Spotlight Saturday - Purl Soho

Happy Saturday!

I wanted to do a spotlight post about a great company you may have heard about - Purl Soho. This company, which calls itself a "beloved resource", is just that. With headquarters in a physical store in Manhattan on Broome St., and a user-friendly online source (Purl Bee), Purl Soho dedicates itself to textile art, specializing in knitting and yarn. Their designers churn out a few patterns a week (mostly free!), supply true designer yarns, and have really settled into the niche that is luxurious but whimsical fashion knitting. 

I discovered their site when I was still located in Santa Cruz and was immediately drawn to the clean lines of their patterns, the simplicity of their garments, and the general sense of style ("down-to-earth-preppy". Unfortunately, with my Santa Cruz farm-style living I couldn't really justify dropping lots of money on luxury yarn to knit something I'd be too worried about damaging to wear. I caved though, with their kick-ass promo, where you can sign up on their email list in return for a free pattern from their selection (a no-brainer), and selected their classic Purl Soho Pullover, which is normally a neat $8.50. 

Purl Soho's Purl Soho Pullover

I love the look of this sweater and felt like one done in Lion Brand Yarns Fisherman's Wool would be affordable and sturdy enough to make the perfect morning field-work sweater. For those of you who don't know, Monterey Bay is a foggy devil, the mornings are moist, misty, and a bit chilly. I needed something that I could wear to class that was relatively stylish, but would stand up to the weather and the nature of ecology (which for my classmates and I sometimes meant hiking around campus or various field sites in the damp). The neck looked loose and comfortable, and the simplicity of a knit-in-one-piece sweater that repelled moisture (good old fisherman's wool!) seemed like the perfect sweater for the job. In fact, looking back over the pattern, I found it was marketed as "like your favorite sweater from college... only better!". Love it. 

Now, living in New York, I can say that many of their projects appeal to me. Makes sense too, since Purl Soho is a New York company... Check out some of what they've got going on below: 

Gina's Brioche Cowl in Cashmere - Talk about cozy! I can't imagine anything much more squishy and comfy than this great brioche cowl, updated by Purl Soho in cashmere from their previous merino and suri blend. Makes me hope for another freak snow storm in April, just so I could try one out...

Bobble Sheep Pillow in super soft merino from Laura's Loop at Purl Bee - for the homemaker in all of us (gotta fill the apartment!). And don't miss out Giant Bobble Sheep Pillow.

Finally, what I think will be my next project, just in time for summer: Tulip Tank Top from Laura's Loop. However, this picture shows the back of the tank in front, and I think I'll do it as the front to wear with high-waisted shorts and skirts in the summer! Keep an eye out for the project coming up.

All-in-all, really cute company with great ideas and a nicely defined style. My pics are some of the more down to earth choices, but don't forget to browse their children's knits, as well as stuffed animals, blankets, socks, mittens, scarfs, hats, sweaters.... do I need to go on? Check it out!