Category Archives: Yarn Features

Crochet the Cute and the Classic

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In honor of March being National Crochet Month, Kraemer Yarns would like to spotlight the beautiful projects be worked with a hook and our yarns! Crochet stitches can create a very different fabric texture than you can with knit stitches  and the projects range from cute and cuddly toys to cozy blankets and gorgeous garments.

Kraemer Yarns Crochet PatternsThe crochet section of the Kraemer Yarns free pattern collection has something for everyone and is beginner friendly. We have baby booties in Perfection DK and a Crochet Baby Blanket in Perfection, a classic baby gift to create in an easy-care yarn!  Maybe this spring you could use a practical Go To Market bag in Tatamy Tweed DK, or a trendy Flower Infinity Scarf in Sterling Silk and Silver? We are in the final stages of editing two new crochet patterns, so please stay tuned!

Kraemer Yarns in a Vintage Crochet SetSharing your projects on Ravelry is a great way to inspire others. We absolutely love this Textured Shell Stitch Wrap that LaTomBoye crocheted in Sterling Silk and Silver. Then we spotted her dress! Also crocheted in Sterling Silk and Silver, the Silver Skimmer is a 1968-1969 McCall’s pattern. LaTomBoye’s project notes are quite extensive, and we think this is an amazing project! You’ll also want to take a look at our Pinterest Crochet board. We’ve curated the board to include tips, tricks, project ideas and more! Do you have a crochet tip or project to share? You can find us on Ravelry, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!

 

New Patterns, Projects, and Plans

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February is an always an exciting time of year. Winter is still holding on, but there are hints of a return to Spring! We’d like to take the opportunity in this blog post to share new patterns that have been published in Kraemer Yarns, patterns from our friends, and plans for spring!

Free Accessory patternsNew to the forever free patterns page at KraemerYarns.com are the two items shown above. Winter winds still whip around so stay cozy with the Staggered Rib Chunky Cowl! It’s a quick knit with Perfection Chunky. The new hat pattern may be called the Autumn Hat, referencing the colorway used, but with the cute chevron pattern and your favorite colors of Naturally Nazareth, you’ll wear it as much as you can!

Socks and Hats in Kraemer Yarns

These patterns were recently published to Ravelry, and that’s where you can purchase them or add them to your library and queue. The Garden Trellis socks and Petal Quilt Socks are both by Clara Masessa in Kraemer Yarns Sterling Silk & Silver. Paula Herbert has been knitting hats for the Little Hats, Big Hearts campaign by the American Heart Association. She has made her pattern for newborn hats in Perfection Worsted and Perfection Chunky available as a free Ravelry download!

Kraemer Yarns Crochet Express blog tour

Did you know that March is National Crochet Month? We’re looking forward to sharing crochet patterns and projects in Kraemer Yarns with you. Kraemer Yarns is also articipating as a stop on the Crochetville’s Crochet Express Blog Tour! Our next blog post is already in the works to spotlight several lovely crochet items. If you have used Kraemer Yarns in your crochet projects, be sure to drop us a note on Facebook, Instagram, or Ravelry, we’d love to include you in a spotlight post!

 

New for You

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Are you back to your regular routine after the hustle and bustle of the holidays? As winter settles in, with cold temperatures and snow, now is a great time to make something special for you! While you are at it, why not try a new technique and build your skills with a new-to-you Kraemer Yarn?

Sterling Silk & Silver in Sea Lily Shawl Snow Dance in gradient-dyed Sterling Silk & Silver

Sterling Silk & Silver is a decadent and luxurious blend of merino, silk, nylon, and poly fiber with an aluminum coating. It is a sock weight with approximately 420 yards per skein. This yarn makes a fabulous sock, but don’t rule out other patterns. Worked into a shawl, in any of the regal colorways, it is perfect to accompany elegant evening attire. The generous yardage allows for cowls and scarves as well. Shown above, the  Sea Lily Shawlette in Ivory and Snow Dance in Natural that was gradient-dyed.

Kathy Zimmerman Shawl in Fountain Hill Brushed Mohair Fountain Hill Cropped Top

Fountain Hill has an airy loft and lovely halo to make elegant garments in many different gauges. Whether you create delicate lace, a sweet little cardigan, or a double knit scarf, Fountain Hill lends graceful softness to any garment. Shown above, left, the Bedford Springs Shawl with Ruffle (there are other variations on the Kraemer Yarns website), and the Fountain Hills Cropped Top.

Kraemer Yarns Free Pattern Mountain Springs Infinity CowlFor the ultimate indulgence and unique yarn experience, try combining yarns! A great place to start is to hold Fountain Hill together with Sterling Silk & Silver as in the Mountain Springs Infinity Cowl! This is a forever-free pattern from Kraemer Yarns and has been immensely popular. Infinity scarves are trendy accessories that are practical and portable projects as well!

We encourage you to share with us your indulgent projects and plans – we love to cheer you on!

Decorations in Kraemer Yarns

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Decorations and ornaments are everywhere you look this time of year. Have you ever thought about knitting or crocheting decorations for yourself or as gifts? Ornaments are a great way to mark a special occasion or start a new tradition. Kraemer Yarns, available in different weights and blends, are great choices to use for these projects that are sure to bring out the smiles as they are brought out each holiday season.

Decorations from Kraemer Yarns

Kraemer Yarns is pleased to offer a variety of free patterns year-round and here we are spotlighting the seasonal ones. The Bethlehem Star Stocking, knit in Naturally Nazareth, features simple cables to create the star and border decoration. The top is knitted flat and then joined in the round to finish off the foot. Our Christmas Ornament Socks, in Saucon Sock, look great decorating a tree, topping a gift, or strung together as garland! Pip the mouse, is crocheted in Perfection DK and is an adorable little guy to add to your tree.

Felted Christmas Wreath Felted Gingerbread Ornaments

Nicki Epstein’s #08 Felted Wreath, is a festive show-stopper to grace your door or mantle. The Felted Gingerbread Ornament pattern would be adorable as a custom garland or gift tag. If you haven’t tried felting yet, these are great projects on which to experiment with Mauch Chunky. We have even more holiday project inspiration on our Pinterest board, click here to check it out.

We know this is a busy time of year, and we do appreciate when you take a moment to share your projects with us! Getting a notification about your post to our Facebook page, seeing your posts in our Ravelry group, and tagging us on Instagram makes our days merry and bright!

Perfection Lights & Cabin Fever

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Perfection Lights

Perfection LightsIn our inaugural blog post, we put the spotlight on Perfection. Perfection is a great all-purpose yarn available in 57 colors and 4 weights. If you are looking to add a little something extra to your projects this season, without breaking the bank, consider the 12 sparkle colors of worsted weight Perfection Lights!

Perfection Lights Colorways

Project Inspiration

Perfection Lights Project Ideas

The touch of sparkle in Perfection Lights Worsted makes it a fun choice to use for holiday ornaments, a glamorous accessory, or as an accent in combination with the 67 colorways of Perfection Worsted! Shown above (left to right) are Ravelry user DagmarEir’s Pink Stripe Mittens in Fluff Lights and Kiss Me, the Emerald City hat pattern by Leeana Gardiner (wouldn’t it be a great choice for Ivy Lights or Holly Lights?), and the crochet Fall Shawl and Christmas Sweater ornaments would also be fun in Perfection Lights. Those last two are free patterns available from Kraemer Yarns. We invite you to share your projects in Kraemer Yarns with us on your favorite social channel, just follow the sidebar links!

Cabin Fever Pattern Books

Cabin Fever Top Down for ToddlersNeed a pattern? If you have browsed the Kraemer Yarns free patterns and still not finding just the right pattern, take a look at the selection of books from Cabin Fever. From baby and toddlers, to hats and socks, and even plus sizes, there is a Cabin Fever pattern book to help you out! Many of the designs call for Kraemer Yarns. We are pleased to be a distributor of these books, so be sure to ask your local yarn shop when you are shopping for your next Kraemer Yarn project!

 

 

About Alpaca

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Alpaca Yarn: Valuable & Respected Fiber

Kraemer Yarns Alpaca

Did you know that Alpacas have been bred for fiber for thousands of years? The imperial Incas clothed themselves in garments woven from alpaca and many of their religious ceremonies involved the animal. The number of alpacas they owned was a measurement of wealth! Today’s fiber artists, knitters and crocheters need only to look to Kraemer Yarns’ Alpaca Handknitting yarns for an affordable luxury to use in their projects.

Alpaca Yarn Characteristics

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Kraemer Yarns’ Alpaca Handknitting yarn, available in DK and chunky weights, still has the soft luxury of alpaca with the added stability of merino wool. The Alpaca fiber comes from the North American Alpaca Co-op and the yarn has a smooth, buttery feel. Garments knit from this yarn will be soft, cozy, and warm.  Have you added this yarn to your Ravelry stash yet? Join us in the Kraemer Yarns Ravelry group to share your projects and plans for your Alpaca Handknitting yarn!

 

Alpaca Pattern and Project Inspiration

Kraemer Yarn Alpaca Patterns

If you are looking to craft for yourself or for a gift in the upcoming holiday season, Kraemer Yarns has a variety of free patterns ready for you! Shown above, clockwise from top right: Alpaca 3 button Shawl, Cafe Stole, Chunky Fingerless Mitts, Horizontal Cable Hat, Aran-Inspired Vest, and Cafe Cowl. From accessories to garments, the catalog includes options for all skill levels. For even more pattern and project inspiration, check out our Pinterest boards, or feel free to share your #kraemeryarns projects on Instagram and Facebook!

Mauch Chunky Spotlight

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Meet Mauch Chunky

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Wool, as roving or spun yarn, has so many wonderful qualities and uses. In this blog post, we would like to spotlight Mauch Chunky, available as yarn and roving. We hope to inspire you to try a new project with this versatile fiber!

 

Fun for Felting!

The Gentle Arts Customer Project Felted Bag Needle Felted Octopus

Mauch Chunky was created with felters in mind. This is a yarn that felts easily and beautifully, so be sure to use it intentionally! As a roving it is an excellent choice for needle and wet felting. The Gentle Arts shop shared this customer project with us. Lourdes used Mauch Chunky yarn to knit the Colors of the Wind pattern. Then it was machine washed to felt the bag and the embellishment design was added with needle felting.  On Instagram, we spotted Traci’s needle felted octopus. We love seeing all these projects and encourage you to share them with us!

Chunky Knits are Warm Knits

Warming Hearts Hat and Mitten Set  Arrowhead Poncho in Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky

Mauch Chunky yarn is certainly not limited to felted items! Garments made from Mauch Chunky are warm and perfect for winter weather. The Warming Hearts set calls for 8 colors, and with 57 different colorways at your fingertips, you will have as much fun playing with color as the recipient will have wearing it! Start now on stockpiling those holiday gifts or indulge in a larger, warmer project such as the Arrowhead Poncho, right on trend for this fall! Take a look at the Free Patterns for Mauch Chunky page for even more ideas!

Roving for Hand Spinning & Spinzilla

Mauch Chunky Roving for Hand SpinningSpinzilla is a week-long spinning event in October. There is friendly competition to see which team can spin the most yardage while raising money for the Needle Arts Mentoring Program to create the spinners of tomorrow. Kraemer Yarns is proud to support this event, now in its third year. Whether spinning on a team or going rogue, you do not want to be in short supply of spinning fiber! Mauch Chunky Roving is available in one pound bags of your favorite color! From September 15 through October 15, use the coupon code SPINZILLA to save 20% on any roving from Kraemer Yarns when you shop through our Shopatron site. Note: the coupon code must be in all caps! Enjoy this Spinzilla Stock Up Sale!

 

Don’t forget, Mauch Chunky yarn & roving is always available to you to purchase online with free shipping!

Perfection Yarn Spotlight

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Welcome to the blog of Kraemer Yarns!

Kraemer Textiles has been custom spinning yarn for many types of industries for over 100 years, including apparel, carpet, home furnishings, industrial and craft. Our hand knitting line, Kraemer Yarns, began in 2005. Today we would like to share with you ways in which we can connect with you, the handcrafter who is using our yarn line. We would also like to put the spotlight on Perfection Yarn, a yarn that is….well, perfect!

Perfection Yarn

 

Perfection is a Go-To Yarn!

Perfection is a blend of U.S. merino wool and acrylic. Before we bring any yarn to market, we rigorously test market it to knitters and we work with them until every aspect is just right! Perfection is available in DK, Worsted, Chunky, and Super Bulky weights in more than 65 colorways. You will find this yarn is wonderfully springy, works up smoothly and is durable. It is a perfect choice for your next project, whomever the recipient! Perfection is an easy-care yarn, it can be machine washed and dried. We hope you will ask for it at your local yarn shop. If you have trouble finding a local retailer, you can purchase online with free shipping!

Perfections Trios

Project and Pattern Inspiration for Perfection

At KraemerYarns.com you will find free patterns available to download for all of our yarns. We offer patterns that are just right for a beginner to build on their skill set and for the advanced knitter ready to tackle a complex cable. 

New Patterns in Perfection Worsted

The Riverpath Scarf is our featured Pattern of the Month. Two skeins of Perfection Worsted are all you need to knit this great unisex accessory designed by Eleanor Swogger. The Airy Openwork Tunic is a crochet tunic top, great for layering now over a swimsuit or come fall with leggings. Marybeth Temple designed the pattern, found in the June 2015 I Like Crochet! magazine. Summer is a great time for small projects like the Winter Lake Neckwarmer, by Kristen Stoltzfus in the Crochet! Fall 2015 special issue. Combine your favorite three colorways of Perfection for your own unique cowl.

Connect with Us!

We love hearing from fellow fans of Kraemer Yarns and seeing how your projects progress. When sharing your photos online, feel free to tag us or post to our pages! Here’s where you can find us: