Fur Yarn by
Paula Lishman
Newsletter
Fourth Edition
Summer 2007
In this issue:
Message from Paula
Fur Yarn Retail
Launch
SubscriberPattern:
Silk and Beaver
Shawl
Bargain
Corner
Fur Yarn News
Message
from Paula
Hello and welcome to the Fourth edition of the
Fur Yarn by
Paula Lishman Newsletter. We have had an exciting and busy
year with our retail launch, yarn shows, training seminars and
creating new fur yarn patterns. The team has spent a lot of time
talking to knitters, designers and shop owners, promoting our fantastic
yarns. Right now I am immersed in many fun new colours and
different pelt treatments for the 2007 corporate collection. We have some
amazing new concepts and techniques for working the fur; every year our
designs evolve and mature. It is this 30 year history of innovation with
this unique textile that sets us apart from the competition.
I admit to being a
fur addict, this yarn is so nice to work with, my fingers crave to hold
it. I spend a lot of time running this business - but when I am away from
it, it is rare to find me without needles in my hand, or researching the
latest fashion trends. Springtime on the porch, watching the birds return
is a time of renewal, a time to begin new projects. I am so blessed to be able to work with
such an amazing resource and to have such a great team behind me!
Special projects deserve special Yarns.
-Paula
Fur Yarn: The Launch
We are working hard at getting fur yarn into the hands of crafters. We have a booth at the June National Needlework Association trade show in Ohio, Booth # 144. Our schedule at this show is filling with appointments. If you would like to see fur yarn in your local yarn shop, please have them contact us info@furyarn.com or plan to see us at the TNNA show. Booking an appointment is the best way to ensure that we can fit them in. Our retail launch is going very well and we are building a customer base across Canada and the US. To find your closest Fur Yarn retailer or affiliate check out our on-line directory. If you know of a store that would be a natural fit for fur yarn, please email questions@furyarn.com with their contact information, or just march on in and tell them to visit furyarn.com and click on "become a retailer"
Feedback
I would like to thank all those who have taken the time to send in questions about fur yarn. Here are some common questions:
What other types of yarn work best with fur yarn?
It is good idea to use a slub yarn, the bumps will help lock the yarn in place. most Raw silk and cotton yarns provide and excellent base for the fur. We do not recommend using wool as a base as it does not hold up well during brushing.
How exactly is the yarn made?
We purchase top quality pelts from the auction, pelt collectors or dealers. Each pelt is inspected, dressed, dyed and blocked, graded, trimmed and sent home to a cutter. The cutters use a razor blade to hand-cut a strip 2 - 3 mm wide from the outside in a spiral fashion. This cut yarn is inspected here and then processed through a specially designed twisting machine that gives a consistent twist and combines the fur yarn with a colour matched cotton yarn. The final yarn is wound into balls and sold or used to create Paula Lishman knit fur garments. For more information check out About Fur Yarn.
How Much Yarn does it take to trim the edge of a garment?
Depending on the technique used it can be two to three times the length of the edge to be trimmed. Techniques for trimming can be found on the furyarn website under techniques. For example to do a set of cuffs and a collar you will have to trim a total of 36 to 42 inches, multiply this by 2 or 3 = max 146" to get the total yarn use. Because there are many factors effecting the weight of the yarn, there is no exact ratio of length to weight, but you will roughly get 18 inches per gram of beaver fur, 12 inches for fox - so a 15 gram ball should have at least 180" of yarn. This should be sufficient to trim collar and cuffs of most garments.
For more answers please visit the FAQ
section of furyarn.com.
Fur and the Environment
We are living in a time when our choices matter more than they ever have in the past. As a species we continue to modify our environment in innumerable ways. As consumers living in the most affluent part of the planet it is becoming obvious that our daily lives are impacting the world around us, in a largely negative fashion. This message finally seems to be breaking through the background noise and many are finding themselves questioning the impact their actions have on the planet as a whole.
So how does fur fit into this?
Wild furs, harvested in harmony with nature are a wise ecological choice. The fur trade in Canada uses only abundant species, and the populations are strictly managed. We have a territory and quota system that ensures trappers take only what the land can sustain. Life in the north is harsh in winter and the trappers are environmental barometers, they are the ones on the front line and are the first to notice if there is someting amiss in the forest. When an animal is trapped, not only is the fur used, but the rest of the animal is eaten by the trapper's family, his animals or other scavengers and carnivores in the forest. Nothing is wasted. As a managed resource, the number of pelts gathered each year is limited. This helps ensure the trapper gets paid a fair price.
Unlike oil based synthetic yarns, furs are biodegradeable and non-toxic. Beaver fur is very long lasting and if cared for properly can last for decades. Harvesting wild fur does not destroy vast tracts of farmland by introducing destruction wrought by chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides of farmed cotton and other mono-culture crops.
For more information on the fur trade in Canada, please visit the fur institute website, http://www.fur.ca .
Newsletter Subscriber Free Pattern
As a subscriber you are entitled to a new pattern each issue, for the spring/summer 07 newsletter we have a beautiful shawl created by Paula Lishman for A Needle Pulling Thread magazine
A needle Pulling Thread has graciously allowed us to
use the images and final version of this pattern as published in the Festive
2006 issue.
This lightweight Hands free shawl is perfect for all seasons. Click here to download the Pattern in Adobe PDF format.
Newsletter subscribers have unique access to certain fur yarn specials. To receive these discounts, place an order for the discounted colors and enter the code when checking out.
Note: these discounted colors are available in
limited quantities on a first come first serve basis. Discounts expire
August 31, 2007.
Fur |
Colours |
Code |
Discount |
||
| Beaver | Thyme | NWSL6 | 20% | ||
| Beaver | blue-grey 2 tone | NWSL6 | 20% | ||
| Beaver | Dark Khaki | NWSL6 | 20% | ||
| Beaver | Raisin | NWSL6 | 20% | ||
| Beaver | Taupe | NWSL6 | 20% | ||
Interested in what can be done with fur yarn? Go to www.paulalishman.com and view our new collections (including men's and children's lines). As well you can view runway shows from the 2005 and 2006 Montreal fur fair.
New yarn Launch! We are in the process of introducing a new type of fur yarn, we have been hard at work experimenting with it to make sure it lives up to our standards. We will launch at the TNNA Needlework Trade show in June, and follow up with an email to newsletter subscribers.
Vogue Knitting is featuring a Jacket using Paula Lishman Fox yarn in their upcoming Fall 25th anniversary edition. Designed by Wilma Peers, this Jacket uses a combination of different yarns and will be the feature Craft Work Story. Pick up a copy, it will be on sale August 7th.
Our catalog is available as a download through www.furyarn.com.
Please see the news section of furyarn.com for upcoming fur yarn related events.
Two Sided Pillow Cover ($396 us)
Random Stripe Fox Scarf
($572 US)
Open
Crochet Tube Shawl($435 US)
Scarf
with Slit
($148 US)