LYS Day 2024!

We’re looking forward to Local Yarn Store Day, this Saturday, April 27th. Come to our shop on LYS Day for 25% off featured yarns!

LYS Day is about celebrating brick-and-mortar yarn shops and appreciating all that they offer. Here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, we are proud of our selection of high quality yarns, books and tools, and our customer service. Our mission is to provide knitters and other fiber artists with quality materials and help connect them with the knowledge they need to make things they’re proud of.

All the yarn in our shop is sorted by gauge, with sections marked Lace weight, Worsted weight, Bulky weight, and so on. We hope this makes it easier to sort through our robust selection to find the yarn that’s right for your project! For LYS Day, we’re offering 25% off one featured yarn in each gauge section:

You can read about all our featured yarns on the links above, and look for the yellow signs to find them here at the shop on LYS Day!

Come by the Hillsborough Yarn Shop this Saturday to celebrate LYS Day and get some great deals! We’re open from 11 am – 5:30 pm; see you at the shop!

 

A reminder: all discounted yarns are final sale, no returns or exchanges. Discount applies only to in-stock items, no special orders. Thanks for understanding!

“SAWA” in Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Sport.

We try to have a handmade sample in every yarn we carry, to give folks an idea of how the yarn knits up, and inspiration for how to use it. When the time came to make a sample in Brooklyn Tweed’s newest yarn, Imbue Sport, Bailey got the coveted assignment.

Here’s her “SAWA” shawl, a brand new pattern from Olga Buraya-Kefelian. Knit in 3 colors, “SAWA” features bold texture and eye-catching shapes made with slip stitches, exactly the kind of sculptural or architectural knitwear Buraya-Kefelian is known for. Check out her MDK Field Guide, we still have copies at the shop!

Imbue Sport’s elasticity is ideal for a highly textured pattern like this, and its softness just right for something wrapped around the neck. Bailey picked greens and blues, a trio of light, medium, and dark.

Here are some more “SAWA” color ideas…

Look for Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Sport in the sport weight section here at our shop, and be sure to admire Bailey’s “SAWA” when you visit!

Hello, Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Sport!

We’re pleased to present the latest from Brooklyn Tweed: meet Imbue Sport!

Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Sport:

  • sport weight
  • worsted spun, 3ply
  • heathered colors
  • 100% merino wool
  • 190 yards/50g
  • $18.50 each

Just like Imbue Worsted before it, Imbue Sport’s heathered shades are made by blending brilliantly dyed hues of unspun wool, like an artist mixing paints. When spun, these bright solid colors mingle into richly heathered shades that are harmonious across the entire palette – ideal for stripes and colorwork!

What to knit with Imbue Sport? Here are some ideas!

Look for Imbue Sport here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with other Brooklyn Tweed yarns! We’re open from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Show and tell: stripes of all kinds.

Time for another round of show and tell! We love seeing what folks are making with yarn from the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – here are a bunch of projects we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person, featuring stripes of all kinds.

Above is Cindy’s “Bat Shawl,” a pattern from Lotta H Löthgren’s Observations. She used Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere and Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, a perfect match that shows off the slip stitch texture.

Here’s Michele’s “Stripes of Joy” pullover, knit with Malabrigo Rios leftover from various other projects. Pattern by Tif Neilan.

Above is April’s “Pressed Flowers Pullover,” knit with BC Garn Loch Lomond and self-striping Noro Silk Garden Light. Pattern by Amy Christoffers.

Margaretta made this “Shadow Stripe Pullover” with a lovely mix of high and low contrast stripes, a mix of Brooklyn Tweed Tones Light and Loft. Pattern by Jared Flood.

I knit this newborn-sized sweater as a sample for the shop when Kelbourne Woolens Skipper came out last year. The pattern is “French Macaroon,” by Noble Knits, a free download from Ravelry.

Robin saw my “French Macaroon” hanging here at the shop and was inspired to make her own – she modified it into a cardigan and sewed matching baby pants!

Thanks to Cindy, Michele, April, Margaretta, and Robin for sharing their work with us! We love to see what you make with our yarns, and can’t wait to see what comes off your needles next.

Show and tell: stuffed animals.

It’s been too long since I shared show-and-tell here on the blog, though it’s an ongoing part of our daily Instagram posts – let’s see what folks have been making with yarn from our shop!

Carlaine has been knitting her way through Mouche & Friends, Cinthia Vallet’s book of seamless stuffed animals that has captured the hearts of so many knitters here at HYS. Above are “Alphonse the Pig” and “Agi the Sheep,” and below is “Horacio the Donkey” – all knit with CoopKnits Socks Yeah! and several other kinds of fingering weight yarn.

You may recognize the friends pictured below – these are Pamela’s “Frog and Toad,” designed by Kristina Ingrid McGowan. There’s a crochet version, too! Pamela used a mix of CoopKnits Socks Yeah! DK, Fibre Co. Acadia, and Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

I have a little show and tell in this vein today, too – below are two “Jolly Wee Elves” I knit with scraps of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. The pattern is from Churchmouse, a delight every time.

Thanks to Carlaine and Pamela for sharing their work with us! We love to see what you make with our yarns, and can’t wait to see what comes off your needles next.

Isager Archives KAL: “Inge Sweater” color ideas.

Our first Isager Archives KAL meeting was on Wednesday evening, and we had a great time knitting along together! It’s not too late to join us – we’ll gather again on March 27, from 5-7pm, click here for all the details. Anne, Bailey and I have all settled on the same pattern, Lene Holme Samsøe’s “Inge Sweater,” but our colors and yarn choices vary.

Anne made her first swatches using a mix of Isager Jensen, Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Worsted, and a single ply alpaca from deep in her personal collection. She’s not happy with the fabric yet, and just cast on for a new swatch replacing the Imbue Worsted with more Jensen… looking forward to seeing it!

Bailey’s “Inge Sweater” is most similar to the color combination in the pattern, but her yarn choice is unique – a mix of Sandnes Garn Sunday, Isager Tvinni, and Jensen.

For my “Inge Sweater,” I’m using a DK weight wool that was gifted to me years ago for the main color, and two shades of Jensen for the contrast colors.

Inspired to join us and knit an “Inge Sweater” of your own? Here are more color ideas in Isager Jensen!

I’m picturing the three combinations above with the lightest color in the background, as in Samsøe’s pattern photos, and the combinations below with the darkest color in the background, though they could be arranged any way you like.

I love the toothy, rustic texture of Jensen, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – if a softer, more economical yarn is your preference, try Kelbourne Woolens Scout!

Look for these and other suitable yarns for “Inge” in our DK weight section here at the shop. We’re happy to help you find the perfect yarn for your project!

52 Weeks of Accessories.

52 Weeks of Accessories ($50) is the latest book from Laine, an inspiring tome packed with 52 patterns from 48 international designers. Let’s take a look inside!

This is the fourth in Laine’s ambitious 52 Weeks series, and instead of focusing on a particular kind of garment, it invites knitters of all skill levels to cast on for pleasing, small projects.

Inside the book, you’ll find hats, scarves, socks, and mittens, of course – but also slippers, shawls, headbands, hoods, bags, bracelets, collars, cowls, and scrunchies!

Paging through the book, I was pleased to see some familiar yarns, like Brooklyn Tweed Tones Light and Loft.

As ever, we are happy to help you find the perfect substitute for yarns we don’t carry – below are a few substitutions that came to mind as I browsed the book, Isager Silk Mohair and Fibre Co. Amble.

52 Weeks of Accessories is $50, not a bad price for 52 patterns – look for it here at the shop, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Brooklyn Tweed Trunk Show!

Come by the shop for a Brooklyn Tweed Trunk Show from February 13 – 24!

It’s been a mighty long time since we’ve hosted a Trunk Show, where a designer or yarn company lets us borrow their knit samples to display here at the shop.

Photo © Brooklyn Tweed/Jared Flood

This collection features a mix of garments and accessories in a variety of Brooklyn Tweed yarns – here’s a list with links to the patterns on Ravelry:

Photo © Brooklyn Tweed/Jared Flood

Seeing these garments close up and in person is one of the great joys of a Trunk Show. Another joy is trying them on for size, making sure you like the fit and feel before you invest in a new project. We like to add one more joy: a 10% discount on purchases of the featured BT yarns during the trunk show!

Photo © Brooklyn Tweed / Jared Flood

Come by the shop for a Brooklyn Tweed Trunk Show from February 13 – 24!

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges or returns. Thanks!

Brooklyn Tweed Retirees Sale – now 30% off!

We are proud to carry every yarn from Portland, OR based Brooklyn Tweed, known for their commitment to breed specific American wool. We even have some of their retired and limited edition skeins in stock, and with new Brooklyn Tweed yarn just around the corner, it’s time to make some room. The following Brooklyn Tweed retirees are now 30% off:

  • Select colors in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry: bulky weight, 100% Targhee-Columbia wool, 200 yards/100 g; Sale price – $17.50 each
  • Brooklyn Tweed Peerie: fingering weight, 100% merino wool, 210 yards/50 grams; Sale price – $12 each
  • Brooklyn Tweed Ranch 02: worsted weight, 100% Rambouillet wool, 102 yards/50 g; Sale price – $11.20 each
  • Brooklyn Tweed Ranch 03: sport weight, worsted spun, 5 ply, 100% merino wool, 170 yards/50g; Sale price – $11.55 each
  • Brooklyn Tweed Vale: lace weight, 100% Rambouillet wool, 450 yards/50 g; Sale price – $10.50 each

We have a limited supply of these BT retirees, some in many colors and some in a dwindling few. The best way to see them is to come in and shop around – we’ve created a sale section especially for BT retirees.

We’ve packaged our last precious skeins of Ranch 01 into kits with classic BT patterns, and we just might make more with other sale yarns – come by the shop to see what we have!

Come by to get these BT yarns before they’re gone for good, and shop early for best selection! We’re open from 11am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.

 

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges, returns, or special orders. Thanks!

Northern Lights: a Collection with Brooklyn Tweed and Amirisu.

A new book has arrived to inspire your knitting this year and beyond – let’s look inside Northern Lights ($28), a collaboration between Brooklyn Tweed + Amirisu!

For Northern Lights, designers from around the world developed patterns for Brooklyn Tweed’s breed-specific American wool yarns.

“Solstice,” by Kirsten Joel, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Quarry.

“Dyad,” by Thien Kieu-Lam, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Arbor.

Fiona Alice, Sari Nordlund, Alice Caetano, and others contributed garments and accessories inspired by Finnish designers and architects.

“Gyration,” by Keiko Kikuno, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.

“Alvar,” by Dario Tubiana – RossoCardinale, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Tones.

“Welle,” by Ayako Kataoka, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Arbor.

We are proud to carry every single Brooklyn Tweed yarn featured in this book, and we keep a generous supply on hand in a wide range of colors. We even have a decent (but dwindling) supply of the sadly discontinued Peerie!

“Outrun,” by Alice Caetano, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Dapple.

Northern Lights also includes an in-depth interview with Brooklyn Tweed co-owner and founder Jared Flood, covering his personal and professional histories with knitting.

“Greenery View,” by Hiromi Otsuru, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft.

Look for Brooklyn Tweed yarns and Northern Lights ($28) here at HYS, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

“Seabird,” by Sari Nordlund, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Arbor.