Tag Archives: the fibre company

Show and tell: stuffed animals.

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It’s been 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!

Carlaine has been knitting her way through Mouche & Friends, Cinthia Vallet’s book of seamless stuffed animals that has captured the hearts of so many knitters here at HYS. Above are “Alphonse the Pig” and “Agi the Sheep,” and below is “Horacio the Donkey” – all knit with CoopKnits Socks Yeah! and several other kinds of fingering weight yarn.

You may recognize the friends pictured below – these are Pamela’s “Frog and Toad,” designed by Kristina Ingrid McGowan. There’s a crochet version, too! Pamela used a mix of CoopKnits Socks Yeah! DK, Fibre Co. Acadia, and Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

I have a little show and tell in this vein today, too – below are two “Jolly Wee Elves” I knit with scraps of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. The pattern is from Churchmouse, a delight every time.

Thanks to Carlaine and Pamela 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.

52 Weeks of Accessories.

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52 Weeks of Accessories ($50) is the latest book from Laine, an inspiring tome packed with 52 patterns from 48 international designers. Let’s take a look inside!

This is the fourth in Laine’s ambitious 52 Weeks series, and instead of focusing on a particular kind of garment, it invites knitters of all skill levels to cast on for pleasing, small projects.

Inside the book, you’ll find hats, scarves, socks, and mittens, of course – but also slippers, shawls, headbands, hoods, bags, bracelets, collars, cowls, and scrunchies!

Paging through the book, I was pleased to see some familiar yarns, like Brooklyn Tweed Tones Light and Loft.

As ever, we are happy to help you find the perfect substitute for yarns we don’t carry – below are a few substitutions that came to mind as I browsed the book, Isager Silk Mohair and Fibre Co. Amble.

52 Weeks of Accessories is $50, not a bad price for 52 patterns – look for it here at the shop, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted.

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Pleased to report that our Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted cubby is full again!

Fibre Co. Cumbria:

  • worsted weight
  • 60% merino wool, 30% masham wool, 10% mohair
  • 236 yards/100 g
  • $22 each

Cumbria is a soft and sturdy worsted weight yarn, composed of soft white merino blended with the dark gray masham and a bit of mohair. This fiber combination creates a natural heathered base color over which all the other colorways are dyed.

I used 2 skeins of Cumbria Worsted to make the scarf pictured below, “Rockcliffe,” by Kate Gagnon Osborn. It’s been hanging at our shop for years now, but still gets attention due to its classic look and engaging gansey pattern.

How else to use Cumbria Worsted? Here are some ideas!

Accessories:

Garments:

Look for Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop!

Show and tell: openwork.

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As you may have read in our most recent newsletter, the shop will be closed for our usual Thanksgiving break from November 22 – 27. Feel free to place online orders or email inquiries during that time, but know that we won’t be monitoring our inbox until we’re back in the shop on November 28! We wish you all a peaceful and safe holiday.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy some show and tell!

As I was going through recent photos, I spotted a theme: openwork! Here are some beautiful projects adorned with eyelets.

Above is Edie’s “Holden” shawl, knit with Koigu KPPPM. It’s great to see lace knit up with variegated yarn! Pattern by Mindy Wilkes.

Teresa knit this delicate “Salty Air Tee” with Isager Bomulin, a good example of how lace looks in plant fiber yarns – in a word, lovely! Pattern by Samantha Guerin.

Anne jumped on the “Ranunculus” bandwagon, and knit the sweater above as a gift for a lifelong friend. She held Brooklyn Tweed Ranch 03 together with Fibre Co. Meadow, a low contrast combination that gave just a little dimension to the color and texture of the knitted fabric. Pattern by Midori Hirose.

Lace looks great in thicker yarns, too, showing off the stitch patterns at a larger scale and proving that openwork can be cozy. Above is Ruth in her “Elah” cardigan, knit with worsted weight Kelbourne Woolens Germantown. Pattern by Isabell Kraemer.

Margaretta is a prolific lace knitter – I’ve lost track of how many “Umaro” blankets she’s made! The one above is a baby blanket, knit with worsted weight Berroco Ultra Wool. Pattern by Jared Flood.

The shawl below is also one of Margaretta’s, “Sakura,” knit with Brooklyn Tweed Loft. Pattern by Leila Raven.

Thanks to Edie, Teresa, Anne, Ruth, and Margaretta 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.

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II.

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The folks at Laine have brought us another exciting new book – 52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II!

52 Weeks of Socks was wildly popular when it was first published in 2020, and ever since, sock knitters have been clamoring for more. Like its predecessor, this new volume includes 52 patterns for knitting socks and slippers, an astonishingly large collection, and a beautiful one.

The patterns within are colorful and abundant, featuring 47 talented designers from all over the world. Some of their names are familiar, but many are new – we can’t wait to get to know their work!

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II is heavy with inspiring patterns using a variety of techniques, but it is also a beautiful object unto itself. Like all Laine publications, the photography is tantalizing, the color palette soothing and evocative.

I spotted two familiar yarns among these pages, Fibre Co. Amble and Isager Sock Yarn. Look for them in the fingering weight section here at our shop, along with so many others – Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Sock, Malabrigo Ultimate Sock, and CoopKnits Socks Yeah! all come to mind.

52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II is $50, a great price for 52 patterns – look for it here at the shop, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Patchwork.

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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 Patchwork, a sweet mix of dusty pinks and purples.

I’ve been keeping an eye on Stephen West’s Year of Socks 2023, and his recent “Painting Triangles Socks” pattern brought Koigu to mind – how about using Fibre Co. Amble for a main color, and KPPPM for the contrast colors?

West’s socks are shown with 3 contrast colors, but the socks look just as good with 1 or 2 – here are a few color combinations!

Look for Koigu KPPPM in the fingering weight section here at the shop, along with Fibre Co. Amble and more – see you there! We’re also taking online orders for local pickup or shipping.

Back in stock: Fibre Co. Amble!

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We’re delighted to have a fresh supply of Fibre Co. Amble here at the shop!

Fibre Co. Amble:

  • fingering weight
  • solid and heathered colors
  • 70% Easy-wash merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, and 10% recycled nylon
  • 355 yards/100g
  • $23 each

Amble is a unique and eco-friendly sock yarn. The thoughtful folks at Fibre Co. selected these Easy-wash fibers because they are processed without the use of hazardous chemicals, yet are still easy to care for and resist shrinking in the wash.

Kate Atherley’s “One Sock” was designed especially for Fibre Co. Amble, a classic top-down sock in all sizes, with lots of opportunities for customization. One skein of Amble is enough for most sizes, but check the pattern description on Ravelry for yardage requirements, as the two largest sizes require a second skein.

What else to make with Amble? Here are some ideas!

Look for Fibre Co. Amble in the fingering weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop! We’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks are required for entry.

Show and tell: PetiteKnit patterns.

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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!

PetiteKnit has become one of the most-mentioned knitwear designers here at our shop. Almost every day, at least one knitter comes in shopping for, working on, or wearing a PetiteKnit design. Here are some of the PetiteKnit projects I’ve captured lately!

Margaretta is a fan of PetiteKnit – here are her two most recent sweaters, “Ingrid Sweater Baby” in Berroco Ultra Wool above, and “Moby Sweater” in Isager Jensen and Silk Mohair below.

Morgan knit this “No Frills Sweater” with Brooklyn Tweed Loft and Isager Silk Mohair held together throughout – the result is lovely, a perfect balance of structure and softness.

Michele came in wearing her first PetiteKnit sweater, “Sycamore Sweater,” and reports that the pattern was detailed and well written – she used Isager Jensen, Spinni, and Shibui Tweed Silk Cloud in this striking garment.

I knit my first PetiteKnit pattern recently, too, though it’s a far simpler design – here’s the “Sophie Shawl” I knit as a shop sample in Fibre Co. & Make Aran. The size small makes a such a nice scarf, wrapped around and tied like a kerchief, that I decided to make one for myself, too!

Thanks to Margaretta, Morgan, 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.

Hello, & Make Aran!

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The Fibre Company has just launched a new line of yarn, & Make! These are yarns for stitchers at every stage of their crafting journey, made of natural, sustainable fibers from renewable sources. We’re starting with & Make Aran, a soft and squishy blend of Highland wool and alpaca.

The Fibre Co. & Make Aran:

  • aran weight
  • 2-ply
  • solid and heathered colors
  • 50% Highland wool, 50% alpaca
  • 164 yards/100g
  • $17.50 each

What to knit with & Make Aran? Here are some ideas!

Garments:

Accessories:

Come by the shop to see & Make Aran for yourself! We’re here from 11-5:30, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required.

Koigu Collector’s Club: The Marsh.

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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 The Marsh, a beachy colorway streaked with shades of aqua, cream, and gray.

Anne spotted the perfect pattern for this or any shade of Koigu KPPPM – Churchmouse’s “Linen Stitch Loop,” a two color cowl that pairs variegated and solid shades for a pixelated effect.

“Linen Stitch Loop,” by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas, photo © Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

There are so many yarns in our fingering weight section here at the shop – here are a few that complement The Marsh!

  • Kelbourne Woolens Perennial: light fingering weight, 60% superwash merino, 25% suri alpaca, 15% nylon, 497 yards/100 g; $26 each
  • Ewe Ewe Fluffy Fingering: fingering weight, 100% superwash merino, 200 yards/50 g; $11 each

  • Punta del Este Mericash Solid: fingering weight, single ply, 80% merino, 20% cashmere, 264 yards/50 gm; $18 each
  • Isager Merilin: light fingering weight, 80% wool, 20% linen, 228 yards/50 g; $11 each

  • Baa Ram Ewe Titus: fingering weight, 70% wool, 30% alpaca, 350 yards/100 g, $29 each
  • Fibre Co. Amble: fingering weight, 70% Easy-wash merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, and 10% recycled nylon, 355 yards/100g; $23 each

 

Look for Koigu KPPPM in the fingering weight section here at the shop, along with Perennial, Fluffy Fingering, Mericash Solid, Merilin, Titus, Amble, and so much more – see you there!