Metropolitan Knits.

Posted by Julia on June 2, 2013

Here’s a new collection from knitwear designer Melissa Wehrle, Metropolitan Knits: Chic Designs for Urban Style.

Designed with city life in mind, these garments are, first and foremost, wearable. Some are more modern looking, and others more classic, some have lace and others have cables, but all seem to have been designed with the wearer in mind as well as the knitter.

Look for Metropolitan Knits on the teacart, surrounded by the latest knitting and crochet magazines and books. See you at the shop!

Shawls and seamless knitting: two new books.

Posted by Julia on May 20, 2013

Last week, we received two brand new books from Interweave: The Art of Seamless Knitting and Free Spirit Shawls.

The Art of Seamless Knitting, by Simona Merchant-Dest and Faina Goberstein, offers patterns, techniques, and tips for creating garments without seams.

Many knitters love knitting sweaters seamlessly from the top down or bottom up, and this book shows how to bring more intricate patterning to garments like those.

Along with plenty of good-looking seamless sweater patterns, this book offers guidance on how to include cable, lace, and texture patterns in seamless garments.

Lisa Shroyer’s Free Spirit Shawls has all kinds of shawl patterns in many shapes and gauges. Paging through it, I saw a few familiar yarns put to good use. Here’s a simple triangular shawl that shows off the delightful stripes in Schoppel-Wolle’s Zauberball yarn.

This 2-color kerchief makes the most of high-contrast colorways in Claudia Handpainted Yarns’ fingering weight merino yarn.

This cozy shawl is shaped with short rows, and knit with good old Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a worsted weight blend of wool and alpaca.

Come by the shop to check out these and other new books. See you there!

Interweave Knits.

Posted by Julia on May 16, 2013

The latest issue of Interweave Knits has arrived!

This issue offers the usual mix of knit tees and tanks that we normally expect from a Summer magazine, along with a nice selection of more substantial sweaters for cool evenings and aggressive air-conditioning.

Seeking Summer knitting inspiration? Come by the shop to flip through Interweave Knits and plan your next project. See you there!

Interweave Crochet.

Posted by Julia on March 16, 2013

The Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet is here.

Inside, you’ll find patterns for crocheted jewelry, shawls, and other openwork garments.

This lace tunic, by designer Doris Chan, was made with Prism Tencel Tape, a slinky variegated yarn that is perfect for spring and summer garments. It’s a knitted tape made of 100% Tencel, a plant fiber derived from tree bark.

Come by the shop to see Interweave Crochet and all the latest magazines, where you’re sure to find plenty of inspiration for spring stitching. See you there!

Knits at Home, Knits of Tomorrow.

Posted by Julia on March 1, 2013

Two new books have made themselves at home on the teacart of late. They share a publisher, a craft, and project category–Interweave Press, knitting, and home decor–but they differ greatly in their aesthetic. One has “modern” in its subtitle and the other, “retro.” Curious? Take a look.

Ruth Cross’s Knits at Home: Rustic Designs for the Modern Nest is a collection of patterns for handknit home decor items.

Wall hangings, rugs, covers for pillows and footstools, lacy curtains, and afghans all can be found here.

Most are knitted in soothing neutral colors, and make use of interesting texture patterns. Cross also gives guidance on designing handknits for the home.

On the other hand, Sue Culligan’s Knits of Tomorrow: Toys and Accessories for Your Retro-Future Needs takes a playful approach to home decor, working intarsia robots into pillow-covers and potholders, and knitting litte rocket ships to make a baby mobile. Culligan goes beyond home decor, as well, with accessories and cases for laptops, tablets, and other technological gadgets.

Whatever your taste, consider these new books as resources if you’re thinking of knitting for your home. You’ll find them on the teacart as you walk into the shop, among the latest books and magazines. See you there!

Interweave Knits.

Posted by Julia on February 17, 2013

The latest issue of Interweave Knits is here, ushering in the next season: Spring 2013. As I paged through it, I noticed a handful of garments and accessories made in familiar yarns–yarns that can be found at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. A cowl in Classic Elite Firefly, a pair of fingerless gloves in Malabrigo Lace, and a child’s dress in Tahki Cotton Classic Lite.

Come by the shop to grab a copy of this latest issue, and to browse all the latest books and magazines. See you there!

Finish-Free Knits.

Posted by Julia on December 28, 2012

Last week, we got a new book from Interweave that focuses on seamlessly knitted sweaters: Finish-Free Knits, by Kristen TenDyke.

There’s great variety in these designs. Some are patterned with cables or lace, others with smooth stockinette, simple ribbing, or garter stitch. Some are long sleeved, some are short sleeved, some are cardigans, some are pullovers, some are cropped and others tunic-length.

For knitters who love to work sweaters seamlessly in the round on circular needles, Finish-Free Knits is definitely worth a look.

Find it on the teacart. See you at the shop!

Interweave Knits.

Posted by Julia on November 18, 2012

The Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits is a pretty one, cozy with cables and colorwork, full of patterns for sweaters and cold-weather accessories.

One of these patterns, Cirilia Rose’s “Horseshoe Janie,” calls for Schulana Lambswool, a Hillsborough Yarn Shop favorite.

Find Interweave Knits among the newest magazines and books on the teacart.

Interweave Crochet Accessories.

Posted by Julia on November 4, 2012

Here’s a new magazine full of crochet patterns for hats, scarves, cowls, mitts, and the like: Interweave Crochet Accessories.

I noticed a lot of interesting crocheted colorwork in this issue, along with a mix of texture patterns and motifs.

Find Interweave Crochet Accessories on the teacart, surrounded by the latest knitting and crochet books and magazines. We hope you find inspiration in these pages!

KnitScene and Jane Austen Knits.

Posted by Julia on October 19, 2012

Two new magazines came in this week: KnitScene and Jane Austen Knits, both of which are full of patterns for sweaters and accessories–plenty to keep your needles busy this fall and winter.

I was pleased to see that KnitScene profiles one of our favorites in this issue: Swans Island, a small company in Maine that produces organic, naturally dyed merino yarns.

For one way to make use of Swans Island’s Organic Merino Fingering, look no further than Jane Austen Knits.

(If that pattern doesn’t appeal, let me pull out our binder of Swans Island patterns for you–there are so many good ways to use this yarn!)

Come by the shop to get the newest fall and winter issues of your favorite knitting and crochet magazines, where you’ll find them on the teacart and the magazine rack. See you there!