Interweave Knits.

Posted by Julia on November 24, 2014

The Winter 2015 issue of Interweave Knits is here, full of the cozy-looking garments and accessories we associate with the season.

There’s a feature in this issue on the best yarns for fair isle knitting, along with a tutorial on steeking. Many knitters cringe at the thought of cutting their knitting, but if you plan ahead, steeks are nothing to be afraid of.

Look for this issue of Interweave on the teacart in the front room, just ahead as you enter the shop. You’ll find it among the newest books and magazines, a great place to look for knit and crochet inspiration. See you there!

Hello, Rasta.

Posted by Julia on November 21, 2014

Every so often, we get a request for Rasta, a Malabrigo yarn we haven’t carried before. This week, we answered that request with a Malabrigo order; we’re now proud to have Rasta on our shelves!

Rasta is a soft, squishy, single-ply merino wool that knits up quickly on US 13 – 17 needles. Each 150 gram skein has 90 yards, which may not sound like a lot, but those 90 yards go a long way at 2 or 2.5 stitches per inch.

Rasta is perfectly suited to cold-weather accessories: hats, scarves, cowls, and the like. Seeking Rasta inspiration? Check out Malabrigo’s two latest books.

That’s Rasta on the cover of Malabrigo Book 6, which features patterns for all manner of Malabrigo yarns, from Finito to Rios.

Malabrigo Book 7 is nothing but Rasta. Hats in Rasta, mitts in Rasta, all manner of cozy, instant-gratification garments and accessories in Rasta.

Come by the shop to pick up a skein or two of Malabrigo Rasta for your last-minute holiday gift-knitting! See you there.

New books.

Posted by Julia on November 19, 2014

It’s been a busy season for new books here at the shop. Every couple of days, I find myself once again rearranging the teacart to make room for another stack of books.

The folks at Interweave have been particularly hard at work this fall, publishing a wide range of knitting books.

Some focus on particular styles or themes, like First Frost, Graphic Knits, and Knitting Wizardry, while others dive into a single technique or kind of garment, like No-Sew Knits, Twigg Stitch, and Fresh Knitted Accessories.

We also recently received Margaret Radcliffe’s newest book, The Knowledgeable Knitter, a compendium of tips and tricks for every stage of the knitting process. Radcliffe takes you from thoughtful pattern-, yarn-, and needle-selection to modification, fit, and finishing.

Come by the shop to browse our ever-growing book selection and pick a new title for yourself or for a friend–books do make excellent gifts, after all. We’re offering a special 15% discount on all in-stock books and magazines during Ladies Night Out this Thursday, November 20th, and we’ll be open til 8:00 pm that night. Many other Hillsborough merchants and restaurants will have specials that night as well; come out and explore downtown Hillsborough!

Hello, Rowan.

Posted by Julia on November 17, 2014

We’re thrilled to announce that we now carry two yarns from Rowan: say hello to Pure Wool Worsted and Wool Cotton!

Pure Wool Worsted is a superwash, worsted weight wool that comes in a wide range of colors, including subtle heathered shades that we don’t often see in superwash yarns. Each 100 gram skein boasts 219 yards, enough to knit a hat, small scarf or pair of mittens.

There are so many uses for medium weight, machine-washable wools, from sweaters and accessories to blankets and baby things, and we carry many yarns like these for exactly that reason. So far, Pure Wool Worsted is the most affordable, however, and we love finding sources for high quality fiber at a reasonable price.

We put Pure Wool Worsted to the test on our needles and in Anne’s washing machine, and it came out looking good: stitch definition crisp, gauge unchanged, fabric softened. Look for this machine-washed swatch at the shop and feel for yourself.

Wool Cotton is a dk weight blend of merino wool and cotton, also machine-washable. Each 50 gram skein has 123 yards, enough to knit a baby hat or short pair of fingerless mitts.

Working with Wool Cotton, we were impressed by the smooth, obedient quality of the yarn, and pleased to see it come out of the washing machine looking like new.

Cotton and wool make a lovely fiber blend for our climate, particularly in a dk weight. I can see Wool Cotton in the same wide variety of projects that suit Pure Wool Worsted: sweaters large and small, baby blankets, hats, mitts, shawls, and cowls. Look for more project ideas and pattern inspiration on the HYS Pinterest page, and come by the shop to plan your next project with Rowan yarns!

Back in stock: Jitterbug.

Posted by Julia on November 14, 2014

Yesterday we unpacked a big box from Colinette Yarns, stuffed full of Jitterbug.

Colinette ships their yarns to us in wild bunches of untwisted hanks, making for a dramatic entrance. From there, we twist them up into the hanks you see on our shelves.

Jitterbug is one of my favorite sock yarns, a tightly-plied superwash merino that’s hand-dyed in a range of semi-solid and variegated colorways. Anne is a big fan of Jitterbug, too, though she’s used it for larger garments, like sweaters and vests.

Jitterbug is equally well-suited to baby things, being machine-washable and brightly-colored. I found a ton of adorable “Baby Surprise Jackets” knit in Jitterbug on Ravelry, along with “Little Sister’s Dresses,” “Garter Stitch Baby Kimonos,” and “Saartje’s Bootees.”

Head to the HYS Pinterest page to see more projects and patterns for Jitterbug, and head to the shop to see the yarn for yourself!

Swans Island Trunk Show.

Posted by Julia on November 12, 2014

We’re delighted to announce that our next trunk show of the season has arrived, featuring garments from Swans Island!

We’ve got six garments on display here at the shop until November 23rd: Bristol Ivy’s “Offshore V-Neck,” Alicia Plummer’s “Arrowhead Shawl,” Leah B. Thibault’s “Breakwater Pullover,” Michele Rose Orne’s “Celtic Mitts,” Stacey McCrea Warner’s “Spindrift Cowl,” and Isabell Kraemer’s “Audrey Cardigan.”

Most of these garments are knit in Swans Island All American Worsted, a 2-ply woolen-spun blend of 75% Rambouillet wool and 25% alpaca. Since we first introduced this yarn in September, we’ve been through several reorders, accumulating a few new colors here and there. We now have every available color in All American Worsted!

Come by the shop before November 23rd to see and try on these garments and accessories, and consider Swans Island All American Worsted for your next project!

New from Jul.

Posted by Julia on November 10, 2014

We were delighted to unpack a shipment of shawl pins and closures from Jul this week.

Shawl pins are temporary closures designed to keep a shawl or scarf in place, or close a buttonless cardigan. We have several styles in stock to suit a variety of knit or crocheted garments.

We also replenished our supply of French Curves, unique closures that screw into knitted fabric at two points, and can then be fastened or unfastened by twisting the leather.

Come by the shop to see them in action on our sample “Range Wrap.” See you there!

Vogue Knitting and Interweave Crochet Home.

Posted by Julia on November 8, 2014

The winter magazines are still pouring in, and the two latest are Vogue Knitting and Interweave Crochet Home.

Vogue Knitting features patterns for cold-weather garments and accessories, along with a brioche lace tutorial from Nancy Marchant.

I always like to see what Meg Swansen’s Vogue column covers; this issue, it’s provisional cast-ons, a handy technique.

Interweave Crochet Home is a special issue on crocheted home accessories, from blankets and pillows to coasters, placemats, baskets, and more.

Knitting and crochet make very different fabrics, and in many cases, I think crochet is particularly well-suited to home goods. It can be sturdy and structural–essential for something like a rug–and tends to go somewhat faster than knitting, making a big project like blankets or curtains less daunting.

Come by the shop to see these and other new magazines! See you there.

Binkwaffle bags.

Posted by Julia on November 6, 2014

Some months ago, a knitter came into the shop with a very cool project bag. It was dumpling-shaped, reversible, made of sturdy, soft cotton fabric in fun colors. Everyone in the shop admired it, so I jotted the brand name down: Binkwaffle. I’m happy to report that we now carry those very cool Binkwaffle project bags here at the shop, in small and large sizes.

We visited the Binkwaffle booth at TNNA and picked out four color combinations to start with.

The small size is perfect for carrying a shawl-in-progress, or pair of socks, while the larger size is big enough for a good-sized sweater.

Come by the shop to see these bags for yourself! See you there.

Churchmouse patterns.

Posted by Julia on November 3, 2014

We’re delighted to announce that we now carry single patterns from Churchmouse!

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas is a yarn shop in Washington state with an impressive line of knit and crochet patterns, from garments and accessories to home decor and baby things.

Many Churchmouse patterns are simple, and I mean that in the best way–the kind of “simple” that lets beautiful yarn take center stage, and ensures that knitters and crocheters find success and satisfaction in their finished pieces.

One Churchmouse pattern has been particularly popular here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop: the “Easy Folded Poncho.”

For a couple of months now, we’ve had one on display knit in Acadia, Fibre Company’s distinctive DK tweed. The stockinette fabric shows off Acadia’s silk slubs, making a special garment that’s easy to knit and wear.

Come by the shop to browse the single-pattern binders, and remember Churchmouse patterns when you’re seeking reliable uses for spectacular yarns. See you there!