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Berta Karapetyan |
She was born into a world we would never associate with fashion; a world cold and alien with its gray conformity and utilitarian style. But something remarkable happened. Barriers were crushed and spirits were lifted. An entire nation underwent changes we could not have envisioned, and with those changes came unimaginable opportunities: a little girl in Moscow grew up to become famous on the runways of New York City.
Berta Karapetyan was a smart young woman who graduated from Moscow's Finance Academy and worked for the city before marrying and quitting to raise her young children, Masha and Arthur. Having learned to knit as a young girl, she enjoyed the craft, and now with more time on her hands she discovered she particularly enjoyed teaching others.
Her classes were popular and she was teaching more and more students whose autumn exhibitions were always well attended. But while she was enjoying success in her homeland, she had no idea what awaited her when she and her family immigrated to the United States in the 1980s.
There, in the heart of North America's fashion industry, Berta discovered a whole new world of styles and shapes that she could apply to her own designs. She discovered opportunities and open doors that she was smart enough to recognize, and hard-working enough to apply to her own success. It started when she had the courage to purchase School Products, the largest and oldest yarn shop in Manhattan, and a favorite amongst designers and fiber artists.
Berta's School Products |
"I am very technically advanced in architecting knitwear," Berta tell us, "and the rumor was spread very quickly among designers working for the big Fashion Houses that I can do complicated knitwear developments."
In 1993, Berta created Karabella Company, a design shop that specialized in developing knit collections for small New York designers.
"My name became well known," she says, "and I got involved in developing knitwear collections for different designers."
These included the prestigious fashion houses like Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Banana Republic. They would present Berta with the design for a knitwear piece and she would execute their idea. Her work was perfectly professional because the prototype she created had to look good enough to be featured on a runway or displayed in a showroom to generate sales for the garments.
"As this work progressed I was getting yarns for knitwear developments from the best Spinning Mills in Italy. Working with the highest end yarns from Italian manufacturers further developed my passion for fiber. In 1999 I helped my son, Arthur, select the first yarn collection from the best Italian spinning mills and Karabella Yarns Company was born."
Best known for its classic Aurora yarns, Karabella is absolutely passionate about quality. Under Berta's guidance, the company makes every effort to provide the best customer service possible, often going out of their way to find what the customer is looking for. They proudly sell to shops throughout the world a full array of superior quality yarns and outstanding patterns.
Asked if she has any favorites, Berta tells us she is particularly fond of Aurora 8, Aurora 4, and Aurora Bulky. "They are smooth, springy, silky and have a wonderful stitch definition. I work only with the best Italian mills that have excellent quality control."
When she chooses novelty yarns for her collection, she says she has to imagine them in the final product. "I have an amazing ability to evaluate the yarn by just looking and touching the swatch or partial cone and imagining how it will behave."
Her design expertise, impressive knowledge of garment construction, sense of style and business acumen have made Berta Karapetyan and Karabella Yarns an international success story. A talented little girl from Moscow has lived the American dream to become a world-famous star of the knitting industry.
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Win a Karabella Gift Package Worth Over $175
See details below »
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With great stitch definition and the exquisite softness of 100% extra fine merino wool, Aurora Bulky is the perfect choice for your quick-to-create garments and accessories. This yarn, crafted in Italy, is available in 44 glorious colors.
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This fingering/laceweight yarn is spun in Italy from the highest quality, long-stapled 100% cashmere. With its 2-ply construction and superb softness, Supercashmere Fine is the ultimate luxury. 9 colors.
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This creation of 50/50 yak and merino wool is an incredibly lofty cabled yarn. The yak down is carefully processed so no rough guard hairs are in the finished product. This soft yet durable yarn is made in Italy. 10 solids and 5 multi colors.
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This quality merino wool comes from an Italian mill that has been in operation for over 120 years. It's an ultra premium superwash yarn loved by fashion designers. Aurora 8 is available in 102 spectacular solids and 14 space-dyed colors.
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This eye-catching yarn is light as air and sparkles like diamonds, making it ideal for dramatic yet elegant fashions. We love it for glittering eveningwear and accessories. Made in Italy in soft, light 30% kid mohair, 52% nylon and 18% polyester. 34 glimmering colors.
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Crafted from extra fine merino wool, this yarn combines four complementary and contrasting hues of Aurora 8. The result is a sensational tweedy look. We have 13 colors that coordinate with Aurora 8 solids. Also available in Melange Bulky Melange.
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Pamper yourself or someone special with beautifully twisted, ultrasoft Supercashmere. This bulky-weight 100% cashmere yarn provides fantastic stitch definition and velvety softness. It's a joy to knit and heavenly to wear. We have 18 colors.
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This Italian-made yarn is created with 80% extra fine merino and 20% cashmere, so you know it's going to feel soft and luxurious. Karabella Margrite offers superb stitch definition and it drapes beautifully. We have 19 colors.
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The wonderful complementary and contrasting color combos in this bulky beauty are created with four shades of Aurora Bulky yarn. The result is a lovely tweedy yarn crafted in Italy of 100% extrafine, non-shrink merino wool. Available in 7 colors.
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Looking for something soft and sumptuous to wear against the skin? Here's a combination of 20% cashmere, 80% merino wool that's perfect for scarves, gloves or hats. The chunky weight yarn has a gorgeous drape. 14 colors now available.
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Classy and elegant. This is how Berta Karapetyan describes many of her favorite designs, the designs for which she has become so famous throughout the world. A talented knitter who learned the craft at the age of twelve, she has always demanded excellence and worked very hard to achieve it.
"I still remember the first sweater I ever knit," she says. "When I showed it to my family, they were fascinated by my creation, but I wasn't happy with the way it fit."
To perfect her skills she voraciously read books about sweater construction, realizing that mathematics played an important role in creating a well-proportioned piece. With her Master's Degree in Finance, she was obviously no stranger to math. So armed with her skills with numbers, her passion for knitting, her drive to perfection, and, expertise she quickly learned to create high-fashion knitwear that reflected her remarkable sense of style.
After quickly becoming a favorite of the New York fashion houses, Berta realized that she could not only translate her visions of beauty for the designers who featured her garments, she could also create a line of patterns for others. Soon, she was not only using her own patterns, but also her own Karabella yarns in styles designed to flatter the figure. Her creations were elegant, of course, and also clean cut, sophisticated and fashionable.
A seemingly endless font of visionary styles, Berta created books like her popular Runway Knits, and patterns like the classic yet contemporary Cardigan with Cabled Yoke and the Aurora 8 Bramble Stitch Jacket. These phenomenally successful projects brought her an enthusiastic following of knitters, and propelled Berta into the realm of knitting industry dignitaries.
Today, the designer of 99% of Karabella's patterns is known for her very tasteful, chic creations that have a timeless, classic appeal — an appeal that resonates with confident women seeking strong statements that aren't overwhelming.
"I don't want my designs to overwhelm your body," she says. "The garment should flatter you."
Berta says the designer she admires most is Donna Karan whose goal is always to make women look elegant and slimmer.
When asked what her favorite patterns of all time are, Berta lists several. Among them are the feminine Aurora Cabled Collar Pullover and her exquisite Bulky Split Cable Sweater. Both are challenging projects, but not impossibly difficult to make.
"I always try to recommend a pattern appropriate to the knitter's skill level," she tell us. "I don't like seeing knitters with incomplete projects, discouraged from future projects."
Those are smart words coming from a woman whose initiative and vision transformed her from a talented young knitter in Moscow to a celebrated design icon in the fashion district of New York...and throughout the world.
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Give any plain shirt a fashion boost with this classic, scoop-neck vest. Created with complementary shades of tweedy Aurora Bulky Melange and solid Aurora Bulky yarn for the ribbed neck, hem and armholes. Perfect for office or casual wear.
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Wrap yourself in pure luxury with this cabled cap and scarf. Created with sumptuously soft Karabella 100% Supercashmere, the scarf measures approximately 6"x46" and the hat has a circumference of approximately 20". You need 3 balls for the scarf and 1 for the hat.
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What girl doesn't dream of snuggling into a cashmere sweater? This stylish raglan cabled sweater knit in Karabella Supercashmere yarn will make that dream come true. Ultra soft and luxurious, it's the perfect way to pamper yourself or that special someone.
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Here's something you'd expect to see on the fashion runways of Milan. The cobweb-inspired open knit top is created with Gossamer yarn from Karabella. Make it sexy by wearing it over a camisole or go rock-star glam by dressing up a graphic t-shirt. One size fits most.
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This classic style is great for weekend or work wear. The colorful cardigan is created with Aurora Melange and Aurora 8. Its double-breasted styling and the small shawl collar provide great visual interest and the ribbed mélange construction gives a super slim-line fit.
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Looking for the perfect top for dress or casual wear? Here's a lacy little number that you'll love with a long satin skirt or skinny jeans. Crafted in ultrasoft Supercashmere Fine, this little sweater has a flower motif. Wear alone in warm weather and with a jacket during cooler temps.
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Goth goes glam with these luxurious little socks made of Supercashmere Fine yarn. The body of the sock is knit, and then the lacy top edge is created with small crocheted granny squares. They're a wonderful gift to yourself, but your friends will want them, too!
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Who wouldn't love a shawl to add a little warmth to evening wear? This one is made with glimmering Gossamer, a thin kid mohair and nylon yarn with glittery accents every few inches. The ruffle adds an elegant touch to a very basic triangular shawl.
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Surround yourself in luxurious softness and warmth. This elegant shawl is created with Supercashmere Fine yarn, using a pretty knitting pattern finished off with a delicate fringe. You can wear it with a gown, slacks, or wrap yourself in comfort on a plane trip. 25" x 78".
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Dress up your favorite casual pants or pair it with a skirt for office wear. This criss-cross v-neck pullover uses coordinating Aurora 8 and Aurora 8 Space Dyed yarns. The color combinations are endless so choose your favorites and knit yourself a classic new wardrobe item.
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Here's a sweater that will bring instant style to your wardrobe. The chic, modern cardigan is created with Aurora Bulky yarn. Big ribbed cuffs are paired with elbow-length sleeves and a wide ribbed collar. It falls just to the waist to create a flattering, slimming fit for every shape.
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If you're looking for one fantastic piece to add drama to your entire wardrobe, this is what you're looking for. The gorgeous modern shawl is created with Supercashmere Fine yarn. It features a pleated lace pattern that's dramatically feminine, and light and airy. You'll love it!
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Attention! This military-inspired jacket is created with Aurora Bulky Melange yarn. The front edges and cuffs are ribbed, and the cuffs roll up. A stand-up collar gives the look of a military jacket. This is a versatile piece you'll use for work wear and weekend gatherings.
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There's always an angle! You'll adore the off-center closure and asymmetrical collar on this comfy cardigan. It's created with Aurora Melange edged with complementary solid Aurora 8 yarn. The wide ribbing gives nice texture while the solid color trim finishes the piece nicely.
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Here's a classic style that can be handed down from child to child. The ribbed-knit sweater is crafted in the tweedy-looking Aurora Melange yarn. It has a great fit — with room to grow — and is wonderfully warm for winter wear. Your child will love it for school or play times.
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41% off Roses »
40% off Baraka »
33% off Magic »
28% off Labirinth »
25% off Butterfly »
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You could win a Karabella Prize Package worth over $175. The package includes everything you need to create two wonderful Karabella projects: The Gossamer Ruffled Shawl and the Brushed Alpaca Capelet. You'll receive three skeins each of Gossamer and Brushed Alpaca yarn, the patterns for each PLUS three Crystal Palace circular needles needed to complete the projects.
Send an email with your answer to
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. Make sure the subject is: Spotlight on Karabella Yarns.
Include in your email the answer to the question: Who is Berta Karapetyan's favorite designer?
We'll draw a winner from all the correct submissions on April 5 and announce it in our next issue of Spotlight.
Congratulations to Victorian Johansson of North Carolina who won our Spotlight on Prism contest in February!
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