Organic Cotton Now Available

Summer is coming, and to celebrate the warmer weather, we're introducing Heirloom Organically Grown Cotton in both 4 and 8ply weights. Heirloom Organically Grown Cotton is perfect when knitting for those with sensitive skin, including babies and those with eczema or reactive skin types. It's much better for the environment too.



Heirloom Organically Grown Cotton is available in a range of subtle, almost pearlescent shades, guaranteed to inspire you with fancies of lazy strolls on soft summer evenings.

For more about 4ply Organically Grown Cotton, click here.
For 8ply Organically Grown Cotton, click here.







www.knittingyarns.com.au

A New Chunky Yarn Joins Our Ranks!

Those of you who are just starting out or who want to get results fast will love new Cleckheaton Nautico. Australian Made and wool rich, Cleckheaton Nautico is perfect for quick and easy knitting. The soft colour palette is inspiring, with shade combinations that will make your mouth water. Whilst lining up the balls for the photograph, I was almost overcome by the urge to start knitting right away! You'll be happy to know, however, I did manage to restrain myself... else the picture may have been somewhat lacking!

To complement the release of Nautico, Cleckheaton has produced a wonderful pattern book containing 18 quick and easy designs by renowned designer Jo Nathan. In keeping with the quick knit style of the yarn, the designs are stylish yet simple, and most patterns are suitable for beginner knitters.

To see Cleckheaton Nautico on our website, click here. For more about the the Nautico pattern

book, click here.

http://www.knittingyarns.com.au/

Changes to postage June 2010

Unfortunately, for the first time in several years, we've been forced to increase our flat rate postage. Even though real costs have long risen beyond the $6 flat rate we offer you, we've been subsidising part of the cost of postage as an added benefit to our customers. With Australia Posts' move to sharply increase postage costs across the board, together with the rising cost of packaging materials, we can no longer afford to keep our postage at $6.

We still feel that our new flat-rate $8 postage within Australia offers our customers one of the best deals around, particularly as businesses adjust to the increase. Most customers will find they still save several dollars off the 'real' cost of postage, particularly on larger orders or with heavier items such as pattern books.

Here are a few tips to getting the most out of our flat-rate postage:

1. Plan ahead. Remember, no matter how large your order, we'll still only charge you the flat rate - think of it like a loyalty program that rewards you the more you spend each time. It takes a bit more planning, but if you think 1 or 2 projects ahead, you'll save more in the long run.

2. Order everything you think you will need for a project at the one time. If you fall a ball or two short or don't have the right needles, not only do you pay additional postage, but you also risk having to mix dyelots and will have to wait while we process your new order. In some cases the yarn may have been discontinued in the meantime, making your yarn difficult to source. Very frustrating when you're so close to getting finished!

3. Place your order together with a friend. Work out what you both need together (which is great fun too!) then get everything sent to the one address for a single delivery fee. You can divvy up your parcel when it arrives (and get a sneak peak at everything your friend ordered at the same time!)

We hope these tips help, and we look forward to helping you with all your knitting & crochet needs into the future.

Knit Your Way to a Share in $30,000!

Do you know the cutest baby or child in Australia & New Zealand?

Check out our great range of yarns from Australian Country Spinners including PATONS, CLECKHEATON, PANDA and SHEPHERD.

Knit something using one of these yarns for your baby, your friends' baby, your niece, nephew or grandchild. Knit a cardigan, booties, blanket, toy, scarf, hat...ANYTHING! And send in your photo.

Yarn purchases must be made between 1st May and 2nd July - the ball bands and receipt to be submitted with your entry.

For full terms and conditions and a full list of yarns that can be used, see the reverse of your entry form or visit www.auspinners.com.au. Children must be aged 5 or under.

If you would like a competition entry form, order any of the eligible yarns from us and write "entry form" in the comments section of your online order.

New Shades of Heirloom Yarns for 2010

Heirloom have made a number of changes to their range for 2010. Whilst we've lost a few old favourites, these are far out-numbered by some fantastic additions, many of which have been long awaited.

Here's a rundown on what's new:

Merino Magic 8ply: has always offered a broad range of shades, but we were most excited to see a purple (shade 222) and light grey (shade 206) added to the mix. Both shades are going to be big in 2010, yet are versatile enough that they will never fall out of fashion. Also new this year are Navy, Beige, Pond (a dusty pale blue) and Wombat (a versatile deep brown). We say goodbye to shade 233 orange, which has been with us since we first began here at Knitting Yarns by Mail. Click here to go to our current Merino Magic shade card.

Easy Care 5 & 8ply: now also offers a light grey option (Shade 762), and a Grey/Navy flecked yarn (Shade 770) for those looking for a different effect. Shades 760 (Red), 761 (Camel) and 763 (Dark Green) are also new. Terracotta (Shade 733) and Bottle Green (745) are no longer available, although the new Dark Green is a good substitute.

Click here for 5ply. Click here for 8ply.

Alpaca 8ply: two new shades for you to try here: Shade 961 Deep Blue, a practical shade great for both mens' and womens' garments and accessories, and Shade 958 Berry, a vibrant and uplifting shade. Unfortunately we've lost Shades 934 Sage and 933 Dusty Pink, which were two of my favourites: hopefully they'll be back next year?!!

Click here for our current Alpaca 8ply shade card.

Cross Stitch Kits now at KYBM

Knitting Yarns by Mail is not just for knitting anymore!

We know that you're interested in a range of craft activities, and with our new range of gorgeous cross stitch kits, we're now making it easier for you to find them all in the one place.

We've got cross stitch kits for gifts; some for Mum that are perfect gifts for Mothers Day; lots for kids and teens, from adorable teddies, kittens and puppies to trendy bags and shoes; and a wide range for the home, to brighten up your mail stand, craft room or lounge.

To see what's in our range, click here.

We hope our new cross stitch kits will bring you hours of joy.

Zucchini, Bacon and Tomatoes on Toast

Here's a great recipe for all those of you growing your own produce. If your veggie patch looks anything like ours, you'll have a glut of zucchinis and tomatoes at the moment, and are wondering what on earth you're going to do with them all!

















Ingredients (Serves 2):

2 rashers of lean bacon, finely chopped
3 medium sized ripe tomatoes - home grown if possible
2 small or 1 medium zucchini - fresh from the garden, sliced
1 tbsp sunflower oil

Method:

Heat oil in saucepan and fry bacon pieces until cooked to taste. Remove from pan then add zucchini slices. Cook until transparent and starting to brown. Return bacon to pan and add chopped tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes until tomato softens. Do not overcook.

Serve on hot buttered toast. Delicious!

The picture of our completed dish was taken on top of our "Planet 3" wood stove, a great workhorse in our kitchen and wonderfully warm during the winter.

Beautiful Bamboo Yarns Now Available at KYBM

Bamboo yarns have been increasing in popularity over the past few years, and with good reason. They are both soft and gentle against the skin, and as a natural fibre, can be worn in weather conditions ranging from hot to cool. Bamboo 4 or 8ply yarn is suitable for use with most 4 or 8ply patterns, but most closely resembles a cotton yarn in the ball. Bamboo yarn is incredibly strong yet smooth, with a slight silkiness to its handle and appearance.

We are now stocking two beautiful bamboo yarns at Knitting Yarns by Mail.

Cleckheaton Bamboo 4ply is a 100% bamboo yarn, produced in a delightfully calming colour palette with shades ranging from white to pale pink, to soothing blues and greens. For contrast, try Shade 57 "Burnt Orange", which emphasises the aquamarine softness of the remainder of the shade palette. Cleckheaton have produced a pattern book to support the new yarn, containing a range of fashion garments and accessories ideal for warm to cool weather knitting.

Heirloom Bamboo 8ply is manufactured in Italy to the high standards expected in the European Union. Heirloom Bamboo features a range of pastel shades with one or two bolder shades ideal for contemporary fashion garments. I'm sure many of you will recognise Shade 885, a brilliant tangerine, from fashion stores around the country as the hot shade for 2010.

Our range is growing!

We are very excited to announce the arrival of 3 new yarn lines to our extensive range.

Patons Fifi, with its thick and chunky style, is perfect for impatient knitters (you know who you are!). Knitted on large 10mm needles, you'll be finished in no time... and with it's flecked style, the results will be stunning. Those who have knitted with Cleckheaton Gusto before will be familiar with the "chunky look" you'll achieve here with Patons Fifi, and for only $2.95 per 50g ball, your purse will love you as well!

We're expecting Cleckheatons' new yarn Country Paint Box 8ply will quickly become a firm favourite with our customers. Cleckheaton have put a great deal of thought into the creation of their shade palette, and have produced some beautiful shade combinations in these multi-hued yarns. Combined with its softness of handle, Cleckheaton's Country Paint Box is difficult to pass by.

Lastly, we welcome Panda Feltable Wool 8ply to our stable. Made from quality Australian pure new wool and available for only $3.50 per 50g ball, Panda's Feltable Wool 8ply is the perfect all-rounder, suitable for most knitted garments and accessories. Panda Feltable Wool fills the void left by the departure of Panda Woolbale last year, and in our opinion provides the quality and vivid shade range knitters of Panda Woolbale had come to love and depend upon.

As the name suggests, Panda Feltable Wool is also great for felters. If you haven't tried felting before but would like to give it a go, or you're an experienced felter looking for new patterns, this is the product for you. Right now, Panda are offering free patterns and felting instructions suitable for use with Panda Feltable Wool: further details are available on the ball band.

Introducing New Pattern Books for 2010

We're very excited about 2 new publications to our range in 2010.




Patons "The Big Book of Small Projects 2" presents a wonderful new range of highly sought after small projects, ideal for gift-giving, charity knitting, stalls and fetes. The book includes patterns for 3, 4, 5 and 8ply yarns, as well as a wide selection of crochet patterns, so there's something here to suit everyone. We were most relieved to see the wide range of knitted and crocheted toys available, as we receive numerous requests for these types of patterns. We also love the wide range of Christmas ornaments and wedding accessories, great for marking these important occasions in life. Click here to see more.




Also new to our range is Shepherd's publication "Baby Shower", containing 14 projects for new arrivals and young children. Once again, it's great to see patterns for pram toys and a stuffed animal make it into the mix. There is also a great, practical design for a nappy bag in there too. Choose from one of seven designs for pram covers and cot blankets, or knit hats, mittens, cardigans or jumpers for the 0 -9 month old in your life. Click here for further details.


www.knittingyarns.com.au

New Shades of Patons Jet & Shepherd Colour 4 Me

Two new shades are now available for 2010. Patons Jet shade 22 "Grape Crush" adds its sophistication and style to this quick-to-knit palette. Click here for more information.

Shepherd Colour 4 Me adds Shade 4989 "Tropic Isle" to its range, a luscious shade ideal for childrens garments, small projects and a range of other uses. We loved these vibrant new tones, and we're sure you will too. Click here for further details.

http://www.knittingyarns.com.au/

New Pattern Leaflets In Store Now

We know that great patterns are the key to knitting success, so we've extended our range of knitting pattern leaflets for 2010. You'll find new patterns for cotton, alpaca and wool yarns in 4ply and 8ply, and three new patterns for 5ply Easy Care yarn. To help you find what you need, we've re-organised our Pattern Leaflets section into subcategories according to yarn ply. To view all the patterns for a particular yarn ply, click on "Pattern Leaflets" on the left-hand menu, then either click on the box for the ply you want, or click on its sub-heading which now appears in the left-hand menu. We hope this will make your experience with our site simpler and your navigation easier.

Merry Christmas!

Alison and her staff at Knitting Yarns by Mail would like to wish all our valued customers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. It's been a tough year for many businesses due to the economic crisis, but thanks to all our loyal customers we're still going strong, and look forward to serving you in the year to come.

Thankyou again, and all the best for the Christmas season.

Alison & the staff at Knitting Yarns by Mail

Free Gift Tags

Don't forget: we're providing FREE Christmas gift tags to go with your presents. To receive your gift tags, simply indicate the quantity you need on your 'Nimble Fingers' order form, or tell us how many you would like in the comments box of your online order. You can get as many gift tags as there are products in your order. This offer is available on all orders made between now and December 15th. Spread the Christmas cheer!

Satin Ribbon now available

Double-sided satin ribbon is now available through our Knitting Yarns by Mail website. The ribbon is 7mm in diameter, and can be purchased in a wide range of shades. The ribbon will be sold by the metre. To purchase, select the shade of ribbon you need, then adjust the quantity to indicate how many metres you require. Don't forget to click the "Update" button! The subtotal will adjust to reflect the number of metres you have requested.

Lana Gatto Prestige 100% cashmere: new shades

We are now stocking Lana Gatto's luxurious 100% cashmere in a greater range of shades. These are (from left): Grape, Chartruese and Beige. In these tough economic times we're all cutting back a bit, but let's face it: we still need the occasional treat! You won't be disappointed with the results when you feel for yourself the superb softness and warmth of pure cashmere against your skin. If you'd like to give it a go but aren't sure what to knit, we have designed a Turkish stitch scarf specifically for Lana Gatto's Prestige. This simple pattern produces impressive results, and with only 2 balls of Lana Gatto's 100% cashmere required to complete the project, it won't break the bank either! Visit our Free Knitting Patterns page to view the instructions.

www.knittingyarns.com.au

Extended range of Debbie Bliss products at Knitting Yarns by Mail

Debbie Bliss yarns are synonymous with luxury, style and elegance. As a designer, Debbie Bliss is firmly established as one of the most stylish and accessible designers of childrens knitwear working today.

We have now expanded our range of Debbie Bliss yarns to include Baby Cashmerino and Cashmerino Aran yarns. Both are composed of 55% merino wool, 33% microfibre and 12% cashmere, a blend which is ideal for knitting for newborn and small babies, as it is gentle against sensitive new skin.

These luxurious yarns are accompanied by two beautiful Debbie Bliss pattern books for babies and young children, "The Baby Knits Book" and "Special Knits". These Debbie Bliss pattern books will allow you to create gorgeous gifts that will be treasured by new arrivals and parents alike, or alternatively could be given as gifts themselves to expectant mothers or grandmothers.

Visit our website, http://www.knittingyarns.com.au/ for more information.

Knitting with Children at "Knitting Yarns by Mail"

Pursuing craft activities from a young age is such a valuable experience for children. A craft activity such as knitting allows children to develop confidence in their own abilities, with the results of their efforts unfolding right before their eyes. Knitting promotes creative thinking whilst also developing logic and spatial reasoning skills; children learn to translate a 'plan' (the written pattern or grid design) into a finished piece of work. When we add to this the improvements in fine motor skills and hand strength which are required to master the small hand movements in knitting, we can see that this simple activity has broad-reaching benefits to children of all ages. All of these skills are valuable in other areas of childrens lives and learning; spatial reasoning and logic in mathematics and science; fine motor skills and hand strength in writing, drawing, playing a musical instrument, typing, art and other crafts; creativity in problem-solving and a range of artistic endeavours; and self-confidence, a sense of fulfillment and the ability to see a project through to its conclusion, which are invaluable across the full spectrum of activities they may undertake in their daily lives throughout childhood and beyond.

With early exposure to art and craft, children will learn to enjoy the process of creation and will realise the satisfaction that comes from making something with their own hands. It can open their eyes to the work that goes into making something from scratch, and teaches them to value things made by others all the more.

And, of course, knitting is fun! This is the key ingredient to fostering a passion for craft and working with their hands, which will accompany a child on their journey throughout life.

In recognition of these benefits, Knitting Yarns by Mail are now stocking products designed specifically with children in mind. French Knitters are great for younger children in the development of pre-knitting skills. The French Knitter provides children with rapid results, producing a long tube of knitted fabric which can be put to a range of creative uses. Once children have mastered the French Knitter, they can move on to the childrens pairs of knitting needles, available in 3.25mm and 4mm sizes. These childrens needles assist them in the transition to standard knitting needles, as each needle is a different colour for easier learning.

To see more of these wonderful children products, visit our new "Knitting with Children" section at Knitting Yarns by Mail.

http://www.knittingyarns.com.au/

Introducing Heirloom Bliss

Heirloom Bliss has arrived: Bliss by name, bliss by nature! We believe this exquisite double-twist yarn in 100% fine merino wool will soon become a firm favourite amongst knitters. Furthermore, Heirloom Bliss is proudly Made in Australia, so you can feel comfortable in the knowledge that your purchase is supporting Australian workers and our economy in these tough times.

Heirloom have released an adorable jumper pattern with 3/4 length sleeves and diamond motif trim to accompany Heirloom Bliss. Click here for further details.

Heirloom Jigsaw Special

Right now, selected shades of Heirloom Jigsaw are available at a special price on our Specials and Gift Suggestions page. Choose from 10 different self-striping shades ranging from subtle pastels to vibrant reds and vivid oranges. Can't find the shade you want here? Why not try one of the 10 new shades of Jigsaw just released for Winter 2009, found on our Knitting Yarns page. With such a vast range of options, there's something for everyone (the difficulty is in deciding which ones to leave behind!).