The instructions for knitting with Rico’s new Can Can yarn are printed on the inside of the ball band.  However they are so tiny that it’s not very clear what you should do.  So I’ve made a video to show knitters how they can knit with Can Can yarn.

To buy or browse the shades available, please visit our website.

I couldn’t wait to have a go with Rico’s new Can Can yarn so I whipped this scarf up last night.  I mis-read the instructions and only cast on 4 stitches, rather than 7, so the scarf is a bit slimmer than it should be.  However I’m quite a petite person and would rather have a slimmer one to wear personally.

It was very easy once I got into the swing of it and I completed it in just an evening in front of the TV.  The shade I used was Purple Mix.  I’m delighted with it and can’t wait to another.

Frilly scarf made from Rico Can Can yarn

Rico Can Can yarn arrived yesterday and I got it on the website last night.  This yarn will be the “must have” yarn this winter and everyone will wanting to have one of these frilly scarves for Christmas.

The scarf is made using 8mm needles and worked over just 7 stitches, knitting every row.  I was never a fan on Rico’s Pompon yarn myself, but this is much nicer and easier to work with.  I cast on my scarf at lunch time.  I don’t think that it will take too long to complete the whole scarf.

It’s available in 8 solid colours and 4 variegated shades.  Have a look on the website to see what they are.

The instructions for the scarf are written inside the ball band, but there are quite tiny to read, so I will try to take and post my own photos over the next few days to make it easier to understand how to knit with it.

The sales rep from Rico Design called yesterday to show me a new yarn that will be launched in August.  Rico are the originators of the popular Pompon yarn which was a bit hit last winter.  They are continuing to add colours to the Pompon range but they aren’t resting from development either.  For those knitters who didn’t get on with the Pompon yarn or knitters looking for something a bit different with which to knit a fancy scarf this Autumn, then you might very well like the new Can Can yarn.

Scarf made with Rico's new Can Can yarn

Rico Can Can comes in 200g balls, with a free scarf pattern on the ball band. Just one ball knitted on 8mm needles will make a glamourous frilly scarf.  It has a palette of eight solid and variegated colours.  I’m looking forward to getting hold of a ball and making one myself.

Some customers have been asking us about wool that is suitable for felting, so I thought I would mention the felting wool we are now stocking.  This wool is from Rico Design and is called Creative Filz.  It’s a chunky yarn made from 100% merino wool which is knitted using 8mm needles.  It comes in some really gorgeous colours (like many of the Rico yarns).

Rico Creative Filz

What is felting?

Felting is the process when the fibres in wool become so tangled and matted that they form a sort of fabric: felt.  Wool will felt when you apply heat and agitation.  So if you knit something in this wool and then put it in the washing machine, the hot water, detergent and the agitation caused by the washing machine tossing the item around, will cause the item to shrink and felt.

I’ve been knitting this ribbed cardigan over the past few weeks and finally was able to finish it over the bank holiday weekend.

Ribbed Cardigan by Rico Design

I’m really pleased with the fit and am sure it will become a firm favourite in my wardrobe. I especially like the detail on the back.

cabled pattern on the back of the cardi

The pattern is from Rico Knitting Ideas Book 6 and was very straight forward to follow. The yarn was brilliant too.  It was Rico’s Essential Merino DK and as well as having great stitch definition, it hasn’t pilled in the slightest as I was knitting with it.  So I hope that the cardi continues to look good for a long time to come.  Good value too at only £3.45 a ball.  This cardi took 11 balls.

Fancy making something a little different?  Why not embroider a pretty shopping bag with one of these kits from Rico Design.

In these kits you will get a 100% cotton tote bag which has been pre-printed with a particular design, embroidery threads and instructions on how to embroider over the printed design using different embroidery stitches.  You don’t need to an expert in embroidery and in fact, this would be a lovely project for a beginner.

The kits are just £5.99 and available on our website.

Rico’s Organic Pure Chunky yarn has been so popular that Rico ran out of certain shades as well as the accompanying pattern book “Naturally”.  However this week we finally got more stock of most shades, (including plenty in Beige which has been the most popular because of a pattern published in Women’s Weekly) and some copies of the pattern book.  View the contents of the pattern book on our website.

Many knitters have said that they enjoy knitting with this yarn and at just £3.45 a ball, it is good value too.

Essentials Cotton DK is another of the new yarns we’re stocking from Rico Design.  This cotton DK is fine and smooth, so the stitches show up clearly with a slight sheen because it is mercerised.  Rico Essentials Cotton DK is relatively low in price and the fabric is light and smooth, making this yarn ideal for affordable babies’ and children’s garments. It knits up into lovely little matinée jackets and cardis for days when wool or acrylic are too warm.

Simply Knitting Magazine asked some of their readers what they thought of this yarn.  Here are some of their comments:

“Love the colour. Has a lovely feel and sheen due to mercerization. Good stitch definition.”
“Bold colours, interesting texture, bouncy.”
“Gorgeous colours. Lovely soft feel.”
“Love the colour. Not as nice knitted as on the ball, perhaps. Good sheen though.”
“Feels soft and I like the colour but worry about it being a bit crunchy when knitted up.”
“Cotton is lush – bananas colour though!”
“Perfect for crochet – it’s tightly spun and mercerized so it’s not splitty. Love the range of colours.”
“Lovely shimmery yarn. The high cotton content comese as a bit of a surprise. Because it’s polyamide around a cotton core, the stitches are even but not completely smooth when knitted.”

Why not try it for yourself? Visit our website to see the shades we have in stock.

The second Rico Designs yarn that I’d like to highlight is Rico Organic Pure Chunky.  Available in 6 natural colours, it is a 100% pure organic wool which knits up as a standard chunky yarn.

Unfortunately the beige shade is currently out of stock as is the accompanying pattern book – Organic Naturally.  However we have all the other beautiful shades in stock and we will be getting the beige and pattern book in stock soon.

Many knitters have said that they enjoy knitting with this yarn and at just £3.45 a ball, it is good value too.