Going Retro.

Battlestar in it's first incarnation

Galactica - The yarn inspired by the TV Series

When I was in my 20's "Going Retro" mean getting in touch with your inner beatnik & channeling the 60's, today the 80's is considered retro & I saw someone trying to pass something from the 90's off into the same retro genre - I think I am having one of those "you know when you're getting older moments..."

Who remembers these guy? NKTOB

New Kids on the Block yarn - Acid Wash jeans all the way!

However having a little experience under your belt isn't exactly a bad thing when it comes to designing new colours & yarns.  Peter & I have been tinkering away with a new "Acid Wash" look technique, inspired very much by the 80's fashion, look & culture.

I just LOVED this show in the 80's!  Johnny Depp's first big role.

The range is part way through development, but we have just released a limited number of the prototype yarns into the store to share with all of you.  I have been working a project in the colour way 21 Jump Street & have loved the graduating effects of the base colour with the "graffiti" layer of colour over the top.  Check the colours out now & if you are feeling nostalgic, snap them up whilst you can, colours are very limited.

Jump Street the yarn - a little bit acid wash with some graffiti attitude.

Happy!

The Natural shades in Silver lining

 Shooting out for my lunch break today Pharrell Williams "Happy" was on the radio & I thought that is just so appropriate for all the deliciousness which has come past my desk over the week.

Julia Stanfield's Poplar Cowl knitted in Silver Lining 

Silver Lining is now fully loaded on it's entirety - Naturals & earthy tones.  I swatched some of the Triple Peak over the weekend for a vest I planned for my husband - it is just so lush!
Also the Poplar Cowl that I test knitted for Julia Stanfield in the Clifton Stone is now available.  The project is in the shop & has been fondled, caressed & modeled by many of our Skeinz regulars.

Miranda's brightly wrapped 'Urban' trees for Wool Week

Also over the past week the Campaign for Wool week has been making a splash around the country - especially in Auckland.  We worked alongside Auckland Designer Miranda Brown & supplied some of our Urban yarn for her "Tree Wraps" that featured at Britomart in downtown Auckland.  The 'Urban' looks great & certainly brightened up what was a dull week weather wise in our biggest city.

The first two Heritage Kid Mohair colours

Waiting in the wings that certainly made me very happy are the first two Heritage Kid Mohair colours.  Now in the shop (I'll load to the web store when I have the range in it's entirety) the Jelly Baby & Teal just scream "HAPPY".  I know most people poo hoo Mohair as their perception is of something fluffy & fuzzy.  This Kid Mohair is far from this - it's incredibly soft, pliant & because it has been spun into a smooth DK yarn the lustre that is unique to Mohair shines through.  I am itching to get it on the needles & get a project knocked out for you all ASAP.

In the meantime: Knit on & be happy!

Celebrating Wool Week 2014

Once the fibre has arrived it get a good carding

To celebrate wool week 2014 we have launched our new Silver Lining fine micron Rare Breed Merino.  A ultra fine 17 micron Merino made from small coloured flocks that are dotted around the more isolated parts of New Zealand & it's outlying islands.

From carding it's then spun & off it goes for a sauna

These are the flocks that genetic's forgot.  So pure that they have adapted over generations to their own unique environments to produce a fibre that is not only fine, but beautifully coloured & unique to New Zealand.

Once it has finished it's sauna, it's time to get wound & ready

Usually these fleeces just get blended back with the larger Merino clip, but we are delighted to have liberated them & to have spun them into a truly special yarn.

All set & ready for your needles and hooks

Silver Lining has been blended into 4 natural shades & we have over dyed one of those naturals to produce an earthy palette of 5 sumptuous colours.  Usually merino this fine never finds itself into hand knitting yarn.  I have already completed a sample project with it & I can honestly say I am seriously smitten.

Just a joy to knit - so soft that even the most sensitive of people could wear it against the skin.

So if the gray weather is getting you down, have a look at the Silver Lining that we are offering you & at the same time Celebrate with us Wool Week, as we are a proud partner of the Campaign for Wool NZ.

Fresh New Look!

A much more vibrant homepage!

For the last several months & have been quietly working on a freshen up for the skeinz.com site.  In five years we have seen huge growth & it was time to have a site that looked a little fresher & was populated with images of yarns made onsite.

The design & development team at Zeald (Thank you so much Bruno & Eve for all your help) have done a great job in making the site. I still have a bit of work to do tweaking some links, improving some of the product photography & propagating some pages.  We have decided to go live and work on all of these elements so 'in the moment' so to speak so we don't disrupt your ability to shop & get your Skeinz yarn fix.

there's still more to come, we will be adding a rotating Gallery Image & we are working on a new Skeinz rewards programme. So watch this space....

Waiting for the waters to break...

Some vivacious mohair sample just waiting  to get 'wrapped'

Nobody likes waiting, least of all me. Here at the Skeinz 'Yarn Kitchen' I have a number of projects which are almost to term.  It's like pacing the floor whilst you're waiting for your waters to break & give birth to the new life you have been nourishing, nurturing & gestating for months.  It is so close, yet not quite there.

A sneak peak at one of the 4 natural Silver Lining shades

One such project is a new addition to our Heritage range of yarns (I have three Heritage 'buns' in the oven) called Silver Lining.  This is ultra fine coloured Merino, which has been lovingly blended by the team in the mill to produce a series of four gradient natural colours.  I really wish we had yarn 'squish-ivison' because this yarn is simply sublime.  It's 17 microns, that's like Italian wool suit fine, perfect for that special heirloom project, even for a special abay project.  If all does well Silver Lining will be delivered towards the end of next week....

These two yarns work ideally together in this precious wee cardigan.

To keep with the gestational theme of today's blog, Robynne down in the Skeinz shop also kept her fingers busy knitting up this delightful wee sample for the shop using Vintage Filigree & Vintage DK.  The Pattern is Baby Vertebrae from Kelly Brooker at PekaPeka Design Studio (Click here to purchase) and the combination of the ethereal Filigree with the Vintage DK border work beautifully in Kelly's simply stunning design.  Knitted here in Newborn size.

Strong Arm!

One of the biggest crazes to hit knitting on the 'net has been Arm Knitting.  Using your Arms as 'needles' to quickly produce quick, fun fashionable scarves, cowls & blankets.  On my travels recently I found some of these at a craft market & Knit August Nights will be offering a class to teach Arm Knitting in August.
Best using a variety of yarns knitted together to produce thick squishy fabric. At Skeinz the perfect yarns for this would be Texas worked double, Crucci's Gorgeous would work a treat, or even either of these with some Whisper Mohair for some luxury.  Just Google Arm knitting & let your imagination go wild!

Rainbow Child

All these colours are now available

It was with great sadness that we deleted our Prism range last month.  It's bright cheerful colour range has been popular with knitters & designers alike.  Alas it was raw material supply that let us down & after a 12 month search for a replacement, we had to face some hard facts.

One facet of Prism we weren't prepared to part with however was the vibrant pure colours that made up the Prism rainbow.  Solution?  Move the five main contenders across to Urban:  Jelly Baby, Lime Snakes, Play Green, Hula Hoop Purple & Crayon Yellow (which will replace Urban's Papaya) are all now in stock both in store & on line.  So you can now source your favourite rainbow colours in our fabulous superwash Urban base.   Looking for that perfect Rainbow pattern - Our pattern vault, Ravelry, is brimming with Rainbow patterns.  here's a list of our faves.

Rainbow Dress by Georgie Hallam
This pattern has become a favourite for little girls worldwide.  A great dress for those starting to learn to knit in the round & just such a practical, wearable garment.

Rainbow Nesting Baskets by Marinke Slump
I just loved these quirky little crocheted baskets.  A great starter project & best of all the pattern & turtorial are free!

Rainbow Child - by Rebecca Newman
Gisborne based designer Rebecca is a great supporter of Skeinz & our yarns partners. She's an up and coming designer & is well worth checking out.  This children's hoodie is a great one for boys or girls & is an excellent addition to any pattern collection & is sized from 3 months right up to 8 years.

Rainbow Penguins by Kath Dalmeny
I know, I know - Penguins!  But c'mon, this is me, you know I can't resist a Penguin!!