Tag Archives: chainette

Hello, Isager Eco Baby.

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Another new yarn from Isager! Meet Eco Baby.

Isager Eco Baby:

  • DK weight
  • undyed
  • chainette
  • 68% baby alpaca, 32% organic cotton
  • 164 yards/50g
  • $10 each

Eco Baby is a cousin to Eco Soft, both composed of baby alpaca and organic cotton, chain-plied into lofty, elastic yarns. Eco Baby is a smaller gauge, less fuzzy, and somehow even softer than Eco Soft!

“Field Sweater,” by Camilla Vad, photo © Camilla Vad

Like many of you, we first became aware of this yarn when we saw it in Camilla Vad’s “Field Sweater,” a pullover with a stunning texture pattern at the yoke, reminiscent of wheat sheaves.  There’s a “Field Cardigan,” too, along with “Field Mittens,” “Field Beret,” and “Field Slipover” – Eco Baby is a lovely choice for any of these patterns.

Anne gilded the lily on her “Field Slipover,” adding a strand of Isager Silk Mohair to her already soft Eco Baby. The result is a decadent, cuddly fabric with a fuzzy halo that still shows the texture pattern beautifully.

You have to touch this one for yourself – come by the shop to give it a squeeze!

Our supply of Isager Silk Mohair is at an all time high, with more colors than ever. Matching shades of Eco Baby and Silk Mohair blend together seamlessly, but these undyed shades can be livened up with colors of a similar value, as well. Here are some ideas!

There are so many more color combinations to try – look for Isager Eco Baby and Silk Mohair in the DK and lace weight sections, respectively. We can’t wait to see what you put together!

Hello, Isager Eco Soft!

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We love all things Isager here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, and are excited to bring a new Isager yarn into the shop – meet Eco Soft!

Isager Eco Soft:

  • aran weight
  • 56% alpaca, 44% cotton
  • 137 yards/50 g
  • $9.50 each

Eco Soft’s construction is a little unusual – undyed alpaca fiber is blown into an organic cotton chainette tube, resulting in a beautiful tonal yarn with a stunning halo, the cotton core seeming to glow through the alpaca fuzz. Garments and accessories made with Eco Soft are soft, cuddly, and warm, but lightweight.

Bailey has cast on for PetiteKnit’s “Cloud Sweater,” an oversized drop-shoulder pullover with a rolled funnel-neck. She was able to get the pattern gauge (17 stitches = 4″) with Eco Soft alone, though if you’re seeking extra warmth, you can certainly add a strand of Silk Mohair.

What else to knit with Eco Soft? Here are a few ideas…

Look for Isager Eco Soft in the aran weight section here at HYS! We keep many other Isager yarns in stock as well, including Silk Mohair, Alpaca 2, Alpaca 3, Jensen, Boucle, and more…

Back in stock: Isager Alpaca 3.

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Once again, PetiteKnit has made Isager yarn popular enough to clear our shelves. Having nearly sold out of Alpaca 3 in the past month or so, we are relieved to announce that we now have a fresh supply!

Isager Alpaca 3:

  • bulky weight
  • chainette
  • 50% alpaca, 50% wool
  • 137 yards/50 grams
  • $10 each

Due to it’s chainette construction, Alpaca 3 is soft, lofty, and highly elastic – a pleasure to work with, all told.

“Novice Cardigan – Chunky Edition,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit.

Though it’s lovely on its own, it’s irresistibly soft when paired with Isager Silk Mohair, as PetiteKnit knows well.

“Sunday Sweater,” by PetiteKnit, photo © PetiteKnit.

Here are a few color combinations to consider when planning a “Sunday Sweater,” “Novice Sweater – Chunky Edition,” “Novice Cardigan – Chunky Edition,” or “Holiday Slipover.”

If mohair isn’t your thing, you can substitute Isager Alpaca 1, a lace weight 100% alpaca yarn. It will add a little weight to the Alpaca 3, and can alter the color if you like, but won’t be as fuzzy as Silk Mohair.

Come by the shop to see and touch these yarns for yourself, and plan your next project! Look for Silk Mohair and Alpaca 1 in the lace weight section, and Alpaca 3 in the bulky weight section.

Reed and Pebble, Grass and Stone.

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“Grass and Stone” is a brand new pattern by Elizabeth Elliott, a bias-knit scarf with subtle part-row stripes of single and doubled yarn at each end.

The yarns are Shibui Reed and Pebble, the first a linen chainette and the second a tweedy blend of recycled silk, merino, and cashmere. Reed brings drape and Pebble brings softness, creating a unique fiber blend that’s just right for a warm-weather accessory.

“Grass and Stone” is 8″ wide, and available in two lengths – 72″ or 90″. The 72″ scarf requires 2 Reed and 3 Pebble, while the 90″ scarf requires 3 of each.

Shibui Reed: fingering weight, chainette, 100% linen, 246 yards/50g; $20 each

Shibui Pebble: lace weight, 48% recycled silk, 36% merino wool, 16% cashmere, 224 yards/25g; $21.50 each

Reed and Pebble make an intriguing combination, even in matching colors – these fibers each take the dye a little differently.

Combining different colors can be good fun, of course – here’s a low-contrast pair that should blend together in a gentle marl.

The pattern is free when you buy Reed and Pebble for the project – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order. Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Sale Spotlight: Isager Alpaca 3.

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Everything in our shop is 15% off during July, our Annual Inventory Sale! All month, I’ll be shining a spotlight on the yarns we have in stock – today, let’s look at Isager Alpaca 3!

Isager Alpaca 3:

  • bulky weight
  • chainette construction
  • 50% alpaca, 50% wool
  • 137 yards/50 grams
  • $10 each

This yarn has tremendous elasticity, making it a pleasure to work with and surely a pleasure to wear. The label doesn’t have any recommendation for needle size or gauge, so Anne got out a pair of US 10 needles and started swatching. She did a little garter stitch, a little stockinette, a few other texture patterns, and still wanted to keep knitting – a good sign! After blocking, the gauge in stockinette measures about 4 stitches per inch, though a range of 3.5 – 4.5 stitches per inch is also appropriate for this yarn.

What to knit with Isager Alpaca 3? Here are some ideas!

Order online for local pickup or shipping via USPS Priority Mail!

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges or returns. Thanks!

Hello, Isager Alpaca 3.

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This week we welcomed a brand new yarn from Isager – meet Alpaca 3!

Alpaca 3 is a bulky weight blend of alpaca and wool, soft and lofty due to its chainette construction. This yarn has tremendous elasticity, making it a pleasure to work with and surely a pleasure to wear.

Alpaca 3 is one in a series of alpaca yarns from Danish yarn company Isager. We also carry the lace weight Alpaca 1 and fingering weight Alpaca 2.

The label doesn’t have any recommendation for needle size or gauge, so Anne got out a pair of US 10 needles and started swatching. She did a little garter stitch, a little stockinette, a few other texture patterns, and still wanted to keep knitting – a good sign!

A photograph can’t do this yarn justice; you must come in and touch. See you at the shop!

Shibui Sample of the Month: Torrent.

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May is here, and with it, a new Shibui Sample of the Month! We offer a 10% discount on Shibui yarn purchased for our featured sample until the end of the month.

This month’s sample is “Torrent,” a textured triangular shawlette knit on the bias. The pattern is available for free when you buy Shibui Rain here at our shop.

It’s made with two skeins of Shibui Rain, a DK weight mercerized cotton unlike any mercerized cotton we’ve seen. Its silky lustre and chainette construction set it apart from more traditional plied cottons, adding a bit of elasticity where plant fibers typically have none.

Come by the shop to before May 26th to try on “Torrent” and get Shibui Rain at 10% off to make one of your own!

 

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges, returns, or special orders. Thanks!

Shibui Sample of the Month: Tempo.

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November is here, and with it, a new Shibui Sample of the Month! We offer a 10% discount on Shibui yarn purchased for our featured sample until the end of the month.

This month’s sample is “Tempo,” a two-color cowl knit with Shibui Maai. Maai is a DK weight blend of alpaca and merino, soft and lofty due to its chainette construction. This yarn has tremendous elasticity, making it a pleasure to work with and to wear. The colorwork effect is achieved through slipped stitches, a technique that requires using only one color of yarn per row.

Come by the shop this month to see “Tempo” and get Shibui Maai at 10% off to make one of your own!

 

Just a reminder–all sales are final on discounted items; there can be no exchanges, returns, or special orders. Thanks!

Hello, Shibui Rain.

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We’re delighted to announce the arrival of Shibui’s newest yarn, Rain.

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Rain is a dk weight mercerized cotton, but it’s unlike any mercerized cotton we’ve seen. First, its chainette construction sets it apart from more traditional plied cottons, adding a bit of elasticity where plant fibers typically have none. Second, its smooth, shiny texture suggests silk more than cotton; this is truly elegant fiber, and it makes up into gently draping fabric.

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Shibui’s Spring/Summer 2016 pattern collection makes good use of Rain, along with Shibui’s other warm-weather yarns, Twig and Linen.

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With warm weather in mind, most of these garments are loose-fitting tunics and tops, knit at somewhat open gauges for maximum drape.

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Some patterns work with just one strand of yarn, while others mix two yarns together for a unique fiber blend.

“Spectrum” is one such pattern, working Rain and Silk Cloud together for a drapey scarf or wrap with a mohair halo. The pattern is free with the purchase of Shibui yarns for the project.

Anne has already begun knitting two of these new designs, eager to get Rain on her needles.

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“Nova” is a sleeveless tunic with a neckline suggesting a mandarin collar, for which Anne selected one of her favorite, most-worn colors, “Abyss.”

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She’s also begun work on “Horizon,” a colorblock pullover, using Linen and Cima in the unexpected shade of “Apple.” “Equinox” is also on Anne’s to-knit list, I believe; yes, she’s fallen hard for Shibui’s Spring/Summer collection, indeed.

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Look for Rain in the DK weight section here at the shop!

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