New Books and a New Look From Classic Elite

We received our new Classic Elite shipment, and while Kate is working on photographing all the yarns and colors for our website I thought I would give you a preview of what Pam Allen and her design team had been up to!

Each book had lots of patterns for all of their great yarns. The yarns we just got are the brand new Silky Alpaca Lace (which we do have online here); Fresco, which is a wool, baby alpaca and ANGORA blend at 6.5 sts per inch, perfect for all your Bohus knitting needs and just an all around great and innovative blend. Good job guys!

Also, we have new colors of last years favorites: Aspen, the super bulky single ply alpaca blend; Wool Bam Boo, which many people used for the Yoke Cardigan (ravel it!) from last year's pattern book.

I can't get enough of Alpaca Stories, above. This book is phenomenal. When I started knitting seriously in the 90's Classic Elite patterns were definitely a "go-to" for anything sweater related. Then, I don't know...other pattern companies grew, knitting on the internet became a thing...I just stopped going straight to the Classic Elite binders. Now, wow. They have been working out their new vision since Pam Allen took over as creative director and this is the book, in my humble opinion, that really proved it to me. Great style, great design, great layout, great photography, all of it.

And thank you Classic Elite for Curvy Knits! This is a compilation of the best of this year's designs sized with our curves in mind. I am so happy that a yarn company has realized that you can't just keep making the proportions bigger and bigger and say that you do "plus sizes." It just doesn't work that way. Jillian Moreno has used same principles she used in Big Girl Knits to make sweaters to fit any shape. Way to go!

Stop in and check out the great patterns inside and see (and feel!) all the new yarns from our old friends, Classic Elite.

New Manos Colors

The new colors of Manos Silk Blend and Clasica Multi's arrived this morning. I think that the Silk Blend colors are a nice balance for the cheery brights of last season, and it makes a wonderful cohesive palette. There are some good neutrals like Natural, Black, Coffee and Briar (a darker version of the wildly popular color Dove), perfect for blending with the brights like Henna, Citric and Topaz from last season. Think Fair Isle mittens or sweaters for this winter!

Natural

Briar

Coffee

Rust

Bing Cherry

Midnight

Black

Olivewood

Lava

Mermaid is a beautiful new wool multi that would look great as My So-Called Scarf. The colors are cool, but reminiscent of our favorite, Wildflowers. The colors are cool, shimmery and woodsy.

122 Mermaid

And Cornucopia is a great fall color! I have heard that someone actually sent a shipment of fall squashes from New England to Uruguay last year to get the colors to reflect our beautiful autumnal tones.

121 Cornucopia

These colors are now available in the shop and online. The new books are coming soon...
We'll keep you posted!

New Vogue Knitting Has Arrived!

I stopped in to the shop today to drop off all the new Manos colors (more on that tomorrow!) and the new issue of Vogue was waiting for me.

And this is a truly great issue. Trisha Malcolm has really got a bead on what is going on in the knitting world, and it shows. The cover mittens are knit with Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift, one of my all time favorite yarns, in a complex cable pattern. No dumbing down here!
Then these Manos Mittens, in a cheery color perfect for the winter blahs:

These are knit in a lattice cable and bobble pattern using two skeins of Wool Clasica in the color Straw (Z). In addition to these two pairs of mittens, there's a whole mitten spread! There are some cute ones done in Louet Gems fingering, which we have here at the shop, in a fair isle pattern with little birds, really adorable. There's also an article celebrating 50 years of Schoolhouse Press and a great article about Ravelry.com and one all about our northern knitting neighbors, those fabulous Canadians! I know what my bedtime reading is going to be!

Rosie's Featured Yarn of The Week!

As we sit down to discuss what yarn we want to feature in the upcoming Yarn of The Week, inevitably we bring up one of the many gorgeous and varied yarns we carry that embody "green" characteristics. As a result, an earth friendly theme has permeated our choices for this summer's featured yarns. This week is no exception!

This week we are proud to feature Lorna's Laces Green Line DK. Green Line DK is a 100% certifiably grown and spun merino that is happy anywhere between 5-6 sts/inch. Hand-dyed in soft deep subtly shaded solids, it would make a beautiful garment for babies or adults. The minute we got the Knit.1 Summer 2008 Green Issue a few months back, everyone in the shop wanted to knit the featured cardigan on the cover, designed by Nicky Epstein:

As "green" ideals have permeated our daily life, the misconception that organic and earth friendly products and styles are "hippie dippie" or lack bright colors and soft fabrics has (slowly but surely) gone by the wayside. Green Line DK is no exception to this -- check out the mix of earth tones and brights featured in the incredibly soft line:

Surprise surprise -- my favorite is definitely Mirth! I could see it working beautifully in a striped cardi paired with Echo and some large vintage buttons.

The specs:


Browse online or come on in to the (air conditioned!) shop and check it out!

Coming up for Air

There is always something exciting about late July-Early August at a yarn store: while many are trying to keep cool -- especially during this heat wave we have been experiencing in Philly -- we have been receiving packages filled with yarns for the chilly fall and winter months. Most of what we unpacked was all the more exciting as they were yarns new to the store -- either brand new for Fall 08, or gems we once overlooked but now will happily make rooms for on the shelves.

We received new colors of Kureyon Sock to go along with our already popular collection (highly recommended for shawls!)


And 5 colors of the irresistible Silk Garden Sock (and are highly anticipating more to come soon!) -- I immediately cast on for a Fair Isle beret but could also see it work really well in a lace shawl asking for a lot of drape. What about a subtly striped version of the Vladivostock Stole designed by Courtney?


A new beauty from Classic Elite is Silky Alpaca Lace, 70% alpaca 30% silk (!) a gorgeous laceweight yarn that comes in a 50g/460 yard ball. We were lucky to receive 6 colors this week, and anticipate more asap.


A yarn we are particularly excited about is Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk Aran. We have been trying to come up with a better blend than 75% extra fine merino, 20% silk and 5% cashmere, but just can't think of anything. Knit yourself a sweater, a cute striped pullover for your niece or nephew, or a set of accessories for your best friend. Here is a smattering of the almost 20 colors we received:


Another yarn we just had to get was Ella Rae Bamboo Silk. A luxurious blend of 70% bamboo, 30% silk, rich jeweltones and a classic worsted weight, we couldn't find a reason to say no! It is hard to describe the drape and sheen of this yarn, so come on in and check it out for yourself.


With Rowan, Artyarns, Koigu, Berroco, The Fibre Company and more on the way, we're starting to place bets on what goodies will arrive next week!

Rosie's Featured Yarn of The Week!

Continuing with our Earth friendly theme, we are proud to feature Vermont Organic Fiber Company's O-Wool Balance for our yarn of the week this week. (Hey, Yarn of the Week needed a 4th of July vacation, too! We hope you enjoyed the extra days with Pure Life Cotton).


Vermont Organic Fiber Company, established in 2000, has quickly become a world leader in creating beautiful and high quality organic yarns and products. (Check out their website for more info about the other products they offer!)

Balance is a 50/50 blend of certifiably organic merino and cotton. It is dyed and spun to create a slight tweed like effect and has a soft, light hand and feel. We currently carry Balance in 10 summery colors:
A worsted weight yarn at perfect for a breezy cardigan, heirloom baby garment or other lighter weight project, Balance is an incredibly versatile yarn. Beautiful in a drapey lace stitch, as a modern Fair Isle garment or in cables, it is perfect for all your summer project knitting.

Yarn Specs:
50% Certified Organic Merino and 50% Certified Organic Cotton
19-21 sts = 4" on US size 5-7
130 yards per 50g ball
Yarn of the week price: $6.75/skein!

Come on in to Rosie's to check it out, or order online here.

It's Christmas in July!

Or Hanukah or Kwanza'a.

Make your December holidays less stressful and more about spending time with friends and family (oh, is that what they're supposed to be about?!) by making your gift list now. We all end up spending the last few moments before the family get together running around the mall like maniacs wondering if Aunt Jess would like Strawberry Punch Sparkle Body Lotion (my guess is she would not) or if Uncle George actually cares if he only gets a card this year. And for the chronic procrastinators among us--myself included--getting a head start is not a bad idea. My thinking is that even if I only get one of Max's mittens done by August they are at least 50% done when I lock myself in the bathroom trying to finish the other one at 6 am Christmas morning. 50% done is better than nothing at all.

Here's the scoop:

•We'll take 20% off any yarn you need for your winter gift projects.
So bring a list and be prepared to say, "These socks are for Uncle
Bob! This scarf will be for Mom! I'm felting a bag for my sister!"
It's that simple. (This works on the honor system – we may draw the
line at lists with "Every member of my family has requested Sea Silk tunics.")
Having trouble generating ideas while the temperature outside is 102º?
Don't worry, there will be plenty of staff suggestions to get you rolling. Remember, small gift projects are perfect take-alongs for
vacation knitting.

Sale Dates: Now until July 31st.