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Guest: Stacy Charles of Tahki Stacy Charles Yarn talks to Kathy about new spring products. Tahki Stacy Charles is made up of Tahki Yarns, Stacy Charles Collezione, and Filatura di Crosa. In this week’s podcast, Kathy and Stacy chat about Tahki. Tahki Yarns are first and foremost natural fibers. They also chat a little bit about the cost limitations of natural dyes and more.

• Tahki Soft Cotton
• Tahki Lily
• Tahki Ripple

Note: There will be no podcast next week.

Hi Everyone

If you happened to catch last week’s episode of Ready, Set, Knit you know exactly where I am going with this post.  For those of you who haven’t listened yet, indulge me for a moment.

Each season, we receive in a TON of new yarn.  Most of which are yarns I love, some are yarns I don’t.  I think Steve has made it abundantly clear that if I filled WEBS with only yarns I love we’d have a lot of worsted weight cashmere, alpaca and a few other odds and ends.  Definitely some sparkle.  When you own a retail business I believe strongly that it has to reflect your core values and the aesthetic should mirror (to a certain extent) your taste, but the products offered need to represent what the customer wants.  So yes, there are yarns and things we buy that aren’t my favorite but variety makes the world go ’round.  Plus, we are lucky to have a large store and web presence that affords us the ability to represent LOTS of different yarns.

Every now and again, a new yarn comes along that tickles me.  This season, our friends at Tahki/Stacy Charles have won my heart.  I give to you, the single best yarn ever created on the face of the planet:

Yes, Jackson.  I cannot believe the lovely folks at TSC named a yarn after my beloved eldest son.  Now, the fact that some of their other new yarns this season have names like “Boulder” and “Montana” does not convince me the name “Jackson”  has anything at all with a location.  It’s clear to me its after my dear J1.

Stacy & Diane the owners of TSC had mentioned that they had a new yarn in the works with a working name of Jackson several months ago.  When I told J1 about this his one and only comment was “It better be a cool yarn”.  Well, I think it’s quite cool:

I think its the perfect yarn to bear his name.  It’s 100% wool, has an interesting texture and coloration – traits that can easily be applied to J1.  It knits at 3.25 sts = 1″ on a 10.5 needle so it’s fast – no messing around here, no fussiness.  Another perfect attribute.  At $9.95 for 131 yards on a 100gm ball it’s not cheap but not outrageous.  J1 has yet to establish a price sensitivity so from his perspective this is not an issue.

All joking aside, it is a lovely yarn and one I recommend you check out in the store or at your own LYS.  There’s great pattern support coming along as well.

Now I have only two thoughts left to share.  (1)  Obviously Jackson can NEVER be a closeout and (2) Poor Jonathan – no yarn for him (yet)……….

Enjoy!

Kathy

P.S.  One final note – it makes me smile that I can “search” Jackson on our website and he pops up in the form of a yarn.  When I did so to get the links for the post, look at what else came up.  He just turned 12 yesterday and that picture must have been taken when he was no more than 5. It took my breath away.

Hi Everyone

Back in January at VK Live in NYC, the folks from Tahki/Stacy Charles held a fashion show featuring many of the garments from their Spring Collection.  Stacy Charles himself MC’d the event which is an extra special treat!

They have now posted clips from the show on their Youtube Channel.  You can click the following links for the specific brand segment!

Tahki Yarns Fashion Show at VK Live

S. Charles Collezione Fashion Show at VK Live

Filatura Di Crosa Fashion Show at VK Live

There’s nothing better than seeing garments on a model (even if they aren’t necessarily built like you and me) and understanding a bit about the fit and movement.

I will warn you, the first 30 seconds or so of each clip has the same opening edited in and then it flips to the brand segment.  Don’t think you’re seeing a dupe and Stacy is charming enough to watch for 90 seconds, that’s for sure!

You can check out many of the yarns and patterns referenced in the videos at www.yarn.com!

Enjoy!

Kathy

Hi Everyone

The volume of new yarns and patterns that arrive at WEBS each season, it’s easy for things to be overlooked or lost in the shuffle.   One of my goals with this blog is to do a better job of highlighting new items.  We have the chance to do that with the catalog, but even there space is limited.  In some instances, I could dedicate an entire catalog to just one brand!

Tahki Yarns introduced three new pattern collections this fall along with a few new yarns.  Over the next few days I am going to show you some highlights from each of the pattern booklets.  First up today is Soft Sculpture and features patterns for Tahki’s Terra Collection which includes Lana, Montana and Rio yarns.  Their Terra Collection is a group of yarns that are eco-friendly in one way or another.

First up is the Marble Hat & Cowl.  Knit using Montana which is 100% new wool.  It’s chunky at 2.5 sts = 1″ on a US13 and it’s also soft.

Both the hat and cowl only take 2 skeins of Montana, which makes these projects very affordable.

Next up is the Davinci hat and cowl (hmmm – I think I’m seeing an unintentional theme on my part starting).

Lana is a 100% Organic Merino Wool.  We are only carrying this yarn in the natural but regardless, I still love this set.  If you use the three colors, 6 balls are used.  I’m curious if you opted to knit the two pieces in a solid color, if fewer balls would be needed.  This is also a quick knit at 3.75 sts/in on a US9.

Patina is a lovely sweater that is knit in Tahki’s Rio yarn.

Rio is a 50% alpaca/35% merino/15% silk blend that knits at 3.25 sts/in on a US!11.  The silk content of this yarn takes the dye differently than the alpaca & merino so the yarn has a bit of a rustic look to it.  It’s lovely.

Last but far from least, is Venus de Milo:

This modern vest is knit in Montana Print which is new for fall 2010.  Same stats as regular Montana but the three prints have been dyed using a different process.

I just love this vest particularly the slim silhouette contrasting against the chunky yarn & statement buttons.

The Soft Sculpture Pattern Booklet features 13 total projects and retails for $16.99.

Have you knit with any of these yarns or picked up this booklet yet?  If yes, I’d love to hear your feedback!

Enjoy!

Kathy