52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II.

Posted by Julia on March 31, 2023

The folks at Laine have brought us another exciting new book – 52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II!

52 Weeks of Socks was wildly popular when it was first published in 2020, and ever since, sock knitters have been clamoring for more. Like its predecessor, this new volume includes 52 patterns for knitting socks and slippers, an astonishingly large collection, and a beautiful one.

The patterns within are colorful and abundant, featuring 47 talented designers from all over the world. Some of their names are familiar, but many are new – we can’t wait to get to know their work!

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II is heavy with inspiring patterns using a variety of techniques, but it is also a beautiful object unto itself. Like all Laine publications, the photography is tantalizing, the color palette soothing and evocative.

I spotted two familiar yarns among these pages, Fibre Co. Amble and Isager Sock Yarn. Look for them in the fingering weight section here at our shop, along with so many others – Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock, Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, and CoopKnits Socks Yeah! all come to mind.

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II is $50, a great price for 52 patterns – look for it here at the shop, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Bamboo Pop!

Posted by Julia on March 28, 2023

Just in time for spring, we’ve got a fresh supply of Universal Bamboo Pop!

Universal Bamboo Pop:

DK weight
solid and variegated shades
50% cotton, 50% bamboo
292 yds/100g
$11 each

We chose a mix of solid and variegated shades, designed to stand alone in one-color projects or pair up for high and low contrast combinations. Anne is working on a “Hitchhiker” shawl with Bamboo Pop – check it out next time you’re here at the shop!

What else to make with Bamboo Pop? Here are some ideas!

Tees and tanks:

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – top-down tee with ribbed circular yoke
“Simple Tee,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – cap- or long-sleeved tee, worked flat and seamed
“Me Oh My Tee,” by Park Williams – cropped tee
“Yume,” by Isabell Kraemer – lace yoke tee
“Nova,” by Shellie Anderson – sleeveless top with high/low hem and collar
“My Little Secret Crop,” by Jessie Maed – ribbed cropped tank top

Accessories:

“Easy Folded Poncho,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – stockinette poncho with optional cowl
“Two-Color Cotton Cowl,” by Purl Soho – two-color brioche cowl
“Loreley,” by Melanie Berg – two-color triangular lace shawl
“Boneyard Shawl,” by Stephen West – triangular textured shawl
“Once Were Weavers,” by Francoise Danoy – triangular lace and drop stitch shawl

Come by the shop to plan your warm-weather knitting! We look forward to seeing you there.

Pom Pom Quarterly: Spring 2023.

Posted by Julia on March 24, 2023

The latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly is here!

This 44th issue of PPQ is all about layering, in terms of clothing and how we dress for the unpredictable weather of spring, and in terms of transparency and opacity. The patterns in this collection all play with these themes, sometimes expanding the layering metaphor in other ways, as well.

Pom Pom always has interesting non-knitting content, as well – a piece by artist Mei Stephens on screen printing, and a cultural history of the color yellow by Hannah McGregor.

Pom Pom Quarterly is $25.50 – come by to snag a copy between 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. We’re also taking orders online for local pickup or shipping. Along with this issue, we have the Summer 2019, Autumn 2019, Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, Summer 2021, Winter 2021, Spring 2022, 10th Anniversary, Autumn 2022, and Winter 2022 issues in stock – preview them on our blog and get in touch if you’d like to add them to your Pom Pom collection!

Hello, Sandnes Garn Line!

Posted by Julia on March 21, 2023

Spring weather is here, which means it’s time for plant fibers – meet the newest addition here at our shop, Sandnes Garn Line!

Sandnes Garn Line:

light worsted weight
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen
120 yards/50g
$7.50 each

Line is a light worsted weight plant fiber blend that knits up at 5 stitches per inch on a US 6 needle.

It’s soft, cool, machine washable, and drapes beautifully, qualities that make it ideal for warm weather garments.

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit

I’ve cast on for a shop sample in Line, PetiteKnit’s “Anker’s Summer Shirt.” Like every PetiteKnit pattern I’ve tried so far, it’s approachable, practical, and appealing, both to knit and to wear.

Here are some other patterns that would be lovely in Line:

“Sommerknus,” by Elsebeth Judith – textured tee
“Purl Strings,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – tee with textured stripes
“Fine Sand,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – open front stockinette cardigan
“June Top,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette tank
“Cold Shoulder Crop,” by Park Williams – mock turtleneck tee with mesh cap sleeves
“Sommer Ella Solo,” by Lene Holme Samsøe – leaf/lace yoke tee

Look for Sandnes Garn Line in our worsted weight section!

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Mojave.

Posted by Julia on March 17, 2023

A fresh batch of Kelbourne Woolens Mojave is here, perfectly timed for warm-weather stitching!

Kelbourne Woolens Mojave:

sport weight
60% cotton, 40% linen
185 yards/50g
$11 each

Mojave is cool to the touch, smooth and soft but also strong, with the beautiful drape we expect from plant fiber yarns. The color palette has something for everyone, from subtle neutrals to blazing brights.

What to make with Mojave? Here are some ideas for knitters and crocheters!

Knit with Mojave:

“Rift,” by Jacqueline Cieslak – oversized boxy tee
“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – tee with ribbed yoke
“Sea Breeze Sweater Vest,” by Park Williams – mesh vest
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Look At My Holes,” by James Watts – mesh tee
“Desert Queen,” by Meghan Kelly – scoop-neck tank with eyelet detail
“Trigono Tee,” by Kate Gagnon Osborn – textured tee

Crochet with Mojave:

“Canyon,” by Amy Gunderson – lace-edged tank top
“Water Clover,” by Isa Catepillán – lace tee
“Sub Rosa,” by Lana Jois – cap sleeve tee with square motifs
“Palms,” by Padma R – Tunisian crochet wrap
“Dusty Plum Dress,” by Moon Eldridge – striped dress
“Fae Tank,” by Abigail Haze – child’s tank top

I knit this Churchmouse “Simple Tee” with Kelbourne Woolens Mojave, and it hangs here at our shop to give a sense of how the yarn knits up – look for it next time you’re here, and check out Mojave in our sport weight section!

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Scout.

Posted by Julia on March 14, 2023

We recently unpacked a box full of Kelbourne Woolens Scout, the soft and sturdy wool that’s become a staple in our DK weight section.

Kelbourne Woolens Scout

DK weight
2ply, worsted spun
100% wool
274 yards/100 grams
$18 each

This order brought us some new colors as well as old favorites, rounding out Scout’s color palette in a satisfying way. We now have over two dozen shades!

This soft yet unfussy DK weight wool works up beautifully in everything from colorwork and cables to simple stockinette – keep scrolling for a fresh batch of pattern ideas!

Garments:

“Sheep Camp Sweater,” by Jennifer Berg – colorwork yoke pullover with arrow motif
“Kaav,” by Kate Davies – colorwork cardigan
“Arboreal,” by Jennifer Steingass – colorwork yoke pullover with leaf motif
“Bean & Olive,” by Andrea Mowry – child’s colorwork yoke pullover with heart motif
“Louvre Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – top-down raglan pullover with mock turtleneck
“Moby Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – cabled vest

Accessories:

“Ampersand Wrap,” by Tif Neilan – asymmetrical triangular shawl with garter stitch stripes and herringbone stitch
“Pressed Flowers,” by Amy Christoffers – triangular shawl with mosaic flower motif
“Dustland Shawl,” by Stephen West – crescent shaped textured shawl
“Codlin Heid,” by Kate Davies – colorwork hat with geometric motif
“Gro Hat,” by Fiber Tales – textured hat with plant motif

Look for Kelbourne Woolens Scout in the DK weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry. You can also order online for local pickup or shipping – just use our online order form!

Neons & Neutrals: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée.

Posted by Julia on March 10, 2023

The latest book from Laine Publishing is here – let’s look at Neons & Neutrals: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée!

Aimée Gille is the dyer behind La Bien Aimée, and for this eclectic collection, she reached out to designers with a wide range of aesthetics, whose work differs from one another and speaks to all kinds of knitters. Her first book, Worsted, had a particular yarn as its theme, but this new book is all about color, and illustrates that theme with yarn of all kinds.

As its title suggests, Neons & Neutrals features unexpected, eye-catching color combinations and textures. Most garments and accessories are shown in two different colorways, showcasing yarn from a variety of producers and dyers.

Some of these designers are well known, and the others are worth getting to know – Inese Sang, Maaike van Geijn, Karen Cronje, Anna Husemann, Layla Yang, Caitlyn Turowski, Cecelia Campochiaro, Valerie Ng, Maysa Tomikawa, Florence Spurling, Lotta H Löthgren, Brandi Cheyenne Harper, Marie Régnier, Susan Chin, Brienne Moody and Julia Wilkens.

While we may not have every yarn shown in Neons & Neutrals, we have so many lovely substitutes throughout the shop – we’re happy to help you find the perfect yarn for your project!

Neons & Neutrals: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée is $43, and available here at the shop – we’re still taking online orders for local pickup or shipping, as well. We also have a few copies of Worsted ($40), and many other beautiful books from Laine Publishing!

Knitted Kalevala, by Jenna Kostet
The Knitted Fabric, by Dee Hardwicke
52 Weeks of Easy Knits
Traditions Revisited, by Aleks Byrd
Fair Isle Weekend, by Mary Jane Mucklestone

Oslo Hat, No-Mohair Edition.

Posted by Julia on March 7, 2023

I just finished up another new sample for the shop, PetiteKnit’s oh-so-popular “Oslo Hat – Mohair Edition,” though mine doesn’t contain any mohair to speak of.

For this hat, I paired Kelbourne Woolens Perennial and Fyberspates Cumulus, a brushed alpaca that emulates mohair’s fuzzy halo. These two alpaca blends are each very soft in their own right, but together are impossibly cuddly – you must touch this hat for yourself!

My sample “Oslo Hat – Mohair Edition” blends Perennial in Raspberry with Cumulus in Plum – here are a few more color ideas.

The simplicity of PetiteKnit’s “Oslo Hat – Mohair Edition” lends itself to variegated yarns, too, which are softened when held together with a fuzzy lace weight yarn – here are a few color ideas pairing Koigu KPPPM with Cumulus!

Look for Cumulus in our lace weight section and Perennial and KPPPM in our fingering weight section – we’re open 11am-5:30pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays. We do require masks for entry – thanks for your cooperation, see you at the shop!

Back in stock with new colors: NFC Organic Studio Sock.

Posted by Julia on March 3, 2023

Our most recent order from Neighborhood Fiber Co. was full of vibrant colors, speckles, and variegated shades, brightening our NFC Organic Studio Sock cubby considerably!

Anne and I had fun selecting colorways we’d never seen before, along with those that have become favorites.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock:

fingering weight
hand-dyed
machine washable
100% organic merino wool
400 yds/4 oz
$34 each

Organic Studio Sock is perfect for knitting socks, of course, but also great for sweaters and shawls – here’s one that Wendy made, Lesley Anne Robinson’s “Studio Sampler.”

Robinson’s design moves through garter stitch, stripes, and brioche, keeping things interesting with a variety of stitch patterns and color combinations. Pick three shades that excite you and have fun watching them interact as you knit – they can be high or low contrast, from the same color family or not. Here are a few combinations I came up with!

Look for Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock in the fingering weight section here at our shop! We’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks are required for entry. Online ordering is still available for local pickup or shipping – thanks for shopping with us!

Hello, NFC Organic Studio Worsted!

Posted by Julia on February 28, 2023

We’re excited to introduce you to the newest yarn here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – meet Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted:

fingering weight
hand-dyed
machine washable
100% organic merino wool
200 yds/4 oz
$34 each

Like the Organic Studio Sock we’ve come to love, Organic Studio Worsted is a soft, sturdy, tightly plied organic merino wool that’s machine washable for easy care. We’ve selected a dozen variegated and speckled colorways to liven up our worsted weight section!

What to knit with Organic Studio Worsted? Easy care worsted weight wools are some of the most versatile yarns we know of, here are a few pattern ideas…

“Autopilot,” by Dominique Trad – mesh cowl, 2 skeins
“Honey Cowl,” by Antonia Shankland – textured cowl, 2 skeins
“Bankhead,” by Susie Gourlay – ribbed hat, 1 skein
“Barley,” by Tin Can Knits – stockinette and garter stitch hat, 1 skein
“Maize,” by Tin Can Knits – textured fingerless mitts/mittens, 1 skein
“Nightshift,” by Andrea Mowry – mosaic shawl, 6 skeins
“in threes: a baby cardigan,” by Kelly Herdich – short-sleeved baby cardigan, 2 skeins

Come by the shop to see NFC Organic Studio Worsted for yourself! We’re open from 11am-5:30pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required for entry. Hope to see you soon!