Happy Independence Day a little early folks!  Today, in honor of the impending July 4th holiday I am reviewing Victoria S' Flag Stitch Markers, Lorna's Laces Liberty color in Shepherd Worsted, 50 Socks for 50 States, and Lorna's Laces' "Old Glory" Pattern.





Now go enjoy some BBQ, fireworks, and and the outdoors because summer is finally here!  Hurray!  Have a great weekend everyone!

-Kristen

I don't know about you, but I am still having problems writing the date... I just can't believe it is already 2011! This is my second January at JBW and it never ceases to amaze me just how much new yarn is out there, not to mention all those yarns that have yet to be created! You'd think I'd know better by now, right? Case in point, we're starting to get the latest Berroco yarns (so new they aren't even on the Berroco website yet!), and these might just be some of my favoritest fibers of the New Year!

Vintage DK 2177

First up is a new version of a Berroco classic: Vintage DK. I ended up knitting a hat with the worsted weight original, Vintage, and fell in love. This ludicrously affordable yarn gives you everything from machine washability to cuddley softness to a gorgeous spectrum of colors... seriously Vintage has it all. And now that Vintage DK has entered the scene, you can enjoy the versatility of of the Vintage family for your lighter weight projects!
What DK weight projects you ask? Why, the ones in Berroco Pattern Booklet 308 - Vintage DK and Vintage of course! Berroco, being the awesome company that they are, always anticipates your burning desire to work with their new fibers and provide superb pattern booklets to accompany all of their yarns. Full of trendy, wearable knits that cater to a wide range of ability levels, these booklets are a great place to start if you are in search of some knitspiration! Needless to say, #308 is brimming with stylish knits including, but not limited to an adorable top, delightful sweaters and a snazzy cap!

Glint 2953

For those of you looking for something a little more glam, Berroco has you covered with Glint! This light, worsted weight fiber consists of shimmery metallic filament encased in delicately woven strands of a soft cotton and nylon blend. Perfect for knit and crochet fashionistas, Glint has a beautiful drape and comes in a sumptuous array of classic solid colors. Don't forget to check out the Glint Pattern Booklet, #306 which has plenty of project ranging from casual chic to glitzy elegance!

If you're still hungry for Berroco, stay tuned as we'll be receiving even more in the near future!!

It is wise to use stitch markers!

Ok, so enough Berroco (for now). On to those handy-dandy accessories/necessities: stitch markers! Victoria S, a.k.a. the Queen of Crafty, has added the Power Animal Packs to her collection of darling handmade beaded stitch markers. Available in sets of 3, these ultra-cutesy notions are the perfect way to add a bit of serenity and extra [insert power here] to your knitting. Whether you hope to infuse more Love (Panda) into a project, or strive to relax and enjoy your knitting with Contentment (Kitty) the power animal stitch markers are a great reminder to have Fun (Monkey) with your knitting!

Also on the Newness Front: 4 spectacular patterns from Knitting Pure And Simple! I'm partial to the Children's Mukluk Slippers, though my feet are far too large... sigh. These adorable boot-like slippers knit up in no time with bulky weight yarn to keep your favorite little toesies nice and warm! If their feet are already taken care of, consider the Children's Bulky Top-Down Pullover and/or the Children's Henley Top-Down Pullover to maintain their upper body warmth! Both of these cozy sweaters are easy-to-knit and perfect for days spent playing in the snow. If you're in New England preparing for the Nor'easter (a snowstorm of epic proportions), all three of these patterns are great garments for an after-storm snow party (and you can knit them in the mean time)! Ok, so I know it is too late now to get started on these delightful designs if you're on the verge of being snowed-in, but I'm fairly certain there will be more storms to come ;) Of course the fashion-fun isn't limited to kids; we've got the New Neck-Down Pullover for us grown-ups as well! A variation of the popular Neck-Down Pullover, this sweater is more fitted with a simple, classic design that is easy to dress up for work or wear about the house on a lazy weekend!

Until next week, happy knitting and crocheting!
Leanne :)

Another week, another roomful of new yarn, accessories and more! Of course Sandy Clause, December's Limited Edition Color is here! On top of offering this color in the traditional spectrum of Lorna's yarns, we also have a small quantity of the luxurious Baby Me Boo from Misiti Alpaca dyed in this vibrant colorway. Just one hank is great for a pair of festive fingerless mits or plush cowl. Also here for the holidays are Limited Edition tubs of Heel featuring Sandy Clause! This all-natural foot cream smooths and moisturizes feet, which is a definite plus during these cold, dry winter months. And with a name like Sandy Clause it seems almost wrong not to gift a tub along with a pair of hand knit socks or as a clever stocking stuffer!

Another excellent stocking stuffer or gift for your favorite knitting pals are the new Ewe Cuties Beaded Stitch Markers from Victoria S! These ultra-adorable glass bead sheep stitch markers come in sets of three and are sure to bring a smile to any knitter's face :) If you love the Cuties, be sure to check out the Holiday Snowmen and Holiday Chicks for Christmas-themed cuteness!

I harbor a (not so) secret addiction to knitting magazines, so I would be remiss not to to highlight the latest Winter Issue of Interweave Knits! Full of knitting articles and fabulous patterns, I've flipped through this magazine over a dozen times and still pick it up every time I walk by. This particular issue has several knee-high sock designs I am just dying to try! Of course there are also a ton of spectacular hat, scarf and glove patterns, as well as some fantastic pullovers and cardigans! If you're searching for some stylish winter knitting inspiration, the Winter Interweave Knits has you covered!

As you know, Koigu's KPPPM is finally here in 120 one-of-a-kind colorways! If you're just waiting for your killer design to be picked for the giveaway (see post below!) but jonesing to work with this gorgeous yarn in the mean time -or you just need an excuse to work with a couple hanks- consider Barb's Koigu Ruffle! One of our most popular patterns from Churchmouse, this exotic ruffle scarf uses just two hanks of KPPPM. While it makes a great gift, you may have a hard time parting with such a striking scarf :)

Have a wonderful week and happy knitting!
Leanne

I just have to shout out about our own Victoria S stitch marker line being one of the products reviewed in the special issue of Knitscene magazine!!

Yay way to go Victoria!! We are so excited that one of our very own little beans is so famous!! I know these stitch markers are amzing as I have 2 sets myself and they are fantastic yarn jewelry!





As always happy knitting and crocheting! Jeanne