Show and tell: stripes of all kinds.

Posted by Julia on March 29, 2024

Time for another round of show and tell! We love seeing what folks are making with yarn from the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – here are a bunch of projects we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person, featuring stripes of all kinds.

Above is Cindy’s “Bat Shawl,” a pattern from Lotta H Löthgren’s Observations. She used Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere and Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, a perfect match that shows off the slip stitch texture.

Here’s Michele’s “Stripes of Joy” pullover, knit with Malabrigo Rios leftover from various other projects. Pattern by Tif Neilan.

Above is April’s “Pressed Flowers Pullover,” knit with BC Garn Loch Lomond and self-striping Noro Silk Garden Light. Pattern by Amy Christoffers.

Margaretta made this “Shadow Stripe Pullover” with a lovely mix of high and low contrast stripes, a mix of Brooklyn Tweed Tones Light and Loft. Pattern by Jared Flood.

I knit this newborn-sized sweater as a sample for the shop when Kelbourne Woolens Skipper came out last year. The pattern is “French Macaroon,” by Noble Knits, a free download from Ravelry.

Robin saw my “French Macaroon” hanging here at the shop and was inspired to make her own – she modified it into a cardigan and sewed matching baby pants!

Thanks to Cindy, Michele, April, Margaretta, and Robin for sharing their work with us! We love to see what you make with our yarns, and can’t wait to see what comes off your needles next.

Shelter + Color Story.

Posted by Julia on August 26, 2022

Brooklyn Tweed’s vibrant new shades in Shelter have us itching for colorwork, and Tif Neilan’s new “Color Story” sweater looks like the perfect project!

“Color Story,” by Tif Neilan, photo © Tif Neilan

This five color, top down, short sleeved pullover encourages playful, intuitive color combinations. Neilan has selected a light neutral background color and four shades dark enough to contrast against it – here’s a similar palette in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.

I had fun putting together a few more “Color Story” colorways, sticking with a light background color, but varying the value of the contrast colors a bit.

Between the solid and heathered shades, Shelter now comes in over 45 colors, so there’s lots to choose from – look for Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the worsted weight section here at our shop, along with Tones, Ranch 02, and much more! We’re open from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required for entry.

New colors in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter!

Posted by Julia on July 22, 2022

We’re excited to have 12 new shades of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter here at our shop!

Brooklyn Tweed Shelter:

worsted weight
woolen-spun, 2 ply
100% Targhee-Columbia wool
140 yards/50 g
$16.50 each

Shelter is Brooklyn Tweed’s first yarn, and one of the most well-loved – a worsted weight, woolen-spun Targhee-Columbia wool, sourced, dyed, and spun entirely in the USA. So far, all the colors have been created by dyeing the fiber in 16 vibrant solids, then blending them, two or three at a time, into intricate heathers. This new batch of colors is skein-dyed, inspired by nature and designed to enhance and play well with the existing Shelter palette.

What to knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter? Here are some of our favorite patterns for this versatile yarn!

Garments:

“The Weekender,” by Andrea Mowry – reverse stockinette pullover with slip stitch detail
“Truss,” by Melissa Wehrle – stockinette cardigan with rib and eyelet detail
“Docklight,” by Julie Hoover – fisherman’s rib and lace pullover
“Color Story,” by Tif Neilan – short-sleeved colorwork yoke pullover
“Otte,” by Jared Flood – colorwork yoke pullover; click here for our color combinations!
“Slade,” by Michele Wang – stockinette cardigan with ribbed shawl collar
“Nuuk,” by Jonna Hietala – short-sleeved stockinette pullover
“Galloway,” by Jared Flood – colorwork cardigan

Accessories:

“Banff,” by Tan Can Knits – colorwork hat with tree motif, newborn-adult sizes
“Rockfall Hat,” by Tin Can Knits – colorwork hat with geometric motif, baby-adult sizes
“Guernsey Wrap,” by Jared Flood – rectangular texture-patterned shawl
“Bradway Shawl,” by Shannon Cook – 3 color shawl
“Ramblewood,” by Tamy Gore – 5 color shawl; click here for our color combinations!
“First Colorwork Cowl,” by Jared Flood – 3-5 color cowl; click here for our color combinations!
“Twin Lakes Cowl,” by Tressa Weidenaar – colorwork cowl; click here for our color combinations!
“Maize,” by Tin Can Knits – fingerless mitts/mittens in toddler-adult sizes

While BT works to get their classic heathered colorways back into production after a mill closure, we’re happy to have these new colors to brighten our Shelter selection! Look for Shelter in the worsted weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays.

Worsted: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée.

Posted by Julia on December 14, 2021

The latest book from Laine Publishing is here – let’s look at Worsted: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée!

Aimée Gille is the dyer behind La Bien Aimée, and for this collection, she reached out to designers with a wide range of aesthetics, whose work differs from one another and speaks to all kinds of knitters.

Many of these designers are well known, and the others are worth getting to know – Nadia Crétin-Léchenne, Stephen West, Sylvia Watts-Cherry, Andrea Mowry, Tif Neilan, Saysha Greene, Norah Gaughan, Maxim Cyr, Nancy Marchant and Thien-Kieu Lam. She asked them to create sweaters and accessories in her new Corrie Worsted yarn, and what they’ve come up with is inspiring and varied, indeed!

While we don’t carry La Bien Aimée Corrie Worsted, we have so many lovely substitutes in our worsted weight section: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and Tones, Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, Malabrigo Rios, Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, Plymouth Galway, Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted, and more.

Worsted: a Knitwear Collection Curated by Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée is $40, and available here at the shop – we’re still taking online orders for local pickup or shipping, as well.

Silk Mohair + fingering weight.

Posted by Julia on November 17, 2021

We’ve seen so many patterns lately that call for a lace weight mohair paired with fingering weight wool – sometimes solid, sometimes variegated, always creating an enticing fuzzy fabric. Isager Silk Mohair is just the yarn for this, and we’ve got loads of options in the fingering weight section here at our shop – you’ll find a few ideas below, and keep scrolling for patterns!

Isager Silk Mohair: lace weight, 70% kid mohair, 30% silk, 233 yards/25 g; $16 each
Brooklyn Tweed Loft: fingering weight, 100% Targhee-Columbia wool, 275 yards/50 g; $18.75 each

Isager Highland Wool: light fingering weight, 100% Highland wool, 301 yards/50 g; $10 each

Kelbourne Woolens Camper: fingering weight, 100% wool, 200 yards/50 g; $9.50 each

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock: fingering weight, hand-dyed, 100% machine-washable merino, 400 yards/100g; $34 each

Koigu KPPPM: fingering weight, hand dyed, 100% superwash merino wool, 175 yards/50 g; $15.50 each

What to knit with these yarn pairings? Here are some ideas:

Sweaters:

“Love Note,” by Tin Can Knits – lace yoke pullover
“Diaphanous Raglan,” by Jessie Maed – v-neck pullover with sheer sleeves
“Elton,” by Joji Locatelli – striped cardigan
“Girlfriends Cardigan Anke,” by Ankestrick – garter stitch cardigan
“Hali,” by Leeni Hoi – twisted stitch pullover
“Pink Fizz,” by Andrea Mowry – cabled pullover
“Balloon Sweater,” by Petiteknit – pullover with balloon sleeves

Accessories:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat
“Cloves Entwined Toque,” by Tif Neilan – slouchy hat with lateral braids
“Leni,” by Isabell Kraemer – textured hat
“Water Born,” by Jacqueline Cieslak – brioche headband
“Indira Cowl,” by Vanessa Smith – cabled cowl
“Venus,” by Marion Em Knits – garter and slip stitch shawl, from Laine’s 52 Weeks of Shawls

See you at the shop!

Show and tell!

Posted by Julia on October 24, 2021

Back with more show and tell! Here’s another batch of completed projects made with yarns from our shop. If you follow us on Instagram, some of these may look familiar – let’s take a closer look at these beautiful knits.

Pam has been busy making “Rainy Day Hats” with Pascuali Balayage – we love her modification to include more contrast colors, and more stripes! Pattern by Melanie Berg.

Here’s Hazel’s “Cloves Entwined Toque,” knit with Koigu KPPPM and Isager Alpaca 1 held together. Pattern by Tif Neilan.

Here’s another Koigu project – Linda in her “Solstice Sunset” shawl, knit with KPPPM and Shibui Silk Cloud held together throughout. Pattern by Andrea Hungerford.

Here’s Elizabeth with her “Slipstravaganza,” an impressive shawl knit with Malabrigo Sock during last year’s WestKnits MKAL. Pattern by Stephen West.

Michele came in wearing her lovely “Purl Strings,” a pullover she knit with Brooklyn Tweed Dapple. Pattern by Heidi Kirrmeier.

Thanks to Pam, Hazel, Linda, Elizabeth, and Michele for sharing their work with us! We love to see what you make with our yarns, and can’t wait to see what comes off your needles next.

Koigu Collector’s Club: Space Exploration.

Posted by Julia on September 8, 2021

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

This month’s limited edition color is Space Exploration, a highly variegated mix of black, white, and gray. Anne, who loves neutrals, was drawn to it, and pointed out how nicely it pairs with Malabrigo Mechita in Gris.

Consider holding Mechita and KPPPM together in Tif Neilan’s “Moon Link Cowl,” a bandana shaped accessory that slips over the head like a cozy cowl.

Another pattern idea – Noma Ndlovu’s “Nobomi Shawl,” an asymmetric triangle worked from the widest end to the narrowest point, decreasing all the way. I like Kelbourne Woolens Perennial as a contrast color, though there are many other options in our fingering weight section here at the shop – come by to browse between 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays!

What to knit with BT Tones?

Posted by Julia on August 24, 2021

Brooklyn Tweed’s new yarn, Tones, is already turning heads here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. What to knit with this colorful stuff? Here are some ideas!

There are two new patterns especially for this yarn, Jared Flood’s “First Raglan Sweater” and Lis Smith’s “Sparkwood” cabled hat.

Because Tones can easily substitute for Shelter, there’s a world of patterns to choose from; here are some ideas from both the Brooklyn Tweed pattern archive and independent designers!

Garments:

“Grettir,” by Jared Flood – colorwork yoke pullover
“Retrograde,” by Tamy Gore – colorwork yoke pullover
“Sundottir,” by Dianna Walla – colorwork yoke pullover
“Bergitte,” by Kristin Drysdale – colorwork yoke pullover
“Tea with Jam and Bread,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – color block pullover with pockets
“Nuuk,” by Jonna Hietala – short sleeved pullover
“The Weekender,” by Andrea Mowry – reverse stockinette pullover with slip stitch detail
“Truss,” by Melissa Wehrle – v-neck cardigan with ribbed detail
“Ondawa,” by Michele Wang – cabled boat neck pullover
“Docklight,” by Julie Hoover – lace and fisherman’s rib pullover

BT Tones in Melba Overtone, a “Docklight” pullover-to-be.

Accessories:

“Turn a Square,” by Jared Flood – striped beanie
“Bough,” by Leila Raven – cabled hat
“Oleander Reversible Hat,” by Laura Chau – cabled hat
“Our Toques,” by Tif Neilan – colorwork hats
“Shik’is Hat,” by Jennifer Berg – colorwork hat
“Best Beret,” by James N Watts – classic stockinette beret
“Hatdana,” by Denise Bayron – bandana shaped hat/cowl
“Bradway,” by Shannon Cook – textured color block shawl
“Wheaten,” by Anne Hanson – lace and cable scarf, wrap, or throw
“Twin Lakes Cowl,” by Tressa Weidenaar – colorwork cowl
“Turbulence Cowl,” by Laura Chau – 2-color short row cowl

BT Tones in Granita Overtone and Granita Undertone, soon to become a “Turbulence Cowl.”

Look for Brooklyn Tweed Tones in the worsted weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays, for drop-in shopping, no appointment required!

HYS Hat Club: Quarter 4!

Posted by Julia on June 1, 2021

The HYS Hat Club continues, and we’re opening it up for Quarter 4 signups!

HYS Hat Club is a subscription of thoughtfully curated hat projects for knitters, pairing yarns and patterns to keep you entertained all year long. Each quarter includes three hat projects (one per month), and a few other surprises along the way. This will be our last quarter, and it’s been so much fun to plan something special for these final 3 months!

HYS Hat Club, March 2021 – “Spruce & Lichen,” by Tif Neilan, 1 skein of Koigu KPPPM, 1 ball of Ewe Ewe Fluffy Fingering, 1 skein of Shibui Tweed Silk Cloud and one faux-leather sew-on tag (not pictured).

Patterns: Expect patterns from a variety of designers, using all kinds of techniques, anything from cables and texture patterns, stranded colorwork and mosaic knitting, marling, and beyond.

Fiber: We love the elasticity of wool for hat-making, so there’ll be plenty of it, and all kinds!

Gauge: The yarns will vary in gauge, from fingering weight up to bulky.

Color: Choose from four color palettes – warm, cool, neutral, and surprise; select a second palette if you’d like a bit more variety throughout the quarter.

Price, terms, and timing:

Cost for HYS Hat Club Quarter 4, local pickup option: $150

Cost for HYS Hat Club Quarter 4, USPS shipping option: $174

Prepay for Quarter 4 by Saturday, June 19th, and expect an email early in July letting you know that your first HYS Hat Club order is ready for pickup or shipping. All HYS Hat Club sales are final, no returns or exchanges; discounts do not apply.

Quarter 4: July, August, September

HYS Hat Club, April 2021 – “Hatdana,” by Denise Bayron, 1 skein of Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted, samples of Fibre Co. Lore and Gloves in a Bottle lotion, and HYS needle gauge.

Sign up for Quarter 4 using our online order form, answering the following questions:

Choose one or two color palettes: warm, cool, neutral, or surprise
Ravelry username:

HYS Hat Club, May 2021 – “Patikitiki Hat,” by Francoise Danoy, 2 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Dapple, sample of BT Ranch 03, and Baby Baggu project bag.

We can’t wait to share what we’ve been cooking up for the last hurrah of our HYS Hat Club, but each hat project is a surprise… Sign up for Quarter 4 by June 19th to join the club!

52 Weeks of Shawls.

Posted by Julia on May 2, 2021

We are delighted to announce that Laine’s new book is here, 52 Weeks of Shawls!

This 260+ page tome includes 52 patterns for knitting shawls, scarves, and cowls, an astonishingly large collection, and a lovely one. You can see them all on Ravelry, a virtual way to browse the book; the list of designers is impressive, including Tif Neilan, Jeanette Sloan, Paula Pereira, Fiona Alice, Stephen West, and Anna Johanna.

Like all of Laine’s publications, from their popular magazine to recent collections by Mary Jane Mucklestone and Anna Johanna, 52 Weeks of Shawls is heavy with inspiring patterns using a variety of techniques, but it is also a beautiful object unto itself.

I spotted some familiar yarns among these tantalizing pages – shawls in Tukuwool Fingering, BC Garn Bio Balance, Brooklyn Tweed Loft, and Isager Tvinni. We have all of these yarns on our shelves, and are happy to suggest substitutes for any others!

The book is $52, a dollar per pattern, and available for local pickup or USPS Priority Mail shipping – an additional $8 if the book ships alone. If you’d like to add any yarn or notions to your order, shipping will be $15 – thanks for helping us cover the cost of postage! Whether you pick up or have it shipped, we really appreciate your order and look forward to putting this inspiring book in your hands. Order online!