Back in stock: Cascade 220 Fingering.

We’ve been busy restocking for the new year ahead, filling in on yarns whose numbers had dwindled. Cascade 220 Fingering is one such yarn, an economical fingering weight wool that we’re delighted to have back in stock!

Cascade 220 Fingering:

  • fingering weight
  • 100% wool
  • 275 yards/50 g
  • $5.25 each

What to make with Cascade 220 Fingering? It’s great for colorwork – here are some pattern ideas and color combinations, both in pairs and trios!

  • “Dissent Toque,” by Andrea Rangel – 2 color hat inspired by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent collar
  • “Ino,” by Audrey Borrego – 2 color cowl
  • “Effie,” by Skeindeer Knits – 2 color Selbu mittens

Order online for local pickup or shipping – we’re happy to connect you with any of the combinations you see here, or put together a custom colorway just for you!

New year’s eve.

What are you working on as 2020 comes to an end? Anne and I have closed up shop for the day, and we’ll be closed tomorrow, Jan. 1, as well. Now’s the time for rest, year-end contemplation, and knitting, of course – here’s a peek at our current projects.

Anne has been busy stitching for her grandchildren all year, and is closing in on this intricate lace pullover, “Leaf Sweater for Kids.”

She’s using a semisolid shade of Malabrigo Sock, which shows off the lace pattern beautifully. I’m looking forward to seeing it after blocking!

I’ve started another “Stasis” pullover, a replacement for one of my most loved sweaters, which I’ve worn out and mended several times – you can see it here, in a long ago show-and-tell blog post. For my second “Stasis,” I’m using a marled shade of Brooklyn Tweed Loft as my main color, and assorted bits and pieces of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift for my contrast colors. It took a bit of sketching and swatching to get to this particular arrangement of colors, which was good fun in and of itself. Below are my first and second drafts, and above is what I settled on.

 

Your kindness and support have meant the world to us this year – wishing health and happiness to you and yours in 2021!

New colors in Ewe Ewe Fluffy Fingering.

A recent order from Ewe Ewe brought three new shades of Fluffy Fingering!

Ewe Ewe Fluffy Fingering:

  • fingering weight
  • 3 ply, worsted-spun, smooth
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 145 yards/50 grams
  • $10 each

Like all Ewe Ewe yarns, Fluffy Fingering is tightly plied for excellent stitch definition, and comes in a range of solid colors from neutral to pastel to bright. Its machine-washability makes it suitable for socks, baby things, and frequently-worn accessories, but it’s just as happy in a shawl, perhaps paired with a hand-dyed yarn for contrast.

What to make with Fluffy Fingering? Here are a few ideas with rich texture, to take advantage of that sharp stitch definition:

Order online for local pickup or shipping!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Comfy Cozy and Admit One.

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. This month, we got not one, but TWO new colorways!

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

Comfy Cozy is dyed on KPPPM, Koigu’s classic fingering weight merino that we’ve come to know so well throughout the Collector’s Club.

Koigu Sparkle:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 94% merino wool, 6% lurex – silver metallic
  • 164 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

Admit One is a playful pastel colorway with streaks of brighter shades and a silver shimmer. It’s dyed on Sparkle, Koigu’s metallic cousin to KPPPM.

What to make with all these Koigu Collector’s Club colorways? Just as we have two new colorways, we also have two pattern suggestions with color combinations – Anne and I each had an idea this time, and we both happened to pair up Koigu with a Brooklyn Tweed yarn!

Ankestrick’s new “Sydvester” pullover caught Anne’s eye, an intriguing slip stitch pattern combining fingering and worsted weight yarns. She suggests Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Koigu for this project, her interest piqued by the interplay of rustic heathers and playful variegates.

I had Francoise Danoy’s “Ocean Pathways Cowl” in mind for the following combinations.

For this pattern, I selected three shades of Koigu KPPPM or Sparkle for the contrast colors, and a darker shade of Brooklyn Tweed Peerie for the background color.

Order online to snag any of the Collector’s Club colorways pictured above, with or without their Brooklyn Tweed counterparts! They’re all available for local pickup or shipping while supplies last.

Hello, Lady Dye Yarns!

We are over the moon – Lady Dye Yarns are now in stock here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop!

LDY owner Diane Ivey is an indie dyer based in Boston, MA. As one of the cofounders of the emPower People project, she’s as well known for her vibrant colorways as she is for her craftivism.

Our first LDY order arrived this week, bursting with lively shades of Superwash Fingering, along with a surprise that we’re tucking away for members of our HYS Hat Club in the upcoming Quarter 2.

Lady Dye Superwash Fingering:

  • fingering weight
  • single ply
  • hand-dyed in semisolid and variegated colorways
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 425 yards/100g
  • $32 each

Lady Dye Superwash Fingering has a merino softness and single-ply texture comparable to Malabrigo Mechita, but the color palette has its own personality – the semisolid shades are clear and bright, and the variegated colorways are unique.

What to make with these stunning skeins? Here are some patterns designed for Lady Dye Superwash Fingering – check them out for inspiration and to see how this yarn looks when knit and crocheted!

As I photographed this yarn, I found myself instinctively creating color trios from solid and variegated shades that seemed to speak to one another. Below are some three-color pattern ideas, in case any of these combinations speak to you:

Head to our online order form to get some Lady Dye Superwash Fingering of your very own! Available for local pickup or shipping, as we remain closed to walk-in visits.

Koigu Collector’s Club: Forage and Elements.

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. This month, we got not one, but TWO new colorways!

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

Forage is dyed on KPPPM, Koigu’s classic fingering weight merino that we’ve come to know so well throughout the Collector’s Club. Streaked with many shades of green and a few dashes of brown and cream, Forage is vibrant and highly variegated.

Koigu Sparkle:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 94% merino wool, 6% lurex – silver metallic
  • 164 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

Elements is a moodier colorway, shades of purple and gray, along with a sparkly silver metallic thread, as it’s dyed on Sparkle, a Koigu yarn we haven’t had at the shop before.

Above you’ll see all the shades of Koigu we currently have in stock – they make a lovely rainbow together.

What to make with these pretty skeins? Knitters, consider Fatimah Hinds’ “Rinse/Repeat” socks, Purl Soho’s “Purl Beret,” Kit Hutchins’ “Barb’s Koigu Ruffle” scarf, or pick three colors for Churchmouse’s “Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf.”

Crocheters, check out Marian Nelson’s “Melrose” scarf or wrap, or Joanna J Clayson’s “Spring Cowl.”

Order online to snag the new Forage and Elements, or any of these older Collector’s Club colorways! They’re all available for local pickup or shipping while supplies last.

Dream in Color Pop-Up! Club: December.

Dream in Color’s Pop Up! Club is back! Every month, we’re getting a special new colorway from Dream in Color, a Tucson-based producer of small batch hand-dyed yarns. December’s new limited edition colorway is here while supplies last!

Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere:

  • fingering weight
  • 70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon
  • 400 yards/100g
  • $34 each

December’s skeins are highly variegated with rich shades of purple, pink, blue, green, and orange, a lovely addition to what we already have in stock in Smooshy Cashmere.

Smooshy with Cashmere is a super soft blend of superwash merino wool, cashmere, and nylon – perfect for a special shawl or pair of socks. A skein like this would make a great “Starshower,” “Pebble Beach Shawl,” “Sockhead Slouch Hat” or “Sockhead Cowl,” all patterns that do well with variegated yarn.

Get in touch if you’d like to place an order – we can ship these pretty skeins directly to you or hold your purchase here for pickup while our storefront remains closed to walk-ins!

Meet Fibre Co. Amble!

Fibre Company’s newest yarn is here – meet Amble!

Fibre Co. Amble:

  • fingering weight
  • solid and heathered colors
  • 70% Easy-wash merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, and 10% recycled nylon
  • 355 yards/100g
  • $23 each

Amble is a unique and eco-friendly sock yarn. The thoughtful folks at Fibre Co. selected these Easy-wash fibers because they are processed without the use of hazardous chemicals, yet are still easy to care for and resist shrinking in the wash.

Kate Atherley’s “One Sock” was designed especially for Fibre Co. Amble, a classic top-down sock in all sizes, with lots of opportunities for customization. One skein of Amble is enough for most sizes, but check the pattern description on Ravelry for yardage requirements, as the two largest sizes require a second skein.

Order Amble online for local pickup or shipping, and remember your dear sock-knitting friends as the winter holidays approach – a special skein of sock yarn is always a welcome gift!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Apple Crisp.

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.

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

Our most recent shipment from Koigu is Apple Crisp, a variegated colorway that summons the season in shades of pink, beige, burgundy, and red.

What to make with these pretty skeins? Special socks are always a nice use for KPPPM – try Noma Ndlovu’s “Cable & Lace Socks” and “Little Boxes Socks,” or Dawn Henderson’s “Bonfire Socks” and “Block Party Socks.”

Get in touch if you’d like to place an order – we can ship directly to you or hold your purchase here for pickup while our storefront is temporarily closed!

Dream in Color Pop-Up! Club: November.

Dream in Color’s Pop Up! Club is back! Every month, we’re getting a special new colorway from Dream in Color, a Tucson-based producer of small batch hand-dyed yarns. November’s new limited edition colorway is here while supplies last!

Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere:

  • fingering weight
  • 70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon
  • 400 yards/100g
  • $34 each

November’s skeins are variegated with dark charcoal and vibrant teal, a lovely addition to what we already have in stock in Smooshy Cashmere.

Purchases of the November 2020 Pop-Up! Club colorway come with something special this time, too – a coupon code for a new shawl pattern from Sarah B. Abram, “Victorious.” Here are some color trios that will sing in those slipped stitches, stripes, and lace!

Get in touch if you’d like to place an order – we can ship these pretty skeins directly to you or hold your purchase here for pickup while our storefront remains closed to walk-ins!