Category Archives: Inspiration

Color suggestions?

Developing yarn lines takes a long time, and our lead times can be up to a year in some cases!  We’re just entering the new year, and we already have to start planning new colors for Fall/Winter 2012.  Our meetings aren’t starting for about two weeks, so I thought I would check in with our blog readers and see if you have any suggestions for exciting new shades that you’d like to see in our non-cotton, non-lace yarns (think warm wool, cozy alpaca, and our other cold-weather yarn lines). Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2012 is Tangerine Tango – is there a color that you feel is fresh, new, and just needs to be seen in yarn form?  Have you ever played around with sites like ColourLovers or Kuler for color inspiration? Give us your color ideas in the comments below!

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Yarn Line Price Increases

As you already know, everything has been getting more expensive over the last year or two.  Gas prices have gone up, along with grocery bills and the cost of various services.  The fiber world hasn’t been immune to these global changes, unfortunately, and we’ve seen dramatic pricing increases in the cost of our raw materials and shipping since 2009.  We’ve been able to keep our pricing from increasing through the worst of the economic crisis, but wool and other fibers are staying at the higher prices and our new contracts reflect this.   On January 4th, we will be increasing prices on wool/wool blend and alpaca/alpaca blend yarn lines.  Any lines introduced as new in 2011 already have their price increases built in, since their shipments came in at the new higher prices, and those 2011 new yarn lines will not be increasing on the 4th.  Discontinued yarn lines will not ...

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Happy Holidays!

Wow, the holidays signify the end of the year! Where did it go?  2012 is just a little over a week away and I haven't gotten my 2011 resolutions done yet!  So it's a new year and a new list - out with the old, in with the new (or new again!).  Has anyone started their 2012 New Years resolution list yet? Here at Knit Picks, we wish you a great New Year. Our wish for you is that 2012 be filled with creative crafting and lots of fiber fun! Happy Holidays & a very Happy New Year!  

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The spirit of giving

If you're reading this, you can safely count yourself among the comfortably fortunate. Access to the internet, heat, warm clothing and a family with whom to gather this holiday season are things we might all easily take for granted. But not everyone is so lucky. Although need has no season, the season of sharing and giving seems to highlight the contrast between those who have and those who have not. It's this season that reinvigorates my commitment to charitable causes. When I found out about the Mittens for Akkol drive by The Motherless Child Foundation, I knew that I'd found a cause that would truly make a difference. This group of volunteers is spearheaded by parents who adopted children from the orphanage in Akkol, Kazakhstan, but couldn't bear to leave the other children behind. It all started with a Ravelry post in the Charity Knitting board requesting socks. Since I'd knit a bunch of kids' socks earlier this year, I figured a few more wouldn't be a problem. But as I read on about the charity, and especially about the recipients of these socks, it struck me just how much a simple thing like warm socks can make a huge difference in the life of someone halfway around the world. So I started knitting.

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Fiber, Fiber and more Fiber!!

You don't need to be a spinner to love fibers! I'm not a spinner but it doesn't stop me from indulging in an assortment of fiber.  That's why I am so excited that Knit Picks is now selling many types of fiber. There's Wool of the Andes roving in Bare and in colors, recycled fibers with  Full Circle Roving; there are spinning batts in many colors and now silk hankies!

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Holiday Variety

'Tis the season for knitting and general fiber craft madness! It's foggy outside and I'm keeping my cocoa mug topped off while I round out my basket full of finished presents for family, friends and... of course, the various pets! I like switching between something that will give me that instant gratification and those complicated heirloom-quality pieces that demand a greater portion of my brain. So, I thought I'd share some of the products of my industrious little needles, just in case there are some of you out there who need a little nudge of inspiration!

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Winter’s hottest knit trends that you can make!

I am what some people call a "fashion enthusiast".  More accurately, I am a fashion fiend. In my past life (before marriage, college and job), I used to model for some really cool local designers, and even a couple of high-fashion brands.  I stopped modeling professionally when I was about 18 but those years in the industry have definitely left their mark.  Every season since then, I have made a ritual of stocking up on fashion mags and gummy bears and devoting a full day to sifting through the pages of beautiful (and quite often crazy) fashion trends that will soon be gracing the shelves of local stores. Over the weekend, my husband and I were invited to attend a private shopping party at Nordstrom where, while being fed an unreasonable amount of champagne and hors d'oevures, we were allowed to browse some of the upcoming season's hottest fashion trends. While I am the world's biggest sucker for a new pair of jeans, this season's shopping party was all about accessories for me.  As I was calmly (ha!) sorting through the shelves of beautiful items, I started to notice a trend.  Knits! Most of the items that I fell in love with were things that most knitters/crocheters could make fairly easily! I thought that since so many of you are much more talented than I, I would share some of the things that I saw flying out the door last night in the arms of proud shoppers, like myself, in hopes that you can gain inspiration for any last minute gifts. 

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Stripey Baby Blanket

When I found out that one of my close friends was pregnant, my mind instantly wondered off to all of the adorable baby knitting I would be able to enjoy in the next few months. Tiny booties. Cute hats. Little sweaters. And of course, the baby blanket. This would be the biggest project of all my baby knitting plans, so it was first on my list to start.

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Purse organizer as portable knitting kit

Wave anything in front of me that has a lot of pockets and I will buy it! I often don’t even know how I am going to use the item but I just know it has potential. If you blend pockets with bright, “Kelley” colors and I end up drooling in public.

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Freebies

Wallpaper and background images We have had requests from some of our customers for a wallpaper/background image of our latest yarn visuals. Below you will find links to images that are suitable to use as computer desktop backgrounds, screen savers, or wallpaper. Simply click on your favorite picture to get to the larger version of the image. Then, right click on the image and choose "Set as Background". Enjoy!

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