Show and tell: pastels.

Posted by Julia on May 28, 2015

As we head off to TNNA to see what’s new in knitting, crochet, and weaving for the Fall, we’ll close the shop from Thursday, May 28th – Monday, June 1st, reopening on Tuesday, June 2nd. I’ll be blogging a bit from the show, but til then, here’s some show-and-tell, all in soft, solid shades, projects that have recently been completed in HYS yarns.

Here’s Amy’s “Kindling” shawl, knit in preparation for her upcoming class on the subject. The yarn is Fibre Company Savannah, a lofty sport weight blend of merino, cotton, soy, and linen. Amy enlarged her shawl by continuing the main body for one additional pattern repeat before working the lace edging. The patterning shows so clearly in this pale green shade, a wise choice for such intricate knitting.

Speaking of upcoming classes, Marsha recently dropped off this adorable “Pleated Ballet Flat,” a sample for her upcoming class. She used the aran weight Plymouth Royal Llama Silk in a robin’s egg blue.

For such a small piece of knitting, these slippers are packed with techniques, from picking up and knitting to short rows to working in the round on two circular needles. Check out all our upcoming classes on our website!

Jodi brought her beautiful “Tier” scarf in for show-and-tell just before shipping it off to her sister-in-law. She knit it in Shibui Twig, a summery blend of linen, silk, and wool, and carefully blocked it to gently-draping perfection.

Last week, Anne quickly worked up a textured baby hat in the luxurious Debbie Bliss Pure Cashmere in a buttery yellow hue. The (free!) pattern is Christine Roy’s “That easy Guernsey hat,” and comes in toddler, child, and adult sizes, too.

Margie has been busy knitting “Shaelyn” shawls in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool as gifts for good friends. Here’s the first one off her needles, in a rustic shade of beige.

Thanks to the accomplished stitchers whose projects begin and grow here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We love to see what you’re making, and we’re looking forward to bringing in more inspiring materials for you to work with. I’ve got another round of many-colored show-and-tell projects coming up after our return… see you then!

Show and tell: shop samples.

Posted by Julia on May 10, 2015

Our walls are covered with knit, crocheted, and woven garments, which are here to inspire and show how our many yarns behave when they’re worked up into fabric. If you’ve been to the shop this week, you may have noticed a few new sample garments hanging on our walls. Anne, Rosi, Marsha, and I each recently finished a new shop sample, highlighting a variety of yarns and projects. Here’s some Hillsborough Yarn Shop show and tell.

Anne knit this Churchmouse “Easy Folded Poncho” with Fibre Company Acadia, a luxurious blend of merino wool, silk, and alpaca. The silk fiber takes the dye differently than wool and alpaca, and stands out from those fibers, creating a tweedy, rustic look. Those silk slubs are what make this truly simple garment a truly special one.

For a while now, we’ve had a few shades of Conjoined Creations Flat Feet here at the shop, occasionally begging the question, “What is this for?”

Flat Feet are machine-knit stretches of sock yarn, which are then hand-painted and ready to be hand-knit into socks directly from the flat.

What might that look like? Rosi’s newest sample helps answer that question.

She also brought in a recent Nordstrom catalog, which shows that socks worn with sandals are the height of fashion. Sock knitters, take note!

Marsha knit this “Bias Scarf” with two skeins of Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, a smooth, drapey worsted weight yarn.

The knitting in the “Bias Scarf” is simple, just knits, purls, increases and decreases. It’s a great beginner project, and Marsha is teaching a class on the subject for those just learning to knit. Read more about all our classes on our website!

Here’s my finished “Jiffy” vest, knit in Geilsk Cotton/Wool. It’s designed to be worn right-side-up or up-side-down, with the drop stitch lace around the collar or around the bottom edge.

Come by the shop to check out all our sample garments, which are here to be touched, tried on, and otherwise inspected. See you there!

knit.purl.

Posted by Julia on April 27, 2015

Another new magazine has found its way to the shop, with even more warm-weather knitting inspiration! Here’s a peek inside the Spring/Summer 2015 issue of knit.purl.

Knit.purl is an Interweave publication focused on simplicity and sophistication in handknitting.

It was once known as knit.wear, and though the name has changed, the content is much the same: thoughtful, wearable, modern knits, and tutorials to help make them.

I spotted an asymmetric tank knit in Fibre Company Savannah in this collection of wave-inspired garments. Savannah is a perfect yarn for Spring and Summer projects, a well-balanced blend of plant and animal fibers both light and elastic, and Quenna Lee’s “Meandering Top” is a great use for it.

Come by the shop to plan your next project and browse the latest periodicals and publications. We hope you find inspiration here!

Knitscene.

Posted by Julia on April 16, 2015

The Summer 2015 issue of Knitscene is here!

The “Serape Shawl” on the cover is knit in Shibui Staccato, a luscious fingering weight blend of merino and silk. Staccato is a new yarn at the shop this Spring, but has quickly become a favorite. Many of these patterns call for yarns you can find at HYS, in fact.

A cropped pullover in Rowan Wool Cotton, a cross-front tank in Fibre Company Meadow, a fringed cowl in Plymouth Mushishi… seeing familiar yarns in new contexts is always refreshing.

Come by the shop to pick up a copy of Knitscene and prepare for summertime knitting!

Show and tell: Fibre Company.

Posted by Julia on April 7, 2015

Here’s another round of show and tell! As I was sifting through my stash of recent show-and-tell photos, I noticed one brand of yarn popping up over and over again: Fibre Company. Let’s have a look at what you’ve been making with Fibre Company yarns.

Mary knit this bright “Autumn in Garrison” hat with a single skein of Fibre Company Canopy Worsted. The pattern is available as a free download from Kelbourne Woolens, and Mary has made several of them now, a tribute to a well-written design.

Pat knit her “Mix No. 26” scarf with two different yarns: Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK and Fibre Company Acadia. I love these neutral colors, and the textural contrast between the smooth Alpaca Silk DK and the tweedy Acadia.

Conny recently finished her “Gillam” sweater, knit in Fibre Company Knightsbridge. I’m always impressed at how nicely Knightsbridge renders texture patterns for such a soft and fuzzy yarn; this is truly a beautiful garment. Planning to knit a “Gillam” of your own? Be sure to check Ravelry for errata, and take a look at Kelbourne Woolens’ tutorial on the “tuck stitch” used in the pattern.

Anne knit this “Greenpoint” cowl with one skein of Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, though it didn’t go exactly as she planned. As Anne herself will tell you: it’s important to read the pattern carefully before you begin knitting, but, as we all do sometimes, Anne hurried ahead, eager to dig into her project. She worked the i-cord cast-on on US #7 needles, as written, but missed the instruction to change to a US #9 for the body of the cowl, resulting in a snug little cowl, indeed.

Not one to be discouraged, Anne knit a second “Greenpoint,” and kept them both to illustrate what a difference a few needle sizes can make, and as a reminder to read patterns carefully.

Amy is teaching an upcoming class on the “Greenpoint” cowl, which is a great introduction to cable knitting. Read more about it on our website, where you can sign up and prepay for classes, if you like.

Thanks to the many knitters, crocheters, weavers, and other fiber artists who use yarns from our shop in their creations; we love seeing what you make!

For crocheters.

Posted by Julia on March 17, 2015

The last couple of weeks have seen a trio of new publications for crocheters here at the shop.

The Spring 2015 issue of Interweave Crochet features a range of projects, from blankets and bags to sweaters and skirts.

Kristin Omdahl’s Crochet So Lovely is all about crocheted lace. She covers lace motifs and allover lace patterns, as well as how to achieve a lacy look by playing with gauge.

I spotted some familiar yarns in this book in the form of two tunics: one in Fibre Company Meadow, and another in Alchemy Silken Straw, pictured above.

Boho Crochet is a colorful collection of crocheted home goods and accessories. It looks like a great source of patterns and inspiration for crocheters of all levels, with guidance to help beginners make sense of unfamiliar stitches and techniques.

Come by the shop to browse the latest books and magazines, and pick one or two for your own crochet library! See you there.

Vogue Knitting.

Posted by Julia on March 13, 2015

The Spring/Summer 2015 issue of Vogue Knitting is here!

This issue features an article on sizing oversized sweaters, helping to make sense of positive ease.

Meg Swansen’s column is all about decreases, and choosing the best kind for the project at hand.

Besides the articles, there are plenty of patterns: a spread of sporty stripes, colorful tees and tunics, and plenty of those oversized sweaters I mentioned earlier. The colorblock sweater below is knit in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, a worsted weight blend of cotton and wool.

This colorwork jacket was knit in Fibre Company Savannah, a sport weight blend of plant and animal fibers that is perfect for Spring stitching.

Look for the latest issue of Vogue Knitting on the teacart, among the new books and magazines. See you at the shop!

Little Things.

Posted by Julia on February 5, 2015

Kelbourne Woolens has just released a new book of patterns for Fibre Company yarns: Little Things.

Little Things is full of small projects: accessories, home goods, and baby things. You’ll find a variety of knitting techniques represented, from soothing stockinette and stripes to lace and stranded colorwork.

You’ll also find a variety of Fibre Company yarns represented, including their lace weight Meadow, sport weight Savannah, dk weight Acadia, light worsted weight Knightsbridge, and Canopy Worsted.

Come by the shop to pick up a copy of Little Things and a few skeins of Fibre Company yarns for your next project!

Show and tell: hats and scarves.

Posted by Julia on January 29, 2015

Time for another round of show and tell! Here are some of the finished projects our knitters have shared with us recently.

Annmarie has been busy knitting colorwork tams with Jamieson Shetland Spindrift. First she made Sandy Blue’s “Autumn Tam,” while taking Nancy’s class here at the shop.

Next, she used some of her leftover bits of Shetland Spindrift along with a few new shades to knit Sandy Blue’s “Midnight Sun Tam.”

Smitten with tam-knitting, Annmarie then selected nine undyed shades in Shetland Spindrift to knit Kate Davies’ “Sheep Heid.”

Bravo, Annmarie!

Linda came in recently to share her “Reach,” a cabled colorwork hat knit in two shades of Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Rarely do we see colorwork and cables combined like this; the resulting fabric is thick and squishy, from the ribbed brim all the way to the cleverly constructed crown.

On a chilly day last week, Ruth came into the shop wearing her “Wrapped in Leaves” shawl, a pattern from Alana Dakos’ Botanical Knits.

Ruth knit hers in Fibre Company Acadia, a soft, tweedy dk weight yarn in a glorious shade of red they call “Poppy.”

I was flattered when Kathy came in working on her second “North Arrow,” a scarf I designed a couple of years ago. She knit them both in String Theory Caper Sock, the first in the colors shown in the pattern, and the second in this beautiful teal and gray combination. I love the result!

Thanks to the many knitters, crocheters, weavers, and other fiber artists who use yarns from our shop in their creations; we love seeing what you make!

New colors in Canopy Worsted.

Posted by Julia on January 25, 2015

This week’s delivery from Fibre Company held more than just new colors in Acadia; we also got three new shades of Canopy Worsted!

“Turmeric” and “Dragonfruit” really brighten up the Canopy Worsted basket, and “Lemur” is a particularly beautiful steely gray that we simply couldn’t say no to.

Canopy Worsted is a light worsted weight blend of alpaca, merino wool, and bamboo. These fibers combine to create a yarn that is smooth and round, soft and drapey, with excellent stitch definition and a slight lustre.

What to knit with Canopy Worsted? Anne is rarely seen without her “Cumberland Cowl” around her neck, and has inspired many knitters to make Canopy cowls of their own. One 200 yard skein is all it takes, and the same is true of all five accessories in the Kelbourne Woolens Weekenders booklet. Consider the cabled “Greenpoint Cowl” from that collection; Amy is offering a class on the subject this spring!

Come by the shop to pick up a skein or two of Canopy Worsted for a cowl or two! See you there.