Back in stock: Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Posted by Julia on December 9, 2022

Good old Ultra Alpaca – this balanced blend of wool and alpaca is a classic, and we’re delighted to have a fresh supply!

Berroco Ultra Alpaca:

worsted weight
solid and heathered shades
50% super fine alpaca, 50% Peruvian Highland wool
219 yards/100g
$14 each

Berroco Ultra Alpaca has the structure and elasticity of wool and the drape, halo, and softness of alpaca. It comes in reasonably priced 100 gram hanks with 219 yards each; enough yarn to make a small scarf, a hat, or a pair of mittens.

Ultra Alpaca comes in a wide range of colors, from fun brights to classic neutrals; I’ve always particularly admired the heathered shades.

Scrolling through projects on Ravelry, I saw that many knitters had made Donna Smith’s now classic “Baa-ble Hat” with Ultra Alpaca.

“Baa-ble Hat,” by Donna Smith, photo © Donna Smith.

Here are a couple of color combinations inspired by the pattern photo!

What else to make with Ultra Alpaca? Here are a few ideas!

Accessories:

“Sophie Shawl,” by PetiteKnit – garter stitch shawl with I-cord edging
“Guernsey Wrap,” by Jared Flood – textured wrap
“Turn a Square,” by Jared Flood – striped beanie
“Antler Toque,” by Tin Can Knits – cabled hat
“Ferryboat Mitts,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – ribbed fingerless mitts
“Twice Reversible Ribbed Poncho,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – ribbed poncho

Garments:

“White Pine,” by Amy Christoffers – cabled cardigan
“Rye,” by Thea Colman – textured raglan cardigan
“Humulus,” by Isabell Kraemer – colorwork yoke pullover
“Tea with Jam and Bread,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – color block pullover with pockets
“Better-Than-Basic Pullover,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – stockinette funnel neck pullover

Look for Berroco Ultra Alpaca in the worsted weight section here at the shop!

HYS Color Club: Shelter + Rockfall Hat.

Posted by Julia on October 11, 2022

HYS Color Club members just got their first project for Autumn!

Inside the bag, there are 4 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter to knit a “Rockfall Hat,” by Tin Can Knits. We included an addi knitting thimble, too!

“Rockfall Hat,” by Tin Can Knits, photo © tincanknits

Shelter is one of my very favorite yarns in the shop, a worsted weight, woolen spun Targhee-Columbia wool that comes in over 45 colors, so I had great fun selecting HYS Color Club colorways. Here’s a combination in each of the color palettes – Warm, Cool, Neutral, and Surprise.

We also have the shades of Shelter shown in Tin Can Knits’ pattern photos, relatively low contrast color combinations – the large scale of these motifs mean that the pattern shows clearly even when some of the colors are similar in value.

I made a “Rockfall Hat” earlier this year, when the new solid shades of Shelter first came out – look for this sample in the worsted weight section next time you’re here at the shop!

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.

Rios + Versa Cowl.

Posted by Julia on April 19, 2022

A few recent orders have left us rich in Malabrigo Rios, a superwash worsted weight merino that gets a lot of love around here.

Malabrigo Rios:

worsted weight
100% superwash merino wool
210 yards/100g
$17 each

We have both solid and hand-dyed shades in stock, and Aimee Pelletier’s “Versa Cowl” is a great way to combine them.

“Versa Cowl,” by Aimee Pelletier, photo © Aimee Pelletier

“Versa Cowl” is a sampler of different slip stitch patterns and stripes, and can be worn folded in half for a double layer, as shown above.

Browsing projects on Ravelry, I saw many knitters had paired a solid or semi-solid shade of Rios with a more highly variegated shade for their “Versa Cowls,” a nice effect.

For sharper stitch definition and cleaner stripes, try solid or semi-solid color combinations.

Look for Rios in the worsted weight section here at our shop; we’re open from 11 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. You can also order online for local pickup or shipping – thanks for your support of our shop!

Back in stock: Modern Cotton!

Posted by Julia on April 1, 2022

Berroco Modern Cotton is a staple around here, an economical, machine-washable blend of cotton and rayon in that versatile gauge, worsted weight. It was time for a restock and restock we did, filling our Modern Cotton bins and brightening up our selection.

Berroco Modern Cotton:

worsted weight
solid colors
50% cotton, 50% rayon
209 yards/100 grams
$10 each

Modern Cotton is perfect for warm-weather knits, or year-round for those allergic to wool. It’s also a favorite for baby things – here are some pattern ideas for all of the above!

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – top-down tee with ribbed circular yoke
“Admit,” by Norah Gaughan – sleeveless top with eyelet detail at yoke
“Eula,” by Amy Christoffers – stockinette tee with lace at back neck
“Seafoam Scarf & Wrap,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – drop stitch scarf and wrap
“Bilberry” – child’s dress with leaf lace yoke
“In Threes,” by Kelly Herdich – short-sleeved baby cardigan
“Chevron Baby Blanket,” by Espace Tricot – chevron striped baby blanket

Look for Modern Cotton in the worsted weight section here at our shop!

Back in stock, show and tell: Brooklyn Tweed Tones!

Posted by Julia on March 29, 2022

After months of backorders, we are delighted to have a fresh supply of Brooklyn Tweed Tones in the shop!

Brooklyn Tweed Tones:

worsted weight
woolen-spun
3 ply
overdyed
100% Columbia wool
140 yards/50g
$16.75 each

At first glance, Tones bears a striking resemblance to Shelter – both are worsted weight and woolen spun, with the same yardage, weight, suggested gauge, and price. There are a few key differences, however, that make Tones an exciting addition to Brooklyn Tweed’s domestically-sourced, breed-specific lineup; the first is color!

Tones is overdyed in vibrant, playful colors, starting with two baseline shades of undyed natural gray. The lighter shade is the overtone, and the darker shade is the undertone, and each of them has been dipped in 11 colorways, creating tone pairs.

Another difference between Tones and Shelter is the number of plies. Shelter is a 2 ply, which has a slightly more rustic appearance, and Tones is a 3 ply, which is more round and smooth for outstanding stitch definition. Cables and other texture patterns show nicely in Shelter, to be sure, but they really pop in Tones!

Anne’s latest project illustrates this nicely – above is “Truss,” by Melissa Wehrle, a beautiful cardigan knit with Tones. Look for it on display here at the shop!

You’ll find Brooklyn Tweed Tones in the worsted weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. We are open 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; you can still order online for local pickup or shipping, as well.

Back in stock with new colors: Kelbourne Woolens Germantown!

Posted by Julia on March 18, 2022

Last week, a giant box arrived from Kelbourne Woolens, packed full of their worsted weight wool, Germantown. Inside were no less than 10 new colors, plus a handful of colors we’d sold out of. We now have 35 shades in stock, including a few marled Germantown Unicorns – enough to warrant a new display!

Kelbourne Woolens Germantown:

worsted weight
4ply, worsted spun
100% North American wool
220 yards/100g
$16 each; Germantown Unicorns are $16 each

Germantown is a recreation of a classic wool that had been produced in Germantown, Pennsylvania, under a few different brand names since the mid-to-late 19th century. Made of 100% North American wool, Germantown is a worsted spun, worsted weight yarn with a smooth texture, soft hand, and nice elasticity.

One skein is enough for a hat, and the folks at Kelbourne Woolens have designed one for every month of the year. Even better, every one of these patterns is free to download from Ravelry – look there for an entire Year of Hats!

Here are some more pattern ideas for Germantown:

“Blanket of Joy,” by Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne – striped textured blanket
“Learn to Knit a Log Cabin Blanket,” by Staci Perry – log cabin blanket
“a cool cap,” by Park Williams – wide-ribbed hat
“True Crime & Knit,” by Safiyyah Talley – textured hat
“Citrus Slice,” by Annie Lupton – colorwork pullover
“Anna Vest,” by Karen Templer – textured buttoned vest
“Courage Shawl,” by Shannon Cook – 3 color striped slip-stitch shawl
“Sequence,” by Hailey L. Stanton – 5 color slip-stitch shawl
“Easy Germantown Handwarmers,” by Courtney Kelly – textured, seamed fingerless mitts

Look for Kelbourne Woolens Germantown in the worsted weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We’re open from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays, and also taking orders online for local pickup or shipping.

Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide No. 20: Atlas.

Posted by Julia on March 15, 2022

The twentieth installment of the Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide series is here! Let’s take a peek inside.

MDK Field Guide No. 20 features patterns by Erika Knight, a British knit and crochet designer with a taste for accessible yet enticing projects. A patchwork blanket, an entrelac tote, a balaclava, a textured scarf, and a boxy pullover make up this collection – a lot of variety in one little book!

Knight’s patterns all call for MDK’s new yarn, which we don’t have on our shelves, though our worsted weight section is full of lovely substitutes. Think Brooklyn Tweed Tones or Shelter, Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, Malabrigo Rios, and Berroco Ultra Wool.

MDK Field Guides are $15.95 each; order online for local pickup or shipping, or come by to shop in person – we’re open from 11am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays!

HYS Color Club: Rios + Inclinations Shawl.

Posted by Julia on February 15, 2022

The Winter season of HYS Color Club wraps up with a bigger project, a fun change of pace after January’s colorwork mitts.

Club members got six skeins of Malabrigo Rios to knit Andrea Mowry’s “Inclinations Shawl,” a colorful triangular shawl knit in half fisherman’s rib.

For this project, the six color palette is composed of two three-skein fades for a harmonious colorway. From there, the colors can be arranged in many different ways – I can’t wait to see these shawls take shape!

Of course, you can make an “Inclinations Shawl” even if you didn’t join the HYS Color Club – just pick out six colors you love in Malabrigo Rios.

Pictured here are the colorways our HYS Color Club members received, but there are so many other shades of Rios on our shelves – we have 30+ in stock, including Rios Solidos – come by the shop between 11 – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays to pick your own combination!