I’ve never met a yarn I didn’t like from Blue Sky Alpacas. Techno their latest creation debuting this Fall does not disappoint.  It’s a marvel to work with and I’m sure to wear, but I haven’t whipped it up into a garment yet. I could however snuggle with our swatch for hours.

Techno is a “fish net stocking” of silk with beautiful baby alpaca and wool blown in. Why is this wonderful? Well it gives you a light weight, but warm finished piece at a bigger gauge. Ooh soft and snuggly and a quick knit or crochet. Awesome.

Each skein has 120 yard works up at 3-5 sts per inch on a size 10.5 needle.

We picked up all the colors and all the patterns this season.

Graphic Pullover

Come by and swish it or check out the colors on the yarns posted on our site.

Thea's Pullover

Well I’m finally getting around to posting the pattern for my NYE sparkle arm warmers.

Bit O’ Sparkle Mitts

By Courtney Heath

Materials:

Yarn: 2 skeins Tahki Stella

Size 6 32” circular needle for Magic Loop or set of size 6 double pointed needles

Pattern:

Co 44 sts, place marker, join for knitting in the round.

Knit in the round for approximately 8 inches. Make shorter or longer if you desire. Note if you make longer, you may need two skeins of yarn

Once you have knit 8 inches (or desired arm length) cease knitting in the round and purl back on the stitches just worked. Continue back and forth in stockinette purling one row and knitting one row, creating a opening along one edge, which will become the thumb hole. Continue back and forth, not knitting in the round for apx one inch.

Join once again for knitting in the round. Knit two rows. Bind off loosely or with a Russian Bind off.

Inspired by Eileen Fisher, I’ve decided to whip up some Glovelettes with a bit of sparkle.  The sun has been glistening off the newly fallen snow and I don’t want to be left out.

Sparkley mitts from Eileen Fisher: Inspiration #1

Sparkly mitts from Eileen Fisher: Inspiration #2

So inspired by these, I’m creating my own. I’ll post the pattern in the next day or so, but wanted to send a little festive sparkle your way today!

I have one done and one to work on tonight

Happy New Year and thanks for all the support, friends, laughs and fiber!

One of our favorite and best selling books this year has been 60 Quick Knits, which features some fabulous projects for the whole family using Cascade 220, another perennial favorite!  It’s so hard to pick a favorite project from this book and it’s even harder with Rhonda, one of our fab teachers, keeps bringing in projects from the book.

20 of the 60 projects

Rhonda is quickly working her way through this book.  She’s worked up 20 projects so far and at this rate she might make it through the whole book by year end!

Have you guys heard about this new game for the Nintendo Wii, Kirby’s Epic Yarn?  Interesting to see yarn enter the video gaming worlds as a super cool visual element.

That’s Kirby “made” of yarn.

Kirby and the “yarn” in action in the game.

I’m not a gamer myself, but I’ve been known to play the Wii with my niece and nephew a few times.  I’m hoping they’ll have this game when we visit over Thanksgiving.

Wow you can tell Halloween season is in full swing.  Glow in the dark yarn is FLYING out of here.

This was the scene from overnight glow in the dark orders! What would you make?

One yarn, which we’ve been lacking is a great boucle.  That is until now!  We just brought in Sublime’s Wooly Merino. It’s a great fiber 96% wool and 4% nylon that knits up at 3.5 stitches per inch on a size 9.

There is a great pattern book associated with this yarn too.  I’m having a hard time deciding which one I might make.

The Chic Kimono Vest

Did I mention that this yarn is machine washable?!!!! How great is that?

Simply known as the Hoodie. Stylish and comfy!

Linda has her eye on this sweater below.

Big Loop Jacket

Everyone who has walked in the shop has fallen in love with this yarn. Want to give it a shot? Check out the colors here.

We loved the new recycled yarn for Spring from Rowan and thought oh they can’t top this one, but Renew the new recycled wool from Rowan for Fall and Winter is just lovely!

See the beautiful color effect of the recycled

See the beautiful color effect of the recycled wool?

This wonderful yarn is made from recycled wool and results in a fabulous tweedy look.  It’s a quick knit with 3.5 stitches per inch knit on a U.S. size 10.  It’s also accompanied by a great pattern book, Purelife Autumn, but the possibilities for this yarn are so many.

Purelife Autumn

It would make great hats and mitts.  I was thinking our Thrummed mitts pattern by Helene Driesen would be great with a coordinating color roving.  Simply beautiful!

What a cozy sweater

Buy online at here

We’re so excited to add some fabulous new yarn lines to the shop this season.  Thanks to all those that filled out the survey.  We asked what additional fibers or yarns folks might want to see in the shop and we’re so excited to bring in Madelinetosh yarns, which were a big request!

We’ve added Tosh Sock and Toshmerino Light.

Look at this beautifully vibrant color palette

What can you expect from Madelinetosh if you aren’t already familiar? Well you’ll find a beautiful selection of natural fibers are soft and supple to the touch and so great to handle.  The fibers are great but in my opinion the colors are even better!  Beautiful depth, great colorways, just a wonder for the eye and they are even more stunning once worked up.

The Tosh Merino Light is so scrumptious. Look at that depth of color!

We just received word our shipment of Madeline Tosh Pashmerino shipped and should arrive soon.  Oooh all sorts of Tosh goodness.

We’re reviewing new yarns here at A Yarn Tale.   We thought it might be fun to showcase new yarns for the season as they come in and talk about why we like them, why we picked them, and give you some ideas about what you might do with them.

Next up: Rowan British Sheep Breeds Boucle.  I am dreaming of what do with this yarn and having a hard time choosing which one because I keep thinking of ideas.

See super soft and cuddly

This yarn is a super soft cuddly yarn that is wonderfully sheepy, but not rough and scratchy because it’s made from wonderful Bluefaced Leicester wool.

I'm leaning toward this one. Super cozy right?

So many possibilities with this yarn that knits up at about 2-2.5 stitches per inch. However it only comes in one lovely creamy color, Ecru.  This is the natural wool color and it’s beautiful.

Even though its a boucle, it still works great for cables.

All of these patterns are found in a new book this season from Rowan called Purelife Autumn.

This would be a quick knit and a great wearable piece.

Also thinking of this for a great cuddly hat, leg warmers or how about a fabulous knit toy! Buy it here.