single skein of Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky! Knit one for yourself, and one for your BFF.

Crossroads Cowl

Another brilliant one-skein wonder, this cowl has texture and cables to keep your knitting interesting – a project that is sure to fly off your needles in no time at all.

Ayri Tunic

If you’re looking for a chunkier project that falls outside of the accessories category, this simple raglan sweater is a classic and features colorwork on the sleeves and neckline to create small pops of color.

Now that you’ve got plenty of pattern inspiration, be sure to hop over to our monthly yarn sale to save 20% on all Wool of the Andes Superwash!

You can find the sale here:

The Monthly Yarn Sale

The post The Monthly Yarn Sale: March appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

WARNING! It’s the last day to save 15% sitewide* – so now is your chance to treat yourself to some new Hawthorne and Swish Brights, or maybe you’ve had your eye on adding to your craft room with a new swift and ball winder!

To get in on the 15% sitewide sale, simply use the code SAVE15 the promotion code box on the cart page when you are checking out. It’s that easy!

You also have one last chance to double your savings – our Sock Yarn Sale** is coming to an end tonight as well!

Did you get a chance to replenish your yarn stash and treat yourself with these two amazing sales? What were some of your favorite finds?

*Normal shipping charges apply. Purchase required; does not apply to downloadable merchandise, gift cards, back orders or past purchases. Limit one promo code per customer. Must be logged into free Knit Picks account for promo to be valid. Cannot be combined with other promo codes or offers. Promo code expires after 03/25/15.

**Limited to stock on hand, while supplies last. Includes select yarn lines and colors only. Ends 03/25/15.

The post Ending Soon: two sales too good to miss! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

Oh, Preciosa! I have not seen my coworkers squeal in such unison as they did when this yarn arrived in the office. Its single ply softness makes it an absolute JOY to craft with, and its gorgeous colors make your imagination (as well as your project queue) go wild. The greatest thing that happened when our staff grabbed some skeins: they cast on for such a diverse range of projects. From sweaters to stuffed animals, check out what we made!

To our collective delight, Alison is on a sea creature knitting bender. Isn’t this octopus truly amazing? She said what interested her about the pattern was his eyelids. His eyelids! When she saw knitted eyelids, she knew she had to make it. Don’t you love when a detail like this just takes hold? Alison knitted it using 3 skeins of Gladiola and 2 skeins of Goldfish, all held double throughout.

She also completed this adorable turtle/tortoise from this pattern (Ravelry link) with 1 full skein of Preciosa in Bonsai, half a skein of Tadpole, and a teeny amount of Sasquatch. With yarn color ways like these, who wouldn’t want to craft some fun creatures? I am in love with his granny square shell!

Stacey loves to try a new yarn by making hat. This lovely design, made with about half a skein of Preciosa in Canary, really looks stunning on Jenny, don’t you think?

Hannah cast on for a gorgeous sweater (Ravelry link) in Preciosa. She toiled over whether to use a bright color, but knew she’d wear a garment made in colorway Panther a lot more. I love how the slight variation in the color looks in the rows of reverse stockinette stitch. So lovely!

Alison made her son a cute funnel neck sweater (Ravelry link) in the colorway Maritime. With just two skeins, he has a great pullover, as soft and comfy as a blanket!

Alison also used Preciosa in Maritime for her squid. She held this color double, paired it with the colorway Captain (also held double) and followed this pattern (Ravelry link) to make a hilarious stuffed friend perfect as a teatime companion.

Look at the scale of this guy! Wouldn’t you like to walk down the street holding his hand? Heads would surely turn!

Soft and warm, light and bright, Preciosa is a yarn that you’ll love to knit or crochet with, and that will have you casting on again and again and again.  Use it for blankets, sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, or that stuffed animal you’ve been meaning to make for some time! After all, who wouldn’t want to swim in a sea of Preciosa?

The post Preciosa Staff Projects: From Sweaters to Sea Creatures! appeared first on KnitPicks Staff Knitting Blog.

I can say with all honesty that Preciosa is a huge staff favorite – when we received our early office shipment, the squeals of delight were deafening as we pulled bag after bag out of the box, each skein getting more and more love.  While the bright candy colored tonal colors were the first thing that we crushed on, the soft cushy yarn itself was what made us fall head over heels in love. We describe Preciosa as a luxurious single-ply Merino yarn – but what does that mean for you when deciding on the perfect project for this yarn?

A quick overview of single-ply yarns first.  In addition to weight, color and fiber content, one of the main defining characteristics of a yarn is its ply. This simply refers to the number of single strands that are twisted together to form one heavier strand of yarn – for instance, if you’ve ever untwisted a stand of yarn like Wool of the Andes, you’ll see 4 separate strands twisted together. However, it is not always necessary to combine multiple singles together. Yarns such as Preciosa and Chroma are one single strand of yarn, hence the term single-ply.  Without the intertwining twists of additional strands that can change the look and feel of a fiber, single-ply yarns stay true to the nature of the fiber content. However, it is this quality that gives single-ply yarns their lush feel, which can also work against your project if you’re not careful.

Since a single-ply yarn is essentially one stand of yarn, it can sometimes tend to be weaker than other yarns that are plied together. This is due to the low amount of twist that is required for a single-ply yarn to hold its fibers together, which also accounts for the fact that single-ply yarns tend to pill more (but remember, this is the same quality that makes it so lovely and soft). One quick solution to this quandary is to simply work the yarn up at a slightly tighter gauge.

As you work up a test swatch, use the recommended needle in addition to one or two smaller needle sizes. This way you can compare how the fabric works up when using the recommended size as well as a range of smaller needles to produce a tighter gauge. You will want to find a balance where the fabric feels firmer than with the recommended needle but not as stiff. A slightly tighter gauge along with the help of a lint shaver or pill remover will help battle any pilling caused by the yarn.

So what projects work best with yarns like Preciosa? Scarves, cowls and hats are great since they tend to receive less abrasion, which means less pilling.  Sweaters and blankets are fantastic for wrapping yourself up in plushy softness, if you don’t mind removing the occasional pills that tend to pop up where the fabric will rub together (such as under the arms of sweaters or the most used parts of the blanket).

Given the nature of single-ply yarns, they work best when avoiding high-abrasion projects like socks, mittens, or gloves. The friction of normal wear and tear on these items is concentrated onto one single strand of fiber, causing it to weaken and grow thin. By adding a bit of a texture like ribbing and seed stitch, you will be able to add additional twists into your single-ply which will help to keep the fibers in place.  Crochet is also a great way to add a bit of twist to single-ply yarns to make a stronger fabric.

With this knowledge, you can go forth and create the most cheerful projects to welcome the spring! Try browsing through our patterns with our new filter to choose the perfect pattern for you – and see just why we love Preciosa so much.

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It’s spring, the weather is warming up and it’s time to put away those woolly sweaters and switch them out with some lighter weight garments! A question we often get at this time of the year is which of our cotton yarns work best for certain projects. I’ve put together some information and a list of what we recommend for some of our warm weather cotton and cotton-blend yarns.

First, a brief overview of cotton yarn. Cotton is strong, durable and machine-washable fiber. It’s a great choice to use for people with wool sensitivities and for vegans plus it’s wonderful for next to skin wear during warmer months. Cotton can be harder on the on the hands to work with for some people since it is an inelastic fiber; cotton blends tend to be easier to knit or crochet with. Because of the inelastic nature, it can be harder for cables or colorwork projects, however textured stitches will show up beautifully.

And now the yarns!

Yarn: Dishie
Weight: Worsted
Fiber content: 100% cotton
Details: Dishie is our classic, no nonsense cotton yarn. With a tight spin and high absorbency, it’s perfect for household and kids items that will be washed a lot as well as for reusable market bags. It can also be used for easy care garments and accessories, however it is a heavier, slightly rougher yarn – and a different yarn, like Comfy or Shine, may be a better choice for garments.
Recommended Projects: Dishcloths, towels, home decor, market bags, toys, bibs, children clothes.
Dishie Patterns

Yarn: Curio
Weight: Thread/Lace
Fiber Content: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Details: Curio is our crochet thread but it can also be used for knit projects as well. Mercerized cotton gives Curio its lustrous shine and strength, making it perfect for beautiful and elegant home decor. It’s also wonderful for wearable lace work accessories and garments, with its crisp stitch definition.
Recommended Projects: Doilies, coasters, table cloth, curtains, lace shawls, scarves, cowls, light garments.
Curio Patterns

Yarn: Comfy
Weight: Fingering, sport and worsted.
Fiber Content: 75% Pima Cotton, 25% Acrylic
Details: Pima cotton is extremely soft, durable and perfect for all sorts of next-to-skin projects. The small amount of acrylic in Comfy adds a bit of elasticity, which makes it easier to work with in both knitting and crochet. It’s perfect for kids items and warm weather wear since it is a breathable and easy care yarn. Comfy is also great for bath and spa items – anywhere you need a bit of softness.
Recommended Projects: Baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories, spa/wash cloths, home decor, blankets/afghans.
Comfy Fingering Patterns
Comfy Sport Patterns
Comfy Worsted Patterns

Yarn: Shine
Weight: Sport and worsted.
Fiber Content: 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal®.
Details: Modal® is a fine, smooth fiber made from beech trees. An Austrian company, Lenzing, creates Modal® by turning beech wood into pulp, extracting the fiber, and then reconstituting the fiber so that it can be spun into yarn. These fibers are extremely smooth and soft, and blending them with cotton helps the yarn to stay soft and vibrantly colored. Our Shine yarn is cool and drapey with bright cheerful colors and is perfect for next to skin wear for both children and adults.
Recommended Projects: Baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories, spa/wash cloths, home decor, blankets/afghans.
Shine Worsted Patterns
Shine Sport Patterns

Yarn: CotLin
Weight: DK.
Fiber Content: 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen
Details: Blending linen with cotton gives our CotLin yarn extra strength and softness, as well as giving a lightweight fabric. Each time your project is washed, it will only get softer, which makes it wonderful for kitchen and bath accessories as well as for garments for kids and adults.
Recommended Projects: Spa/wash cloths, hand towels, curtains, home decor, baby and children garments and accessories, toys, adult garments and accessories.
CotLin Patterns

Yarn: Lindy Chain
Weight: Fingering.
Fiber Content: 70% Linen, 30% Pima Cotton.
Details: The construction of a chain or chainette yarn makes it lightweight while giving your projects a wonderful sheen and crisp stitch definition. Lindy Chain is perfect for warm weather because of this reason and with the high linen content, the projects will be softer and drapier overtime. Hand washing is recommended for Lindy Chain projects, due to the delicate nature of the yarn.
Recommended Projects: lightweight scarves and light accessories, shawls, tanks, t-shirts, shrugs, sleeveless tops.
Lindy Chain patterns.

Hopefully this will help you when finding your perfect project this spring and summer! What is your favorite cotton yarn?

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