Sunday, March 25, 2007

Many New Items!!

Is it the end of March already??

We have many new items in the store this week and also lots and lots more that will be listed over the next weeks. Also watch for a special newsletter for our customers, but you must be on our mailing list to receive it. Sign up for the mailing list by registering on the site! We try hard to not send out too many emails and announcements.....

We have so many fun and new things in the shop. I wanted to just give a summary. First, we posted a new shipment of stitch markers and also gorgeous hand crafted beaded oriface hooks on the site. These were both created by Sereknity. I never used to use stitch markers until I tried a set of hers and I have to say I really love them!! Others I had tried in the past stuck on the needles or in the yarn and this never seems to happen with Sereknity's. Here is a photo of one that I just listed that is my favorite. She uses Swavorski crystals in every set and finds the greatest beads.

These oriface hooks are for spinners! If you have a spinning wheel, you know what these are for. You can tie one of these beautiful hooks right onto your wheel. This is a close up of one of my favorite spinning oriface hooks, also available in Sereknity's section at One Planet Yarn and Fiber.


Next, we have this incredibly gorgeous yarn that comes to us all the way from South Africa. Make sure to read about Alida and her company Rainbow handpainted and handspun on her web page at One Planet Yarn and Fiber. She hand dyes and spins all of this yarn herself. The fiber used is local South African merino sheep. The yarn is unbelievably squishy and soft and this is a single ply heavy DK weight yarn. This yarn would be gorgeous for many projects including scarves and shawls. We have met some fascinating and talented fiber people all over the world through One Planet and Alida is one of those people! Try a drop stitch scarf or shawl pattern to really show off this yarn! An example is the Ladder Scarf by Chris Bylsma in the pattern section of our web site. Or the Ladder Shawl if you want something bigger. These two patterns work great for yarns like this or any handspun. Alida's handspun is very consistent and can also be used when gauge is important.




















We have another new Indie company, Chewy Spaghetti from California. Make sure to also read about Khris of Chewy Spaghetti on her section of One Planet. She names her various lines of sock yarns after different types of pasta like vermacelli and bucatini! Too cute! The yarn is gorgeous. Her color choices are great! Here is a sampling but there are more colors and fibers in her web section.


So, we have many great new yarns and fibers. Why stick with the same old same old. Try something new and different! It makes knitting and crochet a lot more fun! Keep watching this blog as well as the "what's new" section on our site for more new yarns. In the next weeks we have Fleece Artist and Handmaiden yarns and kits (too yummy for words), Hipknits yarns and patterns from England, new exclusive patterns for Yarn Botanika yarns and Lanas Puras yarns, and a new shipment of Yarn Pirate yarns and hopefully Sunshine yarns as well.! We are also working on a few light weight yarns for spring and summer knitting but remember if you start a sweater now, it might not be done until the fall!

Have a good week and dont' forget to join our mailing list if you are not on it!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Yarn Botanika Radiance Lace Headband Pattern Designed by Gina House

We are excited to introduce another new exclusive knitting pattern! This pattern uses
Yarn Botanika Radiance yarn in the sport/dk weight, but the fingering weight Radiance can also be used as can another hand painted yarn. The pattern is absolutely gorgeous and is a really great accessory. The pattern is available in download form and includes two separate lace patterns. The Radiance Lace Headband pattern was designed by the very talented Gina House. Have you listened to Gina's podcast Sleepy Eyes Knitting yet? If not, there is a link on her blog, so be sure to listen!

Here are a few photos of the headband. "Treat your tresses to two beautiful, beaded headbands....try the "Jacqueline", a relaxed and flexible lace head wrap for shorter, unruly manes or knit the "Amanda", a style that has a bit more width and texture for longer, thicker hair. Both are perfect for bringing fresh air and femininity to the face and neck....make wonderful gifts, as well! "





We also have kits available for this pattern. The kit includes a "mini-skein" of yarn (approximately 200 yards) as well as a hard copy of the Radiance Lace Headband pattern. The kits are available in six different colors........

My creation
Watch this space for more exciting new products this week. Handcrafted stitch markers and orifice hooks (for spinners) by Sereknity, beautiful handpainted yarns from Alida in South Africa and from Chewy Spaghetti. And then, absolutely incredible yarns and knit kits from Fleece Artist and HandMaiden in Canada. You will flip when you see these lovely items. We also have several new patterns coming in the next few weeks...a beautiful crochet shrug in Black Pearl Yarns cashmere by Angela Best, and another incredible Yarn Botanika pattern by Gina House.

If you want to keep up the new products as they are listed on the site, just keep checking the What's New Page every so often.. All of the new products are placed there in the order they are listed.

Thank you for looking and please check out Gina House's Radiance Lace Headband Patterns and the kits. This pattern is so beautiful, make sure to look at the close up photos so you can see the lace stitch pattern and the beading on the ends.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Introducing the Starla Cardi


I am pleased to announce our newest pattern addition to the Lanas Puras line of yarns, the Starla Cardi designed by Melissa Wehrle.

This cute hooded cardi is knit up in Lanas Puras Melosa Worsted Weight and is sure to be a hit with the younger set. Details include a ribbed side panel on each side seam, grosgrain ribbon placket and cute buttons. Mix and match the yarn color, ribbon and button combinations to create her own unique sweater.

We are also offering a special promotion with the purchase of both the yarn and the pattern together. Just enter the discount code STARLA at check out to enjoy 10% off your yarn purchase!

A few more details:

DIFFICULTY
Beginner

SIZE
2/4 (6/8, 10/12, 14/16)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Chest at Underarm: 21 (24.5, 28, 31)"/53 (62, 71, 79)cm
Finished Length: 17.5 (18, 18.5, 19)"/44 (46, 47, 48)cm

MATERIALS
- Lanas Puras Melosa - Worsted Weight (100% Merino Wool, 3 oz, 215 yds), 3 (3, 4, 4) skeins Margarita
- One 24" (61 cm) or longer US size 8 (5 mm) circular needle or size to obtain correct gauge.
- Four stitch markers
- Three stitch holders
- Tapestry needle
- ½ yd 7/8" wide ribbon
- Six ¾" diameter buttons

GAUGE
18 sts and 25 rows = 4"/10 cm in Reverse St st with US size 8 (5 mm) needles or size to obtain gauge

Thursday, March 01, 2007

February Prize Releases and Some Other Info

Happy March!!

Before we show some great photos and announce the February prize winners, we just have an announcement about the month of March. From about March 5th through maybe the end of the month we will be a little bit slower at fulfilling orders and /or answering emails. We are going to be a bit short staffed so we just wanted to let everyone know this! So please know that all orders will go out, but it will take a few says longer than usual and all emails will be answered but the response time will be just a bit slower. Thanks for your patience during this period.

The good news is lots of great things will be added into the store after this period including yet another gorgeous new line of Yarn Botanika yarn from Europe. The Fleece Artist and Handmaiden Yarns, kits and patterns should be arriving! We also will be adding Hipknits luxury Yarns and patterns from England, and Chewy Spaghetti yarns from California. Fun! We have an incredibly gorgeous new DK weight yarn from a fiber artist in South Africa named Valida, and also a lovely DK merino and silk from Sheep Shop Yarn Co, their new Sheep Shop THREE yarn. New yarn shipments will be arriving from Yarn Pirate and Sunshine Yarns and gorgeous spinning orifice hooks and stitch markers from Sereknity. Also planned are some great new patterns both exclusive patterns, some neat felting kits, and some wonderful indie designer patterns..... We are also looking at some really fabulous spring/summer yarns and patterns and we hope to tell you about those soon!

On to the fun stuff. Thanks for participating and we got some fantastic photos sent in of finished objects and quite a few product reviews written (maybe 3o plus or so!). Here are some of the great photo entries.....

Anita sent in this adorable photo of her daughter wearing the Cabo Hoodie. She modified it slightly and took off the front pocket. Notice the fab matching socks!! It is knit in Lanas Puras Melosa Margarita.! Isn't she cute! And what a great model too!
Jennifer sent in this really great scarf she knit in Sheep Shop Two yarns. I love how this turned out Jennifer, thanks so much for sending this in!!

Cindy sent in this adorable photo of her socks knit up with Yarn Botanika Juicy Watermelon sock yarn. She had a lot of fun knitting these and she also wrote a great product review. These look like fun summer socks Cindy.....Hope you got your new package!



And Karen sent in this great photo of her India Socks also made with Yarn Botanika sock yarn. I love these, thanks Karen and also thx for the product review!



Thanks so much for sending these in and if your photo did not get entered!

Now the prize winners!! Yippee!!!!


1. First Prize - a coupon for 40% off any ONE product.
WINNER- Anita S, Royersford , PA !!!!! Anita is the great knitter and mom of the Cabo Hoodie pattern up above! Congrats Anita. We'll send you an email soon on how to claim your prize!!

2. Second Prize - coupon for 20% of your entire order.
WINNER- Helene G, New York, NY! Congrats Helene. Helene is a fairly new knitter and has knit some of the knit kits through our site!

3. Third Prize - a coupon for 15% off your order
WINNER-Marianne M from the Netherlands! Marianne is a lovely woman and she wrote a product review for her entry. We have had some great email exchanges about the Netherlands! Marianne, I hope you can find some nice things on our site over the next six months for use with your coupon.

Please don't feel bad if you entered and didn't win, because really every person who entered is going to be sent a special gift certificate to use at One Planet Yarn and Fiber.

4. Runner Up Prizes- we were going to give out 3 extra prizes, but we decided that
every single person who entered the contest should earn a special prize just for entering.

PS If you entered and did not hear from us, please let us know!! I think I have everyone's contact, but just in case!

Thanks for participating and hope you had fun!

Each of the winners will receive an email within the next few days telling them how to redeem their prize!! Also all the gift certificates and coupons are good for six months so that you can take your time picking out what you want to use them for. But if there are things you like now, GO FOR IT, because we will have more prizes in the future...

Thanks and more news soon.... We have exclusive new patterns coming soon!!!!!