Sapphire

Honestly, I've been waiting all year to do this one - Sapphire! We did this for Chester's Skein Society last September (since that's my birth month) and it's part of what inspired our Gemstone collection. 

Sapphire is the traditional gemstone for September and the gem for the 45th wedding anniversary. 

The word "sapphire" comes from French saphir, from Latin sapphirus, sappirus from Greek σαπφειρος (sappheiros) from Hebrew סַפִּיר (sapir), all meaning blue. It possibly originally referred to lapis lazuli, since sapphires were discovered in Roman times. Some believe that the name sapphire is derived from its association with the planet Saturn. Like ruby, sapphire is a variety of the mineral corundum, which in its pure form is colorless, and sapphire's blue comes from aluminum oxide with trace amounts of minerals such an iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, and more. It is typically blue, but natural "fancy" sapphires also occur in yellow, purple, orange, and green colors; "parti sapphires" show two or more colors. Red ones are rubies. 

Royals have worn sapphires around their necks as a defense from harm. They preserved the wearer from envy and attracted divine favor. In the 12th Century, the sapphire was known as the most appropriate stone for ecclesiastical rings. Some cultures believed that the star sapphire served as protection and a guard against witchcraft. Sapphires have been prized as great gemstones since 800BC. Rulers of ancient Persia believed the sky was painted blue by the reflection of sapphire stones. To some religions, the blue color of the sapphire represents the heavens. 

Sapphires are found all over the world, but sapphires from Kashmir, Burma, or Sri Lanka tend to be the most appealing having not been subjected to heat treatment. 

Our Sapphire is a hard to capture tonal blue - absolutely stunning in person. For pairings, we'd recommend Virgo & Libra (obviously), Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, Fresno Nightcrawler, Loveland Frogman, Ruby, Emerald, Pop, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Java Chip Frap, and really any of our tonals. 

BASES:

Chester Sock Mini Skein: 20g, 87 yards, 75% super wash merino/25% nylon
Hattie Floof: 50g, 459 yards, 72% mohair/28% silk (lace weight)
Chester Sock: 100g, 437 yards, blend of 75% superwash merino/25% nylon
Gladys Shawl: 100g, 438 yards, single ply blend of 70% superwash merino/30% silk
Adelaide MCN: 100g, 437 yards, 80% super wash fine merino/10% cashmere/10% nylon
Tortie Sport: 100g, 287 yards, 80% alpaca/20% silk
Minnie DK: 100g, 246 yards, 100% superwash merino wool 
Genny Worsted: 100g, 191 yards, 80% superwash merino/20% alpaca
Chubby Trevor: 115g, 136 yards, 100% superwash merino
Chunky Trevor: 100g, 76 yards, 80% superwash merino/20% nylon, single ply
Summer Fingering: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 438 yards
Summer DK: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 246 yards
Summer Worsted: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 181 yards
Piper Fiber: 85% Polwarth Wool/15% Tussah Silk, approximately 4oz braid of fiber for spinning, felting, etc