Holidays with Allure

The holiday season is upon us! We know that a lot of our fans are making handmade gifts, and today we'd like to share some of our best tips for success in your DIY holiday endeavors!

First, there are some really great tips here on the PostStitch blog for making sure you finish all of your holiday gift projects on time.

These knitted fair isle ornaments are a free pattern on Ravelry!

Quick projects are the name of the game, and we are collecting some of our favorite quick to knit & crochet patterns (and more!) on our Winter Holiday Ideas pinterest board.

Instagrammer @alisatheyarnista uses Allure to wash her recently-finished project knit with Bijou Basin Ranch yarn.

Obviously, we recommend washing all of your finished projects in Allure's gentle, no-rinse formula. Allure is specially formulated to leave no residue, which makes it ideal for luxury fibers such as silk, cashmere, yak and more. Click here for easy-to-follow instructions on our website!

Use pom poms instead of bows on your holiday gifts!

Once your project is done, it's time to wrap it up! Leftover bits of yarn can make for some pretty gift wrap - pom poms, tassels, or intricate designs can all add that extra-special handmade finishing touch!

Get Ready for Fall with Allure

Fall is just around the corner! It's time to start thinking about heading back to school, fall fiber festivals, unpacking all of those winter woolens from their summer storage, and starting new knit and crochet projects for the season ahead. We know that some of our fans never stopped knitting (or crocheting) no matter how high the temperature rose, and our hats are off to you. Other Allure fans might have taken a few months off to explore more summery pursuits - and we'd like to welcome you back: there's a lot to do this month!

Allure has a lot of uses: in addition to keeping your handmade projects looking their best, you can also use it to wash any store-bought specialty fibers such as cashmere sweaters, silk blouses, hosiery and more. We have easy-to-follow instructions for both hand washing and using Allure in your washing machine here on our website.

One of our favorite uses for Allure is to spot clean garments in between washes. This is especially handy if you have little ones who often get into messes and you're looking to minimize your trips to the laundry room! Most stains can be easily removed by taking a damp cloth with a dab of Allure on it, and then gently blotting away the stain (for more detailed information about stain removal, click here).

If you're wondering why Allure is so great at stain removal, we can tell you: its developer, Eileen Koop, has spent many years in the cleaning products industry developing high-tech products such as Oxiclean and many other household names. When working for these companies, the product development process often altered the final product; in developing Allure  Eileen was able to carry out her vision 100% to create a fully biodegradeable no-rinse wash with top-quality ingredients. You can learn more about Eileen's approach for developing Allure here on the Lattes & Llamas blog.

Need to stock up? Click here to shop online or look for Allure in the Bijou Basin Ranch booth at these upcoming events:

• Salida Fiber Festival, Sept. 12-13 in Salida, CO
• Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival, Sept. 11-13 in Jefferson, WI
• Oregon Flock & Fiber Fest, Sept. 26-27 in Canby, OR
• Taos Wool Festival, Oct. 3-4 in Taos, NM
• New York State Sheep & Wool Festival, Oct. 17-18 in Rhinebeck, NY
• Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF), Oct. 30-Nov. 1 in Fletcher, NC

Win an Allure Sampler Pack!

Welcome back to the Allure blog! If you missed last month's #AllureinAction giveaway, you won't want to skip our latest prize-winning opportunity: one lucky person will get a chance to try all three Allure scents which are included in our sampler pack! Not only that, but everyone who subscribes to our quarterly newsletter as their entry will be notified of future giveaways, sales, and other exciting news. That sounds like a win-win situation to us!

To enter, use the widget below to enter your email address (if you already receive the Allure newsletter, simply enter the same email address for your subscription for verification purposes). You can also click here for a direct entry link if the widget below isn't working.

In addition to finding Allure online, you can also find us at these fine craft stores:

• Alpaca Direct
• Fibre Space
• Jimmy Beans Wool
• The Needlepoint Joint
• The Yarn Barn
• Yarn & Coffee
• The Yarn Company

Allure will also be for sale in the Bijou Basin Ranch Booth at these upcoming fiber shows & festivals:

• Estes Park Wool Market: Estes Park, CO; June 11-14
• Black Sheep Wool Gathering: Eugene, OR; June 19-21
• Stitches Midwest: Schaumburg, OR; August 6-9
• Michigan Fiber Festival: Allegan, MI; August 15-16

Allure: Now Available by the Gallon

Here's a fun fact: while Allure was designed with hand-washing in mind, it also performs beautifully when used in both top-loading and front-loading washing machines. Just think of how cost-effective & convenient it would be to have ONE fabulous soap that you can use for all of your hand- and machine-washing needs!

We've got some even better news for you: Allure is now available in gallon jugs in addition to our original 3 sizes! Our premium no-rinse, no-residue formula is fast becoming a favorite of indie dyers, and we are excited to offer this new size option to all of our Allure fans. For more information, please contact us at info@allurewash.com.

We've covered the hand washing basics here on a previous blog post, so today we'd like to share these easy-to-follow steps for using Allure in your washing machine:

IMPORTANT: Remember, Allure will not prevent the felting of items which are not made from superwash yarn or labeled as machine washable!

Front Load Machine:
Select the Rinse and Spin cycle and set your water temperature to either warm or cold water.
Add 2 capfuls of Allure to the fabric softener drawer.
Add your article(s) to the machine and begin the cycle.
Click here for easy-to-follow drying instructions on our website!

Top Load Machine:
Add 4 capfuls of Allure to washer.
Select the gentle cycle and set your water temperature to either warm or cold water.
Stop machine and add article(s) to washer, allowing to soak for at least 10 minutes.
Gently squeeze the water through the fabric, being careful not to rub or twist - doing so can stretch the shape of your garment.
Spin water out.
Click here for easy-to-follow drying instructions on our website!

Crafty Resolutions for 2015

Do you aspire to try something new in 2015? Perhaps this is the year you'll finally tackle that sewing project, learn to weave, or master knitting or crocheting. Exploring the wonderful world of fiber arts is something we know a little bit about - after all, Allure was created by the fine folks at Bijou Basin Ranch, purveyors of premium luxury yak yarns.

We'd like to get you started on your craft journey with just a few recommendations for tutorials and resources to check out, no matter which craft you choose. Don't forget to treat yourself to a bottle of Allure to care for your finished project, too!

1. Knit: AllFreeKnitting.com has a wealth of learn-to-knit tutorials awaiting you! Learn to cast on, knit and purl with the best of them when you visit this free website. Another great resource to add to your list are the video tutorials found at KnittingHelp.com.
2. Crochet: Grab your crochet hooks and visit AllFreeCrochet.com to start hooking in 2015! This website offers links to free tutorials covering everything from the basics to intermediate and advanced skills. For those who prefer video tutorials, CrochetEverAfter.com to browse a list of technique and stitch tutorials. 
3. Sew: Starting with a simple project is a great way to get your feet wet, and there are plenty of
   
   step-by-step tutorials accompanying the projects at SewCanShe.com. There is also an excellent list of free sewing technique tutorials from around the web that is worth checking out! 
4. Weave: Starting small with a handheld loom is a wonderful way to give weaving a try; you can also try a more low-cost approach by making your own cardboard loom using a few supplies you probably have lying around the house - click here for a free photo tutorial on the Easy blog. If you already happen to have a loom, WeavingToday.com offers many free eBooks geared towards the beginning weaver. 
5. Handspinning: Drop spindles are a great way to get started without having to invest in a wheel, and you can even make your own using this free tutorial! To get started, check out this comprehensive tutorial on the Knit*Six blog (although we recommend using Allure to set the twist in your finished skein to avoid accidentally felting). 

Fine fibers deserve the very best care; you work hard on your handmade projects, so be sure to treat them right! Our gentle no-rinse, no residue formula is the perfect way to finish handmade projects and keep them looking their best for years to come. Be sure to visit our website for more specific washing instructions here on our FAQ. For more crafty inspiration, join us on Pinterest!