Greetings!

Happy Holidays from Crystal Palace!  We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season so far.  We have a brand new yarn, Aria, to freshen your stash, with new free Aria patterns to inspire you!  The whimsical Elf Princess Jacket, crocheted in Cotton Chenille, is this issue's indie feature.  Read about the super cool "Domestic Vandal" exhibition in southern California, and learn how you can participate in the Stitch Red Campaign for Heart Health.   All of this is wrapped up in one end-of-the-year issue!

Be sure to enter the Aria contest (details to the right) for your chance to win this gorgeous new yarn!

 

Aria Has Arrived!

Our new show-stopper Aria, is now in stock at many local and online shops!  This all-season beauty is just in time for last-minute holiday knitting or new year's projects.

Like that climactic song in a fine Italian opera, Aria is expressive and
exciting.  Each of the six vivacious colors are named after famous
operatic characters ("Mimi", "Carmen", etc.).  Aria is uniquely constructed of alternating lengths of short-lash rayon and textured slow-striping merino wool/nylon blend.  This slow-striping component is wiggled into a soft, zigzag form held in shape by a black binder thread, which adds elasticity.  The bold colors, vibrant sheen and silky soft hand of the rayon echo the loud purposeful bellowing of an opera singer, while the zigzagged sections emulate a tearful quiver of emotion.  

Suffice it to say that this new yarn from Crystal Palace is beautiful and unusual.   It knits up more or less at a dk-weight gauge.  It is wonderful either worked alone or with other CP yarns.

We now have new free Aria patterns up on our Web site, too, including the Lone Star Entrelac Hat (combined with Merino 5), Wrap & Drop Stitch Scarf, the Diagonal Scarf (with Kid Merino), the Diva Shawl (with Mochi Plus) and the Crochet Flower Cloche (with Panda Silk) and the simple and elegant Aria Wrap & Drop Shrug.

In addition to Aria, we now have in stock the new spring colors of Cotton Chenille and Puffin.  We have recently added new Cotton Chenille patterns to the Free Patterns section on our Web site, so be sure to check them out for project ideas. 

Stitch Red is an industry-wide campaign to raise awareness about heart disease and to help women nationwide recognize that they may be at risk.  Jimmy Beans Wool has partnered with The Heart Truth® and vendors from across the industry (including Crystal Palace) to promote heart health.  The Stitch Red campaign will take place from January 2012 through June 2013.  It will be promoted at various campaign events and through yarn companies and shops.

Stitch Red is not collecting funds; all partners and sponsors are donating funds directly to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth®.


1.  Buy Crystal Palace Merino 5 color #1012 Crimson and other Stitch Red yarns.  Crystal Palace Yarns has pledged to donate 5% of the sales of Merino 5 in color #1012 Crimson to Heart Truth®.  We will be adding Stitch Red patterns to our Web site in January to give you some ideas for projects done in our Stitch Red color, Merino 5 #1012 Crimson.

2.  Participate in  Stitch Red events like Tuesday Stitch Red Knit Nights. Stitch Red Knit Nights will be offered by LYS' nationwide.  Each participating shop will donate 5% of the proceeds from the event to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth®.  If your local yarn shop plans to hold one of these knit nights, consider attending to support the campaign.  Or hold one of your own using Stitch Red products.

New FREE Patterns

We have many new patterns now up on the Web, including several Aria designs.  The Lone Star Hat in Aria and Cotton Twirl is a fun retro entrelac slouch hat that uses one ball of Aria and two of Cotton Twirl. The Crochet Flower Cloche is a fancy fall, winter, spring or summer cap, using one ball of Aria and one of Panda Silk.   Both hats were designed by Gail Tanquary. 


The Aria Wrap & Drop Shrug is a simple design that looks spectacular on, is easy to make and uses only three balls of Aria.  This would make an excellent accessory to a strapless dress, or use it to jazz up an everyday outfit.  See the Aria free patterns section for other Aria designs, including the Wrap & Drop Stitch Scarf, the Diva Shawl, the Diagonal Scarf, and the Lengthwise Knit Scarf. 

In addition to the Aria patterns, we added the beautiful (and easy!) Mistake Rib Scarf done in Cotton Chenille. The combination of the pattern stitch and the Cotton Chenille makes an even, reversible fabric that does not curl.  This would look smashing worn with a well-tailored suit or evening coat. 

 

 

 

Indie News:
Elf Princess Crochet Jacket

This month's indie feature is from the extremely talented Alla Koval.  The Elf Princess Jacket is crocheted from our super plush Cotton Chenille.  This whimsical project is sized 2 to 12 years.

"Elves love white. And red. And green. And all the colors in between!" writes the designer. "Jazz up the holidays with this delightful crochet jacket in traditional Christmas colors, or make it in your little elf's favorite shades for year-round wear. The long hood and wide bell sleeves are just right for chilly days, especially when trimmed with scallop edgings, organza ruffles and matching zipper closure! Bobble stitches, pom-pom ties and vibrant patchwork details add the perfect finishing touches, and will keep her snug and cheery all season long. Instructions given for both turquoise, greens, white and red, greens, white color combinations."

Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille is an excellent choice for crochet.  See the Indie Patterns section of our Web site for more examples of delightful Cotton Chenille crochet patterns.

 Click here for more on this and other Alla Koval designs.

Domestic Vandals

Domestic Vandal was recently on exhibition at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA.  The project, done by the husband-and-wife team of Christy and Brian Chambers, incorporates yarn bombing, a form of knitted and crocheted graffiti.  Crystal Palace donated yarn for the project.

Do not forget to enter the Aria contest, and have a lovely holiday!

 

Sincerely,

Crystal Palace Yarns