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   Here's a quick peek at some of our new arrivals at the shop! Stop by to see all the colors! Mirasol Sawya 50 grams, 98 yards 60% cotton, 25% alpaca, 15% silk Elsebeth Lavold Cool Wool 50 grams, 109 yards 50% cotton, 50% wool Mirasol Lachiwa 50 grams, 123 yards 60% cotton, 40% linen 1 Comment  One challenge that crafters always face is finding the perfect yarn for summer garments. It is important for the fiber to feel cool in the warm weather, but plant fibers often have a tendency to stretch out of shape. It is also important for the garment to be easy to care for, because no one wants to take a tank-top to the dry-cleaners every time it needs to be cleaned! Cascade Ultra Pima may just be that perfect summer yarn. It comes in generous 220 yard hanks of 100% pima cotton. Pima Cotton is a high-quality cotton yarn that was developed in the United State when farmers cross-bred Egyptian cotton with local American cottons. Ultra Pima is a mercerised cotton, which means that it has been treated to increase the yarn's luster and softness. It is definitely one of the softest cotton yarns I have ever felt; this yarn looks and feels like silk because of its sheen and drapiness. Here's the best part: Ultra Pima is machine-washable AND machine-dryable! Last time a representative from Cascade Yarns visited us, she showed us a sample garment knit from Ultra Pima. Pat and I both admired the lacy summer top and I loved the soft, silky feel of the garment. But I was most surprised when the representative told us that this very garment had been washed and dried by machine. I am sure I am not the only knitter who has had cotton projects that got 'crunchy' or stiff-feeling after they were accidentally washed or dried in the machine. Not only did it feel great, it also retained its shape and size. Finally, the price-point of Ultra Pima is a big selling point for me. For 220 yards, this yarn only costs $9.50. Many summer tops take less yardage than winter garments, so if I bought 5 hanks, it could only cost $47.50. Being able to knit or crochet a garment for under $50 in natural fibers is a win in my book! I could also see this being an ideal yarn for baby or child garments because of its durable nature and soft feel. We currenty have 9 colors of Ultra Pima in stock (the 3 pictured colors are brandnew!) and we can always special-order additional colors from Cascade Yarns. So stop by and check out my 'Pick of the Week'-Cascade Ultra Pima!  At last, crochet hooks have been added to the amazing Addi Click interchangeable system. Addi Click Hook comes in a compact black leather case and holds 8 crochet hooks: from 3.00 millimeters to 9 millimeters. The first 6 sizes have the same brass coating as the Addi Lace needles do. The two biggest sizes come in a lightweight plastic that is easier on the hands than a metal hook would be. There are no cables included in this set, as it is intended to be an addition to other Click sets. These hooks will fit any of the Click cables to form a regular crochet hook or a Tunisian hook for those unique projects. If you only want the crochet hooks and don't already have available cables, there is a simple enough solution.  The cable accessory kit comes with 3 cables: a 24' inch cable, a 32' inch cable and a 30' inch cable. It also comes with a connector so you can make an even bigger cable if need be. You can secure the free cable end with one of Addi's new Heartstoppers. These cute heart-shaped accessories click onto the Click cables to make sure your project doesn't slide off the cable! Since the crochet hooks themselves are similar in size to normal crochet hooks, it is possible for someone to attempt to simply crochet without the cables. However, I personally wouldn't advise it because I think the uncovered end has too much potential to snag on your project or even end up scratching you. Besides, by adding this cable set, you can open up your crafting to Tunisian or afghan crocheting. Also, here's a great tip for picking up a large amount of stitches, as for the edges of a blanket or the border of a cardigan; you simply unclick your Addi needle and click your Addi Hook onto the cable. The crochet hook makes it SO much easier and much less tedious than trying to pick the stitches through with the tip of your knitting needle. Once you're done picking up the stitches and you're ready to knit again, just detach the crochet hook and reattach your needle and you are ready to go! I admit, I am a little bit of an Addi fanatic but I bear that badge proudly-after all, they're worth it! I'll end this post with a few more pictures of the set.    |  AuthorMSY&C Staff ArchivesMay 2013 ArchivesMay 2013 |
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