Tag Archives: cowls

“Night & Day Cowl” in Isager Alpaca 3 & Silk Mohair.

Posted by on

When Katherine proposed teaching a slip stitch class on Andrea Mowry’s “Night & Day Cowl,” we immediately started calling out DK weight yarns she could work with. Kelbourne Woolens Scout, Berroco Ultra Wool DK, Brooklyn Tweed Arbor, and Sandnes Garn Double Sunday would all be nice – but Katherine had other plans.

She picked out matching shades of aran weight Isager Alpaca 3 and lace weight Silk Mohair to hold together throughout, making a thicker fabric at a bigger gauge. If she used these (gorgeous!) yarns for her “Night & Day Cowl,” she’d need to use larger needles than the US 6 called for in the pattern, and her cowl would come out bigger. “I don’t mind if it’s bigger,” she said, and went home with an armful of Isager and plans to use a US 9 needle and see what happened.

What happened was this stunning cowl, a super soft fabric at the perfect size! Andrea Mowry’s pattern is written in such a way that it’s easy to stop when you reach your desired cowl size, so Katherine got to knit without even worrying about the difference in gauge.

Now that I’ve seen Katherine’s extra cozy “Night & Day Cowl,” I can’t stop thinking about other color combinations in Isager Alpaca 3 and lace weight Silk Mohair – here are a few!

Look for Katherine’s cowl here at our shop, along with the Isager Alpaca 3 and Silk Mohair to make one of your own!

Cloud Drift cowl kits.

Posted by on

Announcing an exciting Simply Shetland + Madelinetosh + Gudrun Johnston collaboration for Rhinebeck – meet the “Cloud Drift” cowl!

The “Cloud Drift” cowl features a limited edition color, “Plivver,” in Madelinetosh Tosh Silk Cloud, dyed just for Simply Shetland to perfectly match the main color shade of Spindrift in Old Gold.


The construction of Gudrun Johnston’s “Cloud Drift” takes inspiration from Shetland hap shawls. Worked flat with yarn overs along one edge for shaping, the piece is then seamed together, end to end, to make a cowl. “Cloud Drift” features mosaic knitting, a fun colorwork technique without stranding, all on a garter stitch background – another nod to traditional Shetland lace knitting.

When using shades close in value for the contrast colors, the simple mosaic design creates a gradient effect reminiscent of Sashiko patterns, highlighting the beauty of rustic Shetland yarn held with a soft and fuzzy Japanese milled yarn.

Each kit includes:

  • 5 balls of Spindrift: 2 balls of the main color and 1 ball each of the three contrasting colors.
  • 1 skein of Tosh Silk Cloud in Plivver: An exclusive color developed by Madelinetosh. Plivver is the Shetland term for the Golden Plover, a bird known for its earthy golden feathers.
  • A golden Boxie bag by della Q.
  • A postcard with a free pattern download for the “Cloud Drift” cowl.

Look for Cloud Drift cowl kits here at HYS and in our new online store, while supplies last!

Show and tell: Bailey’s samples.

Posted by on

Since Bailey began working here at the shop, her hands have been busy knitting samples. Anne and I love seeing the patterns, designers, and color combinations she selects, and so does everyone who comes to the shop for inspiration! If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ve already seen Bailey’s “Static Mittens” in Sandnes Garn Double Sunday – let’s take a closer look at what else she’s been making.

The ephemeral mohair sweater in the middle is Bailey’s “Aura Top,” knit with Malabrigo Mohair. We so often see mohair held together with other yarns, but it’s dreamy on its own, too! Pattern by Rows Knitwear.

Above is “Berlin,” a cowl designed by Helga Isager and knit with Isager Alpaca 3, a lofty chainette yarn composed of alpaca and wool.

Bailey knit this chic “Best Beret” with a skein of Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, a smooth and sturdy worsted weight wool that’s ideal for creating a structured accessory like this one. Pattern by James N Watts.

Most recently, Bailey made this “ribblesdale vest,” by Lily Kate France, a brioche waistcoat knit with Kelbourne Woolens Scout.

Look for all of these samples here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with plenty of yarn to make them. We hope you find inspiration here!

Back in stock: Malabrigo Noventa!

Posted by on

We’re pleased to have a cubby full of Malabrigo Noventa again!

Malabrigo Noventa:

  • super bulky weight
  • single ply
  • hand-dyed
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 90 yards/125 g
  • $24 each

Noventa is plush and squishy, perfectly suited to cold-weather accessories, and one skein makes a hat or cowl in a hurry. Think Alice Dunn Smith’s “Winter Harbor Cowl,” Kristel Nieve’s “Sierra Beanie,” or Andrea Riddle & Lora Marin’s “Noventa Cabled Hat.”

Two skeins makes Churchmouse’s popular “Double Split Color-Blocked Cowl,” a cute and cozy accessory; the two pictured here were knit by Sherri and Linda, respectively.

Below are a few more two-color combinations for “Double Split Color-Blocked Cowl” – can’t wait to see what else folks come up with!

Look for Malabrigo Noventa in the super bulky weight section here at HYS! Visit us between 11am-5:30pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required for entry.

Simply Shetland Hapkerchief KAL!

Posted by on

We are excited to announce that Gudrun Johnston and the Simply Shetland team are hosting their first ever Knit-Along!

Gudrun Johnston’s “Hapkerchief,” knit with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in Colorway 1

The Hapkerchief Knit-Along is open to knitters worldwide, starting on June 2 and running through June 30 only on Instagram – follow @simply_shetland on Instagram for details about prizes and how to participate.

Gudrun Johnston’s brand new “Hapkerchief” is the featured pattern, a quick, 4-color cowl knit with Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift that introduces Shetland-inspired techniques in a modern, approachable way. Perfect for the adventurous beginner and beyond!

Johnston’s pattern shows the “Hapkerchief” in three Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift colorways, all of which use a mix of light, medium, and dark shades for a balanced look.

Gudrun Johnston’s “Hapkerchief,” knit with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in Colorway 2

Gudrun Johnston’s “Hapkerchief,” knit with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in Colorway 3

I knit up a sample “Hapkerchief” myself, in a colorway Anne and I put together.

Gudrun Johnston’s “Hapkerchief,” knit with Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in our own HYS palette

I learned a few things along the way – the German twisted cast-on, a wrap-and-turn technique for working garter stitch in the round without purling, and a purled i-cord bind-off. All of those techniques and more are shown clearly in Johnston’s video tutorials, so you’ll have plenty of support as you knit along!

Look for these “Hapkerchief” yarn bundles here at the shop, and purchase the pattern separately on Ravelry. We have over 150 shades of Spindrift on hand if you want to make your own color combination, of course – can’t wait to see what you come up with!

“Manzanita Sunset, February” + BT Peerie.

Posted by on

Brooklyn Tweed Peerie has been a favorite yarn here at our shop since it debuted in 2018, a soft and bouncy fingering weight merino wool. We were sad to learn that production of Peerie has recently ceased; the folks at BT worked hard to keep it coming over the past few years, but limited domestic supply chain options have now spelled an end for Peerie. Luckily, we still have a nice supply on hand – read on for Peerie inspiration, and come by the shop to get it before it’s gone for good!

“Manzanita Sunset, February,” by Seth Richardson. Photo © Anna-Lisa Miller

Seth Richardson’s recent “Manzanita Sunset, February” cowl pattern caught our eye, a striking slipstitch design for Brooklyn Tweed Peerie.

“Manzanita Sunset, February,” by Seth Richardson. Photo © Anna-Lisa Miller

The pattern comes in two sizes, a smaller neck gaiter and a roomier cowl, and looks equally nice in low and high contrast color combinations. Here are the two colorways shown in Richardson’s pattern photos, followed by a few more I came up with!

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

  • For neck gaiter: 1 skein each Main Color and Color 2
  • For cowl: 2 skeins Main Color, 1 skein Color 2

With its soft hand, bold colors, and superb stitch definition, Peerie is worth celebrating – here are a few more ways to use it!

Accessories:

Garments:

Look for Brooklyn Tweed Peerie in the fingering weight section here at HYS!

Yarn ideas for “Inclinations Cowl,” by Andrea Mowry.

Posted by on

Andrea Mowry’s latest design and knit-along has us playing the color game… “Inclinations Cowl” is designed to look like an asymmetrical triangular shawl when worn, but slips over the head easily. Like her “Inclinations Shawl” before, it’s all in half fisherman’s rib, which makes a bouncy, easy to knit fabric.

“Inclinations Cowl,” by Andrea Mowry, photo © Andrea Mowry

Mowry calls for two shades of yarn, 360 yards each, though the pattern lends itself to using up smaller quantities of yarn in multiple colors – check out the projects on Ravelry to get a sense of the possibilities!

Here are a few ideas from our own sport weight section here at the shop.

  • Kelbourne Woolens Andorra: sport weight, 60% merino, 20% highland wool, 20% mohair, 185 yards/50 g; $12 each
  • Malabrigo Arroyo: sport weight, hand-dyed, 100% superwash merino wool, 335 yards/100g; $20 each

  • Ewe Ewe Sporty: sport weight, 100% superwash merino wool, 145 yards/50 grams; $11 each
  • Alchemy Sanctuary: sport weight, hand-dyed, 70% wool, 30% silk, 125 yards/50g; $34 each

  • Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light: sport weight, 50% wool, 50% alpaca, 144 yards/50 g; $8 each
  • Schoppel-Wolle Zauberwolle: sport weight, marled, self-striping, 100% merino wool, 273 yards/100 g; $23 each

Swing by the shop or reach out if any of these combinations catches your eye – we’re happy to help calculate yardage or answer any questions that come up as you plan an “Inclinations Cowl” of your own!

Koigu Collector’s Club: The Marsh.

Posted by on

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 The Marsh, a beachy colorway streaked with shades of aqua, cream, and gray.

Anne spotted the perfect pattern for this or any shade of Koigu KPPPM – Churchmouse’s “Linen Stitch Loop,” a two color cowl that pairs variegated and solid shades for a pixelated effect.

“Linen Stitch Loop,” by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, photo © Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

There are so many yarns in our fingering weight section here at the shop – here are a few that complement The Marsh!

  • Kelbourne Woolens Perennial: light fingering weight, 60% superwash merino, 25% suri alpaca, 15% nylon, 497 yards/100 g; $26 each
  • Ewe Ewe Fluffy Fingering: fingering weight, 100% superwash merino, 200 yards/50 g; $11 each

  • Punta del Este Mericash Solid: fingering weight, single ply, 80% merino, 20% cashmere, 264 yards/50 gm; $18 each
  • Isager Merilin: light fingering weight, 80% wool, 20% linen, 228 yards/50 g; $11 each

  • Baa Ram Ewe Titus: fingering weight, 70% wool, 30% alpaca, 350 yards/100 g, $29 each
  • Fibre Co. Amble: fingering weight, 70% Easy-wash merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, and 10% recycled nylon, 355 yards/100g; $23 each

 

Look for Koigu KPPPM in the fingering weight section here at the shop, along with Perennial, Fluffy Fingering, Mericash Solid, Merilin, Titus, Amble, and so much more – see you there!

Rios + Versa Cowl.

Posted by on

A few recent orders have left us rich in Malabrigo Rios, a superwash worsted weight merino that gets a lot of love around here.

Malabrigo Rios:

  • worsted weight
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 210 yards/100g
  • $17 each

We have both solid and hand-dyed shades in stock, and Aimee Pelletier’s “Versa Cowl” is a great way to combine them.

“Versa Cowl,” by Aimee Pelletier, photo © Aimee Pelletier

“Versa Cowl” is a sampler of different slip stitch patterns and stripes, and can be worn folded in half for a double layer, as shown above.

Browsing projects on Ravelry, I saw many knitters had paired a solid or semi-solid shade of Rios with a more highly variegated shade for their “Versa Cowls,” a nice effect.

For sharper stitch definition and cleaner stripes, try solid or semi-solid color combinations.

Look for Rios in the worsted weight section here at our shop; we’re open from 11 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. You can also order online for local pickup or shipping – thanks for your support of our shop!

Show and tell!

Posted by on

It’s been too long since I shared some show and tell here on the blog! Those of you who follow us on Instagram may have seen some of these inspiring projects over the past few months, but they’re all worth a bit more attention – let’s take a look.

Here’s Kathryn with her “Slipstravaganza” shawl, designed by Stephen West for his annual Mystery Knit-Along last fall. She used Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere for a soft and surprisingly sturdy accessory – she reported no pilling even after plenty of wear.

Another Stephen West pattern! Michele knit this “Brioche Soundwaves” with Brooklyn Tweed Arbor, which has superb stitch definition, ideal for an intricate pattern like this.

Here Emily models her cozy “Nightshift” shawl, a popular pattern by Andrea Mowry. She used a mix of solid and marled colors to great effect – Brooklyn Tweed Shelter is the yarn.

Here’s another “Nightshift,” knit by Kay for her sister using Malabrigo Rios. We’ve seen this shawl knit with solids and hand-dyes, variegated and speckled shades, even self-striping colors, and many knitters come back to make a second or third!

Nancy brought her “Chrysalis Throw” in during an in-store shopping appointment, wowing us with her use of color. She’s crocheting this large and impressive blanket with Cascade Ultra Pima – pattern by Jen Tyler.

Deedra is an avid Koigu collector, and used some of her skeins to knit the “Pacific Shake Cowl” above. Taiu Landra designed it using two strands of Koigu KPPPM at a time, marling different shades for unique color blends.

Thanks to Kathryn, Emily, Kay, Michele, Nancy, and Deedra for sharing their work – we can’t wait to see what you make next. Stay tuned for more show and tell soon, a post featuring nothing but sweaters…!