Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook.

Posted by Julia on March 8, 2017

Here is a book you have probably seen already, one that you may even own already, for we’ve sold out and reordered it many times since its initial publication last October. It was selling quickly enough that I waited to buy my own copy until our supply steadied, so though I’ve admired it for months, I’ve only recently sat down and spent time with this beautiful book. Here’s Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook, a compendium of cable stitch patterns, garments, and wisdom.

In this book, designer Norah Gaughan introduces over 150 cable stitch patterns with both written and charted instructions, all of which are lovingly photographed by the talented Jared Flood. The book itself is a thing of beauty, but beautiful as it is, the contents of this tome are the star, no matter the packaging.

Gaughan has devised a Stockinette Stitch Equivalent for each of these motifs, a way of saying how many stockinette stitches it would take to make the same width as the cable in question. This allows you to substitute one cable for another with ease, and also to add cables to a plain garment without letting the naturally-smaller gauge of cable patterns mess with the overall size of the piece. Gaughan clearly describes this system and how to use it towards the beginning of the book, where she also lays out hints for chart-reading, yarn choice, symbols and terminology. Don’t miss the troubleshooting section either, from which Karen Templer of Fringe Association pulled a real gem.

There are patterns for cabled garments, too, if design isn’t your thing. From pullovers and cardigans to ponchos and skirts, Gaughan has put her cable patterns to good and interesting use. In short, if you are at all interested in cable knitting or design, you should take a look at Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. Find it on the teacart here at the shop!

Show and tell: Brooklyn Tweed, part 1.

Posted by Julia on February 21, 2017

When we first announced that we’d become a Brooklyn Tweed stockist, we were quickly joined in our enthusiasm by a great many knitters eager to get their hands on Brooklyn Tweed yarns. After all, these are yarns with big reputations, yarns that lots of us had seen only online. No surprise, then, that I have two blog-posts-worth of show-and-tell in Brooklyn Tweed yarns, some of which are still on the needles. Let’s start with those!

Jodi is knitting a Churchmouse “Easy Folded Poncho” with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in “Hayloft,” a rich mustard yellow that, like all colors in Shelter and Loft, seems to grow more complicated on each viewing. The pattern calls for DK weight yarn at a smaller gauge than what Jodi’s getting, which means her poncho will be a few inches bigger, and so much the cozier. Note her Cocoknits Stitch Stoppers, keeping those precious stitches safe!

Anne considers a swatch a treat, a little preview of what’s to come when she finishes current projects and allows herself to cast on for the next. Above is her swatch for Michele Wang’s “Hellebore,” knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft in “Woodsmoke.”

Shelter was the first Brooklyn Tweed yarn I reached for as soon as it arrived here at the shop. That hat has been finished for weeks, and we’ll see it in the next blog post. Right now, I’m working on a “Hirombe” hat in Brooklyn Tweed Arbor, using the nearly-fluorescent “Firebrush” color, a bright orangey-red. The hat, designed by Jared Flood, is decorated with twisted stitches, and though it looked straightforward enough in the photo, I learned at least three new techniques before my swatch was two rows long.

Sidney is already well into her “Grille” pullover, designed by Bonnie Sennott and knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft. The color is “Postcard,” an intricate one somewhere between pink and gray.

I can think of so many more Brooklyn Tweed works-in-progress that have started life here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop: a “Flight,” “Seeds Hat,” and two “Boardwalks” in Loft, a “Far Hills Hat,” “Baa-ble Hat,” “Tinder,” and “Hadley Pullover” in Shelter; a “Byway” and “Guernsey Wrap” in Arbor, and lots of others. Who else has Brooklyn Tweed yarns on their needles, and what are you making? Leave us a comment, or come by the shop to show us your progress, and look forward to a second Brooklyn Tweed show-and-tell post here on the blog very soon!

New books from Brooklyn Tweed.

Posted by Julia on December 4, 2016

We are so excited to announce that we now carry books from Brooklyn Tweed! We have their first two books in stock: Capsule, by Olga Buraya-Kefelian, and Woolens, by Jared Flood.

I’ve been following Brooklyn Tweed since it was but a blog, admiring many of the patterns Jared Flood and his design team have put out over the years, and knitting as many as my overflowing to-knit list allows.

Brooklyn Tweed designs have always been something I found online, and thus I’ve experienced them primarily as digital photos and pdfs. It is quite different to see these patterns nicely printed and bound, and as a lover of paper and books as well as yarn and knitwear, I am smitten with these, and particularly with Woolens.

Woolens is a collection of accessories designed and photographed by Jared Flood, covering a range of techniques including brioche, colorwork, cables, and other texture patterns.

Most designs are unisex, and many are shown in alternate colorways or sizes to give a sense of the options for different looks. Though those options and modifications are always present and possible when we make things ourselves, it really helps to see a few of them before we embark on our own version of a pattern – think of how much time we spend on Ravelry, scrolling through projects.

Our friend and teacher Marsha fell in love with Woolens, too, and is teaching the “Byway” scarf/wrap here at the shop, beginning in January. Look for it on our “Classes” page, where you can read a full description and sign up to attend, if you like.

Though we don’t carry Brooklyn Tweed yarns, we have lots of great substitutes in a range of gauges to suit these designs. As ever, clever yarn substitution depends on considerations of gauge and beyond; fiber content and characteristics along with personal preferences and expectations all color the decision of what yarn goes with which project. We are always happy to talk these choices through with you when you’re shopping for yarn here, so don’t hesitate to ask!

Look for Brooklyn Tweed books on our teacart by the ball-winder, among the latest knitting publications. See you there!