Author Archives: Julia

16 years of HYS!

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October 2022 marks the 16 year anniversary of the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, a milestone we’re proud to have reached! Anne’s goal has remained the same since she first opened the shop in 2006: to bring the best natural fiber yarns, tools, and publications to stitchers in the Triangle. By that measure, in my opinion, Anne has succeeded tremendously, and I am so proud to be on her team, spending my days in this special shop.

We like to celebrate with a sale – this Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22, everything in stock will be 16% off, with the exception of the already discounted yarns in our Sale Trunk. This is the time to treat yourself to some exciting new yarns, splurge on an inspiring book, and save on that special project you’ve been wanting to start this fall. We’re happy to apply the sweet 16% discount to prepaid special orders made during the Anniversary Sale, provided that the yarn in question is available – some of the yarn companies we deal with are still experiencing long backorders and sourcing delays.

We are still requiring masks in the shop, and no longer accept cash or checks – debit and credit cards only, please. You can read all our in-store shopping policies here. Thanks for your cooperation!

 

A reminder: all sales are final on discounted items; there will be no exchanges or returns. Thanks!

Back in stock: Malabrigo Caprino!

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It feels like we unpack at least one Malabrigo order each week – everyone loves their memorable colorways and soft fibers. This week’s Malabrigo box held a sizable restock of Caprino, a super soft merino/cashmere blend.

Malabrigo Caprino:

  • DK weight
  • hand-dyed, variegated, speckled, and semi-solid colorways
  • 80% merino, 20% cashmere
  • 159 yards/50 g
  • $18 each

I knit Andrea Mowry’s “Nightshift” shawl with Malabrigo Caprino a couple of years ago, and it now hangs at the shop, inspiring knitters to make their own. It was fun to combine semisolid, variegated, and speckled colorways in this slip stitch pattern and see how they worked together.

What else to make with Caprino? Here are some ideas!

Look for Malabrigo Caprino in the DK weight section here at our shop, and pick up a free copy of Breean Elyse Miller’s “Ikigai Cowl” pattern with your purchase!

Capital Luxury Sport + Zauberwolle.

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The newest arrivals to our sport weight section are Neighborhood Capital Luxury Sport and a restock of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberwolle, and they look like friends to me. Combining semisolid shades with self-striping yarn makes for exciting colorwork, whether stranded, striped, mosaic, or brioche.

What to make with these color pairs? Here are some ideas!

Sweaters:

Accessories:

Look for Capital Luxury Sport and Zauberwolle in the sport weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – we’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays! We’re still taking online orders for local pickup or shipping, as well.

HYS Color Club: Shelter + Rockfall Hat.

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HYS Color Club members just got their first project for Autumn!

Inside the bag, there are 4 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter to knit a “Rockfall Hat,” by Tin Can Knits. We included an addi knitting thimble, too!

“Rockfall Hat,” by Tin Can Knits, photo © tincanknits

Shelter is one of my very favorite yarns in the shop, a worsted weight, woolen spun Targhee-Columbia wool that comes in over 45 colors, so I had great fun selecting HYS Color Club colorways. Here’s a combination in each of the color palettes – Warm, Cool, Neutral, and Surprise.

We also have the shades of Shelter shown in Tin Can Knits’ pattern photos, relatively low contrast color combinations – the large scale of these motifs mean that the pattern shows clearly even when some of the colors are similar in value.

I made a “Rockfall Hat” earlier this year, when the new solid shades of Shelter first came out – look for this sample in the worsted weight section next time you’re here at the shop!

Hello, Germantown Bulky!

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The weather is finally cooling down, and it has us reaching for cozier yarn. Meet the newest yarn in our shop, Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky!

Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky:

  • bulky weight
  • 4ply, worsted spun
  • 100% North American wool
  • 123 yards/100g
  • $16 each

Like the worsted weight Germantown before it, Germantown Bulky is smooth and sturdy, a classic and versatile worsted spun wool yarn. Germantown Bulky feels softer to our hands, squishy and springy and absolutely ideal for cold weather accessories.

“Wister Hat,” by Courtney Kelley. Photos by Linette Kielinski © Kelbourne Woolens

One skein is enough for a hat, and the folks at Kelbourne Woolens are designing one for every month of this year. Even better, every one of these patterns is free to download from Ravelry – look there for the “Wister Hat” above, the “Upsala Hat,” “Sedgwick Hat”, and “Fernhill Hat” below, among others. Stay tuned for the rest of their Year of Bulky Hats!

“Upsala Hat,” by Kate Gagnon Osborn. Photos by Linette Kielinski © Kelbourne Woolens

“Sedgwick Hat,” by Courtney Kelley. Photos by Linette Kielinski © Kelbourne Woolens

“Fernhill Hat,” by Kate Gagnon Osborn. Photos by Linette Kielinski © Kelbourne Woolens

Look for Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky in the bulky weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We’re open from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays, and also taking orders online for local pickup or shipping. We do require masks for in-store shopping – thanks for your participation!

Hello, Neighborhood Capital Luxury Sport!

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A sumptuous new yarn just found a home here at our shop – meet Neighborhood Fiber Co. Capital Luxury Sport!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Capital Luxury Sport:

  • sport weight
  • hand dyed in semisolid and variegated colorways
  • 80% organic merino wool, 10% cashmere, 10% silk
  • 375 yards/4 oz
  • $38 each

We’ve been Neighborhood Fiber Co. stockists for a year now, and have seen some lovely projects made with Studio Sock and DK weight Ombré Mini Bundles. Capital Luxury Sport is right in between these two, in terms of gauge, but its super soft fiber content sets it apart.

What to knit with this special stuff? Here are a few pattern ideas!

Look for Neighborhood Fiber Co. Capital Luxury Sport here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We’re open 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required for entry. See you there!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Hay.

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The Koigu Collector’s Club continues! Each month, we’ll receive 21 skeins of KPPPM in a limited edition color dyed especially for a select group of local yarn stores that carry Koigu. KPPPM is a fingering weight superwash merino, hand-dyed in vibrant colors by mother/daughter team Maie and Taiu Landra on their farm outside of Toronto, Canada.

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

This month’s limited edition shade is Hay, a creamy neutral colorway with streaks of pumpkin and bronze, and the occasional charcoal speckle. It happens to look a lot like the yarn used in Joji Locatelli’s “The Lone Skein Shawl,” though you’d need 3 skeins of KPPPM for that lovely project.

Hay is a natural match with Caramel, in Malabrigo Ultimate Sock – together, they’d make a lovely autumnal “Moonflowers Shawl,” by Ambah O’Brien.

Here are a few more color combinations for this new mosaic shawl pattern, using other Koigu Collector’s Club colorways – Space Exploration, Red Brick House, The Pond, and Tapestry.

Want to make your own “Moonflowers Shawl” combination, or pick up a special lone skein for “The Lone Skein Shawl?” Look for Koigu KPPPM in the fingering weight section here at our shop, along with many others! We’re here from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.

Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide No. 22: Grace.

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The twenty second installment of the Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide series is here!

MDK’s series of Field Guides are pocket-sized booklets focused on a particular theme, knitting technique, or designer. This newest Field Guide features designs by Joji Locatelli – let’s take a look inside!

Joji Locatelli is a prolific and well loved independent knitwear designer whose patterns are, in Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne’s words, “fueled by curiosity, unrestrained by convention.”

The four patterns in this Field Guide are just that, designed with engaging construction and graceful details.

MDK Field Guides are $15.95 each; order online for local pickup or shipping, or come by to shop in person – we’re open from 11am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays!

Laine Magazine, No. 15.

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The newest issue of Laine Magazine is here with a fresh new look, and two covers to choose from!

Laine Magazine is a publication out of Finland, a knitting and lifestyle magazine with a love of natural fibers as its focus, and a reputation for beautiful designs and artful photography.

This autumn issue is packed with inspiring sweater designs and all kinds of techniques – brioche, colorwork, cables, bobbles, and lace.

Laine’s redesign brings three new columns – Jeanette Sloan Talks Fibre, Päivi Kankaro’s Five Ways, and Where I Knit, a regular piece that pictures people knitting in their favorite spot, and talking about crafting in their everyday lives.

Laine magazines are $30 each – come by the shop or order online for local pickup or shipping! We also have Laine No. 8, No. 10, No. 11, No. 12, and No. 13 in stock, along with some of Laine’s recent books. See you at the shop!

Back in stock: Fibre Co. Acadia!

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We’re delighted to announce that Fibre Co. Acadia is back in stock!

Fibre Co. Acadia:

  • DK weight
  • 60% merino, 20% alpaca, 20% silk
  • 145 yards/50 g
  • $17.50 each

Acadia has long been a favorite yarn in our DK weight section, especially for projects where softness is key and some drape is welcome. The silk slubs takes the dye differently than the other fibers, giving most colorways a rustic, tweedy appearance, which belies its luxuriously soft hand.

Garments knit with Acadia have a mix of structure and drape. We have a couple of samples knit in Acadia at the shop so you can see and feel this in person; look for the Churchmouse “Easy Folded Poncho” and “Quaking Aspen” shawl next time you’re here.

Here are a few other pattern ideas for Fibre Co. Acadia!

Come by to give Acadia a squeeze and plan your next project! We’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.