Purlescence

New & Shiny

As the holidays approach, we try to bring in special things not just to knit and spin, but things that make good gifts for fiber artists. A couple of years ago we discovered Serendipity Needles, a small family-run operation, like our own, that only sells to other family businesses. We couldn't resist the adorable finials on their hardwood needles. This year they've sent us ladybugs and honey bees and sheep, as well as a bunch of new designs, including snowmen with top hats and ear muffs, and polar bears. Here's a small selection. How can you resist those cute faces?

Also new this week is Cascade Yarns' latest offering: 128 Superwash. We saw this at TNNA in June and couldn't wait to get our hands on it. When Cascade decided to come out with a superwash version of 128, they chose to replace the Peruvian Highland Wool with Merino. That's right - 128 is a chunky superwash Merino. It's incredibly soft and very lofty, perfect for knitting a new favorite sweater or a comfy throw. We have 12 gorgeous colors now in stock! Check out new colors in many of our favorite Cascade yarns, too!

New & Shiny

As the holidays approach, we try to bring in special things not just to knit and spin, but things that make good gifts for fiber artists. A couple of years ago we discovered Serendipity Needles, a small family-run operation, like our own, that only sells to other family businesses. We couldn't resist the adorable finials on their hardwood needles. This year they've sent us ladybugs and honey bees and sheep, as well as a bunch of new designs, including snowmen with top hats and ear muffs, and polar bears. Here's a small selection. How can you resist those cute faces?

Also new this week is Cascade Yarns' latest offering: 128 Superwash. We saw this at TNNA in June and couldn't wait to get our hands on it. When Cascade decided to come out with a superwash version of 128, they chose to replace the Peruvian Highland Wool with Merino. That's right - 128 is a chunky superwash Merino. It's incredibly soft and very lofty, perfect for knitting a new favorite sweater or a comfy throw. We have 12 gorgeous colors now in stock! Check out new colors in many of our favorite Cascade yarns, too!

Dream in Color New Shades!

Introducing the 400 Series colors from Dream in Color, now here in our favorite Classy Worsted Merino. Clockwise from top: Punky Fuchsia, Flamingo Pie, Butter Peeps, Go Go Grassy, Lunar Zazzle, Midnight Derby and Pansy Golightly. We think they're delicious! 

Join the Club

The Cotton Club, that is. We just received this brand new Cascade yarn and love the feel of it. It's a 60/40 cotton/acrylic blend with lots of spring.  There are 98 yards per 50g ball at a totally sweet price. The gauge of 4.5 sts/in. on 4.5mm needles makes it an easy choice for summer wear. Nathania's envisioning a summer cardigan for little Ellie Boo. It would make fantastic washcloths, log cabin blankets, tanks or tees, anything you can imagine!

Check out our other wonderful cotton yarns from Cascade as well: Sierra (80% cotton, 20% wool), Pima Tencel (50/50),Pima Silk (85/15), and Fixation. Get your summer knit on!

Yarn to Cry For

We take our yarn very seriously here at Purlescence. It's not just love; it's an obsession. This week we received a lovely box full of pretty from Colinette including new semisolid  colors in the luscious Tao silk and Parisienne laceweight mohair. So beautiful! So soft! So perfect! We may have been a bit verklemt.

We also received several new Absolutely Fabulous afghan kits. Colinette has just released two new versions of this always popular kit. As always, the pattern features six different options. These new versions feature different Colinette yarns from the original. AbFab II substitutes two of the heavier yarns for a lighter, softer look. AbFab III is a non-animal fiber version, just perfect for those who have a sensitivity or allergy to wool and mohair, or for a summertime throw. We've got some gorgeous colorways in both styles.

P.S. Don't forget that next Friday, Feb. 15 is Late Night Knits.

The Ravens Have Landed

The Raven Series from Blue Moon Fiber Arts arrived yesterday. We think the colors are spectacular. Check out Cynthia's reaction! There are limited quantities available in Lightweight STR and Twisted, including Valkyrie, Haida, Rook-y, Raven's Croft, Korrpi, and more. Hurry in - they'll be gone soon!

Fall 2007 Yarns Beginning to Arrive

Jean Marie, our devoted UPS driver has been arriving with big boxes full of autumny goodness for all of us to enjoy. We've already received Crystal Palace's new corn fiber yarn, Maisy, and new luscious colors of Rowan's perennial favorite, Kid Silk Haze.

Last week we got two large boxes of goodies from Claudia's Handpainted Yarns. There are some great new colors in Fingering Weight  and Worsted Weight Merino. We were awestruck, however, by the new range of semi-solids that Claudia has added to the lines. We have a beautiful selection in the Fingering Weight Merino (seen here), as well as select colors in the Silk Lace. Truly the screen doesn't do them justice. Come in and see them for yourself.

Today Jean Marie arrived with boxes we have been waiting for containing the marvelous new sock yarn that Kaffe Fassett designed for Regia. Yes, that's right, Kaffe Fassett sock yarn! The colors are beautiful. Some of them stripe, some of them feather, but all of them are gorgeous and they're color coordinated too.

Soon we expect new holiday sparkle from Nashua and lots of other exciting things. Check back often for new, beautiful yarns, hitting the shelves daily!

New Lace Goodness!

We're pleased to announce that we now have JaggerSpun Zephyr in 2 oz balls.  T his 50% Merino, 50% silk plied yarn is ideal for lace.  In fact, it works up beautifully in the shawl patterns we just got from Fiddlesticks.  We've got "Flirty Ruffles," "Peacock Feathers," "Lotus Blossom," and many more!

Wall of Happiness!

We've got some fantastic (I really mean it; it's the stuff of which fantasies are made) new yarns, fresh off the yarn truck!  First, we've got incredible yarny goodness from Blue Heron, Beaded Metallic Wool and Metalic Rayon.  Check out the intesity of the color in the close up photo (have you ever seen a Scarlet like that?) These shiny yarns are glittery without being overwelming, quite elegant and stunning.  Sandi's planning on making a Clapotis out of the Rayon Metallic in the color known as Deep Space.  It's going to be beautiful! 

Secondly, we've gotten a fresh shipment of Blue Moon Lightweight Socks that Rock as well as some incredible new colors in Twisted.  Two hanks of Twisted make a great Clapotis (come look at Chloe's made out of Farmhouse.)  One hank is enough to do the top of a Ribby Pulli (of which we have a couple samples.) 

Back by popular demand!

We've brought Classic Elite's Wool Bam Boo back!  This soft and shiny yarn is 50% bamboo, 50% wool and knits up to a gauge of 5.5 stitches to the inch on size US 6 / 4mm needles making it a perfect choice for garments.  We've got 10 luscious colors in sweater quanties, just waiting to become something beautiful.