Happy 2011! I'm going to echo Jeanne in saying I hope you had a spectacular New Years celebration and that the next twelve months are full of wonderful moments... fiber-related and otherwise :) As you can imagine, a new year brings plenty of new products, and even though we are only 5 days into '11, stuff just keeps rolling in our doors!

Naturwolle Silk Blend in Aqua

Bulky Shrug

If my fingers could speak, they would tell me to knit only with the Naturwolle Silk Blend from Blackforest, and my eyes would agree. Of course my wallet would chime in that I can't afford to knit everything with the ultimate in luxury yarn, but since this hypothetical situation is governed by the rules of democracy, my fingers and eyes would win by an overwhelming majority. What I'm saying here is that this yarn is a-maz-ing... words cannot describe the unparalleled softness and stunning multicolor hues. Similar to its cousin, the original Naturwolle, this dreamy single-ply wool and silk blend combines the ultra soft warmth of wool with the luster of silk that adds an extra dimension to the inspiring colorways. Use one skein for a elegant cowl (such as the Shawl Collared Cowl from Never Not Knitting) or 2-3 hanks for something more substantial like the sophisticated Bulky Shrug from Knitting Pure And Simple.

Ready to invade your stash!

If you're looking for a unique yarn of a finer weight, switch gears and consider Flying Saucer Sock Yarn from Schoppel Wolle. Ok, so this isn't NEW new (we've been carrying it for several months), but this yarn is so "out of this world" I can't help but marvel and share it with you. For starters the injection-dyed colorways create an unearthly self-patterning fabric perfect for lovers of singular socks, but my favorite part is how easy it is to knit a matching pair of Flying Saucer socks. Two strands of this soft, machine washable yarn are wound around a spool then dyed so that the strands are virtually identical making it as easy as casting on to knit twin socks! If knitting a pair of cosmically awesome socks is in your future, be sure to check out this fabulous fiber!

Of course, like Jeanne, stash-busting might be on your list of New Year's resolutions, in which case you may be searching for the perfect pattern to start off 2011. While all of the Madelinetosh Patterns rank high on my favorites list, the Creature Comforts Cardi is in a league all its own. This pattern calls for Tosh Vintage, but any worsted weight yarn works beautifully for this cozy cardi. I'm particularly drawn to Creature Comforts not only for the classic, relaxed fit and casual elegance, but for the customizability built right into the pattern itself. Add pockets or cable details and play with the sizing to personalize this timeless cardigan to fit your definition of comfortable!

Hoping to augment your knitting skills? Then Knitting In The Details by knitwear guru Louisa Harding is a must-add to your library. This book is overflowing with tips, tricks and techniques that will add a professional flare to your finished projects. Easy to follow instructions and 16 quick-to-knit projects provides all the tools you need to take your knitting to the next level!

Happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)