Tag Archives: norah gaughan

Show and tell: Swans Island All American Worsted.

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We always love to see what you’re making with HYS yarns, and I love to take photos of your beautiful finished pieces to share here on the blog. I have a nice collection to share at the moment, enough for two blog posts. Today’s group all happen to be made in the same wonderful yarn: Swans Island All American Worsted, an aran weight blend of US-sourced Rambouillet wool and alpaca.

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Emily came into the shop last week wearing her newly-completed “Halyard,” by Norah Gaughan, which she knit using 6 skeins of All American Worsted in a deep, saturated cobalt shade called “Newport.” She lengthened the sleeves from 3/4 length to full length for a cozy winter pullover.

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I knit a sweater in All American Worsted recently, too. Here I am in my “Docklight,” by Julie Hoover. If you’ve been to the shop in the past month or two, you’ve probably seen me in it, as it’s become a favorite winter sweater. I’m thrilled with how it came out, and impressed with how the yarn is wearing. I used 6 skeins in “Frost,” a light blue-gray.

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Nancy knit this “Hourglass Throw” by Anne Hanson using 8 skeins of All American Worsted in a warm brown shade called “Driftwood.” The light color really shows off Hanson’s intricate cable and lace design. This was Nancy’s first time knitting cables, and they are expertly rendered. Well done!photo 2 (2)

 

 

 

 

 

Anyone else out there knitting with All American Worsted? Tell us what you’re making with it , and come in to show us, too!

Thanks to everyone who starts their projects at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, and to those who share their progress with us. Come by the shop to pick up some Swans Island All American Worsted for your next project, and keep your eye on the blog for more show and tell soon!

 

 

Norah Gaughan, Vol. 16.

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The latest collection of patterns from designer Norah Gaughan is now here! Take a peek inside volume 16.

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For modern shapes and styles and unique garment-construction techniques, we turn to Norah Gaughan. This latest group is knit all in beachy blues, with warm-weather yarns like Maya and Modern Cotton.

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Each garment is decorated with a lace motif, often set against simple stockinette.

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Come by the shop to see Norah Gaughan’s latest, and flip through her older booklets, too. See you there!

Norah Gaughan, Vol. 15.

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A new Norah Gaughan collection is something to look forward to, and her latest has just arrived at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Look no further than the teacart for Vol. 15!

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Using a variety of Berroco yarns and a muted color palette, Gaughan’s designs draw inspiration from maritime motifs this time around. Twisted cables suggest knotted ropes, and muted colors suggest foggy shores.

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Come by the shop to see Norah Gaughan’s latest, or peruse her back catalog–all are worth a look, full of interesting shapes and intriguing textures. See you at the shop, hopefully before our Annual Inventory Sale ends on July 31st–all our books, yarns, needles, hooks, bags, notions, and all else are 15% off this month!

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Just a reminder–all sales are final on sale items; there can be no exchanges, no returns, nor will we special order. Discount applies only to in-store purchases. Thanks! 

Norah Gaughan, vol. 14.

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The latest collection of patterns from designer Norah Gaughan is now here! Take a peek inside volume 14.

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For modern shapes and styles and unique garment-construction techniques, we turn to Norah Gaughan. This latest group is knit all in pale neutrals, many of them decorated in angular eyelet patterns. The shawl on the cover was knit in Berroco Maya, a lightweight blend of cotton and alpaca.

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Gaughan designs for Berroco, and while we may not carry every yarn she suggests, we have many Berroco yarns and even more substitutes. Come by the shop to see the latest Norah Gaughan, and check out volumes 1-13 if you haven’t yet!

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Berroco Pure Pima.

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Allow me to introduce you to one of the Berroco yarns we have on sale this week: Pure Pima.

Pure Pima is a dk weight cotton which comes in bright, solid colors, with 115 yards on each 50 gram ball. I’ve written here before about a lovely Norah Gaughan sweater we have at the shop made in Pure Pima, which beautifully illustrates its use in garments. Poking around on Ravelry, I found a cute free pattern from Knitty which calls for Pure Pima–a retro-styled sleeveless top called “Petrie.” What else is a dk weight cotton good for? Baby sweaters, blankets and hats, of course, as well as lightweight shawls and scarves, market bags… and dishcloths.

Yes, I took home a few fistfulls of Pure Pima over the weekend and started knitting a kitchen towel, using the classic Ballband Dishcloth pattern with a few extra pattern repeats. It’s a classic for a reason, as it turns out: free, easy to memorize, and pleasant to look at. I never thought I’d knit something that I planned to wipe my hands, dishes, and counters with, but there you have it: I’m knitting a kitchen towel and loving it.

Come by the shop to pick up some Pure Pima for your own burgeoning collection of handknit kitchenwares, or for any other project wanting dk weight cotton. Be sure to check out the other discounted Berroco yarns this week, too!

 

Just a reminder–all sales are final on sale items; there can be no exchanges, no returns, nor will we special order. Thanks!

Norah Gaughan Vol. 10.

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Every season, Berroco releases another intriguing collection of knitting patterns by designer Norah Gaughan. Her newest has just found its way to the shop and settled in on the teacart with the spring and summer magazines.

One can always expect to find interesting shapes in Gaughan’s designs, striking shapes that beg the question, wait–how do you do that exactly? That question is so often the seed of one’s next project, the curiosity that entices the maker.

Take a look at Norah Gaughan Vol. 10 next time you’re in the shop, and for that matter, at volumes 1 through 9. Here’s hoping you find some inspiration there.

Norah Gaughan.

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Norah Gaughan is a knitwear designer with a distinctive style and a taste for unusual shapes, often inspired by those found in nature. We have two sample sweaters hanging in the shop which illustrate this perfectly: Flower Child, which I’ve written about before, is from Volume 4 of Gaughan’s series for Berroco, and Eastlake, which is from Volume 3. Look for them next time you’re in the shop, as seeing them in person is a great improvement over seeing images on the computer. All eight of the Norah Gaughan collections are stunning and inspiring, especially for those seeking modern sweaters and interesting knits.

 But wait–make that nine.

This new collection, Norah Gaughan: Volume 9, is my favorite so far. It’s filled with cables and makes good use of many wonderful Berroco yarns that we stock, from the sport weight Ultra Alpaca Light to the super chunky Peruvia Quick. Here’s a peek inside at a few of the designs.


Find it on the teacart, along with the newest Fall magazines!

Flower Child.

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Sometimes knitters come into the shop with something in mind. They have a pattern, they need some yarn. They have some yarn, they need a pattern. They have a problem, they need some help. They have an idea, they need some encouragement. Other times, though, knitters and crocheters make their way to the shop with nothing particular in mind, looking to be inspired. That’s why we have samples lining every square inch of wall that isn’t already occupied by yarn, books, needles, or hooks. “Flower Child,” designed by Norah Gaughan, is one of our samples that has caught the eye of many a knitter in search of inspiration. 
Just right for spring and summer, this top is knit in Berroco Pure Pima. Pure Pima is a dk weight cotton yarn that comes in many hues, from the subdued to the crayon-bright.
It’s the unusual construction that draws knitters to this sweater, a common trait among Norah Gaughan’s designs. This one comes from her Berroco collection, Volume 4, which we just got back in stock.
Because the pattern has been out for some time, many Ravelers have already completed and posted pictures of this sweater, likely offering many helpful hints. Long sleeves have been a common modification to the pattern. Take a look at what’s there, and come by the shop when you’re seeking inspiration!