US retailer Knit Picks has released its first
all-American yarn line.
The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns
inspired Knit Picks’ parent company, Crafts
Group, to try something new and launch a
custom-made yarn grown, processed, dyed
and milled entirely in the US.
Chief marketing officer Ursula Morgan
says: ‘The pandemic was a catalyst for us.
It gave us a chance to reflect on our core
values and goals and respond to demand
from consumers. At Crafts Group, we
look to our customers to be a navigating
compass in where to go next. They had
been calling for a responsibly sourced,
all-American-made yarn and the time was
right for us to deliver on that.’
At the same time Jeanne Carver of
Shaniko Wool Company was looking
for a brand partner for her American
wool harvest, the only wool to date to
be certified under the global non-profit
responsible land management body Textile
Exchange’s Responsible Wool Standard.
LAND OF THE BRAVE,
HOME OF THE SHEEP
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WE CATCH UP ON THE LATEST YARNS
She says: ‘I’m thrilled to have had the
opportunity to bring Crafts Group the
raw wool for its first American yarn
line. The fact that this wool is RWS
certified means it represents practices
we all value. It has enabled us to provide
confidence along with the premium
quality and performance that we believe
knitters will appreciate.’
High Desert yarn is a 20.5 micron wool
from Merino and Merino-Rambouillet
cross sheep raised on family ranches of
meadows, forest lands and deserts with
natural water supplies. It comes in 12
shades inspired by Oregon’s High Desert,
and in two weights: Sport, which has 273m
per 100g, and Worsted, which has 198m
per 100g. Each ball retails for US$18.
(£13.63). Knit Picks has released a small
range of garment and accessory designs
for the yarns, and another line in the
collection is due to launch this autumn.CAKES AND CROCHET
The Crochet Bakery is a new collection
of cute and delicious crocheted cakes
and goodies from Caroline Turner – all
produced with absolutely no calories
or crumbs. This is an adorable kawaii
book packed with tasty treats from
cupcakes to wedding cakes, and we have
five copies to give away. For your chance
to win, visit our Competitions page on
knittingmag.com. Deadline: August 10.JUST AN INKLING
Designer Kate Davies has taken up
inkle weaving, and found that the
experience of learning a new skill
completely from scratch has revived her
creative practice. This experience has
gone on to inspire a brand new book,
Inkling, which Kate defines as ‘the
very beginning of a thought.’ Inkling
includes 15 colourful, creative projects:
11 designs for hand knitting and four
projects to weave on an inkle loom.ORANGE
IS THE NEW KNIT
Scheepjes has released a zesty
collection in its latest Pretty Little
Things pattern booklet. Themed
around orange, Pretty Little Things
issue 16 features a knitted Juicy Pouch
by Cher Marcus in Colour Crafter yarn,
which looks like an orange segment,
orange crocheted scarf Zesty by Joke
Decorte in Scheepjes Sunkissed, and
embroidered orange earrings.