Author Archives: Julia

Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock Yarn.

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Back in June, I was moving some armful of yarn from here to there when I discovered a lonesome skein of Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock Yarn. Once, we had many skeins of the stuff, all living together in a basket. While its friends went home in the hands of knitters and crocheters to become pairs of socks and mitts, scarves or shawls, this particular skein was left alone. It was a little dusty, having been forgotten in some nook or cranny for however long, but none the worse for wear. I held it up and called to Anne, “What should I do with this?” Sensitive as she is to lonesome skeins, Anne brushed it off, purchased it herself, and began knitting a pair of socks with it.

The more she knit, the more we wondered why we didn’t stock the yarn anymore. Composed of 50% alpaca, 30% merino, 10% silk, and 10% nylon for durability, the fabric it created was cuddly, yet sturdy, and the colors were rich and compelling. “Maybe we’ll visit Misti Alpaca at market,” Anne said, “and get some more of this.” A couple of months have passed, and Anne has completed sock #1, cast on for #2, and Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock Yarn is back on our shelves.

Come by the shop to admire sock#1 and consider Misti Alpaca for your next project.

Vogue Knitting.

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This Fall marks the 30th anniversary for the popular Vogue Knitting magazine, and the anniversary issue is now available at the shop.

Inside, you’ll find many fashion-forward knitting projects, as is typical for Vogue. In particular, I was impressed by the article on traditional Aran knitting, and a slew of cabled patterns that accompany it.

Come by the shop to snag a copy of the 30th anniversary issue of Vogue Knitting!

The newest books.

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We’ve had several shipments of books in the past few weeks, filling the teacart with a wide variety of knitting and crochet resources.

There’s something for almost everyone here. The whimsical new book by Norwegian designers Arne and Carlos shows how to design and clothe the Knitted Dolls it’s named for. Woolbur is equally whimsical, a children’s book about a non-conformist sheep. Cast On, Bind Off and Charts Made Simple are excellent resource books offering guidance on essential knitting techniques: casting on, binding off, and reading charts. Beyond the Square: Crochet Motifs and The Beaded Edge 2 give crocheters new ideas for crocheted shapes and edgings. Knitting for Him, Knitting New Mittens and Gloves, and The Sock Report: Vol. 1 are all full of project ideas, perfect for paging through as you consider your next knitting project.

We also got the new French Girl Knits: Accessories, by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes. Hats, wraps, gloves, socks, and more are within. If you like the style, be sure to check out Griffin-Grimes’ French Girl Knits, as well.

Two books by Martin Storey also found their way to the shop–Nordic Knits and Aran Knits, each taking their inspiration from traditional patterns, but designed with contemporary knitters in mind.

And then there’s Knit Red, a collection of patterns in all shades of red to raise awareness for women’s heart health. Each pattern is by a different designer, and the list is long and impressive: Nicky Epstein, Norah Gaughan, Debbie Bliss, Jared Flood, and Ysolda Teague, among many others. Anne has just cast on for this beautiful linen stitch blanket from Knit Red, designed by Michele Orne for Swans Island Organic Merino Fingering yarn.

Come by the shop to browse all our books for inspiration, ideas, and whatever project it is that you decide you must cast on for immediately. We know the feeling!

Hello, Green Mountain Spinnery.

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We’re so excited to announce that we now carry two yarns from Green Mountain Spinnery, a Vermont company that makes yarn exclusively from U.S. grown natural fibers. They process those fibers without the use of harsh chemicals, which is better for the world as well as the yarn. Green Mountain Spinnery is also known for its commitment to sustainability and to supporting regional sheep farmers and organic practices, and, oh yes–they are also well known for their beautiful yarns.

When we first saw Green Mountain Spinnery at TNNA in June, we were taken by the cozy-looking display of all their yarns.

It was hard to pick just two to bring into the shop, but there’s only so much room for new inventory, so we settled on Sylvan Spirit and New Mexico Organic, two dk weight yarns with distinct personalities.

Sylvan Spirit is a single ply yarn composed of 50% fine wool and 50% Tencel, which gives it a slight sheen. Clara Parkes gave Sylvan Spirit a glowing review back in 2004, noting in particular that this blend of fibers makes it a particularly good choice for those who live in warm climates. It has the elasticity of wool and the breathability of plant fibers: a perfect pairing for North Carolina, and one of our reasons for choosing it.

Anne quickly knit up a sample fingerless mitt in Sylvan Spirit, and we were both impressed by the crisp stitch definition in spite of the tweedy quality of the color. The pattern is Cafe Au Lait Mitts, available as a free download on Ravelry.

New Mexico Organic is undyed, and thus comes in only two colors: white and gray. These two colors don’t disappoint, though; to my eye, they are perfect in their simplicity. (Clara Parkes, who reviewed the yarn in 2007, seems to agree.) The yarn is hearty and wholesome to knit with, sturdy yet bouncy. Anne has kindly saved the sample skein for me to knit, and though I’m anxious to get my hands on it, I haven’t decided how best to show it off yet. Another pair of mitts? Mittens? A cabled hat?

These yarns truly excite and inspire us, and we hope you feel the same way. Come by the shop to meet these two yarns from Green Mountain Spinnery!

Socks and shawls: show and tell.

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I’ve collected a lot of good pictures for show and tell over the past week or two, and they divided themselves nicely into two categories: socks and shawls. Let’s begin with socks.

Above, Sharon models her first completed pair of socks, made in a self-patterning sock yarn that miraculously lined up perfectly to make a matching pair.

Jessica has also recently finished her first pair of socks–the hot pink pair, in Malabrigo Sock yarn–and has started several others, for her mother and sister. Jessica and Sharon are both graduates of Marion’s class on Magic Loop Socks from the Toe Up. There are still spaces in the upcoming session, so if you’re looking to get started knitting socks on one long circular needle, check your schedule and sign up now!

A couple of weeks ago, Rosa came in with some friends and sat working quietly on this exquisite colorwork shawl. She’s knitting it in the round, and plans to steek it–cut it open–so that it will lie flat in a large triangular shape. These crayon-bright colors look particularly stunning against a plain black background. I can’t wait to see the finished project!

Speaking of finished projects, here’s Rebecca’s Color Affection shawl in Isager Plant Fibre yarn, which drapes beautifully at this gauge. As a lover of neutral colors, I particularly like this color combination, and the gradation of light to dark from the top of the shawl to the bottom edge.

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your incredible creations with us!

Rios!

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Anne and I were elated to open a giant box from Malabrigo last week. Inside, we found 16 bags of Rios in 16 brand new colorways that have never before been seen in Malabrigo’s worsted weight washable merino.

Rios has been well-loved at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop for its softness and gorgeous hand-dyed colorways, and the fact that it’s machine-washable doesn’t hurt, either. This quality makes it perfect for baby things, or for grown up things that are sure to get a lot of wear. Last year, for example, I used Rios to make a cowl for my sister, who, as the mother of an almost-3-year-old, requested “superwash only.” Anne made a beautiful blanket for her granddaughter in Rios, too.

We’re happy to have s0 many new colorways available in this yarn which is as practical as it is beautiful. Consider Rios for your next project!

More new colors from String Theory.

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String Theory Hand Dyed Yarns are a Hillsborough Yarn Shop favorite. After being closed for reorganization, we reopened the shop with new colors in three String Theory yarns: Caper Sock, Bluestocking, and Merino DK.

You can find them all in the second room of the shop. Caper Sock and Bluestocking share a basket in the Fingering Weight section, and Merino DK hangs on a yarn tree in the DK Weight corner. See you there!

Needles, notions, Namaste.

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A new shipment of bags and cases has just arrived from Namaste, and just like that: the shop is newly stocked with brightly colored project bags that are well-pocketed, sturdy, and spacious enough to double as purses. Meet Harlow, the latest from Namaste.

Along with the Harlow bags, we also got a trio of smaller cases for organizing tools and notions.

This circular needle case stretches like an accordion to accommodate your needles, with little tabs and labels to help you organize by size.

The Buddy Case is sturdy and compact, to safely stow away small scissors, darning needles, stitch markers, and other tiny, easy-to-misplace notions. The interior is magnetized, making it easier to see and sort metal tools.

We also replenished our supply of Namaste Skinny Mini cases, suitable for carting dpns, hooks, and cable needles.

Come by the shop to check out the latest from Namaste, and get all your knitting tools and projects organized!

Habu N-86 2/26 Cashmere.

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The first of our orders from TNNA have begun to arrive, and this one was met with a gasp of excitement from Anne: N-86 2/26 Cashmere, from Habu Textiles.

N-86 2/26 Cashmere may not be a romantic name, but the yarn itself is lovely, a lace weight 100% cashmere that works well held single- or double-stranded. It is ideal for shawls and scarves, or any project where a delicate, soft texture is desired. When Anne fell head over heels in love with it at market, we selected a small spectrum of neutral shades, from dark charcoal to ivory.

We also ordered a few new colors in A-20/21 1/20 Silk Stainless, a lace weight yarn made of stainless steel wrapped in silk. A-20/21 1/20 Silk Stainless is one of the yarns used in the popular Kusha Kusha scarf kit from Habu Textiles. For those who want the yarn on its own, we now have six colors available.

Find Habu N-86 2/26 Cashmere and A-20/21 1/20 Silk Stainless in a prominent place in the second room of the shop, where the lighter weight yarns live.

An Isager shipment. Part 2.

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Alpaca 2 wasn’t the only yarn in the latest Isager shipment. We also stocked up on Alpaca 1, a lace weight yarn made of 100% alpaca which is spun in Peru. We now have 20 colors available, the most we’ve carried so far.

We also expanded our selection of Isager Highland, a fingering weight yarn made of 100% lambswool and spun in Scotland. Highland and Alpaca 1 are used together in Marianne Isager’s Fan sweater from Japanese Inspired Knits, making a soft and lightweight fabric. Anne is teaching an upcoming class on the Fan, and though that class is full, we do keep the book in stock if you’d like to try it yourself. Or perhaps you’ll try using Highland and Alpaca 1 held together in some other project–it’s such fun pairing these colors up, and imagining what they’ll look like as one.

Come by the shop to admire these and other Isager yarns, and consider them for your next project. As Anne and many other knitters can attest, you’ll quickly become an Isager addict.