Knitter’s Pride blocking wires.

Posted by Julia on January 16, 2014

Blocking is a frequently recurring subject of conversation around the shop. What is blocking, and why do we do it? And perhaps more importantly: how do we do it? Many knitters are unsure about this last step, afraid they’ll somehow do it wrong and ruin their shawls or sweaters. Let us assure you: blocking is nothing to be afraid of, but simply the act of washing your finished piece and laying it out to dry. This resets the memory of the yarn, and can help to even out tension, open up lace patterns, and tweak the dimensions of your piece. Different kinds of projects require different blocking techniques. Sometimes it’s enough to smooth your knitted or crocheted fabric into shape with your hands and let it dry, and other times, you’ll want to pin it out to very specific measurements. For lace shawls and scarves, you may want a special tool to assist you: blocking wires.

We now carry Knitter’s Pride Lace Blocking Wire Kits, which feature stainless steel wires in two lengths, T-pins for holding them in place on your blocking surface, and measuring tape to check the dimensions of your piece as you block.

For more information on blocking with and without blocking wires, check out these helpful tutorials:

“Using Blocking Wires To Block A Lace Shawl,” from Interweave’s “Knitting Daily” blog
“Block Party,” by Sandi Rosner, from Twist Collective

Also, designer and knitwear photographer Caro Sheridan suggests using blocking wires to help install a zipper on a knitted sweater–clever! Check out the “Techniques and tutorials” board on the HYS Pinterest page for more links to knitting and crochet how-to’s.

Come by the shop to pick up a set of blocking wires, and banish your fear of blocking at last. See you there!

Shibui Mix Party.

Posted by Julia on January 14, 2014

On Sunday, we hosted a Shibui Mix Party, featuring samples of three Shibui yarns.

In between sips of mimosas and bites of bagels, knitters and crocheters worked up swatches in Cima, Pebble, and Silk Cloud, sharing pattern ideas as they stitched.

Many of Shibui’s patterns call for their yarns to be combined, two or three strands at a time, to create unique fiber blends and different gauges, and that yarn mixing was the activity of the day.

Our Shibui samples were passed around, tried on, and petted, and we all had a good time putting color combinations together for some of Shibui’s beautiful patterns. Anne and I shared two works in progress using Shibui yarns: her Mix No. 19 made with two strands of Silk Cloud, and my Carpino made with Isager Highland and Silk Cloud. So many amazing projects were planned, garments and accessories alike–I am so looking forward to seeing them emerge, stitch by stitch!

It was a delightful morning, spent chatting and laughing with a great group of people, enjoying each other’s company as much as the yarns. Come by the shop to see all our Shibui yarns and patterns, and consider them for your next project. Stay tuned for more yarn tastings –and more from Shibui– in the future!

New books from Leisure Arts.

Posted by Julia on January 12, 2014

Leisure Arts is a publishing company that specializes in accessible how-to books on a wide range of crafts. We recently stocked up on some knitting and crochet books from Leisure Arts, from the very basic skills to more advanced techniques like entrelac and cables.

With Leisure Arts publications, you can count on clear diagrams and photos to illustrate the techniques in question, along with some patterns that make use of those techniques.

We also got a book on crocheted snowflakes, having just wrapped up a popular class on the subject, and a book of simple children’s sweater patterns.

Pick the Pieces, by Lorna Miser, is a collection of patterns, but also a collection of pattern elements: different sleeves, collars, pockets, necklines, etc. Miser encourages you to mix and match those elements to create exactly the sweater you want in sizes 6 months – 6 years.

Come by the shop to check out the latest books and magazines, and plan your next project!

Knitscene.

Posted by Julia on January 9, 2014

The Spring issue of Knitscene is here, to tempt us with warm-weather knitting just when winter is at its coldest.

Inside this issue, you’ll find patterns for garments and accessories, along with a helpful article on color theory.

A few familiar yarns are shown, too–here are Cascade Ultra Pima, Shibui Cima, and Fibre Company Meadow knit up into lightweight tanks.

Look for Knitscene on the teacart in the front room of the shop, among the latest books and magazines. See you there!

Back in stock: Ewe Ewe.

Posted by Julia on January 7, 2014

Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted has become a staple here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, admired for its softness, easy-care, and steadily growing selection of solid colors. Ewe Ewe’s pattern support covers a range of projects, from baby blankets to small accessories to adult sweaters, a variety of garments that show the versatility of this plush yarn. Last week, we received a large box from Ewe Ewe, nearly doubling our inventory of the stuff, and bringing every missing color back to this basket.

Anne and I have used Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted for two shop samples. Anne made two “Boston Whaler” hats with just two skeins of Wooly Worsted, inverting the colorway for the second hat. The pink-on-indigo version stayed here at the shop, while the indigo-on-pink hat went to her granddaughter, of course.

Now that Ewe Ewe comes in 20 colors, there are plenty more color combinations to play with, which of course is what I found myself doing as Rosi and I unpacked the yarn.

Ewe Ewe has lots of other patterns that call for two colors or more, including the “Easy as ABC Top-Down Raglan Baby Sweater,” the “Layer Cake Cowl,” and the newly released “Fireside Wristlets,” a free pattern for simple ribbed mitts. If you’re not in the market for a baby hat, but you still want to play the Ewe Ewe color-combining game, consider these!

Our second Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted sample is the “Wearever Wrap,” a colorful triangular shawl that I crocheted in just a few afternoons at the shop. When I saw the sample “Wearever Wrap” at market in June, I knew I’d like to make one for the shop, and selecting six colors was half the fun.

I used an H hook (5 mm), which was smaller than recommended in the pattern, and still it blocked out to a nice, generous size.

Come by the shop to flip through the Ewe Ewe pattern binder, admire Wooly Worsted in all 20 shades, and plan your next project!

Show and tell: scarves, cowls, and colorwork.

Posted by Julia on January 5, 2014

Speaking of show-and-tell: knowing how much we love to see projects made in HYS yarns, so many of you have brought impressive finished pieces by the shop this past month or so. We’ve seen knit sweaters, scarves, and hats, crocheted cowls and shawls, fingerless mitts, stuffed bunnies, and more, many of which were thoughtfully crafted as gifts for friends and family. As usual, I wish I could photograph them all; here are some of the projects you’ve shared with us lately.

Victoria wove this scarf for her son using three different yarns: the fingering weight Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine and Colinette Jitterbug, and the dk weight Sandnes Garn Alpakka. I love the bold color combination and the herringbone pattern.

If you’ve come by the shop lately to see our newest yarns, we’ve likely ushered you into the lace weight corner to admire the Shibui yarns. Where once you’d find my Mix No. 23 cowl hanging near the Shibui patterns, now you’ll find Amy’s, made up in the delightful Shibui Cima. Amy is now teaching a class at the shop on this double-knit cowl, so I’m hoping to see even more Mix No. 23’s in the coming months. (Intrigued by Shibui? There are still a few open spaces in our upcoming Shibui Mix Party—sign up and join us!)

Mary made this “Drop Stitch Cowl” in no time, using 3 balls of the super soft, super bulky Katia Fabula. I always love to see how drop stitch patterns change the way colors fall in variegated yarns, and this cowl is no exception. Mary reports that Fabula became even softer and more pliable after a Eucalan soak. The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry, and would also look great in Malabrigo Mecha or Mountain Fusion Teton, among others.

Anne recently knit a cowl, too, one which she has worn every day since completing it. And no wonder: it’s made with one skein of the luxurious Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, a blend of alpaca, merino, and bamboo. The pattern is “Cumberland,” available for purchase at the shop as a Ravelry In-Store Pattern Sale. Come by the shop to pick up a skein of Canopy Worsted for your own Cumberland Cowl, and you’ll likely find Anne wearing hers.

Anne has also been hard at work making colorwork vests in preparation for her upcoming Intro. to Fair Isle class. The class project is Onslow’s Vest, a free pattern for a tiny vest, fit for a doll or stuffed bear. Thinking of her grandchildren, Anne substituted the bulky Cascade Eco+, with larger needles to match, and came out with the following.

Of course, with one little girl vest behind her, Anne has begun the first of two little boy vests for her twin grandsons. For those, she’s chosen the soft and springy Swans Island Organic Washable DK–a lighter weight fabric will better serve her boys in these Southern climes.

Thanks again for sharing your projects with us! We so love seeing what you create with yarns from the Hillsborough Yarn Shop.

Rustic Modern Crochet.

Posted by Julia on January 3, 2014

The first Interweave publication of the new year has arrived, bringing inspiration for new crochet projects.

Rustic Modern Crochet, by Yumiko Alexander, is a collection of crochet garments, from scarves and hats to tunics and wraps. Alexander uses unusual and unexpected stitch patterns throughout, and a range of yarns from lace to bulky weight.

Come by the shop to take a closer look at Rustic Modern Crochet and peruse our sizable collection of knit and crochet pattern books. Here’s to new projects in the new year!

2014.

Posted by Julia on January 1, 2014

Looking back at past year of the HYS blog has become a part of my new year’s eve tradition. It’s another way to measure the past year: 175 blog posts, a parade of new yarns, products, books, and patterns, a steady stream of knit and crochet magazines. The best part by far, however, is revisiting the “show and tell” posts, where I share photos of finished projects made in yarns from our shop. I scrolled through absolutely all of them last night, remembering and admiring them; here are a few of the many amazing projects you made and shared with us in 2013.

The blog may sometimes make the shop look like it’s filled with one enticing new thing after another (and I can’t lie: it is!), but from my perspective, this and every year at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop has been filled with one amazing person after another. I’m daily inspired, encouraged, surprised, and impressed by the knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, felters, dyers, and designers I meet at the shop. Thank you all for supporting us and sharing your projects and ideas with us–happy new year, everyone!

Mountain Colors headband kits.

Posted by Julia on December 29, 2013

A knit or crocheted headband is a practical accessory, but not one that we see tons of patterns for; hats are far more common. For those with cold ears and ponytails, however, headbands are far superior to hats, and much more likely to be worn. From Mountain Colors: a headband kit that knits up quickly, using super bulky yarn.

There are four headband patterns included in each kit, and enough yarn to make one headband.

The yarn is Mountain Colors Bozeman, a thick-and-thin variegated wool that knits at about 2 stitches per inch on US #15 needles. We ordered 10 colors, from mossy greens and rich blues to warm reds and browns.

Treat yourself to a Mountain Colors headband kit, and remember them when you’re seeking a knitterly gift, as well. See you at the shop!

Vogue Knitting.

Posted by Julia on December 26, 2013

The Winter issue of Vogue Knitting is here!

Inside you’ll find the usual mix of garment and accessory patterns, along with some lovely blankets and a handy article on joining/weaving yarn ends by Meg Swansen.

Come by the shop to pick up a copy, and check out the other new books and magazines on the teacart. See you there!