See you in Germany!

This will be my third time going to H+H Cologne and my second time with a booth. This time in our booth we will have Anzula, Mod Yarns, and Lucky Jonquil.

We will be debuting our new yarn Neptune along with three new colors. Neptune is the DK version of Nebula, our superwash merino and sparkling stellina.

Do you need tickets for H+H Cologne? Send us an email and we will send you a ticket. You must be a local yarn store owner or manager.

Want to know about our H+H show special? If you are already signed up for our newsletter, check your email, if not shoot me a message and I will forward our current newsletter with all the deets to you. We know not all shop owners can make it to Germany, so we are extending this offer to all of our shops when you place orders through our online shop through March 31st.

Lucky Jonquil offers fresh tools for pretty string, specializing in embroidery thread storage and organization. They believe fiber stashes should bring joy and excitement to stitchers and work to provide high quality and innovative pieces just for them.

Floss Keeps

Bobbin Pegs

Swatch Drops

I started another yarn company, Mod Yarns, because I wanted to create funky yarns that are unlike any Anzula yarn. This single ply superfine merino is a perfect example. Hit Single is gorgeously soft and will make great accessories & fun sweaters. We are showcasing three new colors in Cologne. These can be ordered on any yarns by Mod Yarns.

Tiana, Jessica Rabbit, and Under the Sea will be available beginning Friday, March 22nd.

Yarn: Mod Yarns Hit Single

Colorway: Tiana

Yarn: Mod Yarns Hit Single

Colorway: Jessica Rabbit

Yarn: Mod Yarns Hit Single

Colorway: Under the Sea

Don’t think I forgot the new colors from Anzula. We have Medusa, Joker, and Poseidon, all on our new yarn Neptune. I can’t wait for you to see these in person!

Happy Stitching!

Why You Should Start Knitting Your Holiday Gifts This Summer by Samantha Higgins

The holiday season will arrive faster than you'd imagine. While most people start shopping around October or November, some people get the jump on gift arranging well before then. There are many good reasons why you should start knitting your holiday gifts this summer, whether or not you've planned to knit your gifts at all.

They're Thoughtful

Gifts that you've knitted yourself are often much more special and appreciated than gifts that were bought in stores. Anyone can buy items that are made in bulk and shipped worldwide, but not everyone can knit a gift from the heart. 

By knitting your gifts this summer, you'll be showing your loved ones that you care for them. They won't only have a nice gift from you, but they'll also have something to remember you by for years to come. This brings us to our second point.

They Last Longer

It's certainly no secret that many bulk manufactured products aren't made to last. Every year it seems that the products we purchase are of poorer quality. This is because many companies want you to have to purchase a new item sooner than later. 

This is also why a lot of companies are making their products harder to repair. Our yarns were specifically curated to create heirloom pieces. The twist and fiber are meant to last for decades to come. When you knit your loved one a gift, it's likely to last longer than a store-bought item that was manufactured to fail after a certain amount of time. By knitting your gifts, you'll give gifts that last.

Materials Are Easier To Find

The holiday season causes a shortage in just about everything but tinsel. You'll find that many yarn types become harder and harder to find as the holiday season approaches. This is because many people are buying up all of the yarn for their own gifts, leaving those who were late to start in the dust. '

By starting to knit your gifts in the summer, you'll be allowing yourself to have greater chances when it comes to finding the yarn and materials you'll need and want most. Beat the shortage by starting to knit your gifts in the summer. Less people will be sitting around knitting in the summer, so it's often much easier to find an abundance of yarn and other supplies.

You’ll Save Money

Every year items become harder to afford. Something that used to cost just $5 years ago, now can easily cost $10 or more. When you knit your own holiday gifts, you can save more money than if you were to buy the same gifts. 

Of course, this limits exactly what you can give though. However, if you're struggling with money, a handmade gift is often cherished by many. Knitted items also make great secondary gifts if you have something else planned.

By beginning your knitting projects in the summer, you'll also be able to save money on supplies. Summertime is great for sales on items that aren't being heavily used in the summer. You could imagine that not too many people spend their summers indoors knitting.  We have lots of kits available that are on sale!

For this reason, many stores and companies will hold sales on yarn and other knitting supplies. By starting early, you'll be avoiding price hikes that come along with the holiday season and peak knitting season.

There’s Room For Personalization

There are loads of fun knitting project ideas. Knitting gifts makes it easy to give someone something that they would absolutely love. For instance, for a child, knitting a cute stuffed animal featuring their favorite animal is a great idea. 

For adults, socks, hats, gloves, blankets, and more are great ideas for gifts that are not only sentimental but functional as well. Get creative with the items! You'll also have more room for customization, such as colors, patterns, and more.

Wrapping Up

Knitting your holiday gifts in the summer is a great idea for a wide variety of reasons. You'll have an easier time locating the types of yarn that you need, and you'll also spend less money as well. Knitted gifts are gifts that can be treasured for a lifetime and then some. These gifts are made to last and made with love, making them a perfect way to show someone you care about them. And the sooner you start, the less you'll have to do come the holiday season, giving you more time to spend with the ones you love most.

Meet the Designer: Mary M Martin

I fell in love with Anzula yarns when I knit the True Colours Scarf with their Squishy Color Wheel. Squishy is true to its name and the colours are completely joyful.

When I embarked on my next design, I tried Wash My Lace and was thrilled with the results. The construction of Wash My Lace traps in the air when worked in a marl to create a lightweight, squishy fabric.

The Sisters in Spirit design is created using Fission Knitting where two yarns are held together in a marl. The yarns are separated to create a different cabled motif on each side of the fabric. I look for yarns that are smooth and do not split or tangle easily. Wash my Lace worked beautifully.

The Sisters in Spirit Wrap features a zig zag motif on both sides of the fabric. A section of intensity on the one side of the scarf/wrap is created by placing the zig zags very close together. This made me think of sisters with similar personalities.

The zig zag motif is bolder in the scarf version with its high contrast colours like Floradora and Natural. One skein of each colour makes a generous length scarf that can be wrapped several times around your neck for extra warmth on cold winter days but also lightweight enough to drape over your shoulders on hot days when you encounter an overactive air conditioner.

I used Alice and Mariana (both bluey green tones) for the wrap version. This very large wrap (17 by 79 inches) scrunches up small enough to fit in my purse for evenings out. These two low contrast colours create a subtle, elegant look. I was initially worried about doing colourwork with such similar colours but it wasn’t a problem; look at how beautifully blend in the background and shine when worked alone.

My reversible designs all use two or more colours. It is a treat getting to choose from Anzula’s extensive colourways. I love that each of Anzula’s colours are strong enough to stand on its own and combine beautifully with others in their palette.

Ravelry:  MaryWMartin

Instagram:  @MaryWMartinKnits

Youtube:  MaryWMartinKnits