Hello, Malabrigo Ultimate Sock!

Posted by Julia on August 16, 2022

We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of a brand new yarn from Malabrigo – meet Ultimate Sock!

Malabrigo Ultimate Sock:

fingering weight
hand dyed, variegated and semi-solid colorways
75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon
420 yards/100g
$21 each

Ultimate Sock looks and feels just like the classic Malabrigo Sock yarn, beloved for its vibrant colors and soft, smooth texture. The new addition of 25% nylon brings durability, so that socks and garments made with Ultimate Sock can last longer.

Malabrigo Ultimate Sock is a great choice for shawls and cowls, mitts and hats, sweaters for all ages, and more, but let’s focus on its namesake for today: here are some sock patterns!

“Basic Ribbed Socks,” by Kate Atherly – ribbing
“Walk in the Woods Socks,” by Lisa Hannes – two color mosaic
“Dew Drop,” by Makenzie Alvarez – lace
“Enchanted Meadow,” by Aug Bergo – two color stranded colorwork
“Ada Socks,” by Brie Christine – lace and cables
“Ring Socks,” by Marina Storm – smocked ribbing, picot edge

Look for Malabrigo Ultimate Sock in the fingering weight section here at our shop!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Tapestry.

Posted by Julia on August 5, 2022

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. KPPPM is a fingering weight superwash merino, hand-dyed in vibrant colors by mother/daughter team Maie and Taiu Landra on their farm outside of Toronto, Canada.

Koigu KPPPM:

fingering weight
hand dyed, variegated
100% superwash merino wool
175 yards/50 g
$15.50 each

This month’s limited edition shade is Tapestry, a variegated mix of pastels on an ivory backdrop.

We have so many fingering weight yarns that could pair well with KPPPM in Tapestry, whether you’re seeking high or low contrast, solid or variegated.

What to make? Here are some pattern ideas for mixing many colors!

“Harlow,” by Andrea Mowry – brioche hat in 2 colors
“Linen Stitch Loop,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – linen stitch cowl in 2 colors
“ZickZack Scarf,” by Christy Kamm – chevron scarf in 2 or more colors
“Sea Glass Tee,” by Wool & Pine – kaleidoscopic short sleeved pullover in as many colors as you like
“Sea Glass Hat,” by Wool & Pine – kaleidoscopic hat in as many colors as you like

Look for Koigu KPPPM in the fingering weight section here at our shop, along with many others! We’re here from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.

New colors in Brooklyn Tweed Dapple!

Posted by Julia on July 29, 2022

Dapple is Brooklyn Tweed’s DK weight blend of organic cotton and merino, a soft and fluffy yarn that’s been very popular around here. We’re delighted to report that three new colors just arrived!

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple:

DK weight
woolen-spun, tonally dyed
60% merino wool, 40% organic cotton
165 yards/50 g
$15.25 each

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Verdigris

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Periwinkle

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Petal

Dapple is tonally dyed, meaning skeins in the same colorway differ from one another even in the same dye lot. Some are lighter, some are darker, some almost look marled! This isn’t immediately apparent when looking at one skein of Dapple at a time, so I’ve laid out big groups in a few colorways to give a better sense of the variety. You can see each color laid out this way on our first Dapple blog post, and we’re happy to show you all the skeins we have in a given color when you’re here shopping in person.

Lately, Dapple has been popular for Midori Hirose’s “Ranunculus” sweater, Viktoria Chevchuk’s “Burchett” cardigan, Aude Martin’s “Ashfork” vest, and Tamy Gore’s “Graphic Elements,” a colorwork pullover.

Click here for more pattern ideas, and look for Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in the DK weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop!

Colorwork tams.

Posted by Julia on July 26, 2022

It’s been a few years since I knit Sandy Blue’s “Autumn Tam,” but it’s still getting plenty of attention here at our shop.

This intricate colorwork hat is knit with 10 shades of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, the fingering weight wool in this showstopping display.

What I remember most about knitting this “Autumn Tam” is how fun it was so watch the colors come together.

There are such subtle differences between some of these shades, and designer Sandy Blue arranged them so thoughtfully – it was entertaining just to see what she did with them, and notice how they related in the knitted fabric.

At the moment, we have all 10 shades needed for the “Autumn Tam,” and those for Blue’s “Midnight Sun Tam,” as well.

Look for Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift and Sandy Blue’s patterns at our shop! Seeking other colorwork patterns for Spindrift? Check out my blog post from February, there’s a nice list of ideas there.

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.

Koigu Collector’s Club: The Pond.

Posted by Julia on July 19, 2022

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 special colorway is The Pond, a vibrant mix of blues and greens.

As I unpacked this new bundle of Koigu, I thought of the “Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit, a super cozy cuffed beanie knit with lace weight mohair and fingering weight wool held together throughout. Here are a few ideas with Isager Silk Mohair!

Koigu KPPPM is also a great yarn for Wool & Pine’s “Sea Glass Tee,” a kaleidoscopic colorwork tee designed to be knit with leftover bits and pieces of fingering weight yarn. I found loads of color inspiration in our fingering weight section, and put together this palette based on the many shades that flow through The Pond.

Bring your leftover yarns in to build a color palette for your own “Sea Glass Tee,” and look for Koigu KPPPM and Isager Silk Mohair here at the shop!

New colors from Neighborhood Fiber Co.!

Posted by Julia on July 15, 2022

Our most recent order from Neighborhood Fiber Co. was full of vibrant colors, speckles, and variegated shades, brightening our NFC Studio Sock cubby considerably!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock:

fingering weight
hand-dyed
machine washable
100% organic merino wool
400 yds/4 oz
$32 each

Studio Sock is perfect for knitting socks, of course, but also great for knitting shawls and lightweight sweaters – here are some pattern ideas:

“Alive & Free,” by Annie Lupton – 2 color striped garter stitch shawl
“Breathe & Hope,” by Casapinka – 2 color striped slip stitch shawl
“Pianta Hat,” by Lavanya Patricella – 2 color brioche hat
“Rumble Raglan,” by Lydia Morrow – 2 or 3 color stranded pullover with vertical stripes

“Studio Sampler,” by Leslie Anne Robinson – 3 color shawl with brioche and garter stitch stripes
“Shades of Peony,” by Tamy Gore – 3 color shawl with eyelets and stripes
“Navelli,” by Caitlin Hunter – 3 color boat neck short-sleeved pullover with colorwork at bottom edge

Look for Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in the fingering weight section here at our shop! We’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. Online ordering is still available for local pickup or shipping – thanks for shopping with us!

Bonnie Isle Hat.

Posted by Julia on July 12, 2022

We’re so excited about “Bonnie Isle Hat,” Shetland Wool Week’s featured pattern for 2022!

This five-color fair isle hat is currently available as a free pattern download from the Shetland Wool Week website. A new Shetland Wool Week hat pattern is something I look forward to every year, so I downloaded it as soon as it was available, and then went straight to our Jamieson’s of Shetland Spindrift to play the color game. I spent some time putting together five color combinations, inspired by the five colorways shown in the pattern.

Yarn bundles for “Bonnie Isle Hat” are $50.40 – 6 balls of Shetland Spindrift (2 in the main color, and 1 each in 4 contrast colors) at $8.40 per ball. We just got a fresh delivery of Shetland Spindrift with this project in mind, so all five colourways are currently in stock – come see us or get in touch if you’d like to order a “Bonnie Isle Hat” yarn bundle!

Swans Island, now on sale!

Posted by Julia on July 8, 2022

Everything in the shop is 15% off during July, our Annual Inventory Sale month, but there are a few items we’ve marked down even further – including every yarn we carry from Swans Island, now 40% off!

We’ve been carrying Swans Island here at the shop for over a decade, and we’ve always loved working with their thoughtfully produced hand-dyed yarns. They’ve decided to sell their yarn directly rather than through retailers like us, so we’re sending them off with a sale!

Swans Island Natural Collection: fingering weight, 100% certified organic merino wool, hand dyed, 525 yards/100 g; $32 each, $19.20 on sale
- Pattern ideas: Caitlin Hunter’s “Tegna” tee, Veera Valimaki’s “Color Affection” shawl

Swans Island All American Sport: sport weight, hand-dyed, 100% Rambouillet wool, 185 yards/40 g; $12.50 each, $7.50 on sale
- Pattern ideas: Melynda Bernardi’s “Paige Mitts,” Swans Island’s “Slalom Ski Hat”

Swans Island All American Worsted: heavy worsted/aran weight, hand-dyed, 75% Rambouillet wool, 25% alpaca, 210 yards/80 g; $24 each, $14.40 on sale
- Pattern ideas: Stephen West’s “Dustland Hat,” Michele Rose Orne’s “Celtic Mitts”

Swans Island Natural Colors Worsted:organic merino wool, 250 yards/100 g, $32 each, $19.20 on sale
- Pattern ideas: Breean Elyse Miller’s “The Anna Cowl,” Tin Can Knits “Antler Toque”

Come by during July to get a great deal on Swans Island and all your favorite yarns, needles, notions, books and magazines! We’re open from 11am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges, returns, or special orders. Thanks!

PetiteKnit pairings.

Posted by Julia on July 5, 2022

We recently restocked Isager Silk Mohair, a soft and shiny lace weight blend of mohair and silk, often used in tandem with heavier yarns. Fingering weight yarn seems to be a particularly popular playmate for Silk Mohair – here are some color combinations pairing it up with Isager Sock Yarn and Alpaca 2, and PetiteKnit pattern ideas below!

Isager Silk Mohair: lace weight, 70% kid mohair, 30% silk, 233 yards/25 g; $16 each
Isager Sock Yarn: fingering weight, 40% Easy Wash alpaca, 40% Easy Wash merino wool, 20% recycled nylon, 423 yards/100g; $20 each

Isager Alpaca 2: light fingering weight, 50% alpaca, 50% wool, 275 yards/50 g; $12 each

What to knit with these yarn pairings? You’ll find more ideas on a blog post of mine from November, but for today, let’s focus on PetiteKnit, who seems to especially favor this combination of lace + fingering weight yarns:

Accessories:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat

Sweaters:

“Balloon Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – pullover with balloon sleeves
“Stockholm Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“Copenhagen Cardigan,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette raglan cardigan with pockets
“No Frills Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette raglan pullover
“Jenny Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – smocked pullover

Here’s a bit of show and tell, a close up on Margaretta’s own “Jenny Sweater,” knit with Isager Silk Mohair and Alpaca 2 held together throughout. The combination is deliciously soft, with elegant drape, and I love the ever-so-slightly-different shades of light green Margaretta chose, they blended together beautifully!

Look for these and other Isager yarns in our lace and fingering weight sections here at the shop!