Knit black and gold!

Yarns By Design congratulates the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are headed to Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 to face the Green Bay Packers. What better way to pass the time until the big day than to make a new scarf to show your Steeler pride?



Black and Gold Braided Scarf

Pattern courtesy of Sandra Donatelli

Materials:
1 skein Cascade 220 in black (color 8555)
1 skein Cascade 220 in gold (color 9463B)
Size 7 or 8 US needles
Tapestry needle

Cast on 11 stitches with either color. Work straight in K1, P1 ribbing until strip reaches approximately 64 inches. Knit two more strips, for a total of three (the sample shown is made with two black strips and one gold). Lay strips together, parallel to one another lengthwise, and seam approximately two inches between each strip at the end. Loosely braid the strips (so that they still lay somewhat flat), then seam approximately two inches between each strip on the opposite end. If desired for extra stability, tack the strips together loosely with a stitch where the two strips of the same color cross each other in the braid (in the sample, the black strips are tacked together). Finished measurements of the sample shown are 58 inches long, 3.5 inches wide.

New at YBD: Cascade Eco Alpaca and Eco Duo!

Yarns By Design is pleased to announce that we now carry Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca and Eco Duo!



Eco Alpaca is an undyed 100% baby alpaca yarn available in many beautiful and natural shades. This super-soft, plied worsted-weight yarn is put up in very generous 220-yard skeins. A selection of free patterns that use Eco Alpaca is available at Cascade's website here.

Eco Duo is a soft and supple blend of 70% baby alpaca and 30% Merino wool. These undyed yarns are blended and spun into a singles yarn available in a muted natural color palette. Each Aran-weight skein has 197-yards. A selection of free patterns using Eco Duo is available at Cascade's website here.

This just in: Artyarns!

We've just received a new shipment of beautiful and luxurious yarns from Artyarns!


Mohair Splash: 74% Silk, 26% Kid Mohair with glass beads and sequins; 165 yds.


Ensemble: 75% Silk, 25% Cashmere; 256 yds.


Rhapsody: 50% Silk, 50% Kid Mohair; 260 yds.


Beaded Rhapsody: 85% Silk, 15% Kid Mohair with glass beads and Lurex; 175 yds.
Beaded Ensemble with Sequins: 85% Silk, 15% Cashmere with glass beads, sequins and metallic thread; 128 yds.

A selection of free patterns to choose from is included with the purchase of these fine yarns. Some of our favorites are: pattern F117, a lacy little scarf that requires just one skein of Beaded Ensemble with Sequins (or any of the other Artyarns yarns that we carry!); F119, a luxury bolero jacket knit with two skeins of either Rhapsody or Ensemble; and F200, a lacy shrug knit with just one skein of Mohair Splash. Photos of all of these projects and more can be viewed at the Artyarns website. Stop by the boutique today to see these lovely yarns!

The YBD Big Gift Guide

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you still have not checked the fiber lovers in your life off of your gift list, we have a few ideas for you!

Scarf kits by Mihaela's Signature Designs or Hand Painted Knitting Yarns - The Mihaela's kit (shown below) includes a pattern and the two skeins of yarn needed to make this flirty scarf. The flower accents can be made with scrap yarns from your (or your giftee's) stash. The Hand Painted Knitting Yarns kit includes 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 that can be worn in a number of ways!


Namaste Handbags, Totes and Accessories - Perfect to hold your knit and crochet gear, Namaste bags come in a wide array of colors and are made of extremely durable, animal friendly, easy to clean materials. Namaste believes that fashion and function can exist together.


Needle and Tool Kits - Choose from the ultra-popular Addi Click set (features more than five hundred combinations with 10 pairs of Addi Turbo needle tips, three blue cords and one connector), Clover Bamboo Knitting Needles (circular or single point), ChiaoGoo Bamboo Knitting Needles (packaged in an attractive bamboo case), or The Knit Kit (includes seven essential knitting tools).


Eucalan No Rinse Delicate Wash - Offered in four fragrances, Eucalan is something that no knitter or crocheter should be without! Choose from unscented, lavender, eucalyptus or grapefruit in the 500ml bottle size, or try them all in the sampler pack!


Debra's Garden Knitting Gauge Pendants - This 1.5" x 1.25" lightweight needle gauge is as beautiful as it is accurate. The pendants are available in US measurements from 0-17, and just in is a sock and lace gauge with US and metric measurements from 000000 to 6 and .75mm to 4mm, respectively. Use this handy gauge as a pendant on your favorite chain, as a key ring or bag charm, or as a useful zipper pull on your knitting notions bag. The numbers on the gauge are lasered in and will not wear off.


These are just a few of the wonderful products now in stock. How about some sweet-smelling soaps from local handmade soapmaker Jay Design? Or Sig'nits - beads that you can knit into your project to identify creations as your own? Or books from beginner to expert? Or a gift card? The list goes on and on. So, leave that crowded shopping mall behind and stop in at the boutique today!

Now on sale: AslanTrends and Loop-D-Loop by Teva Durham!

Save 25% off selected fibers at Yarns By Design now through January 1, 2011!

AslanTrends Invernal - Fiber Content: 50% Rabbit Angora, 25% Merino Wool, 25% Polyamide; Weight: 100 g/3.5 oz, approx. 270 m/295 yd; Needle size: 4-5 mm/6–8 US; Gauge: 4-5 stitches per inch.

AslanTrends Del Sur - Fiber Content: 100% Merino Wool; Weight: 100 g/3.5 oz, approx.: 80 m/87 yd; Needle size: 9-10 mm/13–15 US; Gauge: 2-3 stitches per inch.

Loop-D-Loop by Teva Durham Moss - Fiber Content: 85% Extrafine Merino Wool, 15% Nylon; Weight: 50 g/1.76 oz, approx. 149 m/163 yd; Needle size: 3.75-4.5 mm/5-7 US; Gauge: 5-5.5 stitches per inch.

Loop-D-Loop by Teva Durham Fern - Fiber Content: 70% Wool, 30% Nylon; Weight: 50 g/1.76 oz, approx. 74 m/81 yd; Needle size: 9 mm/13 US; Gauge: 3 stitches per inch.

Loop-D-Loop by Teva Durham Shale - Fiber Content: 35% Mohair, 30% Acrylic, 20% Nylon, 15% Viscose; Weight: 50 g/1.76 oz, approx. 67 m/73 yd; Needle size: 8 mm/11 US; Gauge: 3 stitches per inch.

All sales are final and cannot be combined with any other offer. Sale prices apply only to in-stock items.

Latest YBD news!

Happy Holidays and Holiday Hours
Yarns By Design would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving and hopes that you have an enjoyable holiday with your family and friends (and your yarn!). We want to let you know how thankful we are to have you as a valued customer. Each and every one of our customers make us thankful for what we do every day at the boutique. Thank you.

The holiday season is here. To get you started on your holiday gifts, YBD would like to invite you to the boutique on Black Friday, November 26, from 10am-4pm, for great savings. Come select from the wonderful fibers YBD offers that will compliment any project that you are working on. We also offer gift cards and great stocking stuffers for the special fiber artist in your life.

Our holiday hours are in effect beginning Sunday, November 28 through December 19. In addition to our regular hours, the boutique will be open on Sundays from 1-4pm. Please note that the boutique will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 25; Christmas Eve, December 24; Christmas Day, December 25; New Year's Eve, December 31 and New Year's Day, January 1.

2010 Fall Fashion Show
Yarns By Design hosted their inaugural Fall Fashion Show on Sunday, November 14 in Oakmont, presenting the newest and hottest lines in the knitting and crocheting industry. Dancers from Sandra Lynn's School of Dance modeled garments from 12 different lines that YBD showcases.

"This is the time of year when all of our new autumn and winter inventory has arrived," said Tamara Hayes, manager of Yarns By Design. "We value our customers and want to give them the opportunity to see what amazing handmade garments and patterns are available. Hosting this free fashion show gives us the chance to spoil our customers with a fun afternoon of fashion, hors d'oeuvre and door prizes."

"The fashion show introduced the styles of today and provided our customers with a broader view of what they can make," said Sandra Donatelli, owner of YBD. "We had a blast."

Fall Fashion Show to be held this Sunday - spaces still available!

You are cordially invited to join YBD for our First Annual Fall Fashion Show. Fashion, garments, hors d’oeuvre, door prizes and tons of fun guaranteed!

Who: Yarns By Design

What: Fall Fashion Show

Where: Call for details.

When: Sunday, November 14th, 1:30 - 4:30pm

Reservation required / Free event / Space is limited.

Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 10th.

Call 412-832-0657 today to reserve your seat.

Note: Business casual attire is the mode for all areas at the country club. Denim and hats are not permitted. The facility is a smoke-free environment. Use of electronic devices (cell phone/PDA/etc.) is strictly prohibited on the grounds.