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Written by Deborah Knight
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 Orange is not like any other color. It’s either so hot you’ve simply got to have it, or so cold that wearing it would be a fashion faux pas of the greatest magnitude. In the 70s, billowing pumpkin orange sleeves were groovy — specially when combined with brown sequins and gold cord. Then the color disappeared so quickly you’d think it had never appeared on the runways of Paris or Milan. The attitude toward orange suddenly became so negative that fashion critics like Joan Rivers and Kelly Osborne would have collapsed in shudders of revulsion at the very thought of it. It wasn't long until the only time the color was appropriate was October 31st…for a few hours before it would be hidden again away until the next Hallowe'en season.
So it’s a little bit more than surprising that the color experts at Pantone have declared Tangerine Tango the color for 2012.
The recent, growing acceptance of orange has been a drawn-out affair with fashion designers incorporating it into their lines in limited supply for several years now.
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Written by Deborah Knight
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While many of us might complain that our kids and grandkids have been spoiled rotten with designer clothes, expensive sports shoes and every electronic gadget imaginable, there are lots of little boys and girls who are absolutely thrilled to receive a handmade hat. They're so thrilled, in fact, that they immediately send a heartfelt thank you to the person who created their hat...someone they've never even met.
The Hat Project is the brainchild of 73-year old social worker, Aïda Bound who has been featured in a CBS television news story, newspaper and magazine articles, and on the Huffington Post blog. While she's garnered a lot of attention for her charity, she quickly turns the focus away from herself and onto her initiative, a community-minded organization she works tirelessly to promote.
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Written by Barbara Rottman
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The Look
Wow! Fresh from Paris runways comes Anny Blatt’s Jalouse ready to add accent and pizazz to any knitting. Like eyelash, Jalouse is made by anchoring tufts of wool roving in a fine polyester strand. The irregular length of the tufts works into a rugged shaggy texture that almost perfectly mimics the retro 60’s afghan shearling trim. Knit along with base yarn, it’s an ideal accent to cuffs, collars, hems and brims.
The Feel 
Light, feathery and unspun, Jalouse rates #9 on the softness scale.
The Patterns
Anny Blatt pattern books are widely admired for haute-couture designs that emphasize style, detail and fashion. Jalouse is used as a lavish accent in several designs featured in the latest Anny Blatt books. The striking shawl collared cover design on Book 22 is a favorite classic updated with a wide feathery collar in Jalouse. Other designs defy tradition.
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Written by Barbara Rottman
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New knitters are drawn to scarves as an ideal first project. After all, a knitted scarf is really just one hugely long swatch. Gauge isn’t too important because scarves don’t have to fit precisely like a pair of custom fitted hand knit socks. Beginners can practice their knit and purl stitches over many rows without bothering to read complicated patterns. Many gorgeous scarves are constructed in colorful yarn worked in humble garter stitch. There’s no need for increases, decreases, short rows, cables or lace. On the other hand, beginners who want to learn those techniques can explore them in a limited scope by knitting a scarf. Other finicky maneuvers like turning a heel or picking up stitches can easily be put off for later study. Scarves then are the ideal project for beginners.
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