I hope you all had a safe holiday, finished all your knitting and crochet gifts and were able to enjoy a relaxing day surrounded by family and friends! My Christmas Eve was spent feverishly finishing all of my hand knit presents, but by some miracle I had them wrapped and under the tree several minutes before everyone awoke to the smell of coffee brewing :) My most coveted present this year (thanks Dad!) was Modern Top-Down Knitting by Kristina McGowan, a book I've been obsessed with since it was released. I can't wait to start knitting the Jill's Dress (featured on the cover), the Feather Dress, or really any of the projects in this mind-blowingly awesome book. You may remember it from Kristen's blog a few months ago also featuring Rosemary, one of our in-store customer's FO from this book, the Promenade Dress. If you're also jonesing to get started on a project, exchange that unique shade of wool for something a little more "you", or preventing that JBW Gift Certificate from burning a hole in your proverbial pocket, be sure to check out some of the latest additions to our website!

I'm going to jump right into the good stuff with Valerie's Cardigan, one of the newest patterns from Blue Sky Alpacas! This lacy crochet cardi uses as little as 6 hanks of the lightweight Skinny Cotton and can be worn year round to dress up any outfit! If crochet isn't your game, BSA just released several new knit patterns as well, among them the the rustic Ida Vest and elegant Kaw Valley Wrap!

For those of you hoping to augment your knitting library in 2011, Dolce Handknits: Simple, Sophisticated Designs is a great place to start! Author Kim Dolce, owner of Dolce Handknits (her individual designs are available as patterns), has compiled 16 of her most popular patterns in this stunning book. Every project in this volume has a timeless, contemporary theme and each design is the perfect combination of casual comfort and classic sophistication.Whether you're knitting for yourself or a loved one, you can't go wrong with a Dolce Handknits design!

If yarn is what you seek, well, you know we have plenty of that! Alpaca 2 is one of our newest arrivals, and boy are we exited to have/see/feel it! This sumptuous alpaca and wool blend from Isager is a light DK weight yarn that comes in a rainbow of gorgeous, naturally dyed hues. Its soft hand and excellent drape make Alpaca 2 great for lightweight sweaters, delicate wraps, fingerless gloves and more! Use it for one of the whimsical Ilga Leja patterns such as the Urban Goddess wrap or Never Not Knitting's popular Cedar Leaf Shawlette.

Prefer a yarn that works up a bit faster? Give Gedifra's Riana and Riana Big a try! This single ply wool, acrylic and viscose blend comes in a bold palette of heathery solids flecked with tweedy bits that add a unique visual texture. Whether you're hoping to knit a work-worthy cardigan, cabled sweater vest for the hubby, or a rustic wrap for the chilly winter months, Riana fits the bill! And if you're in a hurry just pick up some Riana Big, the bulky big sister of the worsted weight Riana! Big works up in no time on US 15 needles making it a great choice for chunky cowls and ultra warm sweater coats!

Have a safe and spectacular New Year, and as always happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)