Cumulus and friends.

Posted by Julia on February 3, 2023

Fyberspates Cumulus is the newest yarn here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, a soft and fluffy lace weight alpaca/silk blend. Though it’s lovely on its own, it plays well with others – here are some yarn and pattern ideas for holding Cumulus together with heavier yarns!

Cumulus + fingering weight:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat
“Pink Fizz,” by Andrea Mowry – cabled pullover
“Balloon Sweater,” by Petiteknit – pullover with balloon sleeves

Cumulus is shown here with Isager Alpaca 2 and Kelbourne Woolens Cricket (above) and Isager Merilin and Kelbourne Woolens Perennial (below).

Cumulus + DK weight:

“Kobuk,” by Caitlin Hunter – bobbled hat
“Honey Glow,” by Tamy Gore – lace and brioche shawl
“Novice Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“Ingrid Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – textured vest

Cumulus is shown here with Fibre Co. Acadia and Brooklyn Tweed Arbor (above), and Kelbourne Woolens Scout and Isager Jensen (below).

Cumulus + worsted weight:

“On the C Train,” by Espace Tricot – ribbed beanie
“November Balaclava,” by PetiteKnit – fisherman’s rib balaclava
“Ghostwood Mittens,” by Kiyomi Burgin – stockinette mittens with cable detail
“Cedro,” by Thea Colman – textured pullover

Cumulus is shown here with Malabrigo Rios and Berroco Ultra Alpaca (above), and Brooklyn Tweed Tones and Shelter (below).

We can’t wait to see what other color and yarn combinations you come up with – see you at the shop!

Hello, Fyberspates Cumulus!

Posted by Julia on January 27, 2023

Meet our newest addition, Fyberspates Cumulus!

Fyberspates Cumulus:

lace weight
74% baby Suri alpaca, 26% mulberry silk
164 yards/25g
$8.60 each

Cumulus is a soft and fuzzy lace weight yarn, a lovely alternative to mohair for those who find it itchy. Use a single strand of Cumulus for lightweight shawls and sweaters, or pair it with a heavier yarn for more substantial garments with that fluffy halo that’s become so popular of late. Check out our blog post about Isager Silk Mohair for pattern ideas to that end, and keep an eye out for an upcoming post showing color and yarn combinations in Cumulus!

Today, we’ll let Cumulus take center stage and feature patterns for a single strand of this irresistibly soft yarn.

What to knit with Cumulus? Here are some pattern ideas!

“Mohair Bias Loop,” by Kit Hutchin – sheer stockinette cowl knit on the bias
“Myrtle,” by Kate Davies – 4-color striped lace pullover
“Altnafeadh,” by Kate Davies – 4-color striped lace mitts
“Electric Village,” by Kate Davies – 3-color striped lace shawl
“Brambling shawl,” by Bristol Ivy – 5-color intarsia shawl

Look for Fyberspates Cumulus in the lace weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop!

Back in stock: Isager Alpaca 3.

Posted by Julia on January 24, 2023

Once again, PetiteKnit has made Isager yarn popular enough to clear our shelves. Having nearly sold out of Alpaca 3 in the past month or so, we are relieved to announce that we now have a fresh supply!

Isager Alpaca 3:

bulky weight
chainette
50% alpaca, 50% wool
137 yards/50 grams
$10 each

Due to it’s chainette construction, Alpaca 3 is soft, lofty, and highly elastic – a pleasure to work with, all told.

“Novice Cardigan – Chunky Edition,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit.

Though it’s lovely on its own, it’s irresistibly soft when paired with Isager Silk Mohair, as PetiteKnit knows well.

“Sunday Sweater,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit.

Here are a few color combinations to consider when planning a “Sunday Sweater,” “Novice Sweater – Chunky Edition,” “Novice Cardigan – Chunky Edition,” or “Holiday Slipover.”

If mohair isn’t your thing, you can substitute Isager Alpaca 1, a lace weight 100% alpaca yarn. It will add a little weight to the Alpaca 3, and can alter the color if you like, but won’t be as fuzzy as Silk Mohair.

Come by the shop to see and touch these yarns for yourself, and plan your next project! Look for Silk Mohair and Alpaca 1 in the lace weight section, and Alpaca 3 in the bulky weight section.

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Perennial.

Posted by Julia on January 20, 2023

We’ve got a fresh supply of Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, a super soft merino/alpaca blend that comes in juicy bright colors!

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial:

light fingering weight
60% superwash merino, 25% Suri alpaca, 15% nylon
497 yards/100g
$26 each

The folks at Kelbourne Woolens have designed Perennial to be something of a staple: soft from the alpaca but sturdy from the nylon, easy care on account of the superwash merino, suitable for all kinds of projects.

We’ve seen beautiful sweaters, shawls, and baby things made in Perennial – here are some pattern ideas!

“Winter Lights Shawl,” by Stephen West – 4 color slip stitch shawl
“Oslo Hat,” by PetiteKnit – double stranded stockinette hat
“Sophie Scarf,” by PetiteKnit – garter stitch scarf with I-cord edge; try it with Perennial held double or paired with mohair!
“Ranunculus,” by Midori Hirose – lace yoke pullover at a loose gauge; try it with Perennial held singly, doubly, or paired with mohair!
“Linen Stitch Loop,” by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas – 2 color linen stitch cowl
“Navelli,” by Caitlin Hunter – cropped colorwork tee
“Lucille,” by Courtney Kelley – lace baby cardigan and bonnet

Look for Perennial here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with these other Kelbourne Woolens yarns – Camper, Cricket, Andorra, Mojave, Scout, Germantown, Lucky Tweed, and Germantown Bulky!

Back in stock: Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Posted by Julia on December 9, 2022

Good old Ultra Alpaca – this balanced blend of wool and alpaca is a classic, and we’re delighted to have a fresh supply!

Berroco Ultra Alpaca:

worsted weight
solid and heathered shades
50% super fine alpaca, 50% Peruvian Highland wool
219 yards/100g
$14 each

Berroco Ultra Alpaca has the structure and elasticity of wool and the drape, halo, and softness of alpaca. It comes in reasonably priced 100 gram hanks with 219 yards each; enough yarn to make a small scarf, a hat, or a pair of mittens.

Ultra Alpaca comes in a wide range of colors, from fun brights to classic neutrals; I’ve always particularly admired the heathered shades.

Scrolling through projects on Ravelry, I saw that many knitters had made Donna Smith’s now classic “Baa-ble Hat” with Ultra Alpaca.

“Baa-ble Hat,” by Donna Smith, photo © Donna Smith.

Here are a couple of color combinations inspired by the pattern photo!

What else to make with Ultra Alpaca? Here are a few ideas!

Accessories:

“Sophie Shawl,” by PetiteKnit – garter stitch shawl with I-cord edging
“Guernsey Wrap,” by Jared Flood – textured wrap
“Turn a Square,” by Jared Flood – striped beanie
“Antler Toque,” by Tin Can Knits – cabled hat
“Ferryboat Mitts,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – ribbed fingerless mitts
“Twice Reversible Ribbed Poncho,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – ribbed poncho

Garments:

“White Pine,” by Amy Christoffers – cabled cardigan
“Rye,” by Thea Colman – textured raglan cardigan
“Humulus,” by Isabell Kraemer – colorwork yoke pullover
“Tea with Jam and Bread,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – color block pullover with pockets
“Better-Than-Basic Pullover,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – stockinette funnel neck pullover

Look for Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the worsted weight section here at the shop!

NFC Loft + fingering weight.

Posted by Julia on November 22, 2022

There are so many popular patterns that call for a lace weight mohair paired with fingering weight wool – sometimes in a matching color, sometimes a contrasting one, always creating an enticing fuzzy fabric. Neighborhood Fibre Co. Loft is just the yarn for this, and we’ve got loads of options in the fingering weight section here at our shop – you’ll find a few ideas below, and keep scrolling for patterns!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Loft: lace weight, hand dyed, 70% kid mohair, 30% silk, 459 yards/1.75 oz; $28 each
Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock: fingering weight, hand-dyed, 100% machine-washable merino, 400 yards/100g; $34 each

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial: light fingering weight, 60% superwash merino, 25% suri alpaca, 15% nylon, 497 yards/100 g; $26 each

Brooklyn Tweed Peerie: fingering weight, 100% merino wool, 210 yards/50 grams, $17.25 each

Sweaters:

“Love Note,” by Tin Can Knits – lace yoke pullover
“No Frills Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette raglan pullover
“Stockholm Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“Jenny Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – smocked raglan pullover
“Balloon Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – pullover with balloon sleeves
“Diaphanous Raglan,” by Jessie Maed – v-neck pullover with sheer sleeves
“Elton,” by Joji Locatelli – striped cardigan
“Girlfriends Cardigan Anke,” by Ankestrick – garter stitch cardigan
“Pink Fizz,” by Andrea Mowry – cabled pullover

Accessories:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat
“Cloves Entwined Toque,” by Tif Neilan – slouchy hat with lateral braids
“Leni,” by Isabell Kraemer – textured hat
“Water Born,” by Jacqueline Cieslak – brioche headband
“Indira Cowl,” by Vanessa Smith – cabled cowl

It can be tricky to visualize how different colors and textures of yarn will look when knit together – Tin Can Knits has a super helpful blog post about just that, “Layering With Mohair.” Read it and you are sure to be inspired – we can’t wait to see what yarn and color combinations you come up with!

Hello, & Make Aran!

Posted by Julia on November 11, 2022

The Fibre Company has just launched a new line of yarn, & Make! These are yarns for stitchers at every stage of their crafting journey, made of natural, sustainable fibers from renewable sources. We’re starting with & Make Aran, a soft and squishy blend of Highland wool and alpaca.

The Fibre Co. & Make Aran:

aran weight
2-ply
solid and heathered colors
50% Highland wool, 50% alpaca
164 yards/100g
$17.50 each

What to knit with & Make Aran? Here are some ideas!

Garments:

“Felix Pullover” or “Felix Cardigan,” by Amy Christoffers – stockinette sweaters with eyelet details at raglan yoke
“Downstream,” by Kate Davies – striped, raglan cardigan knit from the top down
“Boreal,” by Kate Davies – large motif colorwork pullover
“Purls of Wisdom Sweater (Aran),” by The Fibre Co. – stockinette circular yoke pullover with purl ridges

Accessories:

“Warm & Easy Hat (Aran),” by Kate Atherley – stockinette hat with ribbed brim
“Bandana Cowl,” by Purl Soho – bandana shaped cowl
“Gridland Scarf,” by The Fibre Co. – textured scarf in 3 gauges (DK, aran, and super bulky)
“Catch my Fall,” by Melanie Berg – lace and textured triangular shawl
“Open Sky,” by Andrea Mowry – lace and textured semicircular shawl
“Almina,” by Lisa Hannes – cabled triangular shawl

Come by the shop to see & Make Aran for yourself! We’re here from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required.

Back in stock: Fibre Co. Acadia!

Posted by Julia on September 20, 2022

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!

“Acadia Loop,” by Elizabeth Smith – unisex hemmed neckwarmer
“Copenhagen calling,” by Isabell Kraemer – 2 color mosaic and lace cowl
“Mended Plaid Cowl,” by Jamie Lomax – stranded and textured cowl
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed beanie
“Norie,” by Gudrun Johnston – slouchy textured lace beanie
“Simple Gifts,” by Dee O’Keefe – triangular shawl with leaf lace panel
“One Sweater DK,” by Becky Baker – basic stockinette raglan pullover in 15 sizes from Age 1-2 – 64″ chest circumference
“Beekeeper Cardigan,” by Marie Greene – textured saddle shoulder cardigan

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.

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Perennial and Lucky Tweed.

Posted by Julia on August 29, 2022

Kelbourne Woolens is the source of some of our most popular yarns, beloved for the variety of high quality fibers they produce and the accessible price. Some of their yarns are super soft and luxurious, others are rustic and hard wearing, and each one has its own unique color palette. We’ve restocked Perennial and Lucky Tweed – let’s take a look!

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial:

light fingering weight
60% superwash merino, 25% Suri alpaca, 15% nylon
497 yards/100g
$26 each

We’ve seen beautiful sweaters, shawls, and baby things made in Perennial – here are some pattern ideas!

“Slipstravaganza,” by Stephen West – 4 color slip stitch shawl
“Oslo Hat,” by PetiteKnit – double stranded stockinette hat
“Linen Stitch Loop,” by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas – 2 color linen stitch cowl
“Navelli,” by Caitlin Hunter – cropped colorwork tee
“Lucille,” by Courtney Kelley – lace baby cardigan and bonnet

Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed:

aran weight
tweed
100% merino wool
210 yards/100g
$20 each

Lucky Tweed is manufactured in Donegal, Ireland, for an authentic tweed look and soft hand. Folks who have tried it often come back for more, exclaiming how soft and lightweight it is for a yarn at this gauge. If you’re looking to knit a cozy new sweater this fall, consider Lucky Tweed!

Here are some cozy patterns ideal for Lucky Tweed:

“Shop Frock,” by Nell Knits – long sleeved stockinette pullover with pockets
“Alanis,” by Elizabeth Smith – oversized stockinette tee for layering, also has pockets
“Big Love,” by Ankestrick – long sleeved textured cardigan with shawl collar
“Novice Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“The Throwover,” by Andrea Mowry – long sleeved pullover with colorwork yoke
“Jason’s Cashmere Hat,” by Melissa Thomson – cabled hat

Look for Perennial and Lucky Tweed here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with these other Kelbourne Woolens yarns – Camper, Andorra, Scout, and Germantown!

PetiteKnit pairings.

Posted by Julia on July 5, 2022

We recently restocked Isager Silk Mohair, a soft and shiny lace weight blend of mohair and silk, often used in tandem with heavier yarns. Fingering weight yarn seems to be a particularly popular playmate for Silk Mohair – here are some color combinations pairing it up with Isager Sock Yarn and Alpaca 2, and PetiteKnit pattern ideas below!

Isager Silk Mohair: lace weight, 70% kid mohair, 30% silk, 233 yards/25 g; $16 each
Isager Sock Yarn: fingering weight, 40% Easy Wash alpaca, 40% Easy Wash merino wool, 20% recycled nylon, 423 yards/100g; $20 each

Isager Alpaca 2: light fingering weight, 50% alpaca, 50% wool, 275 yards/50 g; $12 each

What to knit with these yarn pairings? You’ll find more ideas on a blog post of mine from November, but for today, let’s focus on PetiteKnit, who seems to especially favor this combination of lace + fingering weight yarns:

Accessories:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat

Sweaters:

“Balloon Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – pullover with balloon sleeves
“Stockholm Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“Copenhagen Cardigan,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette raglan cardigan with pockets
“No Frills Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette raglan pullover
“Jenny Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – smocked pullover

Here’s a bit of show and tell, a close up on Margaretta’s own “Jenny Sweater,” knit with Isager Silk Mohair and Alpaca 2 held together throughout. The combination is deliciously soft, with elegant drape, and I love the ever-so-slightly-different shades of light green Margaretta chose, they blended together beautifully!

Look for these and other Isager yarns in our lace and fingering weight sections here at the shop!