New year’s eve.

2016 was a big year for us here at the shop, full of exciting new yarns, projects, books, tools, classes, and ideas. We won the title of “Best Yarn Store” in the Triangle, celebrated our tenth year in business, and worked every day toward our goal of bringing the best quality yarns and information to the wonderful community of knitters, crocheters, and weavers that we feel lucky to serve.

On this last day of 2016, I spent the morning at the shop with Anne, helping shoppers find what they need, winding yarn at our lovely new winding station by the window, and sewing sweater pieces together in quiet moments. This is my nearly-completed “Finn Valley,” knit with Fibre Company Arranmore, and you’ll find it hanging on the wall here at the shop just as soon as these seams are sewn and the collar is knit.

At Anne’s suggestion, I enlisted the help of a new tool, Cocoknits Claw Clips, to hold my pieces together as I sewed. Normally I use locking stitch markers for this task, and though I’ve grown used to that and always thought it worked fine, the Claw Clips are much, much better! A pack of these will make all my future seams easier, I’m so glad I gave them a try.

We closed early for the holiday, so I went home to my other workspace to write this new year’s eve blog post.

Much of my writing happens here at my kitchen table, with my trusty laptop, a cup of something, and, often, a Harmony Farm Candle burning. I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to write the blog for the shop, and especially to hear such kind feedback from you readers – thank you so much for spending your time here with me! When this post is written and published, I’ll retire to my current at-home project, “Vanora,” by Michele Wang, knit with Fibre Company Cumbria Fingering.

Cocoknits’ notions are making my knitting life better on this project, too; I’ve arranged Small Colored Stitch Markers throughout my stitch pattern, color-coding the cables, texture, and shaping so I know what I’m supposed to be doing without being glued to the chart.

Thank you all for another great year at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, we so appreciate your support and enthusiasm! We’ve got something really big planned for the new year, and we just can’t wait to share it with you. In the meantime, I hope you’re finding time for a few stitches this new year’s eve – Happy New Year to you and yours!

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Pope on said:

    Visited your shop for the first time Wednesday and thoroughly enjoyed it! I just finished a cowl with the Malabrigo Caracol that I bought and will buy more of this yarn! Happy New Year!

  2. Barbara Weilbacher on said:

    I love my neighborhood yarn store full of inspiration, colors, and friends……happiness, health fun and dear friends for 2017!

  3. Kay Singer on said:

    Beautiful post, Julia. I definitely need some of this claw clips. Will be in after I return from Germany. I did bring some projects with me though helping take care of 5 and 2 year olds has not given me much time for knitting. Happy New Year to you and Anne.

    • Can’t wait to see what you’re planning, Gwen! Do check our website before you make the trip this Saturday, though; it looks like we might get snow and we like to play it really safe with inclement weather. If we decide to close or delay opening, we’ll post it on the front page of our website.

  4. Sarah Harris on said:

    I love your blog Julia and I love the visual glimpses of your writing and knitting. I also enjoy how you weave in tantalizing new gadgets. I can’t wait to hear what the big news is!

  5. Jean Pittman on said:

    Thank you so much for the quick delivery-received the order the next day. I really like your blog which gives me ideas on what to knit and the ability to order by phone helps me since I live far from the shop!

  6. Pingback: Cocoknits Stitch Holder Kits. | Hillsborough Yarn Shop

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