Two new yarns are about to arrive at your local or online yarn store: Sofilli Yak and Kidsilk Haze Vintage.

Look out for these yarns arriving sometime during the last two weeks of October 2016 along with with a free pattern book if you buy the yarn. These yarns are part of Rowan’s Selects yarns which will be introduced throughout the season. The idea is that there will only be a small amount available in the stores so once they’re gone they’re gone!

The first new Selects yarn available this October is Soffili Yak. This voluminous, light and airy yarn has a brushed effect look with a lovely soft feel. The yarn consists of 32% nylon, 27% wool, 25% alpaca and 16% yak. Although there is only a small amount of yak fibre, it is the yak fibre that adds the cashmere-like softness and increases the durability. There is also an accompanying free pattern booklet, the Soffili Yak Collection, with designs by Lisa Richardson featuring six patterns for women: two sweaters, two cardigans, a buttoned poncho, a scarf, a cowl and a hat.

Sofilli Yak Information
Hand wash
Knitting tension: 5mm needles, 18 sts x 25 rows
Available in 50g doughnut balls, approx length per ball 165m (188yds)
Available in 5 shades: Desert (light beige), Dark Red, Jewel (dark purple), Nightly (very dark blue) and Iron (very dark grey). Unfortunately I do not have any images of shades at the moment.

Sofilli is actually a revolutionary, ground-breaking spinning process, which enhances the fibre’s softness and downiness. A sophisticated technology opened the way to an unprecedented level of gravity-defying lightness. It is also covered by an exclusive patent so written correctly: Soffili ®

I received two balls of Sofilli Yak in the gorgeous dark purple shade called Jewel. After much thought I designed a triangular shaped scarf which I have found to be very versatile. You can wear it was a scarf around your neck……

or as a shawl…….

The design came about as a way to make a shawl or scarf that starts from one stitch and gradually increases in stitches with every row until you decide to stop, or when you have run out of yarn. Great if you need to use up a couple of balls of yarn from your stash. As you can see, it has a simple all-over lace stitch design and I have added some glass beads  called black rainbow using the crochet hook method………

but you don’t have to add the beads if you don’t want to. The other good thing about this pattern is you can use any yarn you like, bulky, lace weight, aran, just use the correct needles for the yarn.

A copy of my scarf design Xale is available to buy on Ravelry and Loveknitting, click the links below….

Xale Scarf/Shawl pattern on Ravelry

Xale Scarf/Shawl pattern on Loveknitting

The second Selects yarn available this October is Kidsilk Haze Vintage; a development on the very popular Kidsilk Haze with the same fibre content: 70% mohair 30% silk. The difference with the Vintage version is that it features a white core giving a subtle melange effect which when knitted produces a vintage look fabric. Kidsilk Haze Vintage is perfect for all layering garments, accessories and most Kidsilk Haze designs. However, there is a free pattern booklet to accompany the yarn, the Kidsilk Haze Vintage Collection, with designs by Lisa Richardson, Sarah Hatton & Marie Wallin and features six patterns for women: two sweaters, two cardigans and two scarves.

Kidsilk Haze Vintage Information
Hand wash
Knitting tension: 3.25 – 5 mm needles, 18-25 sts x 23-34 rows
Available in 25g doughnut balls, approx length per ball 210m (229yds)
Available in 5 shades, see below……

So, do look out for these yarns in the next month or so. They won’t be around for long!

Click on the link below if you would like to view the You Tube video:

Knitting with Beads: the crochet hook method

Thank so much for reading my blog.

Esther x