Bernat Alize Blanket Ez yarn took North America by storm in 2018. Behind the scenes, the Joann Fabrics & Crafts buyer, Courtney, was with the Yarnspirations Yarn Development team in Europe when they stumbled across Alize Yarn in a booth exposition in Germany, where yarn manufacturers showcase the latest innovation.
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The Story
Yarnspirations, CEO, contacted me just after they were back from the trip to evaluate the yarn and asked me to speak to the buyer about it. My relationship with Yarnspirations is unfiltered, and I could say what I felt. The buyer and I made an appointment to go through the yarn highlights together on the call without Yarnspirations.
Joann believed so much in this yarn that they claimed exclusivity under the label of Bernat Alize Blanket Ez Yarn. The rush to manufacturing and getting it to the shelves in the summer of 2018 was lightning speed. Michaels got their hands on another type of loop yarn through Red Heart, and Yarnspirations beat out Red Heart to the market by only two days. I had just 1 weekend to get instructional videos done. I only had four balls of yarn and had to rip out the projects to restart the next project to make it work.
This yarn ran its course before eventually being discontinued once the trend was gone. However, people still have this yarn in their collections.
Purpose for Creation
Its purpose was to show people how to knit using their fingers, as the knowledge gained from the process would allow future knitters to understand how the loops work together. With knitting needles in the future, you create the loops, but this yarn was developed so that the loops were already done.
Essentially, this product was created to introduce yarn to new knitters. Experienced knitters may not have enjoyed the project as they prefer the needles or loom knitting equipment.
Personal Results
Due to my hand dexterity, I struggled with this product. My fingers are not as agile due to the constant repetitive motion of crochet and possibly age. For others, this yarn was a lickety-split project to make.
Yarnspirations sent me to Joann Fabrics & Crafts in Ohio to demonstrate how to use this yarn, along with Nicole, a designer from Yarnspirations.
Teaching People to Use the Bernat EZ Product
Unlike crochet or knitting, the product is limited by the already formed loops. However, many different tips, stitches, and projects could be made from it.
Some basic tutorials had to be created to demonstrate this yarn's use.
There were problems with the tutorials, such as not demonstrating how to add new yarn or fixing mistakes if you didn't rotate the loop properly. To urgently create tutorials was the goal.
The Ball Started to Roll
Yarnspirations was tasked with creating instructions and new patterns for this yarn in real time as the product was launched. What stitches could be made with this yarn? I, Mikey, recorded a few due to the difficulty of my hands with this product, but Sitch Ambassador Jonah took the reins of this product as it was easier for him.
Stitch Technique Video Tutorials
Find all free tutorials on our YouTube Channel here for this product.
Real Patterns
All patterns ever created with this yarn are available through Yarnspirations.
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Over the years, we featured free patterns on this website. Some had matching tutorials.
Free Patterns Only
All the patterns below, plus so many more, are in the Free EZ Patterns button below.
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Pattern Suggestion
Vonnetta Smith says
Is there a pattern for this cable blanket? How many skeins of yarn do you need.
Jeanne says
This is just a stitch lesson. There is no pattern for a complete blanket.
Ann says
No blue button
Mikey says
No pattern linked to this. Just educational.