Eye Candy Monday

Is there a navy cashmere/possum/silk watchcap in my future? I think so. Zealana Air is back in the shop in navy and grey.

Zealana Air

This hat is like a fluffy little cloud made from cashmere and possum.

Which is exactly what it's made from, actually.

We have been loving Heron and Rimu DK from Zealana, the New Zealand company we talked about earlier this fall. Their yarns are hard-wearing while remaining soft and interesting. And the rich, deep colors...I don't know how they do it. The slight halo is so pleasant, too. Just enough to glow but not overwhelm.

And then...Sally fell hard for Zealana Air, a blend of brushtail possum, cashmere, and mulberry silk. They call it their most luxurious yarn, and I believe it. Somehow it is even lighter than pure cashmere, and maybe even softer.

Air would make an ideal gift for the loved ones at the top of your list. A hat, a cowl, a scarf, fingerless gloves...pure luxury all wrapped around one of your favorite people.
 
We are currently only stocking the natural shade, and it is beautiful. If you all fall in love with this yarn as quickly as we have, maybe we can sneak a few more colors in to the shop. I'm thinking a classic watchcap in classic black with that nice halo. Yes please.

More Possum: Rimu DK and Heron

We are happy to be carrying Heron this fall, a new yarn from Zealana. This yarn is a little different from its sister yarn, Rimu DK, which is freshly stocked as well. We have been loving the Rimu DK for a little more than a year now, so it's great to see some more offerings from Zealana.

Heron is a worsted weight yarn with 80% merino and 20% brushtail possum fur. Heron is a handwash only fiber, so it will felt nicely if that's your kind of thing.  Heron is a great choice for a luxuriously soft sweater, hat, scarf, mittens...anything you can imagine! It holds up well in cables and lace work, and it seems like a great choice for colorwork, too.

I was curious about the New Zealand brushtail possum fiber, so I poked around the Zealana website. I found these fabulous Wool School videos explaining the virtues of the fiber and why they include it in their yarns. They are both informative and interesting, if you are a fiber nerd like me. And the yarn professor is adorable.

I am impressed by the colors, quality, and durability of both of these yarns from Zealana. I hope to see more from them in the shop. What do you all think of this unusual fiber?

Zealana Rimu

Take a look at this pretty new stuff in the shop.

This gorgeous yarn is Zealana Rimu DK, an unusual merino/possum blend from New Zealand.  Look at those rich shades and saturated colors.  The gold is really something, and those blues are amazing.

It's hard to tell from the photos, but the yarn has a subtle heathery effect and a really pretty halo.  This basic knit three/purl three scarf really shows off the fuzzy possum halo. 

Rimu works so nicely for cables and texture and ribbing, even colorwork looks great.  It's an unusual yarn, but it knits up so nicely.  Come see for yourself!