I love non-wool fibers. I guess it is because I have lived in the South all my life. This sweater, Turia, is a perfect example of everything I love about spring/summer knitting (yes, there is such a thing as spring/summer knitting).

We have a model of this sweater in shop, Berroco #307 (Linsey) pattern book, and Linsey (the yarn the pattern calls for). Linsey is a beautiful cotton/linen blend and comes in fabulous colorways. The Turia sweater has a simple Fair Isle yoke, which makes it a great project for someone who wants to try Fair Isle.

Not interested in Fair Isle? Berroco has three free patterns on their website. Add this yarn to your stash and try a little spring/summer knitting this year!

Souffle
49% Acrylic, 34% Wool, 17% Baby Alpaca
54 yds per ball
Gauge = 2 sts to 1"
17 (US) / 12.75 mm
Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Knit up Gillings in Souffle. The pattern is found in Berroco Booklet #310 and is available at the Yarn Mart. The yarn stripes up beautifully and there is a cool zipper detail on the Raglan shoulder. The sweater is available in sizes 40" to 60" and calls for 540 to 918 yards depending on size. It will knit up quick and with the bulky weight yarn, it will keep you warm without a coat.

Peruvia Quick100% Peruvian Highland Wool103 yds per hank
Gauge = 3 sts to 1"
11 (US) / 8 mm
Hand wash. Lay flat to dry.

Nimbus, a free pattern from Berroco, makes an elegant addition to any wardrobe. The finished measurements of the closed bust of this sweater range from 32" to 52" and calls for 515 to 1030 yards. The Yarn Mart has Peruvia Quick in an array of colors from black, brown, and gray to orange, green, and pink. With a turtleneck and a pair of jeans or a skirt, tights and long sleeve t-shirt, you would feel at home in the sweater at a football game or a business meeting. Plus who doesn't like a cool button to add some pizazz in your day.

Have you ever wanted to knit a sweater but felt that you didn't have the patience? Well we have the sweater for you. The One Night Sweater, designed by Anna and Heidi Pickles, is knit on US Size 36 needles with super bulky weight yarn and it literally can be knit in a night. One of our customers knit the body of her sweater in 1 hour. The pattern is free for size Small/Medium but other sizes are available for sale on the Pickles website. We have a lot of beautiful new super bulky weight yarn that has just arrived. Twinkle Soft Chunky or Cascade Magnum are perfect options and come in a rainbow of rich colors. So if you like instant gratification,  then knit a sweater in one night.

The email went out about the OWLS Knit A Long on Sunday night and by lunch time on Tuesday, the KAL was full. WOW! That's fast. The next KAL will start the 2nd week of March and the project will be Cindy's choice. So watch your email in mid-February for that Knit A Long announcement.

Also watch in January for a new roster of classes. We are working some great new knitting classes as well as crochet.

Several weeks ago, we got a couple of copies of this book in the store. Within hours they both sold and several were on special order. For a $32 knitting book, this was interesting. Just last week, someone asked me "What is with the Little Red book?" My initial response was "It's cool, she's a young designer, and she's Scottish." But the question got me thinking about it more. What is with this book and why are so many people (including myself) shelling out $32 for a small press knitting book from a young, Scottish knitwear designer?

First of all, it is unlike any knitting book I have seen in a while. All patterns are sized for 15 to 17 different sizes so with this one book, you could knit a sweater for a 38" bust or a 60" bust. The designs are flattering for all sizes; are photographed on 2 women of very different sizes; and are photographed from a variety of different angles. This last part is so important. Have you ever started knitting a sweater that you loved in the photograph only to discover that it has a collar or a weird cuff detail that is not shown?

There's Ysolda's explanation of gauge, sweater construction and yarn substitution. Yes, I know, dozens of books exist with explanations of gauge, construction and substitution. But this is different.  All three are explained in a straight forward way. I want to hand the book to anyone who comes in the shop with a gauge or yarn substitution question and say "here read this and it will all become clear." Ysolda doesn't just give a paragraph or two of gauge. She uses pages to explain gauge and shows picture of real swatches. Did you know that if you are knitting in the round you are supposed to swatch your gauge in the round as well? Did you know that you are supposed to block your gauge swatch completely before measuring? This is a book about sweaters and sweaters need to be swatched and gauge needs to be measured before you invest all the time and effort into knitting the darn thing up.

There's the cool photographs with superimposed handwriting over them that give a visual example of measuring a gauge swatches, shaping with short rows, and calculations for sweater design.  Her photographs of a gauge swatch show a ruler on top of the swatch and has numbered the stitches and rows to show you exactly how she gets gauge. She shows you how to choose a size. She shows you how to take your measurements the right way to ensure that you get the right size. She discusses how a sweater for a 44 1/2 bust won't necessarily fit a thin person with a large bust or a 40 bust won't necessarily fit a larger person with a small bust. A lot of things click in this book.

The final thing that I think is super cool is that when you purchase the book, you also get a copy of the ebook. How awesome is that!!!! You own the book (which is part of the fun for me) but I don't have to carry it around everywhere. How many of us are toting around a knitting bag with books, magazines, knitting, accessories, and anything else we can get into the darn thing? I bet you have a purse to tote as well. So now we can have the real book at home to sit on our bookshelves and the ebook on our iPhone (or iPad). Two books in one - I like that kind of deal.

Check this book out! It may not be for everyone but I think that it is worth a look.

Well you knit a circular, seamless sweater out of mohair of course!

Maria is a beautiful mohair sweater that is the perfect mixture of simple elegance and feminine grace. Designed by Julie Weisenberger and distributed by Deep South Fibers, this pattern is available at the Yarn Mart and we have a wide selection of mohair. In addition to Maria, CocoKnits also has similar mohair patterns - Gretel and Paulina.

This sweater is perfect for our Arkansas winters - not too heavy and not too light. The beautiful halo of mohair makes it perfect for an elegant event out or dressed down with jeans and boots.

Huh, you say???

Well, it stands for National Knit a Sweater Month and knitgrrl (aka Shannon Okey) has designated November as the month to knit a sweater.

Why November? Because the writers do it so why not the knitters. Yes, November is National Novel Writing Month. And a 50,000 stitch sweater sounds possible whereas a 50,000 word novel probably isn't.

Knit a sweater everyone and if you start and finish in November, let us know. Shout it from a mountain top (maybe Pinnacle). Show us a picture. Bring the finished product by the shop.

And if you write a novel, make sure to dedicate it to your friends at the Yarn Mart who inspired you to write it in the first place, right?!?!!?

Mohair is a hot trend this fall and winter. The light and airy fiber knits up into  beautiful, ethereal scarfs, hats and sweaters. The Yarn Mart has got some mohair for you. In addition the standards of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Kollage Whimsey, we are now carrying  Cascade Kid Seta, Cascade Kid Seta Noir, Classic Elite Pirouette, and KidLin from Louet.

The pattern pictured at the right is the Cascade Kid Seta Cardigan by Marelie Hurter and is available for free from Ravelry. So many people are intimidated by mohair. It is so fair and so delicate but it is really not hard to work with. Knit in stockinette, this cardigan would be great in any color and a must have for Arkansas's cool winter evening.