It’s a bittersweet feeling to be announcing that a handful of colors of Manos Wool Clàsica are being discontinued. We want to be able to bring you exciting new things in the line, and a few old friends have to be retired to make room. It can be a little sad to see them go, but we know that having the flexibility to bring out new colors will be for the best.

However, inventory is still available on almost all of the colors that are being discontinued. If one of them is a particular favorite for you, there is still time to stock up! Here is the complete list of Clàsica colors that we are saying a fond goodbye to (12 semi-solid and 3 space-dyed), so you can make sure to plan accordingly.

• E English
• F Stone
• I Quail
• T Flannel
• 17 Cheek
• 20 Parma
• 21 Soufflé
• 24 Blush
• 42 Marl
• 46 Malachite
• 53 Mulberry
• 70 Spring
• 102 Canyon
• 103 Mar
• 111 Eclipse

Inspired by Mad Men, Pam Powers designed this terrific retro cardigan in Silk Blend.

It has beautiful finishing details and a wonderful combination of structure (the stand-alone collar) and drape (the swingy body).
Find the pattern here. Congratulations, Pam!

The beautiful Salem Hooded Jacket in New England Knits is in Manos Clasica:

Designed by Melissa LaBarre, it has beautiful deep bands of texture at the bottom and cuffs, and a charming woven-ribbon detail around the yoke.

Shown here in color 64 Pewter, wouldn’t it be great in one of the Naturals? To see more pictures, look here.
Thanks, Melissa!

Manos yarns are used not once but twice in the Fall issue of Interweave Knits!
In Cotton Stria, here’s the Williamsburg Cardigan by Deborah Newton. The deep V neckline looks so relaxed; the sweater says “comfortable” all over.

Then there’s a family of pillows by Pamela Powers. These are in Wool Clasica (a yarn with a color range to match all your home decor needs!). The clever colorwork can be traditional or spunky: choose colors to match your room’s mood.

More info on both projects here. Magazine coming soon to a yarn shop or bookstore near you!

Hello, folks! Run to your LYS July 13th and pick up a copy of Knit Simple, Fall 2010 issue! This simple, interesting striped yoke cardigan design by Sandi Prosser is featured in the magazine using Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica. Shown in two creative colorways, this is a great project to let your imagination run wild. Why not do the body in a space dyed, and the stripes in a coordinating solid?

Knit Simple Fall 2010, photos by Paul Amato

Marge knit this lovely Baktus variation in Serena (color 7458, Mulled Wine).  It took only one skein!  Though you could certainly expand it to two skeins and have a lovely shawl.  As with the Shadow Shawl, the constantly-changing row length is particularly flattering to the space-dyed yarn, because it blends the colors so well.

Wouldn’t this make a perfect quick gift?

Our latest free pattern is for an easy shawl in this Spring’s new yarn, Serena.

Serena is a wonderful blend of baby alpaca (60%) and pima cotton (40%).  The alpaca gives it beautiful drape (as well as softness and warmth), while the cotton lightens it for warm-weather wear.  The color effect of the Manos kettle-dyeing on the combination of protein and cellulose fibers is soft, dusty, almost stonewashed or watercolor-like.

Shadow Stitch combines stripes of color and texture:  one color is worked in garter stitch, one in stockinette.  When the stitch pattern interacts with the colors, the fabric almost shimmers as it moves.  This simple piece will go everywhere with you from breezy Spring days with t-shirts to strappy sundresses on summer evenings.

The pattern uses two skeins each of one semi-solid color and one space-dyed.  Download the pattern (and see our other free patterns) here.

[Manos del Uruguay has a blog here -- in Spanish, of course!  From time to time, we'll bring you translations of their posts.  Here's one:]

As you know Manos exports hand spun and hand dyed yarns to the United States. This season we introduce SERENA, a super soft baby alpaca and pima cotton yarn that we love! We returned to Punta Colorada to take the photos that will be included in our US representative’s pattern book.

Serena yarn

The Sofia shrug.

Marcelo touching up Lucia’s hair.

Thanks to Daniel Maidana, Marcelo Garcia, Anita Suare and Diego Prestes, an excellent team that always joins us and helps us shape our ideas into a vision.

Greetings, knitters!

Welcome to the blog of Fairmount Fibers Ltd., the US distributor of Manos del Uruguay yarns. You will find here a mix of information, from the Manos Coop in Uruguay and from shops and knitters in the US:

– Behind-the-scenes pictures from photo shoots on location in Uruguay;

– Pictures and links to other work done by the artesans of the coop — did you know that they produce ready-to-wear for designers like Stella McCartney?

– Announcements of new free knitting patterns on the Fairmount Fibers site;

– Previews of new designs for Manos yarns forthcoming in major knitting magazines;

– Updates on new colors and new yarns from Manos available in the US!

Again, welcome, and please check back often!