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Glitz & Glamour Yarns
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Welcome to the 10th issue of the new Yarnmarket Just My Type newsletter. Each month we’re featuring a different Yarn Types category from our store and showcasing many of the sensational fibers & fiber blends in stock and just right for your favorite knitting & crochet projects. With over 700 yarns now available from Yarnmarket.com, you’re sure to find the perfect option for your next creative endeavor no matter what it is. Having trouble reading this issue? Then please enjoy the online version.
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Glitz & Glamour Yarns for the Special Occasions of Your Life
When the weather gets cooler and the evenings get longer, most of us start anticipating the upcoming holidays and get-togethers with family & friends. But we also start planning just how we will dress on those special occasions, and of course, if the items we choose can also work for a spring wedding or a summer anniversary party, that's even better. So the big question here is can our knitwear easily join our sophisticated wardrobes?
The answer from haute-couture aficionados and everyday wear mavens alike is a resounding "Yes!" From the silky drape of lightweight tops and pullovers featured in the collections of Michael Kors & Giorgio Armani this fall to what Lucky magazine recently featured as the "hottest evening looks," our Glitz & Glamour Yarns are perfect for your year-round knitting & crocheting pleasure.
So what exactly is a "glitz & glamour" yarn anyway? In Europe these types of fiber gems are referred to as "fancy" yarns or even "novelty" yarns although the latter group often includes less dressy options too such as eyelash or flag constructions. By the Yarnmarket dictionary, it's any yarn with a bit of sparkle, pizzazz or sheen that makes it stand out from the classic, traditional yarns that are also so popular today. From the "silks, sequins and all-out glamour" showcased by the editors of Lucky to the more subtle issues of drape and sheen of less dressy garments and accessories, these knitwear pieces are your investments items for years to come celebrating on New Year's Eve.
There are also a number of designers who have created entire books centered around the concept of "glam" dressing, and here's an overview of a few of our staff favorites:
Glamour Knits by gifted British knitwear designer Erika Knight is a compendium of 15 outfits inspired by the movie sirens of the 1940s & 1950s. These retro looks fit right in with the fall & winter fashion trends this year and will be lovely additions to your collection.
Then Erika takes her definition a step further and shares with us her Glamour Knits at Home where she shows us how to find the glamour hiding in unexpected places and transform our homes.
New designer Laura Zukaite has created an outstanding collection of glamorous projects in her recent release Luxe Knits. Laura's gift is to reinterpret traditional stitches and transform a garment into a masterpiece through the means of her vision & creativity.
Then last but certainly not least comes Glam Knits from the talented Stefanie Japel. With 26 totally glam projects in the spotlight, you're sure to find your next top, sweater or accessory project in this fine collection.
So with a gorgeous collection of Glitz & Glamour Yarns currently in stock at Yarnmarket.com, you have plenty of options from which to choose for all your dressy projects & gifts. We know you enjoy browsing for yourself, but we also have the following special staff recommendations for yarns and projects for year-round enjoyment of these terrific yarns. Several of these projects also start with Free Patterns courtesy of the manufacturer, so take a look and get started on your next stunningly beautiful outfit or gift right away.
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Yarn & knitwear design powerhouse Berroco Yarns has a terrific collection of glitzy options for your knitting & crochet projects, so we'll highlight a few of them for you today.
First of all, the yarn gurus at Berroco have developed what they call "special effects" or "FX" yarns. Such yarns as ever-popular Metallic FX, sparkling Lazer FX & glistening Mirror FX will leave you breathless when you see all the lovely tops, pullovers, jewelry items & accessories you can create.
For an even more recent development, check out luscious Lumina. As luminous as its name implies, this yarn is a lightweight, supple blend of cotton & acrylic with the glimmer & shimmer of metallic polyester wrapped around the base strand with exquisite results. And remember that you can create dressy socks too with the subtle hint of gleam in Berroco Sox Metallic.
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Sachi Top
Cabled Tee
Bologne Jacket
Easy Evening Bag
Abelly Pullover
Carline Sweater
Teaser Wrap
Ruffled Neck Top
Songe Sweater
Clutch Bag
Gossamer Shawl
Shale Scarf
Sparkle Bolero
Crochet Tunic
Corkscrew Scarf
Semana Top &
Detachable Collar
Stardust Tunic
Crochet Beret
Muse Tank
Tuxedo Wrap
Beaded Scarf
Criss Cross Scarf
La Boheme Wrap
Silk Vest
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Then the high-fashion styling of the designers at Gedifra Yarns means that we can offer you several outstanding, sophisticated Gedifra yarns and support them superbly with Design Director Karola Gottwald's exquisite pattern collections each season.
For example, Luminoso definitely lives up to its name with its side-by-side strands of silky rayon & supersoft chenille boucle all tied together by a thin nylon thread of shimmering metallic. Now this one is a true year-round fiber gem.
Also take a peek the Gedifra yarn hit of the season -- stunning Samina yarn with its unique construction of an outer mesh woven of drop-dead gorgeous metallic nylon threads that are then slipped over a single, matte wool strand to serve as the core or foundation for the yarn.
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When we're thinking of European haute couture, no one translates runway fashions to superb knitwear you can create yourself better than Anny Blatt. You know you can count on them for spectacular fiber blends supported sensationally by out-of-the-ordinary pattern collections each season, and their glamour yarn collection is no exception and most definitely lives up to the reputation.
From companion yarns Gyps d'Anny and Paillettes to glittering Muguet and silky Victoria, the ultimate in sophisticated French knitwear is just a click of your mouse (and your needles!) away.
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When you're ready to explore the fiber wonders of Anny Blatt's partner Bouton d'Or Yarns, rest assured that the same standards for high quality and fantastic design support apply. We particularly love the way the designers combine Anny Blatt and Bouton d'Or yarns in the same garment or accessory to give you a wide range of knitting and crochet projects.
One of our favorite fiber creations from Bouton d'Or is Songe, a marvelous DK-weight yarn with lustrous sheen but without overpowering glitz. Its understated, French chic with rayon shimmer plus its subtle, soft mohair fuzz makes for truly outstanding garments & accessories. Just imagine how superb your next sweater, vest, scarf, shawl or even jacket will be knitted or crocheted in such a fabulous fiber blend.
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Another European yarn company known for sophisticated designs and fun yarn blends is Spanish manufacturer Katia Yarns. For both the experienced yarn connoisseur & the discriminating beginner, Katia offers several simply stunning yarn choices.
To knit and crochet by itself or as a companion yarn, lightweight Gatsby is a glittering, shimmering yarn that's a glamorous choice for dressy scarves, shawls and other "out-on-the-town" fashions. Add that you also have variegated color combos from which to choose for any Gatsby pattern by subbing multi-hued Gatsby Lux, and you have many splendid alternatives.
There's also a stunning Katia ribbon yarn with a lustrous finish called Sevilla. Sleek, shiny, and sophisticated, this yarn will create the most stylish dress knits yet is versatile enough to mix with other outstanding Katia yarns for more casual looks. And since it's available in over 25 solids, finding the right color blends is easy.
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Then for an American company known for their European styling, check out the elegant yarns of Karabella. Family-owned & operated, Karabella combines the high-fashion designs of company founder Berta Karapetyan with some superb fiber concoctions.
One such yarn beauty is exquisite Gossamer yarn. It's light as air and sparkles like diamonds because supersoft kid mohair is spun with durable nylon and then accented by a metallic polyester thread for subtle glitz. Choose from over 35 color options for the perfect top, shawl, scarf or accessory to wear on your next big night out on the town.
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The ever-popular British company known for interesting classic yarns, Rowan Yarns has enhanced their fiber collection with a touch of glitz because their customers were looking for more eveningwear options from one of their favorite yarn manufacturers. Lovely gleaming Shimmer yarn was then born to satisfy this need.
Shimmer certainly lives up to its name whether you knit & crochet it by itself or use it as a carry-a-long yarn with some of your other luxurious favorites. Anything you add it to will gleam & glimmer with sophistication from the most delicate shawl or trendy bag to elegant napkin rings & home decor.
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Then innovative designer Teva Durham was seeking some new way to design eveningwear and she knew if she worked directly with the mills, she could discover something incredible for her Loop-d-Loop yarn collection. To make you stand out in any crowd, she created her gorgeous Shale yarn.
With a shimmering thread of rayon securely chained through the fuzzy mohair base, "Shale" gives you marvelous tone-on-tone coloration & much more. Mimicking the wonderful texture and hue variety found in shale rock formations, this Loop-d-Loop lovely is a quick-to-create choice for your chunky knitting & crochet projects. Just think what superb, multi-seasonal garments you can create like scarves, shawls, sweaters, jackets and accessories.
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Also Filatura Di Crosa, with the able leadership and creativity of Creative Director in the U.S., Margery Winter, continues to wow us with their interpretation of the latest trends, and glitz and glamour yarns are no exception.
First off comes one of the softest, most versatile metallic yarns we've ever experienced -- New Smoking. After one glimpse of this gorgeous Filatura fiber gem, we can certainly understand where it got its name -- it's smokin' hot for eveningwear & dressy garments. Whether knitted and crocheted as a companion yarn for subtle shimmer or used by itself to create something sparkling, "New Smoking" will definitely help you make a fashion statement in all your DK-weight outfits.
Also take a look at beautiful Semana, a lightweight, subtly dressy yarn option to enhance your warm-weather wardrobe. This multi-hued mini-boucle is wrapped with a shimmering metallic thread, which means you can dress "Semana" up or down and still have a superb lightweight garment with subtle sheen & glimmer. It's just perfect for knitted and crocheted cardis, tops, jackets, tunics, shawls, scarves & other accessories.
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Now you know you can always count on the yarn gurus of Crystal Palace to give you oodles of variety and their yarn collection is the most extensive when it comes to these "fancy" yarns as the Europeans call them.
Start off with the touch of sparkle they've added to their oh-so popular classic yarns such as with Deco Stardust and with Fizz Stardust.
Then for novelty yarns that are truly in a class all their own, discover the wonders of Little Flowers, Fling Solid and Fling Print. All of these choices work up beautifully alone or combined with other Crystal Palace fiber gems for terrific garments and accessories. Add that most Crystal Palace projects start off with a free pattern, and you have the perfect beginning to any project!
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Fiber maven Barry Klein has consistently chosen innovative fiber blends in luscious colors for his company Trendsetter Yarns, and his glamour yarns are no exception.
His ever-popular Dune is a stupendous, multi-stranded yarn with infinite design options. The vibrant colors change in rapid succession with a metallic thread throughout that sparkles through the halo of multi-hued mohair.
Another of his long-time faves is silky ribbon Segue with its marvelous sheen and quick-to-create gauge. Then for third glitzy option, discover his sensational, self-ruffling Intermezzo yarn that's terrific to use for trim.
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In the haute couture U.S. knitwear industry, the name Stacy Charles has long stood for innovative fibers and gorgeous combinations of yarns in marvelous outfits. The S. Charles Collezione brings you numerous fiber choices, and we are showcasing three of our favorites.
The foundation yarn of his glitz & glamour collection is Ritratto, a distinctive blend of mohair, rayon, nylon and polyester. Ultra-feminine and ultra-lightweight, "Ritratto" is terrific worked up alone or combined with another of the glamour yarns such as striking, multi-hued Venus.
One other beautiful yarn we highly recommend is his gorgeous Muse with its unusual construction. With its lovely tri-strand twist, "Muse" has lovely color combos and terrific texture to inspire you in all your DK-weight projects.
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And when you're looking for glitz and glamour in hand-dyed yarns, we highly recommend you check out the wonders of the classic glitzy yarn La Boheme from Fiesta Yarns.
One of the outstanding features of "La Boheme" is its wondrous 2-strand construction hand-dyed together -- one strand of brushed kid mohair blended with wool & nylon and the other a lovely 100% rayon boucle -- and it's the only yarn of its kind dyed this way. The terrific juxtaposition of sheen & matte with marvelous textures creates a truly special fabric in all your worsted-weight knitting & crochet projects.
Then when you crave a solid-hued version in this lovely fiber blend, choose Insignia La Boheme yarn or when you're ready to create a one-of-a-kind project, select Yarnmarket-exclusive colorways of Impressionist La Boheme.
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Then last but certainly not least comes the ultimate glitz & glamour yarn collections in the hand-dyeing industry. Iris Schreier has created an exquisite collection of beaded and sequined yarns for her Artyarns line, and we suggest you check them all out in addition to the few we have time to overview here.
Depending on your favorite fibers and fiber blends, Iris has something to suit everyone's preferences and budgets. From lightweight, ethereal Beaded Mohair & Sequins where one hank will make an accessory and gorgeous gift to luxurious, cashmere blend Beaded Ensemble & Sequins where you'll enjoy working with the yarn almost as much as you'll love wearing the finished piece, you have limitless options, so give your imagination free rein.
And just as a little preview of what's to come, our 11th issue of the Just My Type newsletter will be emailed to you on Tuesday, January 26th, so get ready for truly special creations with Exotic & Unusual Fibers. You'll also learn more about the wide range of animal & plant fibers from which threads can be extracted and yarn can be spun so that you can enjoy your knitted and crocheted projects year round.
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Orginally published by Yarnmarket.com in 11/2009. Please note
that yarns and links may change over time.
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