This just in: Habu, Haiku Knits and Ori Ami Knits!

YBD is thrilled to announce the arrival of our latest Habu Textiles order, plus the arrival of two books that feature Habu's yarns: Haiku Knits and Ori Ami Knits!

We've restocked Habu's Cotton Gima, Linen, Fine Merino and Silk Stainless yarns. New to us is their Ultra Fine Stainless Steel Thread, with the excellent message on the label: "Yardage not available, but A LOT".

In Haiku Knits, author and designer Tanya Alpert features 25 designs that celebrate originality, simplicity, sophisticated color and comfortable fit. Her "Lantern Floating" pattern brings together Habu's Silk Stainless and Super Fine Merino into a softly felted, romantic top and skirt. The book also features some other fine yarns that we currently stock, including Rowan Cocoon.

Ori Ami Knits - featuring designs from Olga Buraya-Kefelian, Vanessa Yap-Einbund and Kirsten Johnstone - is a collection of 13 pieces that focus on the concepts of folding, pleating, draping and combining textures. The "Concertina Dress" uses Habu Linen and has intricate detailing around the neckline. The linen yarn's flowing drape is perfectly suited for summer days. The "Abyss Jacket" uses two strands of two different colors of Tsumugi Silk held together (for a total of four strands) and is a perfect addition to any wardrobe. With classic tailoring and minimalist feature details, this garment is a true crowd-pleaser.

This just in: new books!

YBD has received several great books over the last few weeks. Here is some information about some of them.

Nicky Epstein's Knitting Block By Block is an innovative book that provides the reader with 150 block designs and diagrams to design with. Simply choose the design you want - afghan, bag, sweater, scarf or toy - and select one block design or several to mix and match and create your own personalized finished object!

Knit.Sock.Love is the latest release from sock guru Cookie A. This beautifully photographed book features 19 original patterns that are broken down step by step into bite-size components that are easy to digest. Illustrations, diagrams and charts accompany each project, offering an invaluable guide for visual knitters.

In A Knitting Wrapsody, Kristin Omdahl features 18 innovative designs to wrap, drape and tie. According to the author, although all of the projects in the book - scarves, wraps, shawls and skirts - are knitted, much of the aesthetic is inspired by crochet. A DVD is included with the book to help to demonstrate some of the unusual techniques used in these patterns.

60 Quick Baby Knits is a collection of charming knits from Cascade featuring their 220 Superwash yarn. This collection of designs, ranging from easy to experienced, includes hats, booties, sweaters, blankets and more.

Both edited by Judith Durant, One-Skein Wonders and Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders feature patterns - you guessed it - using just one skein of yarn each! One-Skein Wonders features 101 patterns written for just about every weight of yarn out there - plus novelty yarn! Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders features 101 patterns that go way beyond socks. While the volume features many wonderful yarns, while paging through, we found three patterns featuring one of our favorite sock yarns, Noro Kureyon Sock (shown below). The Ericka Scarf from Gina House features a simple, open lace pattern that is easy to knit and works up quickly. Patricia Colloton-Walsh's Crocheted Market Bag is fast, fun and useful. And now for something completely different, how about Irina Poludnenko's knit and crocheted Umbrella Lamp Shade? Yarn cost for any of these three projects is a steal at just $19.95!

Restock alert - Handpainted Knitting Yarns and Berroco Comfort!

Yarns By Design is pleased to report that we've just restocked some of our most popular products!





The Hand Painted Knitting Yarns "Scarf-in-a-Scarf" Knitting Kits include four skeins of soft-as-butter yarn in a 60% silk, 40% fine Merino blend, as well as a handpainted silk scarf that's been dyed to match. Knit the included pattern, thread the silk scarf through your knitting, and you have a beautiful new accessory for fall that can be worn in a number of ways! See the top photo above for the colors now in stock.



Also just in is a huge restock of one of the most popular and versatile yarns that we carry - Berroco Comfort. Great for baby or adult knits, Comfort is an affordably-priced classic worsted weight yarn. An ultra-soft blend of super fine acrylic and super fine nylon is spun into a luxury twist. The yarn is easy care– machine wash and dry – and allergy free. Currently, we have 45 colors of this fabulous yarn in stock.

New from Rowan!

We were excited to receive a big box from Rowan today with all eight colors of one of their newest yarns - Savannah!



Savannah is a wonderful aran-weight 94% cotton, 6% silk yarn perfect for summer knits and is available in lovely desert shades. Rowan's Savannah Collection pattern booklet is also available at YBD and features 12 designs for women using this beautiful yarn.

Also just arrived is Rowan Magazine Number 49, featuring 46 knit and crochet designs from Marie Wallin, Kaffe Fassett, Martin Storey, Erika Knight, Sarah Dallas, Brandon Mably, Grace Melville, Lisa Richardson, Amanda Crawford, Jennie Atkinson and Sarah Hatton. Stop by the boutique to pick up your copy today!

This just in: new yarns from Gedifra!

Like a breath of spring air, two new cotton-blend yarns from Gedifra arrived today!



Gedifra Pertinio (sample above shown in color 1917) is a blend of cotton and viscose with a touch of lurex. This yarn is a flat cotton ribbon with a strand of lurex that is wrapped with shiny viscose. Gedifra Pertinio is a great yarn for warm weather that adds a little fun with the touch of sparkle. 82% Cotton/14% Viscose, 50g/110yd, 5 sts = 1" on US 6.



Small, brightly colored tufts of polyamide poke out from the cotton yarn and resembel roses in this great yarn. Gedifra Rosas (sample above shown in color 1716) is perfect for accessories, but also interesting for garments. 55% Polyamid/45% Cotton, 50g/88yd, 4.5 sts = 1" on US 5.

Pattern books using these yarns - Gedifra Moments 0224 and Gedifra Highlights 111 - are also in stock. Both patterns shown above can be found in Gedifra Highlights 111.

This just in: new shawl patterns!

Yarns By Design was delighted to receive three new shawl patterns this week!

First up is the Aestlight Shawl by Gudrun Johnston. Aestlight (which translates to "east light" in the Shetland dialect) is knit using a traditional Shetland construction. It begins with a garter stitch triangle increasing from the point outwards. Stitches are then easily picked up from the very visible yarn over loops along the edges and the border is worked outwards from the triangle. The shawl is finished with an edging that is knitted sideways and attached to the live stitches of the border as it is being worked.

The first pattern of two from designer Stephen West, Flamboyan is an elegant triangular shawl composed of garter and stockinette stitch along with a ribbed edge. Basic intarsia techniques are utilized to achieve a block of color in the center of the shawl. Also from Stephen West is Clockwork, an enjoyable striped garter stitch shawl/scarf, perfect for featuring two beautiful colors of yarn. Bold slipped stitch columns add structural interest while increases give this gear-inspired design a unique arched shape.

All three patterns suggest the use of fingering-weight yarn, and some of our favorites are Spud & Chloë Fine, Malabrigo Sock, Plymouth Happy Feet, Ella Rae Lace Merino and Noro Kureyon Sock. But, since these are shawls, any yarn weight can be substituted (keeping in mind that a finer weight yarn will result in a smaller finished object and a heavier weight yarn a larger one). YBD carries several lovely laceweights from Alpaca With a Twist's Fino and Fantastic Knitting's Zephyr Laceweight, to the ultra-luxurious Louet Mooi and Plymouth Earth Ecco Cashmere. Stop in today to check out these great new patterns!

Have you met Spud and Chloë?

Spud & Chloë is a line of luxe yarns in mod colors, all carefully selected to let you create dreamy pieces from soft baby socks to chunky sweaters, chic fashions and extra special presents.

Yarns By Design carries a wide range of colors of all three of the Spud & Chloë lines — Fine (shown above at left in color 7801, Glow Worm), Sweater (shown above at center in color 7514, Turtle) and Outer (shown above at right in color 7210, Hedge). In addition to these wonderful yarns, we are proud to offer Spud & Chloë patterns.

Made of superwash 80% wool/20% silk, Fine is a sock-weight yarn that is ideal for Fair Isle and detailed work — and of course, some pretty fancy footwork. Sweater is a superwash 55% wool/45% organic cotton in a worsted-weight. Made of superwash 65% wool/35% organic cotton, Outer is a super bulky weight yarn that is just the thing for a quick knit!

Stop by the boutique today to get acquainted with Spud & Chloë!