About Us

I’ve been knitting since I was eight years old, and it has always been part of my life, through good times and bad. When my youngest daughter entered her senior year of college, I was finally able to follow my passion and open a yarn shop. I held onto my “day job” as a biomedical engineer while I looked for the right space. Loving the town of Hillsborough, North Carolina, and knowing there was not yet a yarn shop there, I searched for that perfect space in its historic downtown and landed right on Churton Street. In October of 2006, I left my position as director and took a half-time position, allowing me to open the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. Since then, we’ve grown slowly but surely, added a new classroom and inventory space, acquired plenty of new yarn and friends. As I added yarn and space, it became evident that I needed help. Many helping hands have made the shop what it is today, and now I’m thrilled to have full-time help in the form of my colleagues Bailey and Julia.

We are so thankful to have been voted “Best Yarn Shop” by the readers of the News of Orange County every year since 2008. Having been a finalist in the IndyWeek’s “Best of the Triangle” every year since 2012, we are proud to have been voted “Best Yarn Store” in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. We’ve been lucky to have such kind and creative clientele. Please come visit us at the shop to see all that we have to offer!

Our Offerings Include:

Alchemy Yarns, Alpaca Yarn Co., Amirisu, Araucania, ArtYarns, BC Garn, Berroco, Briggs & Little, Brooklyn Tweed, Brown Sheep, By Hand Serial, Cascade, Churchmouse patterns, Cocoknits tools and notions, CoopKnits, Della Q needle cases, Dream in Color, Elsebeth Lavold, Ewe Ewe, Fibre Company, Fyberspates, Habu, Isager, Jamieson’s of Shetland, Jo Sharp, Jul shawl pins and closures, Kate Davies Ard-Thir, Katia, Kauni Effektgarn, Kelbourne Woolens, Knitter’s Pride (Dreamz, Cubics, Karbonz, Zings), Koigu, Lady Dye Yarns, Laine Magazine, Lang, Malabrigo, Misti Alpaca, Mountain Meadow Wool, Navia, Neighborhood Fiber Co., Noro, Pascuali Balayage, Plymouth, Pom Pom Quarterly, Queensland Collection, Rio del la Plata, Sandnes Garn, Schacht (Zoom Looms), Schoppel-Wolle, Sincere Sheep,  Skacel (Addi Turbo), Tukuwool, Twisted Sisters, and so much more!

Classes:

Learn to knit or crochet at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. We offer classes for beginners as well as technique- or project-based classes for intermediate and advanced stitchers. Our classes are small and our teachers are expert, so you’re sure to get the help and attention you deserve. Read more about our current class offerings and register here on the website.

Meet our teachers!

Jamie Killorin, a Burlington resident, is an experienced knitter for 30+ years and completed Level One of The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) Master Hand Knitting Course in 2020, and she is currently working on the Level Two course.

Nancy Allen is a self taught chrocheter. She is a State Fair award winner for a sweater she made in 2019.  Nancy is a retired school administrator, a Guardian ad Litem and teaches science at Durham Academy on a part time basis.

Nancy Cavender spends as much time as possible knitting, thinking about knitting, reading about knitting, and learning about knitting. Her favorites are lace, colorwork, and textured patterning. Her latest passion is detailed finishing. You can find evidence of her handiwork on her friends and family, and on the walls of Hillsborough Yarn Shop.

Shop Policies:

Return Policy –

We are happy to exchange yarn for store credit that is accompanied by your receipt, that has not been purchased while on sale, that has not been wound or used, and which has been kept in a clean and odor free environment.

There are no exchanges or returns on books, patterns or sale items – this includes items purchased at the HYS Birthday Club discount.

Class Policy –

Refunds or store credits for pre-paid class registrations can be made only if we are notified at least two weeks in advance of the beginning of class.

Missed classes will not be made up unless the instructor was unable to teach or the shop was closed for inclement weather.

Refunds or store credits for missed classes cannot be made.

   Privacy Policy –

Our Privacy Policy may be found here.

Winding Yarn –

We are happy to wind yarns that have been purchased at the shop, but do not wind yarn that was purchased elsewhere – thanks for understanding.

 

Thanks for your continuing support and friendship!

–Anne Derby