August has mysteriously appeared on the calendar, which means we are now mid-summer. I am still waiting patiently for the Fall yarns to arrive and then it is full steam ahead, knitting up samples to display.

Making a comeback this Fall is boucle yarn, a super light and lofty texture, great for jackets, vests and scarves. The colour range is fairly neutral, charcoals, taupes, creams and browns.

In the smoother textures, burnt orange and shades of red seem to dominate the colour charts. Shawls are still very popular, especially the smaller triangular styles that can be wrapped closely around the neck and worn casually with jeans. Some are tied loosely and others are adorned with shawl pins. Sock yarn is still selling like hotcakes, since summer is a time for small travel size projects. Bamboo mixtures and sock wool infused with aloe vera are soft and supple to knit with. Aloe vera is especially beneficial for hikers, as it softens callouses.