Author Archives: Julia

Annual Inventory Sale!

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July is here, and that means it’s time for our Annual Inventory Sale!

From July 1 – 29, everything in the shop is discounted by 15%. If you’ve had your eye on a special skein, or have been planning a big project or two, now is the time to take the leap!

Pick up a few limited edition skeins from the Koigu Collector’s Club, treat yourself to a new book or the latest issues of Pom Pom, MDK, and Amirisu, stock up on your favorite yarns, grab some Knitting Barber Cords while you’re at it.

We’re also offering a 50% discount on select books! Look for the brown bookshelves in the front room of the shop – they’re packed with all kinds of pattern and technique books, so give yourself plenty of time to browse.

Come by during July to get a great deal on your favorite yarns, needles, notions, books and magazines! We’re closed Tuesday, July 4, but are otherwise 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!

Back in stock: Isager Bomulin.

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Warm weather calls for plant fiber and lightweight yarns, so we’ve stocked up on Isager Bomulin, a light fingering weight blend of cotton and linen.

Isager Bomulin:

  • light fingering weight
  • 65% cotton, 35% linen
  • 230 yards/50g
  • $11 each

Plant fibers like these have little elasticity and a lot of drape, making them perfect for spring shawls and scarves, or loose-fitting warm-weather garments.

I’m a little late to the party, but I’ve just knit a “Ranunculus” as a sample for the shop, Midori Hirose’s always-popular textured yoke pullover. I picked a salmon pink shade of Isager Bomulin, holding it together with slightly lighter pink Isager Highland Wool for a bit of added softness, structure, and variation in color.

I’m really pleased with how these close-but-not-matching shades blend together in this garment, looking solid from a distance but gently marled upon closer inspection. Here are some more color combinations in Bomulin and Highland Wool that should have a similar effect!

Isager Merilin, a merino/linen blend, would also play well with Bomulin; here are four more low contrast combinations to consider for a “Ranunculus” of your own, or perhaps a PetiteKnit “Breeze Bag,” which calls for a similar combination of yarns.

Here’s Margaretta’s recently completed “Breeze Bag,” knit with Bomulin and Merilin held together throughout – perfect for farmer’s market flowers!

What else to knit with Bomulin? Here are a few ideas!

Look for Isager Bomulin, Highland Wool, and Merilin in the fingering weight section here at HYS!

Pom Pom Quarterly: Summer 2023.

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The latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly is here!

This vibrant summer issue is packed with warm weather garments for crocheters and knitters alike, all inspired by fruits.

The cover sweater, Ana D’s striking “Limonata,” is crocheted with Kelbourne Woolens Mojave, a sport weight blend of cotton and linen. The brand new KW Skipper would work, too! I also spotted Berroco Modern Cotton in this issue, Marzena Kołaczek’s “Guayaba” tee.

Pom Pom has always been an interdisciplinary magazine, featuring recipes and a variety of crafty tutorials alongside their knitting patterns, but this issue in particular features more crochet than usual. We love to see it!

Pom Pom Quarterly is $25.50 – come by to snag a copy between 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. We’re also taking orders online for local pickup or shipping. Along with this issue, we have a cubby full of back issues available, now marked down 50%. See you at the shop!

Marling with Sandnes Garn Sunday.

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A few months ago, a new PetiteKnit pattern caught my eye and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Melange Sweater” is simple enough, a marled stockinette drop shoulder pullover, but the high contrast combination of colors intrigued me, along with a few other design details.

 “Melange Sweater” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit

I chose Sandnes Garn Sunday for a “Melange Sweater” of my own and have been happily stitching away ever since, enjoying the shoulder shaping at the yoke, the soft yarn, the bouncy fabric, and above all, watching the colors come together. There’s a pleasing randomness to it, a bit of blurring and pooling – it’s keeping me interested even though the stitching is simple!

I picked a high contrast color combination for my “Melange Sweater,” similar to the sweater in the pattern photo. There are so many possible combinations in our Sandnes Garn Sunday cubbies – here are some high contrast ideas!

Low contrast marls are subtle, but lovely – the resulting fabric looks more solid from a distance.

Here are some other PetiteKnit pattern ideas for Sandnes Garn Sunday held double:

“Weekend Hat” by PetiteKnit, knit with Sandnes Garn Sunday held double; photo © PetiteKnit

Look for Sandnes Garn Sunday in the fingering weight section here at HYS – we can’t wait to see what color combinations you come up with for your own marled knits!

Amirisu, Issue 26.

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A new issue of Amirisu is here!

Amirisu is a knitting magazine based in Japan, each issue filled with articles, interviews, and patterns from designers all over the world.

 

This issue features designs by Veera Valimaki, Emily Greene, Fiona Alice, General Hogbuffer, Sari Nordlund, and more.

I spotted two designs in familiar yarns: a lace shawl in Brooklyn Tweed Dapple, a perfectly balanced merino/cotton blend, and a stunning dress in Isager Silk Mohair.

Amirisu is $24 – swing by to pick up a copy or order online for local pickup or shipping!

Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide No. 24: Spark.

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The twenty fourth installment of the Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide series is here!

MDK’s series of Field Guides are pocket-sized booklets focused on a particular theme, knitting technique, or designer. This newest Field Guide features designs by Olga Buraya-Kefelian – let’s take a look inside!

Olga Buraya-Kefelian is known for incorporating unusual texture and bold shapes into her knitwear designs, which often evoke sculpture or architecture. Perhaps you’ve seen her “YABANE cowl,” “KORO KORO,” “Aranami Shawl,” or “Sakasama Jacket” on Ravelry – if those pique your interest, you’ll want to pick up this little collection!

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!

Hello, Kelbourne Woolens Skipper.

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Meet the latest from Kelbourne Woolens, a soft, versatile cotton in 16 colors!

Kelbourne Woolens Skipper:

  • sport weight
  • 4ply
  • 100% unmercerized Tanguis cotton
  • 137 yds/50g
  • $8.50 each

When developing their first 100% cotton yarn, the Kelbourne Woolens team was thoughtful in selecting Tanguis cotton from Peru, an economical and environmentally friendly choice. Tanguis cotton was developed to be more resistant to cotton wilt, and thus requires less water to grow in Peru’s climate. The fiber is absorbent, moisture wicking, and resists pilling, due to a “long, but not too long, staple fiber length,” in the words of the folks at KW.

What to make with Skipper? Here are some pattern ideas in adult sizes:

Soft, smooth, machine washable cotton is ideal for baby things, too – here are a few patterns to consider:

Look for Kelbourne Woolens Skipper in the sport weight section here at HYS, along with Mojave, KW’s cotton/linen blend!

Textured Knits, by Paula Pereira.

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The latest book from Laine is Paula Pereira’s Textured Knits ($50), an enticing collection of 20 garments and accessories.

Paula Pereira’s love of texture is clear from the designs she’s published on Ravelry and those we’ve seen in Laine Magazine, Pom Pom Quarterly, Amirisu, and Making over the years.

This beautifully photographed book is full of intriguing textural combinations – knits embellished with a bit of crochet, embroidery, or even weaving.

“In every pattern in this collection there is a textured accent, bringing a 3D aspect to the fabric,” writes Pereira. “Sometimes it is a delicate detail, other times it is the overall texture!”

I was especially taken with the stitch pattern on her “Cobogó” cardigan, knit with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter.

We may not have every yarn called for in Textured Knits, but we’re always happy to help you find the perfect substitute!

Textured Knits is $50 – look for it here at our shop, among the latest publications, like Mouche & Friends, Making Memories, 52 Weeks of Socks, Vol. II, Knitted Kalevala, The Knitted Fabric, Traditions Revisited, and more. We’re also happy to take your order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Isager Japansk Bomuld.

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Our most recent Isager order included a bundle of Japansk Bomuld, a lustrous lace weight cotton tape.

Isager Japansk Bomuld:

  • lace weight
  • flat tape
  • 100% cotton
  • 344 yards, 50 g
  • $15 each

Japansk Bomuld has been around for about five years, but remains one of the most unique plant fiber yarns in our shop. The knit fabric is crunchy and cool to the touch, ideal for spring and summer tops and accessories.

I used 3 shades of Japansk Bomuld to knit a Churchmouse “Alexandra’s Airplane Scarf” as a shop sample, a trio that made high contrast stripes towards the middle of the scarf, and low contrast at one end.

Though the Isager Japansk Bomuld palette is small, there are plenty of intriguing color trios available – here are a few to consider.

What else to knit with Japansk Bomuld? Hold it together with Silk Mohair for Midori Hirose’s “Ranunculus” or Ragnhild Vaaland’s “Blink” pullover, or hold 3 strands together for PetiteKnit’s “French Market Bag.”

Look for Isager Japansk Bomuld in the lace weight section here at HYS!

Mouche & Friends: Seamless Toys to Knit and Love, by Cinthia Vallet.

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Cinthia Vallet’s charming debut book is here – let’s page through Mouche & Friends: Seamless Toys to Knit and Love ($34).

This delightful collection includes instructions for 12 knitted toy animals, along with pleasingly intricate garments and accessories for each.

Cinthia Vallet’s toy-making process is unique and totally seamless, and she walks you through the techniques step-by-step.

Come by the shop to get a closer look at Mouche & Friends: Seamless Toys to Knit and Love, or order online for local pickup or shipping. Hope to see you at the shop!