May 16, 2012

Hi Jennifer,

With Valentine's Day a couple of weeks away, get ready, because nothing shows you care as much a gift from your own loving hands! February 14th isn't just about swooning over candlelit dinners; it's also about spreading love far and wide, to special friends, beloved relatives, trusty co-workers and helpful neighbors. And for children, too, Valentine's Day is a wonderful occasion for growing bonds of friendship. Start with Molly's Valentine's Friendship Bracelets, easy enough for kids to make, cool enough for them to wear! Also on the Purl Bee, Laura's gorgeous Heart and Arrow Pincushion is as pretty as it is thoughtful, perfect for the crafters you love. Plus, read on for scarves and socks to knit, Valentine cards to stitch up, and needlepoint canvases to give. There's just so much love to give!

Have a LOVEly week!

Koigu's KPM Needlepoint Yarn!

Koigu's mini skeins of KPM are bite-sized delights! At 11 yards a skein and with gorgeously subtle color variations, they are perfectly conceived for needlepoint. But they're also great for all types of embroidery and for the detailed color work of your next knitting or crochet project! Or even for friendship bracelets, like Molly's special Valentine ones, this week on the Purl Bee!

Madeline Tosh's Tosh Merino!

We love Madeline Tosh's Tosh Merino! It's a single ply, 100% superwash merino wool with a distinctively rustic, handspun look. Tosh Merino is hand dyed in all of Madeline Tosh's stunning colors, from lemony bright yellow to dusty soft pink. And with a versatile light worsted gauge, Tosh Merino is perfect for cold weather projects, like our made-with-love Homespun Boot Socks!

Jade Sapphire's 8 Ply Cashmere!

Jade Sapphire's 100% Monogolian Cashmere is a Purl Soho classic. We cherish the gentle fuzzy halo that glows around each skein and the rich, subtle hand dyed colors that emit their own special light. The 8 Ply is a spectacularly lush worsted weight, soft enough for the most sensitive of necks and toasty enough for the coldest of nights! Knit your Valentine the Purl Bee's super special Rick Rack Scarf. What love!

Charley Harper Canvases, Designed with Love!

Is needlepoint near and dear to the heart of someone who is near and dear to you? Give a pretty picture of love with Charley Harper's Lovey Dovey hand painted needlepoint canvas! This design features two cozy doves under a setting sun, depicted in Charley Harper's inimitable style: elegant, quirky and modern.

Flamingo a Go Go is the perfect choice for your needlepointing Valentine! From the truly unique mind of Charley Harper, this hand painted canvas shows a lovely pair of sweetheart pink flamingos. In classic Harper style, humor and grace combine in an amazing display of geometry and whimsy. What a truly special Valentine's Day gift!

New! Putidepome's Elephants

New from Putidepome, the Elephants collection features a sweet parade of big and small elephants, some adorably savoring a delicious apple snack! Lighthearted, but quiet and sophisticated too, this mid-weight fabric is a linen-cotton blend ready to take on almost any project. Its bright whimsy would be wonderful in the kitchen as a dishtowel or napkin set, or in the kid's room as a pillow, playmat or quilt!

New! Putidepome's Bubbles

Putidepome's new Bubbles collection is a capricious party of cute dots! In a palette of refined brights, these bubbles float in fanciful abandon and will bring a happy dose of effervescence to your next project. With a touch of linen, use Bubbles for totes, pot holders, and adorable stuffed toys!

New! Lecien's Large Gingham

Lecien's new collection of Large Gingham is everything we love about this classic print: sweet, innocent and absolutely lovely! In a simple palette of neutrals and bright accents, this large scale gingham is in a very soft, fine-weight cotton. It's so breezy and pretty that you'll want to use it for everything from kids clothes to curtains to quilts!

Sajou's Beautiful Embroidery Threads!

Retors du Nord is French for "twisted thread from the North", the traditional home of the French textile industry. This 100% cotton embroidery thread is 4 easy-to-separate plies, making it ideal for almost any type of embroidery or cross-stitch. Retors Du Nors Single Cards are available in 96 amazing colors. Laura used a handful to make her gorgeous Heart and Arrow Pincushion, this week on the Purl Bee!

Sajou's Retors du Nord Boxed Set is every crafter's idea of heaven! It includes all 96 gorgeous Retors Du Nord Single Cards, stored in a charming little blue box. Never wish for a color again; it's right here! This Boxed Set makes a spectacular Valentine's gift for the embroiderer in your life. She or he will thank you 96 times over!

This week on the Purl Bee Molly and Laura felt the love: Laura with her gorgeous Heart and Arrow Pincushion and Molly with her super sweet Valentine's Friendship Bracelets!

Heart and Arrow Pincushion!

This Valentine's Day Laura is sending arrows straight to her loved ones' hearts with her very pretty Heart and Arrow Pincushion! This simple Valentine motif is made modern with a funky choice of colors, plucked from Sajou's classic collection of Retors Du Nord cotton embroidery floss. Useful, beautiful and meaningful, plus super quick and fun to make, you'll be spreading a whole lot of love this year!

Valentine's Friendship Bracelets!

Valentine's Friendship Bracelets are simple to make and cute as can be, but most winningly, they really are great tokens of friendship! So cheerfully reminiscent of childhood and its open declarations of best-friends-forever, these bracelets are such a super way to let someone know you're thinking about them. How sweet to show up at work or school on February 14th with a bunch of these lovely little expressions of affection!