Tag Archives: yarn

Eco-friendly Simply Yarns

“It is always the simple that produces the marvelous.”

Amelia Barr

Knit Picks Simply Wool Yarns

Oh, life. Why can’t you consist of endless cups of coffee and an abundance of yummy yarn? Oh, wait. You CAN. Enter our Simply Yarns: simplicity at it’s finest! It doesn’t get much purer than our Simply Wool, Alpaca, & Organic Cotton yarns. The colors that you see are just as nature intended them to be. These eco-friendly varieties offer a subtle spectrum of earthy colors and textures, perfect for adding some neutral foundation pieces to your wardrobe.

Simply Wool

Knit Picks Simply Wool

With names like “Wilhemina” and “Wilbur”, the family of Simply Wool yarns is both endearing and perfect for a classic cardigan or wrap, like the  Straight and Arrow Cardigan or the Laura Shawl.

Simply Alpaca

Knit Picks Simply Alpaca

This is the softest of the soft, the coziest of the cozy, the smooshiest of the smooshy.  However you describe this über natural fiber, one touch of our Simply Alpaca and you’ll be scrambling to make ALL the things with this yarn.  No dyes or bleach are used to process the yarn; a full spectrum of natural shades are created by meticulously sorting the fiber. Surround yourself in its warmth with the Cavendish Wrap or the Portree Poncho, both projects well suited for this yarn line.

Simply Organic Cotton

Knit PIcks Simplay Cotton project

Luxurious, super soft, and easy to work, our 100% Organic Simply Cotton Yarns are good for you AND Mother Earth. No dyes or bleach are used to process the yarn, and since the color is naturally occurring, some variation from skein to skein is normal. Perfect for neutral baby gifts, like this sweet + classic Simply Seamless Baby Blanket or everyday wearables like the Calm Tide Cardigan. With summer just around the corner, this yarn* will be a major player in my project queue. Plus, for all you indie dyers, this cotton acts as a wonderful base for your personal color touches!

*Note: Because it is cotton, we highly recommend knitting a swatch and washing and drying it the way you intend to wash and dry the final project to check shrinkage and gauge before knitting your project. You mayexperience a 5-10% shrinkage in length of knitted fabric.

 

 

 


Green Yarn Sale!
“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.”
Pedro Calderon de la Barca
It’s the Green Yarn Sale! Over 175 yarns are on sale, up to 40% off! Give your stash a refresh with botanical hues the likes of spruce, lichen, avocado, & more.
Knit Picks Green Yarn Sale

(more…)


February Launch: New Yarns, New Collections, New Fun

Knit Picks faux fur pom pom

Early February can be a mixed bag, depending on where you reside in the world. Still technically winter, the first signs of spring (yay!) are beginning to show themselves, and that has us bubbling over with inspiration. Come along with me as I highlight our latest pattern collections and say ‘hello’ to the return of some new and improved yarn lines.

(more…)


Red and Pink Yarn Sale

It’s the Red and Pink Yarn Sale, arriving just in time for you to be our Valentine. We have over 200 rosy, blushing yarns at up to 30% off!

Over 200 yarns up to 30% off! Shop the sale

With these gorgeous yarns at such low prices, this is the perfect opportunity to show someone special (or yourself!) just how much you care. To that end, I’ve curated a few of my favorite knitting and crochet patterns to share with you that highlight these cheerful colors. Keep an eye out for pieces that come together quickly. They’re a great choice for crafting a gift before the 14th!

(more…)


Last Day for Monthly Yarn Sale – Capra & Capretta

As the month comes to a close so does our monthly yarn sale on Capra and Capretta.  You still have one more day to add these warm delicious yarns to your stash at 20% off.  And with winter rolling over the Northern hemisphere what better way to spend the dark cool days than working up a cozy project in a blends of merino and cashmere. Here are some more ideas to consider if you have already stocked up.

Great for Holiday Gifts

The Fern Grotto Cowl

For a super special gift that doesn’t break the bank. Using only two balls of Capra in any one color you can make a rainbow of cowls to choose from.

Fern Grotto

The Grace Beanie

Another perfect gift that is lovely and works up quickly. Also using only two balls of Capra you show your friends and family you care by keeping their noggins warm!

Grace Beanie

The Isabel Cowl

For our lace knitters this project would make a great gift as it is deceptively simple-but absolutely stunning. Also a great project to try for those learning to read charts. This is an extra special project in Capretta.

Isabel Cowl

Special Projects

The Drifte

This exquisite shawl is a perfect project to work up cuddled up on the couch. Using only 4 balls of Capretta it’s a steal at 20% off.

Drifte

The Leaf Out Shawl

Why not start that shawl for spring with this lovely lace project?  Featured in a the stunning hunter green it would look lovely in any color you choose from the Capretta family.

Leaf Out Shawl

The Miriam Carole Poncho

If you have been holding off on making this poncho because it takes 10 balls of Capra now is the time to go for it. It’s an elegant statement piece that you will want to show off.

Miriam Carole Poncho

 

Now go get that yarn!

 


The Monthly Yarn Sale: Chroma

Chroma 20 percent offThis month’s yarn sale is all about Chroma. Chroma Fingering. Chroma Worsted.  Chroma Twist Fingering. Chroma Twist Bulky… Shall we make more? Enjoy 20% off our color-transitioning  superstar and while you are at it download one of our  amazing free patterns designed just for Chroma’s unique color blends.

The varied thickness of the single ply in Chroma Worsted and Fingering gives it a hand spun look to your finished projects. The Mellifluous Scarf is a great way to show off Chroma’s expressive color palettes. While the Dreamy Waves Scarf is a great way to experiment with different skeins to create your own work of art.

Mellifluous Scarf

Chroma Twist takes two single strands of from opposite ends and twists them together for a fun new take on the colors you love. Each hank yields a slightly different result. I personally adore Chroma Twist. It’s playful color palette and bouncy feel make blankets, hats, and scarves a joy to work up.

Chroma Twist Bulky Close-up    Chroma Twist - Knitpicks.com

The Chromatic Granny Stripe Cowl is a perfect example of Chroma Twists versatility and shifting hues. At 20% off get a little experimental with Chroma Twist Bulky and try your hand at the Pemberley Blanket. We are excited to see what you come up with.

Chromatic Granny Scaft

 

 

 


Knit Picks Big Sale is Happening….Now!

Knitpicks Big Sale 2016

By now many of you have filled your carts with enough balls, hanks, and notions to inspire amazing creations for months to come, but for you late risers and curious shoppers here is a brief overview of what we have in store for the week ahead.

Knit Picks Big Sale

ALL THE YARN! 

More on sale than ever before, over 1000 different offerings, just on sale. We also introduced two new Chroma lines with a twist, literally. It’s your favorite Chroma colorways just twisted, in both fingering and bulky. Just check out this free sock pattern.

Knit Picks Big Sale - Chroma Twist

Luxury yarn more your style? Than make sure to toss a ball or two of our new Cashmere into your cart. It’s special reserve in extremely limited quantities. Don’t miss out!

Knit Picks Big Sale Cashmere Sport Special Reserve

And of course the return of your favorite stripping sock yarn Felici! We created nine new colors and brought back four favorites for those of you that missed out the first round.

ALL THE STUFF!

Need some great gifts that you don’t have to make? We have you covered with a huge tool sale including Knit Picks Exclusives, our totes and needle cases are sure to please. The perfect gift for that someone special (you included) might be our rosewood needles in a limited edition embossed needle case designed by our talented Knit Picks design staff.

Knit Picks Big Sale - Rosewood Needle Set

Or how about a collection of curated yarns in a cedar box? Six gorgeous choices.

Knit Picks Big Sale - Cedar Box Kit with Diadem

Plus gifts for you with purchase and new fun free patterns for stash busting and gift giving this holiday season. Enjoy the sale!

xo- Alexis


New yarn alert: Super Tuff Puff!

Jumbo Yarn - Super Tuff Puff from knitpicks.com

Oversized knit and crochet projects are showing up everywhere lately – huge arm-knitted blankets, chunky ottomans, garter stitch pillows, you name it. I absolutely love the dramatic impact of these home décor accessories, but I absolutely do not love the usual price tag associated with extra-heavy supersized projects. I have also tried to make some of the jumbo-gauge projects I’ve seen on Ravelry using multiple strands of worsted weight or bulky weight yarn, but the look isn’t quite the same as those gorgeous pictures I see on Pinterest.

Jumbo Yarn - Super Tuff Puff from knitpicks.com
Our Tuff Puff super bulky 100% wool yarn came out last year and was a huge success, so we decided to try introducing it in an even heavier, chunkier version. Super Tuff Puff is twice the size of the original with 44 yards per 200g (as opposed to Tuff Puff’s 44 yards per 100g). You can see the difference between the two yarns in the image above, with the original laying on the Super Tuff Puff! It’s a softly spun single ply yarn that knits up at about 1.5 stitches per inch, making it perfect for patterns like the Puff Daddy Pouf. (which I’m making in Canary yellow for my daughter’s bedroom).

jumbo_needles_2014_1394

We carry a range of jumbo knitting needles, perfect for jumbo and super bulky yarn. For crochet, your best bet would be the 12mm or 15mm Amour plastic crochet hook  for getting the appropriate gauge.

Jumbo Yarn Kit - Rainbow Super Tuff Puff from knitpicks.com
We also carry Super Tuff Puff kits in two colorways, Rainbow and Deep Plaid. They include everything you need to get started with jumbo yarn (including knitting needles, jumbo yarn needles and jumbo stitch markers) and are a great way to try out a few colors of Super Tuff Puff together at a 20% discount.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for great jumbo-gauge projects, here’s a roundup of patterns that could work!

Jumbo Yarn Patterns
Eleventh Hour Blanket
Beautyberry Blanket
Mountain Cowl
Bobble Sheep Pillow
Kitty Pouf

Behind the Scenes: Creating Speckle Yarn

Coming up with new yarn colors is one of my favorite parts of my job. Today, we take a peek behind the scenes on how we choose colors for one of our popular yarns, Hawthorne Speckle.

Speckle Yarn from KnitPicks.com

First step: make use of all my millions of Pinterest pins! (See, I knew I’d find a way to justify hours of Pinterest surfing.) Just look at all those delectable color combos. Thanks, Internet!

Color inspiration for KnitPicks yarn
Another great source of inspiration is our very own Yarn Value Pack page! There are so many lovely color-curated sets that make for fabulous multi-colored yarn ideas. Here are a few of my favorites. Aren’t they lovely?
Snuggles Yarn Value Pack from KnitPicks.com
Opera House Yarn Value Pack from KnitPicks.com

Once I have a good collection of photos, I open them in Illustrator and mock up the colorways. After printing them, the Knit Picks team votes for their favorites with very fancy, high-tech sticky notes.
Choose Yarn Colors at KnitPicks.com
Choosing Yarn Colors at KnitPicks.com

One of the winners was Italian Ice Speckle. Below is an example of how it was conceptualized and the end result, with a photo of our Comfy yarn serving as inspiration.

Speckle Knitting Yarn from KnitPicks.com

Blueberry Speckle was another fun one to make, with a beautiful wash of blues from our Alpaca Cloud yarn serving as inspiration:
Speckles Knitting Yarn from KnitPicks.com
After that, the files are sent to our yarn factory and the speckle magic happens! We love Speckles so much it makes us want to dance. What’s your favorite of our speckle colors?
Speckle Yarn from KnitPicks.com

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save


Teaching the Littles to Crochet

My favorite people in the world are my nieces and nephews. As such, it only made sense to teach them one of my favorite activities in the world: crocheting!

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

Caden was the first to pick up a hook. This boy knows how to craft right: in pajamas, by the fire. Only thing missing is a glass of wine (or juice, in his 7-yr old case). He worked on generic swatches for a while, eventually graduating to a very fetching Brava scarf for his bear.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

Natalie is the quintessential first born, driven by a fierce need for organization and symmetry in all things. I think she derived as much pleasure from organizing these Brava blankets as she did crocheting them.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

If you were to peek out the back window of her house, you are more likely than not to catch a glimpse of her doing her favorite thing: multi tasking. Getting her daily dose of Vitamin D and listening to an audio book, all whilst crocheting a Mighty Stitch Super Bulky scarf for her cousin. Watch out, folks. This girl is going places.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

One delightfully cozy, rainy afternoon, we had a crochet party on the couch.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

Natalie worked on a lovely Brava blanket for my cousin’s new baby,

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

and Caden made two very adorable dishcloths out of Dishie. They just make my heart swoon.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

Bonus points for Caden: not only did he crochet a dishcloth, but he also made sure the baby didn’t roll off the couch. What a guy!

Kids crocheting KnitPicks.com

Charlotte, fourth in line and not quite so task-oriented as her older sister, is less motivated to develop her fiber talents. I tried tempting her with the baby-soft Preciosa yarn, but she was content with just sunning her bald head.

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

And conquering her soccer ball. Oh well. I’ll get her someday!

Teaching Kids to Crochet | KnitPicks.com

Teaching the kids to crochet not only allows gives them a chance to exercise patience, creativity and pride of workmanship, but also offers a valuable, tangible moment carved out in an increasingly digital and overly cerebral world. It’s beautiful to see them plan the project (I get many yarn requests), earnestly crochet it and then gift it with much pride to the lucky recipient. I hope to continue to foster their joy in the creative experience, and someday teach my own littles to do the same!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save