Knitters Mercantile Blog

It must be April in Ohio, as it has been raining all morning.  While it may seem dreary now, at least it brings us a green spring. Along those lines, Knitters Mercantile has added a few “green” yarns to our inventory . . .

Allegoro is a part of Classic Elite’s new “Verde” collection. This DK weight yarn is a blend of organic cotton and linen and is super soft. The colors are mostly soft and subtle with the exception of the berry, which rocks!

 Allegoro: 70% Organic Cotton, 30% Linen, 152 yds., 50g., 24 stitches / 4 inches, US#3

Wood you like to try something new?? And no, that isn’t a typo. The people at Rowan have come up with a way to use wood pulp to make their gorgeous new yarn, Lenpur Linen. A blend of 75% VI Lenpur and 25% Linen, it has a smooth, soft, self-mercerized finish. The linen also gives it beautiful drape. There are 12 vibrant colors to choose from.

  Lenpur Linen: 75% VI Lenpur, 25% Linen, 126 yds., 50g., 22 stitches / 4 inches, US#6

British Sheep Breeds Undyed is part of Rowan’s purelife line. It is made from 4 classic British Sheep breeds and is then blended into five gorgeous shades. If you’re in the store just ask Stephanie about this super fiber - she loves it!

British Sheep Breeds: 100% British Wool, 120 yds., 100g., 13 stitches / 4 inches, US#10.5 - 11

Others to check out: O’Wool Balance, Purelife Cotton, Ecologie Cotton

Sally Melville has joined forces with her daughter, Caddy Melville Ledbetter, to write a must-have book for any serious knitter. Mother – Daughter Knits: 30 Designs to Flatter and Fit goes beyond bringing us 30 gorgeous new patterns (which it does), but also brings us a tutorial on finding the fit that will flatter us the most. How many times have we fallen in love with a pattern, only to be disappointed with how it looks on us? The first section of this book – “Knit to Fit and Flatter” – takes the guesswork out of picking a pattern, informing us with invaluable knowledge about what shapes, sizes, lengths, etc. will work with our body shape – not just the “perfect bodies” of the magazine models. The next two sections “The Grape & the Wine: Thoughts to an Adult Daughter” and “Like Mother, Like Daughter…or Not: Thoughts from an Adult Daughter” both contain the patterns, written with clear instructions and lovely pictures. Interspersed throughout are insights into the hearts and minds of both of these talented ladies.

To pre-order “Mother – Daughter Knits”, please call Knitters Mercantile at 614-888-8551, or visit us online at Knitters Mercantile. The book is expected in March 2009. (Hard cover, 159 pages, $29.95)

Sally will be teaching again this year at Knitters Connection (June 17 – 20, 2009). One of her classes – Knit to Flatter and Fit – will allow you to experience first hand that which she and Caddy so eloquently write about in this book. To get more information about Knitters Connection, call 1-866-532-KNIT (5648) or visit www.knittersconnection.com

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS

FEBRUARY 16TH AT 9:00 am  

The Knitters Connection website has been updated with the classes and events information for 2009.  The dates are:

June 17 - 20, 2009. 

Instructors include Cat Bordhi, Sally Melville, Beth Brown- Reinsel, Chris Bylsma, Amy Detjen, Clara Parkes, Judy Pascale,

Candace Eisner Strick and many others.

Guest speakers for our evening events are Sandi Wiseheart from Knitting Daily and Amy Singer from Knitty.com. 

Join us at the Columbus Convention Center for four days of knitting, learning, laughing, and of course shopping. 

http://www.knittersconnection.com

The new yarns have begun rolling in, and I want to introduce you to one from Berroco. Pure Pima is a 100% cotton two-plie twist of mercerized and unmercerized cotton. Why is that important? To find out, I did a little Googling…….

Cotton has long been a staple in the fiber community. Numerous attempts to change it were made, and in 1851 John Mercer was granted a British Patent for his work with cotton, linen, and other vegetable-based threads. He found that “… caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) caused the fiber to swell, become round, and straighten out”.  Although patent-worthy, at the time nobody really cared. Thirty-nine years later Horace Lowe was granted another British patent for showing that when you perform Mercer’s process with the fiber under tension, a higher luster is achieved. This revolutionized the cotton industry. (1)

Many years of research has shown that not only is mercerized cotton more lusterous, but it also has increased strength and improved absorptive properties, a fact that would affect the way the yarn takes dye.  Clara Parkes, author of “The Knitters Book of Yarn“, also tells us that mercerized cotton has less air trapped in it, resulting in a cooler fabric.

By combining mercerized with unmercerized cotton, Berroco has produced a yarn that is strong, absorptive,  and lusterous without being overly shiny or hot. We are sure once you try it, it will become a staple to which you will return again and again.

PURE PIMA: 100% Pima Cotton, 1.75 oz / 50 g, 115 yds / 105 m, 22 sts & 26 rows = 4″,   
6 (US) / 4 mm

(1) Tom Beaudet, “What is Mercerized Cotton”, www.fiberarts.org

We are back in business today, Thurdays, January 29th, after the bizzards yesterday.  I hope everyone had a great day off if you were so lucky.  And for those of you who had to go to work, I hope you made it there safe and sound.  I had a wonderful day being lazy and getting laundry done AND KNITTING!

Due to the weather today, Wednesday, January 28th, we will be closed the entire day.  All classes for this evening are cancelled.  We will resume normal business hours tomorrow.  It you must go out today, stay warm and safe.

My day started at 3:30 AM EST and it is now 8:00 PM PT (11:00 PM EST).  Boy am I tired.  The flight from Columbus to San Diego was uneventful and I got a lot of knitting done.  For those of you that don’t know, I am in San Diego to buy yarn for the spring and summer.  What FUN!  I can’t wait to see all the new yarns and fashions for spring.  More later, I am off to bed.

Have you checked out the new “Gedifra Moments 2008” book? Jan has - and has just started sweater 1320. Made with the new yarn Diandra in “Aubergine“, it promises to be another masterpiece! This shade will look great on her.

How does she do it?? Megan somehow finds the time to knit great projects. She, too, is making up her own sweater pattern (based on one from Knitting Pure and Simple) using Plymouth Tweed in “Plum“. It is beautiful - we can’t wait to see the finished garment!

The ever-energetic Barb has started the “Flutter Sleeve Cardigan” found in the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits Magazine. She has chosen a gorgeous deep red in Silky Wool.  She has wanted to do a project in this yarn forever, and is loving it so far. Her fingers have been flying - she has already completed the back, and is doing both sides of the front simultaneously! You go girl!!