New Colors from Liberty Wool Print - But the Sale Ends Soon!

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell was cast in 1752, and its early years were rather droll as it was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens to public meetings.  Its most famous ringing came on July 8, 1776, when it was rung to announce the reading of the Declaration of Independence.  Since then it has become an iconic symbol of American Liberty.

So it seems appropriate to pay tribute to the Liberty Bell as we announce the new colors of Classic Elite's Liberty Wool Print.

Chintz

Liberty Wool Print is Classic Elite's soft, worsted weight machine washable 100% wool yarn.  Yup, that's right, I said machine washable wool.  It is a self striping yarn in a huge assortment of awesome colors, and Chintz and Verdant Violet are the two newest colors in a collection of about 40 different colors of Liberty Wool Print.  

The word Chintz originally referred to a woodblock printed fabric produced in India from 1600 to 1800 with flowers in bold colors on a light background.  The technique was difficult, and the fabric was expensive and rare.  By the 19th century Europeans were able to reproduce Chintz, the fabric became extremely popular and the word chintz was used to describe any item with a bright floral design on a light background.  Liberty Wool Print's new color Chintz is as bold and beautiful as an Indian flower, with green, blue, red and purple balanced with a bit of gray. 

Verdant Violet

Looking for something more subdued?  Verdant Violet is just as the name suggests: green and purple.  The colors mingle gently into a calming, leafy, outdoorsey blend.

So what should you knit with these two great new colors?  Classic Elite has designed two patterns with these two new colors in mind!  The Chintz Short-Row Wrap is a scalloped edge wrap with pretty yarn-overs.  The Instant-Gratification Cowl is knit with three strands of Liberty Wool Print on big needles for a quick knit that lets the colors take center stage.

(1) Chintz Wrap and (2) Instant Gratification Cowl

Bonus:  Buy any quantity of Chintz or Verdant Violet and you can choose one pattern for FREE!

Double Bonus:  ALL Liberty Wool Print - not just the two new colors, but ALL Liberty Wool Print - are on sale at 20% off.  But the sale ends on July 31st, so be sure to get your new yarn now!

Happy 4th of July, and Happy Knitting . . . . Amy

The Nicoletta Vest in Tempo Yarn - Plus a FREE Pattern!

The Nicoletta Vest

Want to knit a wide scarf in the summertime?  That's crazy!  But what if the scarf was actually the start of a sharp summer cotton vest?  Now that's cool! 

The Nicoletta Vest starts with a wide scarf, then stitches are picked up and knit down to create the back.  To add to the fun, the scarf and the back are knit in different colors.  The end result features a high-low hem, so the front is playful and flirtatious while the short back is a cool, breathable body.

The Nicoletta Vest is knit in Filatua di Crosa's Tempo, a cotton blend that combines a thick-thin yarn with a nubby tweed and multicolored print for a unique textured look with gradually shifting color.  We have Tempo in twelve different colors.  The Nicoletta Vest sample is knit with Mountain Meadow and Golden Sunrise, but the twelve slightly-rustic colors are all so interesting any two colors would look great together!

Tempo in Mountain Meadow

The Nicoletta Vest is part of the Filatura Di Crosa pattern booklet "Ciao Bella."  You can purchase the entire 22-page booklet or just the individual Nicoletta Vest pattern.  The pattern is sized Small (Medium, Large, XL, 2X, 3X), you will need 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4) balls of Tempo color A and 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 6) balls of Tempo color B.

Looking for a faster project with the same great Tempo yarn?  The Cap-Sleeve Cropped Cardigan in Tempo is a quick summer knit that looks super on the beach or stunning out on the town.  You will need 4-6 balls of Tempo to complete the Cap-Sleeve Cropped Cardigan (X-Small - 4 balls; Small-Medium - 5 balls; Large-2X - 6 balls).  The sample is knit in the summery orange, red and black Northern Lights. 

Cap-Sleeve Cropped Cardi in Northern Lights

Bonus:  The Cap-Sleeve Cropped Cardigan pattern is FREE when you purchase any quantity of Tempo yarn!  

Summer is a great time for breezy, cotton summer sweaters and vests - and you can't go wrong with either the Nicoletta Vest or the FREE Cap-Sleeve Cropped Cardigan patterns!

Happy Knitting . . . . Amy

Join the July KAL! And Save 20% on the Simplicity Yarn!

Start off your Fourth of July with a Bang!  A knitting bang, of course!  Summer is a great time for a small project - the kind that can easily be stashed in your purse or beach bag, and isn't hot on your lap while you're working.  I'm thinking . . .  a hat!

Great minds think alike because Michelle Hunter has invited us to knit a hat along with her during the July KAL (Knit-A-Long).  

So what will the hat look like?  We don't know!  That's the fun part of a "mystery" knit-a-long.  We know that it's a two-color hat that is an adaption of one of Michelle's most popular patterns.  She is teasing us by letting us know that it is "brimming" with new techniques.  A brimmed hat, perhaps?  Hmmm.  

So who will you knit the hat for?  Yourself?  A friend?  A child?  A new baby?  It doesn't matter, because the KAL pattern is sized for baby, child and adult - so you can knit it with anyone in mind!

Simplicity in Bubble Gum (#21)

Never done a KAL?  It's easy ... Michelle will reveal the pattern on her website in four segments, every Thursday in July starting on July 3rd.  How much does it cost?  Nothing!  You don't have to register or pay any fee to participate. You may even win some cool prizes from Skacel.  Have a question?  No problem, Michelle posts photos and online video instructions, plus you can post questions on Michelle's KAL site or in her Ravelry group. Questions are typically answered daily.  It's like having a knitting tutor right by your side!

What do you need?  We've got that covered.  You'll need Simplicity yarn by HiKoo, a washable, light weight wool blend available in over 50 colors.  So which colors to choose?  Now that's the hard part!  Michelle suggests two colors with a nice contrast.  How about your favorite team colors?  (Sean's favorite colors are Forestry Green #50 and Honeycomb Yellow #5 for Green Bay ... just kidding, he's a big Chicago fan).  Or knit the Baby size in Blooming Rose Pink #22 and Bluebell Blue #24.  Or Really Red #47 and Forestry Green #50 for a Christmas surprise.  

Simplicity in Chocolate Milk (#20)

You'll need one skein of Simplicity in each color for the Baby size, and two skeins of the main color and one skein of the contrasting color for the Child or Adult size.

Bonus:  Right now all Simplicity yarn is on sale at 20% off!

You'll also need three sets of needles: US#4 (3.5 mm) straights or circulars and US#8 (5mm) 16" circulars for the pattern, plus US#8 (5mm) double points or 32" circulars (for the Magic Loop method) for the top of the hat.  The gauge with the US#4 needles is approximately 10 stitches per inch (40 sts/4”) in k1, p1 rib, unstretched. As always, adjust the needle size you need to achieve gauge ... remember to block your gauge swatch before measuring!

You'll also need a cable needle and a 3/4" button. 

Don't hesitate to call us if we can help with your yarn, needles or notion selections!

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's new hats!  Send me pictures or post them in our Ravelry group!

Happy Knitting . . . .  Amy

Berroco Yarn Sale and History Lesson

Photo from the Berroco Archives, 1950s

Textile production was the dominant industry of the Industrial Revolution - and Berroco was right there at the start!  In 1810 Jerry Wheelock, the great-great-great-grandfather of the current Berroco president, Warren Wheelock, joined one of the first mills in the U.S. to produce woolen cloth.  In 1905 Stanley Wheelock established his own mill, the Stanley Woolen Mills, in Massachusetts.  The family continued to produce exceptional wool cloth through two world wars, depressions and recessions (but so far, no yarn yet!).

Abode in Flagstone

My favorite part of the family history is 1968 - when the Wheelock family formed a new handknitting subsidiary called Stanley Berroco.  There was never anyone named Stanley Berroco, so why the funny name?  "Stanley," of course, was from the parent company name "Stanley Woolen Mills."  "Berroco" combined the first syllables from the last names of two sales agents, Mr. BERglass and Mr. ROsenberg.  Add a "CO" for company, and you have "BER-RO-CO."  Later Stanley Berroco was reestablished as Berroco, Inc., and it has become one of the largest importers and wholesalers of handknitting yarns, patterns and supplies in the United States and Canada.

That's a long time to have been appreciating good yarn!  At FiberWild! we've got over 30 brands of Berroco yarn - and for the month of June all of our Berroco yarns are on sale at 20% to 25% off! 

The Berroco yarns come in a wide variety of fibers and weights - it's hard to pick a favorite!  Some of the yarns I've really enjoyed knitting with recently are: 

•  Abode is a single ply medium weight 100% merino wool yarn with a unique thick and thin homespun texture in earthy colors.  Let the fun texture give your project character!  Great for interesting hats and cozy sweaters!
• Lago

  

  A Marmot - So Cute!

  screams summer!  Lago is a chain construction thick and thin machine washable yarn in bold, tropical colors.  The yarn is a blend of viscose and linen to give it the look of linen with the drape and sheen of viscose.  Bare your shoulders with a fun tank top or an airy scarf!
• Marmot is made from marmot fur.  Just kidding!  But Marmot is just as snuggley-wuggley as the cute little squirrels!  Use the soft, fur-like Marmot for a cuddley stuffed animal or for fur-like edging on a sweater or mittens!
• Modern Cotton is old-fashioned cotton, but with a new sophistication!  This machine washable cotton has a bit of rayon to add sheen.  It is as soft as your favorite tee shirt - but a lot classier!  Modern Cotton's bold jewel colors are perfect for summer accessories, and the pastel Spinnaker (Pink) and Warbler (blue) colors are great for washable baby clothes. 
• Ultra Alpaca Chunky is just like the popular Ultra Alpaca yarn, except (duh!) - it's chunky!  This alpaca and wool blend is incredibly soft, and because it's chunky it knits up quickly!  Knit a speedy Ultra Alpaca Chunky hat or scarf in outdoorsey garden colors. 

Modern Cotton in Gooseberry

Enjoy some new yarns from an old company!  And remember that all of our Berroco yarns - new and old - are 20% to 25% off during June.

Happy Knitting . . . . Amy