Tag Archives: merino

Hello, Lady Dye Yarns!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

Dream in Color Sock-It Club: October.

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The Dream in Color Sock-It Club is back! This time around, each limited edition skein of Smooshy comes with a 100-yard mini skein for coordinating heels and toes. $36 each, order while supplies last!

October’s skein sets are wild and bright, a mix of neons and jewel tones with streaks of speckled white.

Smooshy is a tightly-plied fingering weight yarn that’s ideal for sock knitting, composed of 85% superwash merino and 15% nylon for strength. There are so many wonderful sock patterns out there, but sometimes something simple is best, especially with such a highly variegated colorway – Madeline Gannon’s “Afterthought Heel Socks” are just the ticket.

We still have a handful of November 2019 Sock-It Club skein sets on hand, at $36 each – order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Malabrigo Sock.

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We recently got a fresh supply of Malabrigo Sock to fill out our selection!

Malabrigo Sock:

  • light fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated and semi-solid colorways
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 440 yards/100g
  • $19.50 each

This soft, machine-washable merino wool is dyed in the vivid multicolor and semisolid colorways we’ve come to expect from Malabrigo. Sock is perfect not only for socks, but also shawls, scarves, lightweight sweaters, and baby things.

Colors this vibrant beg to be combined, whether it’s a semi-solid shade like Water Green that seems designed to complement the variegated Kris, or two classic Malabrigo blues that happen to go beautifully with our own anniversary colorway, Rite.

Here are some knit patterns for two shades of fingering weight yarn, put together in a variety of ways – held together for a marled effect, stranded, striped, and more!

  • “Zorzal,” by Lisa Hannes – crescent-shaped, color-block shawl, with short rows and stripes
  • “Pianta Bandana Cowl,” by Lavanya Patricella – brioche and garter stitch
  • “Rhubarb Cowl,” by String Revolution – marled, yarn held doubled throughout, with slip stitch columns
  • “Tidebreak tee,” by Tif Neilan – top-down, short-sleeved pullover, with slipped stitches and a bit of stranded colorwork at the yoke; worked with yarn held doubled throughout
  • “Confetti,” by Veera Välimäki – top-down, long-sleeved pullover, striped

Crocheters, I didn’t forget you! Check out these patterns for Malabrigo Sock:

Order online for local pickup or USPS Priority Mail shipping. Though we’re closed to walk-in visits, we’re happy to send more photos and answer any questions you may have as you plan your project!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Lemon Orchard.

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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 Lemon Orchard, another playful variegated colorway. These special skeins are predominantly green, streaked and spotted with pops of yellow, brown, and blue.

What to make with these pretty skeins? For a small project, try Dawn Henderson’s “Bonfire Socks” and “Block Party Socks,” or Laura Chau’s “Serviceberry Mitts.” Koigu KPPPM would also make a sweet baby sweater – if that piques your interest, check out Tin Can Knits’ “Flax Light,” Churchmouse’s “Baby Wrap Sweater,” and Joji Locatelli’s “Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan.”

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!

Cody + Arroyo + The Shift.

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We’re so pleased to have a new bundle of Malabrigo Arroyo in stock!

Malabrigo Arroyo:

  • sport weight
  • hand-dyed
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 335 yards/100g
  • $18.40 each

Unpacking and arranging the Arroyo had me daydreaming about Andrea Mowry’s “The Shift” again, thinking about what other sport weight yarns would play well with Arroyo in this slip stitch cowl. That brought me to Mountain Meadow Wool Cody, a springy and soft 2-ply merino.

Mountain Meadow Wool Cody:

  • sport weight
  • hand-dyed
  • 100% nonsuperwash merino wool
  • 200 yards/50 g
  • $9.80 each

Mountain Meadow Wool is a small yarn company out of Wyoming that is dedicated to producing locally sourced and naturally processed yarns. Run by co-owners Karen Hostetler and Valerie Spanos, Mountain Meadow Wool seeks to support the ranching industry, thereby preserving the open spaces of the American West. Thinking of those open spaces and others, I’ve named each of these “The Shift” colorways for mountain ranges around the country.

Order online if one of these colorways sparks your curiosity, or if you’d like to see a special combination just for you! We’re happy to help you plan your next project, and can ship your order or hold it here at the shop for local pickup. Thanks for all your support through our temporary closure to walk-ins!