Knitting News

Chill chasers | Rocky Mountain News

Chill chasers
Rocky Mountain News - November 30 2006

[...]This is the year to find a piece that will be treasured for seasons to come. Cashmere is a classic, but don't ignore knits made from alpaca wool; they're available, undyed, in 22 colors. And don't assume that all alpaca fiber comes from Peru; there are companies in America that use wool from America (for example, visit www.americasalpaca.com). This year's favored colors are neutrals: sand, browns and ivory with splashes of orange, green, blue and purple. [more]

Scottish cashmere on the rack | The Apparel Analyst

Scottish cashmere on the rack
The Apparel Analyst - November 29 2006

The knitwear industry in the Scottish border region of the UK is one of the most skilful knitwear manufacturing hubs in the world with its high value products retailing at some of the world’s most prestigious luxury venues.

But in recent years the industry has come under threat from the arrival in the UK of super cheap cashmere garments retailing in major stores such as Tesco for as little as £25.00. This market penetration has helped the Chinese cashmere industry to generates annual sales — including wool and finished articles — of $1 billion (£524 million), but traditional cashmere makers in Scotland say they can still resist this onslaught because consumers desire quality cashmere garments. James Sugden, the managing director of Johnstons of Elgin, which owns Johnstons Cashmere said that even some Chinese millionaires preferred European products. “They don’t want luxury brands from China,” he said.

However, as we went to press, Hawick Cashmere took the decision to lay off more workers. This was just as the company had spent around £0.7 million on new Shima Seiki WholeGarment knitting machines, and after it had hired the Japanese designer Masayo Urano to create its first fashion ‘seamless’ cashmere collection. The collection is set to launch next season in Milan, Paris, Berlin and New York. [more]

Knitty Gritty | AskMen.com

Knitty Gritty
AskMen.com - November 2006

A key ensemble this season that found its way back onto the runway is the cardigan, in both a chunky and light-knit form. The selection is vast, yet still very accommodating to all other trends. The most popular in terms of print or pattern has been striped, whilst colors have been gray or bright red. Their best attribute is their function-meets-fashion angle and they bond in harmony to create great style, while keeping you warm in the winter months.

London high-fashion and high-street stores have revalued the cardigan's worth and made them the merchandising focal points as they are currently the craze that everyone wants to work with. Styling is a breeze with these knits: for the mod fan, the thin cardigans look great over a pair of skinny jeans and with a bowler hat, and for fans of the granddad-look, a chunky gray cardigan over a bright, long-sleeve vest and plaid trousers can easily make this look work. [more]

"Sanli Cup" Chinese Wool Knitting Wear Design Contest | Yahoo! News

"Sanli Cup" Chinese Wool Knitting Wear Design Contest
Yahoo! News - November 20 2006

In this photo released by China's Xinhua news agency, a model presents a wool knitting wear during the fifth "Sanli Cup" Chinese Wool Knitting Wear Design Contest in Beijing, capital of China, on Monday November 20, 2006. [more]

Sweaters Coming Out of the Closet | New York Post

Sweaters Coming Out of the Closet
New York Post - November 16 2006

After being tossed to the bottom of the apparel heap last year, sweaters are poised for a comeback this holiday season.

These are not the argyle and crewneck sweaters of year's past, but rather knits with a twist that are meant to be wrapped, layered or worn as coats or dresses.

"The sweater has gotten sexed up," said Eric Beder, an analyst with Brean Murray & Co.

Consumers appear to be responding favorably to the new styles. After falling 9 percent during the first nine months of 2005, sweater sales are up 5 percent to $3.9 billion for the same period this year, according to the NPD Group.

In stark contrast to last year, when one analyst likened sweaters to the equivalent of holiday fruitcake - as in, no one wants to give or receive them - several major retailers are talking about sweaters as a "must-have" item for the season. [more]

Aussie alpacas a Chinese fashion hit | The Age

Aussie alpacas a Chinese fashion hit
The Age - November 1 2006

Two Australian-born alpacas and their creamy coloured fleece have proved major hits with Chinese fashionistas at Shanghai Fashion week.

Led by two handsome male models, Qiangqiang and Lili strutted calmly down the catwalk before a thrilled crowd and a mass of photographers at the first ever showcase of Australian fashion in Shanghai.

The woolly pair were the star attractions in a parade of luxury items from the newly created Australian Alpaca Connections label.

In what was a fashion show with a twist, fine and softly coloured woollen blankets, throw rugs and quilts were draped, knotted or belted around models as skirts, tops and long trains trailed behind them. [more]

Falling for knits | Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Falling for knits
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - October 27 2006

As the weather turns crisp, fashion luckily does not forsake function. Fall knitwear, such as chunky handspun accessories, sweater coats and dresses for chic layered looks, are as stylish as they are comfy.

"I don't know that handcrafted knits ever go out of style, but it's really popular right now," says Roberta Brody, owner of Pursuits in Shadyside.

"I'm bringing in more, and I think what I'm finding is that people just sort of love finding things they like that they know they're not going to see 10 other people wearing when they go out somewhere. It makes it more appealing."

With designers piling on and belting cozy layers this fall, such as seen at Marc Jacobs, Jean Paul Gautier and Max Azria runway shows, knitwear is having a moment. Whimsical extras, including knitted or felted handbags hats, and even boots -- by Juicy Couture -- abound this year in soft, cabled incarnations of winter white, dark fall hues, or bright accent-colored incarnations. [more]

Buy Into Bulk for a Cool Winter Look | Washington Post

Buy Into Bulk for a Cool Winter Look
Washington Post- October 26 2006

From Marc Jacobs's oversize knits and leg warmers to D&G's outright sweater jamboree for its fall runway show, it's clear that "thick and thirsty" is the newest catchphrase for the knit-wit. Sexy and slim faded into the fold this season. In their place, stepsisters chunky and voluminous rose.

"It's the bathrobe factor," says Tom Julian, director of trends for the international marketing firm McCann Erickson. "It's protection in a cold, sterile environment." [more]

For warmth, sweaters abound | The Columbia-Dispatch

For warmth, sweaters abound
The Columbia-Dispatch - October 16 2006

Time to take cover: Fall landed suddenly last week.

Several stores in Upper Arlington feature sweaters in a variety of styles, colors and prices — guaranteed to keep the cold winds at bay.

The eclectic boutique in the Shops on Lane Avenue offers sophisticated long cardigans with clever closures in multiple shades of green. [more]

Luciano Benetton: The emperor of utopia | International Herald Tribune

Luciano Benetton: The emperor of utopia
International Herald Tribune - October 16 2006

"Am I a radical? - I rather think so," says Luciano Benetton. "I believe this is the only way one has in my position - to be an example myself. I paved the road trying to make people aware of participating in problems."

Benetton, 71, is fashion's king of knits and its emperor of utopia. The color, energy and optimism that he and his three siblings - Carlo, Gilberto and Giuliana - injected into Italy's drab postwar landscape has become the stuff of legend.

[...]Last week, Benetton celebrated its 40th birthday with a "radical" departure: its first runway fashion show. In 50 sizzling colors, the catwalk aimed to show the verve and vivacity of wool, developed from a single hand-knitted yellow sweater Giuliana Benetton created in 1955. Luciano then hawked the knits around on his bicycle - before he sold it to buy a knitting machine. [more]