Hello, Hand Maiden Flyss.

Posted by Julia on September 27, 2024

We’re thrilled to have another yarn from Hand Maiden! Meet Flyss.

fingering weight
plied
hand-dyed, every skein is unique
65% silk, 35% linen
437 yards/3.5 oz
hand wash, lay flat to dry

Hand Maiden yarns are dyed entirely by hand in tiny batches – just enough for a single sweater at a time – in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The folks at Hand Maiden are especially known for their silk blends, and Flyss is one, a lustrous combination of silk and linen.

Back when we ordered our first batch of Superkid Silk, Anne included a few skeins of Flyss for herself, and cast on for Isabell Kraemer’s “Tresoro” tee. She promptly fell in love with Flyss, admiring the softness, drape, and the fact that it doesn’t split as she knits! We couldn’t wait to pick out a palette for the shop.

For this batch of Flyss, we picked a mix of semisolid and variegated shades, some subdued and others vibrant.

What to make with these gorgeous skeins? Here are some ideas!

“Tresoro,” by Isabell Kraemer – raglan tee
“Tegna,” by Caitlin Hunter – stockinette tee with lace at bottom edge
“Outline Tee,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tee with drop-stitch detail
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Cheri Chevron,” by Ambah O’Brien – pair Flyss with Superkid Silk for this triangular chevron shawl
“Lightweight Hipster,” by Joji Locatelli – textured drop-stitch shawl

Look for Flyss in the fingering weight section here at HYS, and click here to check it out on our new online store!

“Stole” in Isager Merilin.

Posted by Julia on July 19, 2024

For over a decade now, Theresa Gaffey’s “Stole” has been a popular project here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Years ago, Anne knit one in Isager Alpaca 2 that still regularly catches the eye of knitters seeking a soothing, repetitive project.

Now, she’s making a narrower “Stole” with a different Isager yarn, Merilin.

Simplicity is part of the “Stole’s” appeal – it’s easy to execute, but with graceful results. The wide ribbing has a pleasing rhythm, and the wide stripes make color selection particularly fun.

It’s easy to adjust the thickness of the stripes or the size of the piece, making it narrower or wider than the pattern dictates. Rather than work each stripe to a specific measurement or number of rows, Anne is knitting until each ball of yarn runs out, then beginning the next color, using only 5 shades, rather than the suggested 9.

Here are some more Merilin quintets to consider!

Look for Isager Merilin and Alpaca 2 in our fingering weight section here at HYS, along with many other “Stole”-worthy yarns!

Hello, Sandnes Garn Tynn Line.

Posted by Julia on April 16, 2024

We’re pleased to welcome another yarn from Sandnes Garn in Norway: meet Tynn Line!

Sandnes Garn Tynn Line:

light fingering weight
3-ply
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen
240 yards/50g
$7.50 each

Like Sandnes Garn Line, Tynn Line is composed of a unique blend of plant fibers, making it perfect for a variety of knit and crochet projects. It’s cool and breathable for warm weather garments, comfortable and absorbent for homeware items – all in all, a lovely addition to our fingering weight section.

What to make with Tynn Line? Here are some pattern ideas!

Garments:

“Skyline Tee,” by Tori You – saddle shoulder tee with ribbed sleeves
“Moon Set Tee,” by Ozetta – drop shoulder v-neck tee
“Cumulus Tee,” by PetiteKnit – top-down, rounded v-neck, stockinette tee
“Anker Tee,” by PetiteKnit – top-down, ribbed yoke tee
“Shore Tee,” by Anne Ventzel – top-down eyelet tee, knit holding lace and fingering weight yarns together
“Outline Tee,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tee with drop-stitch detail
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Camisole No. 4,” by My Favorite Things – broken rib tank

Homewares:

“Linen Stitch Hand Towels,” by Purl Soho – 2 color hand towels
“French Market Bag,” by PetiteKnit – knotted openwork bag, knit holding 3 strands together
“Breeze Bag,” by PetiteKnit – mesh lace bag, knit holding two fingering weight yarns together
“Florence Bag,” by PetiteKnit – mesh lace purse, knit holding 3 strands together
“Four Points Baby Blanket,” by Purl Soho – crocheted baby blanket with triangular color blocks
“Knit Four Points Baby Blanket,” by Purl Soho – baby blanket with triangular color blocks

Look for Sandnes Garn Tynn Line in the fingering weight section here at HYS, and check out other Sandnes Garn yarns while you’re here – find Tynn Silk Mohair in the lace weight section, Sunday in the fingering weight section, Double Sunday in the DK weight section, and Line in the worsted weight section.

Back in stock: Isager Merilin.

Posted by Julia on April 2, 2024

We’re pleased to have Isager Merilin back in stock, with more colors than ever!

Isager Merilin:

fingering weight
80% wool, 20% linen
228 yards/50 g
$11 each

We’re always on the lookout for plant and animal fiber blends, since they offer the best of both worlds: elasticity and drape, structure and coolness.

Merilin blends merino wool and linen, fibers that take the dye differently, giving the yarn a heathered quality more pronounced in the darker shades.

Years ago, I knit this little swatch showing Merilin on a range of needle sizes, but I have my eye on a bigger project as soon as time allows – a narrower version of Theresa Gaffey’s now-classic “stole.” I can’t wait to pick out colors!

Til then, what else to make with Merilin? Here are a few ideas…

“Moon Set Tee,” by Ozetta – drop shoulder v-neck tee
“Dingley Dell,” by Isabell Kraemer – two color striped v-neck tee
“Skyline Tee,” by Tori Yu – saddle shoulder tee with ribbed sleeves
“Outline Tee,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tee with drop-stitch detail
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Camisole No. 5,” by My Favorite Things – ribbed tank
“Simple Stripes,” by SuviKnits – five color striped pullover
“Ribbed Jumper,” by Anne Ventzel – broken rib raglan pullover, holding Merilin + Isager Silk Mohair together throughout

Look for Merilin in the fingering weight section here at the shop, where you may well find your next project. See you there!

Back in stock: Sandnes Garn Line.

Posted by Julia on March 22, 2024

Sandnes Garn Line has become a staple since we introduced it last March – we’re delighted to have a fresh supply and loads of new colors, just in time for spring!

Sandnes Garn Line:

light worsted weight
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen
120 yards/50g
$7.50 each

Line is a light worsted weight plant fiber blend that knits up at 5 stitches per inch on a US 6 needle.

It’s soft, cool, machine washable, and drapes beautifully, qualities that make it ideal for warm weather garments.

Above is my “Anker’s Summer Shirt,” a top-down, seamless PetiteKnit pattern, suitable for a knitter’s first sweater. Here are more pattern ideas for Line:

“Peacock Tee Solo,” by Lene Holme Samsøe – feather and fan lace yoke tee
“Sommer Ella Solo,” by Lene Holme Samsøe – leaf/lace yoke tee
“Sommerknus,” by Elsebeth Judith – textured tee
“Purl Strings,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – tee with textured stripes
“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed yoke tee
“June Top,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette tank
“Cold Shoulder Crop,” by Park Williams – mock turtleneck tee with mesh cap sleeves
“Tolsta Tee,” by Rebecca Clowe – top down raglan tee with options for customization

Look for my “Anker’s Summer Shirt” on display at the shop, and find Sandnes Garn Line in our worsted weight section!

Back in stock: Isager Bomulin.

Posted by Julia on June 27, 2023

Warm weather calls for plant fiber and lightweight yarns, so we’ve stocked up on Isager Bomulin, a light fingering weight blend of cotton and linen.

Isager Bomulin:

light fingering weight
65% cotton, 35% linen
230 yards/50g
$11 each

Plant fibers like these have little elasticity and a lot of drape, making them perfect for spring shawls and scarves, or loose-fitting warm-weather garments.

I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve just knit a “Ranunculus” as a sample for the shop, Midori Hirose’s always-popular textured yoke pullover. I picked a salmon pink shade of Isager Bomulin, holding it together with slightly lighter pink Isager Highland Wool for a bit of added softness, structure, and variation in color.

I’m really pleased with how these close-but-not-matching shades blend together in this garment, looking solid from a distance but gently marled upon closer inspection. Here are some more color combinations in Bomulin and Highland Wool that should have a similar effect!

Isager Merilin, a merino/linen blend, would also play well with Bomulin; here are four more low contrast combinations to consider for a “Ranunculus” of your own, or perhaps a PetiteKnit “Breeze Bag,” which calls for a similar combination of yarns.

Here’s Margaretta’s recently completed “Breeze Bag,” knit with Bomulin and Merilin held together throughout – perfect for farmer’s market flowers!

What else to knit with Bomulin? Here are a few ideas!

“Outline Tee,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tee with drop-stitch detail
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Umbel Summer Top,” by Irene Lin – color block a-line tank
“Soleie Shell,” by Skeindeer Knits – lace edged tank
“Cumulus Top,” by PetiteKnit – camisole
“Shore Tee,” by Anne Ventzel – eyelet striped tee; held together with Isager Alpaca 1
“Tide Loop Tee,” by Other Loops – textured tee; held together with Isager Alpaca 1

Look for Isager Bomulin, Highland Wool, and Merilin in the fingering weight section here at HYS!

Hello, Sandnes Garn Line!

Posted by Julia on March 21, 2023

Spring weather is here, which means it’s time for plant fibers – meet the newest addition here at our shop, Sandnes Garn Line!

Sandnes Garn Line:

light worsted weight
53% cotton, 33% viscose, 14% linen
120 yards/50g
$7.50 each

Line is a light worsted weight plant fiber blend that knits up at 5 stitches per inch on a US 6 needle.

It’s soft, cool, machine washable, and drapes beautifully, qualities that make it ideal for warm weather garments.

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit

I’ve cast on for a shop sample in Line, PetiteKnit’s “Anker’s Summer Shirt.” Like every PetiteKnit pattern I’ve tried so far, it’s approachable, practical, and appealing, both to knit and to wear.

Here are some other patterns that would be lovely in Line:

“Sommerknus,” by Elsebeth Judith – textured tee
“Purl Strings,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – tee with textured stripes
“Fine Sand,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – open front stockinette cardigan
“June Top,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette tank
“Cold Shoulder Crop,” by Park Williams – mock turtleneck tee with mesh cap sleeves
“Sommer Ella Solo,” by Lene Holme Samsøe – leaf/lace yoke tee

Look for Sandnes Garn Line in our worsted weight section!

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Mojave.

Posted by Julia on March 17, 2023

A fresh batch of Kelbourne Woolens Mojave is here, perfectly timed for warm-weather stitching!

Kelbourne Woolens Mojave:

sport weight
60% cotton, 40% linen
185 yards/50g
$11 each

Mojave is cool to the touch, smooth and soft but also strong, with the beautiful drape we expect from plant fiber yarns. The color palette has something for everyone, from subtle neutrals to blazing brights.

What to make with Mojave? Here are some ideas for knitters and crocheters!

Knit with Mojave:

“Rift,” by Jaq Cieslak – oversized boxy tee
“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – tee with ribbed yoke
“Sea Breeze Sweater Vest,” by Park Williams – mesh vest
“Outline Tank,” by Jessie Maed – cropped tank with drop-stitch detail
“Look At My Holes,” by James Watts – mesh tee
“Desert Queen,” by Meghan Kelly – scoop-neck tank with eyelet detail
“Trigono Tee,” by Kate Gagnon Osborn – textured tee

Crochet with Mojave:

“Canyon,” by Amy Gunderson – lace-edged tank top
“Water Clover,” by Isa Catepillán – lace tee
“Sub Rosa,” by Lana Jois – cap sleeve tee with square motifs
“Palms,” by Padma R – Tunisian crochet wrap
“Dusty Plum Dress,” by Moon Eldridge – striped dress
“Fae Tank,” by Abigail Haze – child’s tank top

I knit this Churchmouse “Simple Tee” with Kelbourne Woolens Mojave, and it hangs here at our shop to give a sense of how the yarn knits up – look for it next time you’re here, and check out Mojave in our sport weight section!

New colors in Fibre Co. Meadow!

Posted by Julia on April 15, 2022

This week brought us fresh new colors in Fibre Co. Meadow!

Fibre Co. Meadow:

lace weight
hand-dyed
40% merino, 25% llama, 20% silk, 15% linen
545 yards/100g
$29.50 each

Though you’ll find Meadow in our lace weight section, it also works well in light fingering weight patterns, knitting up comfortably on a wide range of needle sizes.

Meadow’s unique and tweedy blend of plant and animal fibers give it loft and drape, perfect attributes for summery shawls. Here are some pattern ideas!

“Twinleaf,” by Grace Anna Farrow – garter stitch, stripes, short rows
“Allium,” by Grace Anna Farrow – triangular, mesh lace, mosaic
“Summer Meadow,” by Janina Kallio – triangular, garter stitch, eyelets
“Hydrangea Shawl,” by Courtney Kelley – triangular, faroese, lace
“Rewilding Shawl,” by Helen Stewart – triangular, asymmetric, eyelets, tassels
“Planting Seeds,” by Helen Stewart – crescent shaped, three-color, mosaic

Look for Meadow in our lace weight section, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Merilin + Dingley Dell.

Posted by Julia on July 24, 2021

In the heat of the summer, we see more and more knitters looking for lightweight tops and tees to knit, and Isabell Kraemer’s name often comes to mind. She’s a prolific sweater designer, and many of her patterns offer a short-sleeved option – think “Yume,” “Laia,” and “Ooh La La.”

“Dingley Dell” is her latest, a color block tee made in a wool/linen blend, and I think Isager Merilin would be perfect for it.

Isager Merilin:

light fingering weight
80% wool, 20% linen
228 yards/50 g
$11 each

Depending on what size you make, you’ll need between 2-4 balls each in two colors – check the sizing on Ravelry, and know that we’re happy to help you calculate yardage! Here are a few more color ideas…

Make an in-store shopping appointment to select your own color combination, or pick from the options above and order online for local pickup or shipping!