January 2011 Newsletter Happy New Year!

"Aaahhh..." hear that? It's the collective sigh from knitters everywhere, the gift knitting frenzy has ended and precious "Knit for Me" time has commenced! Experience it for yourself with one of these special new yarns & projects. This week I'll introduce new Sweater, Lace and Sock projects that I'll elaborate on in the weeks to follow.

In This Issue: Luxurious New Yarns / Pullovers & Cardigans / Lacey Little Things / And of course Socks /

Luxurious New Yarns
Four new yarns grace the shelves at Sandrasingh.com, a long time favorite Kauni Effektgarn has returned, Karabella and Madelinetosh bring you two new DK weights ideal for your seasonless outerwear while Malabrigo introduces a quick to knit bulky soft enough to wear next to your skin.

Kauni Effektgarn EQ Rainbow

Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 is an amazing self striping yarn painted in long, vibrant color repeats which give your finished garments and accessories beautiful, long stripes of color. Crafted of 100% wool this sport weight yarn can be knit and felted with equally stunning results. Let your imagination flow with projects for shawls, cardigans and pullovers, handbags and more.

Tosh DK

Tosh DK by Madelinetosh was formally Tosh Worsted, its a superbly soft DK to light worsted weight yarn that is hand dyed in Madelinetosh's exceptionally beautiful colors. Crafted of a luxurious 100% superwash merino wool each generous skein is put up with 225 yards. Use Tosh DK for your next garment or accessory project for adults or children, its soft enough to wear next to your skin and easy to care for.

Karabella Yarns' Aurora 6 is their new, hand painted, DK weight. Crafted in an Italian mill of a smooth yet lofty 100% Italian merino that is incredibly soft, with a buoyancy and elasticity that make it a pleasure to work with and hand dyed in stunning variegated colors in the United States. Aurora 6 is preshrunk in a special process so you can machine wash it! Each skein is put up in a very generous 1,272 yards, making it perfect for large projects such as pullovers, cardigans, jackets, coats and throws for adults, teens and children.

Malabrigo Yarn's Rasta is a single ply, super bulky yarn spun from the same buttery soft merino as Merino Worsted. Hand dyed in complex watercolor inspired hues its generously put up in 150 gram hanks. You'll be knitting and crocheting cowls, scarves, mittens & hats and even vests in a jiffy!

Ilga Leja Northern Lights

Pullovers & Cardigans
The upside to the ice and snow that's recently been blanketing most of the country, and world, is that you now get to enjoy creating and wearing hand knit sweaters. Inspired by the aurora borealis, Ilga Leja's jacket/cardi Northern Lights features a sideways construction with a stitch pattern that will show off either a variegated or solid color yarn with equal flair.

Combing style with warmth a pullover is right for any occasion. Onyx by one of the latest designers to join Sandrasingh.com an Army of Knitters, is a playful mix of weight and texture. A completely seamless sweater, worked top-down with set-in, slightly puffed sleeves. The lower body and sleeves are worked on smaller needles in rib with simple cables and the corset inspired shaping accentuates an hourglass figure.

Nelkin Designs' Cascabel

Another new knitwear designer is Laura Nelkin of Nelkin Designs, her two new pullovers are perfect for any outdoor activity you have in mind. Snuggler is a cozy hoodie with a slight cowl neck, its worked in Schaefer's sport weight yarns Susan or Heather. Cascabel is a spicy seamless yoke sweater with little chili peppers around the neck knit in Schaefer's worsted Miss Priss! Worked from the bottom up, the pattern starts with the sleeves and there is subtle waist shaping at the "princess" seams to allow for a fitted look.

Fickleknitter Limestone

Lacey Little Things
A little lace goes a long way...the Fickleknitter's new Limestone One Skein Triangle Shawl knits up fast in 400 yards of a fingering yarn. The pattern is lovely knit up in a solid, variegated, or semi-solid yarn.

Fickleknitter Silk Rhapsody Scarf

Or if you're ready for a challenge Fickleknitter's Silk Rhapsody Scarf is a spicy little lace project with knit and purl stitches worked through the back loop every row, purl and knit side yarn overs every row, and p2togs through the back loop every other row.

Goddess Knits' Mandala II

Using a different technique in each Goddess Knits just released these three designs. Similar to its sister shawl Mandala, Mandala II is also a circular shawl based on the "pi" construction and the pattern will create many different looks.

Goddess Knits' Sunshine Scarf

The beaded Sunshine scarf is knit from one short end to the other and the beading is optional.

Goddess Knits' Pinafore

And knit top down Pinafore is worked in two identical sections worked together with a dividing and garter edge stitches. All 3 patterns include written and charted instructions.

Kitman Figueroa Batik

You'll adore Kitman Figueroa's new Batik Shawl, its knit bottom up with sea shell edge details and it comes in 3 sizes.

Nelkin Designs' Centrino

Laura Nelkin plays with continuous shapes with her new circular shawl, moebius wrap and cowl designs. Circular Centrino is like a giant doily and based on vintage lace. There's a certain lure to begin something that starts out quite small and grows into an abundant orb, Centrino is addictive from start to finish and its knit in Schaefer's Anne, which is on sale.

Circulate is a garter stitch lace moebius wrap in two sizes and knit in one skein of Schaefer's Heather. You'll use and conquer many knitting skills while working this pattern, including chart reading, provisional cast-on, knitting with beads, grafting and a beaded attached i-cord.

Nelkin Designs' Listado Cowl

The Listado Cowl is also knit in Heather and sized two ways, as a little neck warmer or an elegant whole head covering; either way this is a fast and simple ribbed lace cowl worked entirely in the round.

While crocherters will love Josefina Knits' new Hydrangea shawl, named after the designer's tiny garden

Josefina Knits' Hydrangea

And of course Socks
Choose from sexy thigh-highs or traditional anklets both of these patterns use classic cables to their advantage.

Army of Knitters' Tanzanite Stockings

Designed to wear with the Tanzanite Shorts the Army of Knitter's Tanzanite Stockings are Uber-Sexy and knit toe-up to ensure a perfect fit. Featuring cables on center front and back and a touch of elastic in the tops to keep them from slipping down the leg as you frolic!

Lisa Ellis Designs' Cable Cuff Sock

Lisa Ellis Designs' Cable Cuff Sock is knit from the cuff down. The stunning cuff is all you need to show off all your handiwork. The pattern gives you two heel flap options and is written and charted.

Once again, Happy New Year! I've enjoyed working with you in 2010 and I know 2011 will be an even more exciting year. Please call or email with any of your fiber arts needs, I'm always happy to help you find what you need.

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