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Supercool Chunky Yarns
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Welcome to the 6th issue of the new Yarnmarket Just My Type newsletter. Each month we’re featuring a different Yarn Types category from our store and showcasing many of the sensational fibers & fiber blends in stock and just right for your favorite knitting & crochet projects. With over 700 yarns now available from Yarnmarket.com, you’re sure to find the perfect option for your next creative endeavor no matter what it is. Having trouble reading this issue? Then please enjoy the online version.
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Stay Up with Fashion Trends & Create with Chunky Yarns
From the fashion runways of Milan and Paris to the Fall 2009 haute couture collections of such powerhouse designers as Versace, Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana and Twinkle's Wenlan Chia, knitwear is all the rage.
Whether you're into cardigans, tunic pullovers, hats, coats, bags, scarves or other accessories, chunky projects are the hottest items in fashion and in department stores this season, so it's the perfect time to check out the superb Supercool Chunky Yarns for your knitting & crocheting pleasure.
To get a better handle on what exactly is a chunky or bulky yarn, we can turn to the Craft Yarn Council for general guidelines based on the knitting gauge and recommended needle sizes for the yarn:
Chunky or Bulky yarn ranges from 12 to 15 stitches per 4 inches or 10 centimeters usually on a size 9 to 11 U.S. (5.5-8mm) or even size 13 U.S. (9mm) needle. These yarns are sometimes marked on the label as as number "5" according to the standardized weighting system.
Super Chunky or Super Bulky yarns require a size 13 U.S. or larger needle and you get 11 or fewer stitches per 4 inches. These yarns can have a number "6" on the label if the manufacturer is following the Craft Council's guidelines.
Of course, these are just guidelines and you will find small variations depending on what the specific manufacturer or yarn store refers to as chunky and super chunky. But all of the yarns labeled as such should be quick-to-create options for fast gifts and accessories. As Sophie Britten, author of Big Knitting, explains it, "Using the thickest available yarns makes for fewer, bigger stitches and garments that can be knitted up in no time.”
Both natural-fiber yarns and synthetic, manmade yarns come in bulky and super bulky yarn weights and in a wide range of lovely fiber blends and textures. Some chunky versions are created by taking multiple strands of the yarn and twisting them together to get multi-plied yarns. This technique works particularly well for durable fibers such as lamb's wool and supersoft fibers like alpaca and mohair. For ultra-soft cashmere, the multi-strands are often braided to achieve a bulky or even super bulky yarn weight, while cotton is often combined with a synthetic fiber such as acrylic or nylon so that the multi-plied strands remain light enough to handle easily.
Yarns with significant texture or what are called "fancy" yarns in Europe are also great candidates for chunky and super chunky weight fiber concoctions. Boucle or looped yarns are often chunky depending on the size of the loops as are many eyelash, flag, and even some ribbon yarns. As you can see, the variety is unbelievable so give your imagination free rein when thinking of all the ways you can create beautiful chunky knitwear this fall.
So with a marvelous 56 Supercool Chunky Yarns currently in stock at Yarnmarket.com, you have plenty of options from which to choose for all your chunky knitwear projects. We know that you enjoy browsing for yourself, but we also have the following special staff recommendations for yarns and projects you'll enjoy all year round with these terrific fiber blends. Several of these projects also start with Free Patterns courtesy of the manufacturer, so take a look and get started on your next fun outfit or gift right away.
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One of your favorite American yarn companies -- Berroco -- is dedicated to keeping up with the fashion trends and has three lovely bulky yarns for you to enjoy. First up is 100% wool Peruvia Quick. Creating this 2-ply fiber gem from their ever-popular, single-ply Peruvia yarn has been a stroke of genius for those of us who enjoy creating fast afghans, bags, sweaters, hats and more.
Then brand-new, super bulky Sundae yarn is a terrific 50/50 wool/acrylic blend for even faster knitting & crochet results on larger needles and hooks.
Or for those with sensitive skin or looking for machine washability, take a peek at marvelous Comfort Chunky. Just perfect for easy-care gifts and garments for yourself, "Comfort Chunky" is a great choice for fast creations with great wearability at an affordable price.
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Boyfriend Sweater
Skye Wrap
Comfort Chunky Taffy Cardigan
Big Wool Handbag
Luxury Tweed Swing Jacket
Sundae Hat
Goa Sweater
Como Ribbed Scarf
Big Softie
Quick Mitts
Tundra Capelet
Aurora Bulky
Dog Bag
Shale Scarf
Supercashmere Cabled Hat & Scarf
Lordana Jacket
Soft Chunky Fawn Earflap Hat
Diandra Color Block Coat
Snowflake Pullover
Misti Chunky
Cosmo Jacket
40 Winks Pet Bed
Los Andes
Ribbed Scarf
Alpaca Basic Rug
Montana Tam
Cocoon Bathmat
Nubbles &
Iceland Vest
Moss Stitch Bag
Montana Cowl
Kiddo Pullover
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Of course, we can expect the best of machine-dyed fibers from the yarn gurus at Rowan, and their three bulky yarns are outstanding classics. First off, they launched their chunky yarn collection with the traditional 2-ply Big Wool, and it continues to be one of our all-time favorite fall/winter fiber options. It's a super bulky choice for super fast projects that work up on sizes 17-19 U.S. needles or larger.
Building on the immediate success of "Big Wool," Rowan created an even chunkier, variegated version with Biggy Print yarn. A subtle thick & thin look and lots of beautiful color combos make "Biggy Print" a gorgeous, 100% wool choice for your cool-weather garments and accessories.
Last fall Rowan teamed up with fiber artist and colorist extraordinaire Kaffe Fassett to develop spectacular Colourscape Chunky. With lovely long repeats of color intermixed with tweedy effects in a Shetland-like twist, "Colourscape Chunky" is so much more than just another auto-striping yarn option. It's a work of art.
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Design powerhouse Debbie Bliss loves to create fabulous projects with bulky yarns too, so she also has three chunkies for your knitting and crocheting pleasure. Quick-to-create, super chunky Como yarn is crafted of both velvety soft wool & luscious cashmere, so you know it has to be soft. Debbie herself refers to this fiber gem as the "Big Easy" because it's such a beautiful, single-ply, super bulky yarn.
Then she enjoys her two trendy tweeds that are also lovely chunkies. Donegal Tweed Chunky yarn is a traditional British, quick-to-knit tweed yarn that's authentically crafted in the U.K. (Kilcar, Ireland, to be precise). With its base colors ranging from neutral to bright, the nubs of contrasting hues stand out wonderfully in this fiber classic. And when you crave a bit softer, more sumptuous tweed, take a peek at brand-new Luxury Tweed Chunky yarn. Luscious angora added to the traditional Irish wool makes all the difference to transform "Luxury Tweed Chunky" with the enhanced tweed formula personally developed by Debbie Bliss.
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When you're ready to explore your cotton chunky options, check out GGH's 50/50 cotton/acrylic blend Goa yarn.
One of the most versatile, chunky yarns we've ever seen, "Goa" is a must-have in your wardrobe year round because it's great for sensitive skin and for those who enjoy the comfort of cotton but want a lightweight drape. Just knit up a simple swatch, and you'll see what wonderful results you get with a tight twist instead of a strand that's loosely plied. "Goa" is perfect for lightweight tops, scarves, jackets, all types of children's clothes, even men's bulky sweaters!
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Or when you want to combine acrylic with wool in a brushed, super bulky blend, Big Softie from Sirdar is marvelous.
With its fashionably loose twist construction, lightweight "Big Softie" is easy to work with on large needles and hooks, and you can certainly tell where this wool/acrylic blend got its name. Each ball is so airy & soft that we can't wait to get started on the knitted and crocheted hats, scarves, jackets, bags & sweaters we plan to make.
There's also a dedicated booklet filled with "Big Softie" designs and it's focused on projects a beginner would enjoy making. So take a peek at Big Softie Easy Knits for Beginners (#344) for fabulous inspiration.
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Among the high-fashion yarn companies, master knitwear designer Teva Durham's Loop-d-Loop Yarns are known for innovative fiber blends and unique versions of classic approaches, and her two chunky yarns definitely live up to her high standards.
Single-hued, super bulky Tundra is so light and soft that it'll be hard for you to believe it's a super chunky gem. Just imagine what lovely jackets, sweaters, hats, scarves & more you can make to keep you & yours snuggly warm.
Then glimmering, mohair-blend Shale has an unusual construction with a shimmering thread of rayon securely chained through the fuzzy mohair base to give you marvelous tone-on-tone coloration & much more. Mimicking the wonderful textures and hue varieties found in shale rock formations, this Loop-d-Loop lovely is a quick-to-create choice for your chunky knitting & crochet projects throughout the year.
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Founder of Karabella Yarns and runway designer Berta Karapetyan has created some spectacular chunky yarns and patterns oh-so worthy of a haute-couture fashion house.
First off, as a wonderful extension of the "Aurora" family of yarns, take a peek at Aurora Bulky available in over 40 solid colors and with the same tight twist and multi-plied construction as its worsted-weight cousin Aurora 8. With great stitch definition, "Aurora Bulky" has the exquisite softness of 100% extrafine merino wool too.
For the most exquisite chunky yarn in our entire yarn collection, explore the wonders of Supercashmere. With a beautifully twisted/braided, ultrasoft series of plys, "Supercashmere" truly lives up to its name by being crafted of the highest grade cashmere and delivering fantastic stitch definition plus velvety softness in this bulky-weight stunner.
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For the ultimate in high-fashion yarns, we know we can always count on Gedifra to be on the cutting-edge, and their chunky yarns are no exception. First comes beautifully textured Lordana Boucle yarn, a subtle auto-striper that gives you way more than the rest of the self-striping pack. Pizzazz and flair are aptly demonstrated in the lovely Gedifra designs for this Italian wool/acrylic blend.
Then two trendy tweeds are definite Gedifra winners too -- Diandra and brand-new Videra. "Diandra" is oh-so unique because each strand of wool is lightly twined with linen in a pleasing, contrasting hue for a slightly tweedy effect, and "Videra" is crafted as a 2-ply, thick and thin, multi-hued tweed option.
Last but certainly not least, Highland Alpaca yarn became an instant success upon its release and now has two dedicated books available from Gedifra to showcase its terrific features. Sensationally crafted in Peru of 50% alpaca & 50% new wool, "Highland Alpaca" is velvety soft with terrific loft & spring.
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One of the most interesting haute-couture designers to hit the runways in years is Wenlan Chia with her Twinkle knitwear collection. Once Wenlan entered the yarn world with her Twinkle Yarns, her fiber collection and knitting books were guaranteed to reflect the same attention to details and unique fashion sense as her ready-to-wear options.
The foundation yarn in her handknitting collection is delectable, super bulky Soft Chunky. Using some of the softest virgin wool we've ever experienced and keeping the fiber with the look of roving (think unspun) gives you terrific design options and comfy wearability. It's also amazing how much stretch this fabulous super chunky yarn has once Wenlan gets inspired by one of her innovative designs.
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Of course, it isn't only the machine-dyed chunky yarns that offer you gorgeous color options for your fall/winter projects. Hand dyed and hand painted yarns such as those from Misti Alpaca are superb examples of how hand painted color combos can transform your fast projects into masterpieces.
Their foundation yarn is Misti Alpaca Chunky, a buttery soft, solid-hued, 100% alpaca beauty. And since "Misti Alpaca Chunky" is 100% pure, it's absolutely thermal because its hollow fiber and microscopic air pockets help you maintain your body heat yet allow your skin to "breathe" in warmer weather.
Then check out the same fiber in gorgeous multi colors with Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Chunky yarn. Hand painted by Peruvian artisans, this lovely yarn is specially "dyed to the stitch" using a technique with literally 100s of colors in each colorway. So superbly does each color gradually blend into the next, we bet you'll marvel at all the luscious color combos and find it challenging to choose just one.
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South American Aslan Trends Yarns is a relatively new manufacturer distributing yarns in the U.S., but with three lovely chunky fiber gems, we highly recommend them. 100% merino, thick & thin Del Sur yarn is a fabulous, super bulky option for your very quick-to-create knitting & crochet projects.
Then solid-colored Guanaco offers you a splendid alpaca/merino blend for all your fall/winter sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, shawls and other accessories.
The third great fiber beauty is fabulous, brand-new Los Andes, a kettle-dyed, thick & thin option for your cold-weather garments and accessories. Add a generous 100-gram hank for fewer tie-ins and a soft, comfortable blend of merino and nylon, and the results are just fantastic.
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The BagSmith is another yarn company to join the chunky yarn ranks recently. But the difference here is that the staff at The BagSmith are going totally hands-on in developing the chunkiest yarn option of all. Big Stitch Alpaca has a gauge of 1 stitch per inch, the largest we've ever seen. Its unique construction gives you a stupendous single ply of natural fibers twisted by a tight thread of nylon for added durability & texture.
Also we highly recommend that you use Big Stitch Needles and Big Stitch Crochet Hooks to achieve incredibly fast results.
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When you're ready to explore eco-friendly chunky options, we recommend you take a peek at Montana from Tahki Yarns from the Terra Collection.
"Montana" is a soft, lofty yarn crafted of 100% unprocessed wool roving in Italy. Available in generous 100-gram hanks, this yarn has natural wool fibers from the different shades of the sheep's coat blended together for the heather shades. Then low-impact dyes are used to create the other natural shades of "Montana." Even the packaging is eco-friendly made of recycled paper printed with vegetable-based inks.
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For two of the most fun, European "fancy" yarns, you can count on the yarn specialists at Rozetti Yarns. Their latest innovations are single-hued Cocoon yarn and its cousin, variegated Cocoon Multi.
This dynamic duo is crafted of plush, 1.5-inch "cocoons" attached to a nubby thread and the result is a sensational 100% polyester, super bulky yarn option. As much fun to work up as it is to wear, these two novelty yarns are terrific for shawls, scarves & other super-chunky projects.
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Last but certainly not least comes the yarn company with the most chunky and super chunky fiber gems -- Crystal Palace. Offering both natural-fiber and synthetic bulky yarns, Crystal Palace has a terrific range of options, and most of their wonderful yarns are supported by free patterns too.
Sensational wool and wool blend yarns include textured boucle Nubbles yarn, auto-striping Kaya and Sequoia, and beautifully feltable Iceland Solid and Iceland Print.
We also currently have in stock ever-popular "fancy" yarns such as feathery Splash, textured Poof, soft & fuzzy Kiddo Solid and Kiddo Print, and fringed ribbon Rave Print and Rave Solid.
And just as a little preview of what's to come, our 9th issue of the Just My Type newsletter will be emailed to you on Tuesday, October 27th, so get ready to update your wardrobe with Hand Painted & Hand Dyed Yarns. Also discover all the fantastic ways you can knit and crochet with these lovely fiber gems and make garments for yourself and gifts for all your family and friends to enjoy during the fall holidays.
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Orginally published by Yarnmarket.com in 9/2009. Please note
that yarns and links may change over time. |
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