Show and tell!

Posted by Julia on April 21, 2023

It’s been far too long since I shared show-and-tell here on the blog, though it’s an ongoing part of our daily Instagram posts – let’s see what folks have been making with yarn from our shop!

First up – check out Linda’s Churchmouse “Double Split Color-Blocked Cowl,” knit with Malabrigo Noventa! She knit it up in no time on US 15 needles, an instant gratification kind of project.

Sherri made one, too! It’s always fun to see the same pattern transformed by different colors.

Debbie is a prolific knitter and weaver, among other things – here’s the latest project off her loom, an amazing deflected double weave scarf woven with Brooklyn Tweed Loft. We’re delighted that this springy woolen-spun yarn is back in production after a year of sourcing and supply chain issues!

Margaretta recently knit a pair of Andrea Mowry’s “Curio Socks” with Isager Sock Yarn and Koigu KPPPM – I love how the solid white highlights individual shades in the variegated contrast color!

Anne has been busy knitting samples for the shop – here are two of her recent creations! Above is an “Autopilot” cowl, by Dominique Trad, knit with 2 skeins of Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted. Below is her PetiteKnit “Novice Slipover,” knit with Kelbourne Woolens Lucky Tweed. The pattern calls for a DK weight yarn held together with laceweight mohair, but Anne substituted one strand of this tweedy aran weight yarn, with cozy results.

Thanks to Linda, Sherri, Debbie, Margaretta, and Anne 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.

Show and tell: for the home.

Posted by Julia on February 21, 2019

Time for another round of show and tell! I love to take photos of finished projects when folks bring them into the shop to share with us, and to share them here on our blog. I always seem to have a backlog of photos, thanks to the many productive knitters, crocheters, and weavers who frequent our shop. Here’s a batch of show and tell featuring projects made for the home – mostly blankets!

Glen knit this “Ombre Waves Knit Blanket” as a gift for his daughter and son-in-law, using Malabrigo Rios, everyone’s favorite hand-dyed, superwash, worsted weight merino.

Petra wove the overshot table runner below using a cotton yarn in the warp and Brigg’s & Little Sport in the weft. The pattern is intricate and visually mesmerizing, even more so in the bold colors Petra chose – well done, Petra!

Peggy knit Jared Flood’s “Talon Throw” as a gift for her niece, a generous gift indeed.

Peggy used Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a soft and sturdy blend of wool and alpaca, and a staple of our worsted weight section here at the shop.

Berroco Ultra Wool is a staple of our worsted weight section, too, and another great yarn for blanket-making. Elsbeth used Ultra Wool for this striking Purl Soho “Mosaic Blanket.”

Amy knit this colorful blanket for her newest grandchild using Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted, a squishy superwash merino. The pattern is Svetlana Gordon’s “Hexagon Kaleidoscope Patchwork Knitting,” adapted to include butterfly patches among the flowers.

Thanks to Glen, Petra, Peggy, Elsbeth, and Amy for sharing their work, and to everyone who starts their projects with a trip to the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We can’t wait to see what you make next.

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on May 27, 2017

The latest issue of Handwoven is here!

Handwoven is a magazine for weavers, and those interested in becoming weavers. It features projects and tutorials along with articles on weaving traditions from around the world and throughout history.

This issue is all about finishing techniques for all kinds of projects and all kinds of looms.

Look for Handwoven on the teacart here at the shop!

Little Looms.

Posted by Julia on April 21, 2017

A special issue of Handwoven Magazine has arrived! Let’s look inside Little Looms.

Little Looms is all about weaving on rigid heddle looms, pin looms, inkle looms, and others.

It features patterns and project ideas for all of these little looms, along with articles on choosing yarns and designing woven art.

Come by the shop to pick up a copy of Little Looms and plan your next weaving project!

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on March 17, 2017

The latest issue of Handwoven magazine is here!

This issue focuses on Scandinavian weaving traditions and design.

As ever, Handwoven offers a mix of articles and projects for a variety of looms, from rigid heddle looms like our Schacht Cricket to 8 shaft floor looms.

Come by the shop to pick up a copy of Handwoven and plan your next weaving project!

Back in stock: UKI Supreme weaving yarns.

Posted by Julia on August 19, 2016

It’s been about a year and a half since we placed our first order with UKI Supreme Corporation, a North Carolina company well known for its cotton weaving yarns. We’ve met more and more weavers in that time, and so, our selection of colors and weights of yarn has grown.

We carry Supreme’s mercerized cotton yarn in three weights: 10/2, 5/2, and 3/2, each in 6 oz mini-cones.

The 10/2 is the thinnest of the three, with ~1575 yards per mini-cone, making it a very fine lace weight. It comes on red cones.

The 5/2 mercerized cotton has ~787 yards per mini-cone, making it a light fingering weight. It can be easily identified by its blue cones.

The 3/2 mercerized cotton is the heaviest of the three, with ~450 yards per mini-cone, putting it somewhere between fingering and sport weight. 3/2 comes on white cones.

I’m working with the 3/2 now on my Schacht Cricket Loom, using the finest available reed, 12 dent. I sketched out the stripe sequence with colored pencils til I came up with one I liked for the warp, and am weaving with a pale solid gray throughout. I hope they make cheerful kitchen towels! You can read more about my experience as a beginner weaver on the Schacht blog, if you like.

In weaving, as in knitting and crochet, it’s so important to be able to see the available colors in person. We can’t keep all 100+ colors in stock, but we’re happy to special order, and we keep color cards on hand for Supreme’s mercerized and un-mercerized cottons.

Come by to pick up some yarn for your next weaving project, and as always, don’t hesitate to ask if we can get something special for you from Schacht or Supreme. See you at the shop!

Handwoven and Vintage Crochet.

Posted by Julia on July 31, 2016

Two new magazines arrived at the shop this week: Handwoven and Vintage Crochet.

Handwoven’s theme this issue is celebration, featuring handwoven gifts and home decor for special occasions, made on a variety of looms.

There are also interesting articles to read, one on Colonial coverlets, and another on rituals from around the world involving textiles.

Vintage Crochet is a special issue from Interweave that focuses on the rich history of crochet, featuring articles and tutorials on traditional techniques, along with contemporary patterns informed by those techniques.

Look for Handwoven and Vintage Crochet here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, among the latest publications for all manner of fiber arts!

Hello, Pom Pom Quarterly.

Posted by Julia on July 6, 2016

One of our most exciting finds at TNNA this year was a magazine. Most of our TNNA orders wont arrive til August or later, but this one we received right away, selling out and reordering in less than a week. Just what is this exciting new publication? Meet Pom Pom Quarterly!

I’d heard of Pom Pom Quarterly before our trip to market, seen patterns from this pretty publication pop up on Ravelry, but I’d never held it in my hands.

As the Pom Pom founders and editors point out on their website, knitters are a tactile bunch, and to that end, they’ve made sure that the physical product is something very special. From the paper quality to the size of the magazine, Pom Pom is a pleasure to peruse. It also comes with a download code for the digital edition, so you can have it both ways.

Then there’s the content, which is just as thoughtfully created. Pom Pom features patterns, tutorials, and articles on knitting, crochet, and other crafts, along with the odd recipe, personal essay, or other surprise. The photography is beautiful, the designs are fresh, modern, and wearable, and the tone of the whole publication is enticing and inspiring.

I spotted some familiar yarns, too; the “Red Bud Isle” tank above is knit in Berroco Modern Cotton, and “Thornett” below calls for Isager Bomulin.

The Summer 2016 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly is back in stock and going fast – hurry in, or give us a call at (919) 732-2128 if you’d like to claim a copy!

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on May 17, 2016

Another new magazine has landed at the shop! Here’s a look inside the latest issue of Handwoven.

I spotted an article in this issue by Deb Essen, whose DJE Handwovens kits we carry here at the shop. The topic is color value in weaving and design, and how to make sense of it so that you can get the results you want in your woven fabric.

The rest of the issue is full of projects in high contrast color combinations for 8-shaft and 4-shaft looms.

Come by the shop to peruse the latest magazines and books for weavers, knitters, crocheters, and other fiber artists. See you there!

Handwoven.

Posted by Julia on April 3, 2016

The latest issue of Handwoven is here!

This issue focuses on weaving traditions from around the world, and offers projects inspired and informed by those traditions. Pick up this magazine to learn about Scandinavian weaving drafts, Russian Branoe patterning, ikat weaving in Borneo, and more.

Come by the shop to peruse the latest magazines and books for weavers, knitters, crocheters, and other fiber artists. See you there!