Blog
Published March 26, 2024 | By Julia
Spring is here – time to reach for plant fiber yarns! Meet our newest arrival, Cascade Botanika.
Cascade Botanika:
- sport weight
- speckled with natural dyes
- 100% organic cotton
- 328 yards/100g
- $12.50 each
Botanika is a soft and smooth organic cotton yarn, dyed with natural pigments sourced from plant leaves, roots and flowers. We have six speckled colors, dyed with the likes of indigo, madder, marigold, and mulberry leaf.
What to make with Botanika? Here are some pattern ideas in adult sizes:
Soft, smooth, machine washable cotton is ideal for baby things, too – here are a few patterns to consider:
Look for Cascade Botanika in the sport weight section here at HYS, along with other plant fiber yarns, like Kelbourne Woolens Skipper, Mojave, and Cascade Ultra Pima Fine!
Published May 20, 2012 | By Julia
The July 2012 issue of Creative Knitting is here. This issue is full of cardigans, shawls, vests, and lightweight tops, with a bag, a necklace, and a pillow thrown in for good measure. Come by the shop to take a closer look at Creative Knitting and a whole stack of other spring and summer magazines.
Published May 18, 2012 | By Julia
Many a visitor to the shop has been wooed by the Be Sweet shawl kits. The sample shawl and scarf that hang by the kits are feather-light and translucent, but made of a textured mohair yarn in thick, bold stripes–qualities that seem to contradict one another, and thus, entrance. It’s simplicity, too, is appealing, for … [more]
Published May 16, 2012 | By Julia
A new book, recommended by a friend, has arrived at the shop. Wearwithall is a collection of patterns by the people at The Yarnery, a yarn shop in Saint Paul, MN. The book has a nice range of projects, including hats, socks, sweaters for babies and children as well as adults, and an eye-catching striped stole. This … [more]
Published May 13, 2012 | By Julia
A brand new batch of roving for spinning and felting has just arrived at the shop, hand-dyed by local fiber artist Lorin Fields. This 100% merino roving from Local Color Hues is buttery soft, and comes in super-saturated semisolid colorways. I’m not a spinner, myself, but these are extremely tempting little bundles of fiber … [more]
Published May 11, 2012 | By Julia
An inspiring new book has landed at the shop. Pop Knitting: Bold Motifs Using Color and Stitch, by Britt-Marie Christoffersson is a collection of graphic, modern-looking stitch patterns. Christoffersson combines color and texture in surprising ways, making the book itself a thing of beauty. The sweaters shown alongside many of these motifs make use of them … [more]
Published May 9, 2012 | By Julia
A new issue of Interweave Knits has graced our teacart once again. Take a peek inside the Summer 2012 issue of Interweave Knits: Come by the shop to snag a copy.
Published May 7, 2012 | By Julia
Once again, Clara Parkes inspired us with a recent Knitter’s Review. She never fails to peak our interest. Sometimes it’s a tool, sometimes a book–this time, it’s yarn, from a new company called Ewe Ewe. Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted Washable is a squishy, soft yarn which is well described by its alliterative name. With 95 yards of machine-washable … [more]
Published May 5, 2012 | By Julia
Surprise, surprise: I have some new yarn from String Theory to share. Say hello (again) to Bluestocking, a soft, sturdy fingering weight yarn composed of 80% Bluefaced Leicester wool and 20% nylon. If it seems like we’re ordering from String Theory weekly, it’s because we are. Anne and I love this yarn, and it’s clear you all … [more]
Published May 3, 2012 | By Julia
A phrase I’m always delighted to hear at the shop is “I brought some show and tell.” Fascinating things are pulled from purses and knitting bags: projects in progress and recently completed, intriguing patterns, years-old handed-down hand-knits, and sometimes most interesting–books. A knitter brought this one in for show and tell a few weeks ago, … [more]
Published May 1, 2012 | By Julia
Another new magazine has found its way to the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, this time with crocheters in mind. The latest issue of Vogue Knitting is a special one for those who make fabric with hooks rather than needles. Vogue Crochet is full of crocheted garments and accessories, from sweaters to skirts to jewelry. Take a … [more]