It certainly felt like Spring this past weekend with blue skies and the temperature hovering around 20 degrees Celsius. Inside the Diamond showroom in Toronto, the sun was shining brightly as the 2010 Spring Collection was unveiled during this Open House weekend.
Yarn retailers make the trek across Canada for a chance to preview the newest yarns, patterns, and sample garments from all the best lines, Sirdar, Debbie Bliss, Katia, Louisa Harding, Mirasol, Noro, and so many more. We scribble down notes, choose our favorites, and plan orders for the upcoming season. Then its time to wander through the warehouse, a giant candy store for knitters. Its a magical place, where aisles stretch long and shelves are filled high with yarn in every imaginable colour and texture. Eye catching yarns beckon at every turn, and its easy to lose track of time. How many knitters have secretly wondered what its like, to accidentally be locked inside a warehouse full of yarn after closing, for just one night?
The Diamond 2010 Spring Collection shows bright and cheerful colours replacing neutrals of the past season. Foodie Fibres are showing up stronger than ever with bamboo returning as the current leader and milk resin in second place. Sugar cane is making an appearance in both double knitting and baby weight baby yarns, a sure hit with its super softness and sheen.
Here is just a hint of what is new for Spring-
Araucania has sassy, bold cottons in a rainbow of colours, a multi-coloured sugar cane blend, and a gorgeous handpainted cashmere in an ultra fine summer weight, perfect for evening shawls, and dressy cardigans.
Noro never disappoints with vivid colourways in a comfortable mix of natural fibres. For Spring there are four delicious new yarns- Aya, Furin, Shirakaba, and Sekku, each in a blend of cotton, silk and wool. The newest design catalogue from Noro highlights close fitting cardigans and pullovers, three quarter sleeves , unusual necklines, and wrap fronts.
Debbie Bliss continues her popular ECO cotton line with a new lighter weight, suitable for baby sweaters and cardigans, and introduces a hint of luxury in Amalfi. As always, the pattern support is wonderful and knitters everywhere patiently wait to peek at her newest styles.
Sirdar has added a new baby yarn on the same theme as the successful self-striping Crofter DK, and a silky bamboo yarn for adult appeal. The designs from the Sirdar team just keep hitting the mark with fashionable simplicity.
This early glimpse of things to come will hopefully stay with us during the cold days ahead, with lots of inspiration for new projects to be knit. Spring is just around the corner!
