CrochetScene.

Posted by Julia on August 2, 2014

We’ve been anxiously awaiting our new Fall yarns, which should start arriving any minute now, but the deliveries this week have been small–one magazine after another, it seems!

Our third new magazine this week is CrochetScene, a special issue packed with crochet projects: bags, shawls, vests, lace tops, skirts, pillows, baskets, and more.

The lacy poncho above was crocheted with Fibre Company Meadow, making a lightweight openwork fabric.

For new crocheters, there’s a tutorial showing how to make one of the most fundamental crochet motifs, the granny square, followed by a series of patterns that riff on this simple shape.

Crocheters and crocheters-to-be, come take a look at this new magazine for project ideas!

If you’re inspired to learn to crochet but don’t know where to start, look no further than our class schedule; we’ve got a Beginning Crochet class coming up in September. See you at the shop!

For crocheters.

Posted by Julia on June 22, 2014

Two new titles came in this week, speaking directly to crocheters: the Summer 2014 issue of Interweave Crochet, and a new book, Reversible Color Crochet.

Interweave Crochet came in this week full of ideas for summertime stitching.

With a focus on openwork and lace, this issue of Interweave Crochet features patterns for tops, shawls, jewelry, and more, including a tutorial on joining to crochet in rounds.

Laurinda Reddig’s Reversible Color Crochet shows a new technique for what might be described as crocheted intarsia. Reddig’s fabric, though, is identical on both sides, without the messy-looking wrong-side you can get with knitted intarsia.

Reddig gives clear guidance for how to work with multiple colors at once, and shares patterns for quilt-blocks that can be combined for unique crocheted afghans.

Come by the shop for inspiration, and to plan your next crochet project!

Crochet accessories and knit lace: two new books.

Posted by Julia on June 10, 2014

Two new books from Interweave have found a home at the shop: It Girl Crochet and New Vintage Lace.

It Girl Crochet boasts 23 patterns for crocheted accessories, from hats and mitts to scarves, cowls, and shawls. I spotted some HYS yarns as I flipped through the patterns; a hat in Mirasol Nuna, a shawl in Malabrigo Lace, and another in Shibui Silk Cloud.

Andrea Jurgrau’s New Vintage Lace is a collection of knitting patterns inspired by traditional lace doily patterns.

I was particularly impressed by the amount of information up front about the materials and design of garments like these, including detailed discussions of different fiber types and their various attributes, kinds of beads and how to apply them, gauge, swatching, blocking, and more.

The patterns are lovely, as well, with many familiar yarns at play; a hat in Malabrigo Silky Merino, and two shawls in Jade Sapphire Lacey Lamb.

Come by the shop to peruse the latest books and magazines, including It Girl Crochet and New Vintage Lace–you’ll find them on the teacart. See you there!

Vogue Crochet.

Posted by Julia on May 9, 2014

Another Spring magazine has found its way to the shop: Vogue Crochet is here.

This issue is full of crocheted garments and accessories, from sweaters and jackets to tunics and shawls.

I also spotted some helpful technique articles: one on crocheted edgings, and one showing how to increase and decrease in pattern to shape crocheted pieces.

Come by the shop to take a closer look at this issue of Vogue Crochet. You’ll find it on the teacart among the latest books and magazines. See you there!

Interweave Crochet.

Posted by Julia on March 21, 2014

The latest issue of Interweave Crochet has arrived!

This Spring 2014 issue is full of crochet accessories and garments, many of them in fine, lightweight yarns and stitched in openwork patterns for warm-weather wear. I was particularly impressed by the garments in this issue, for adults and children alike, and spotted some familiar yarns, too–an elegant sweater in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, and another in Fibre Company Acadia.

Look for this issue of Interweave Crochet on the teacart among the latest publications!

Two new books for crocheters.

Posted by Julia on February 27, 2014

We keep the newest books and magazines on the teacart in the front room, which is a table you’ll see right when you walk into the shop, covered in the latest publications. Here are two new books for crocheters that have made a home on the teacart these past few weeks: Modern Baby Crochet and The Big Book of Crochet Stitches.

Stacy Trock’s Modern Baby Crochet is a collection of crocheted nursery accessories, from pillows and blankets to mobiles and toys.

Trock has the patterns organized thematically by color, a pleasing way to showcase these sweet stitches. Most patterns call for worsted weight yarn; the soft and machine-washable Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted would be a great choice, with its wide range of solid colors.

Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss’s Big Book of Crochet Stitches is the crochet stitch dictionary we’ve been looking for.

With crisp color photos and over 350 stitch patterns to swatch and design with, The Big Book of Crochet Stitches is something like the Barbara Walker Treasury of crochet.

From bobbles to chevrons to fans, shells, and picots, The Big Book of Crochet Stitches includes all manner of crochet stitch patterns in a wide variety of textures. Flip through it when you’re looking for inspiration, wanting to try something new, or designing your own scarf, shawl, or blanket.

Come by the shop to check out these new titles, and plan your next crochet project!

New books from Leisure Arts.

Posted by Julia on January 12, 2014

Leisure Arts is a publishing company that specializes in accessible how-to books on a wide range of crafts. We recently stocked up on some knitting and crochet books from Leisure Arts, from the very basic skills to more advanced techniques like entrelac and cables.

With Leisure Arts publications, you can count on clear diagrams and photos to illustrate the techniques in question, along with some patterns that make use of those techniques.

We also got a book on crocheted snowflakes, having just wrapped up a popular class on the subject, and a book of simple children’s sweater patterns.

Pick the Pieces, by Lorna Miser, is a collection of patterns, but also a collection of pattern elements: different sleeves, collars, pockets, necklines, etc. Miser encourages you to mix and match those elements to create exactly the sweater you want in sizes 6 months – 6 years.

Come by the shop to check out the latest books and magazines, and plan your next project!

Back in stock: Ewe Ewe.

Posted by Julia on January 7, 2014

Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted has become a staple here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, admired for its softness, easy-care, and steadily growing selection of solid colors. Ewe Ewe’s pattern support covers a range of projects, from baby blankets to small accessories to adult sweaters, a variety of garments that show the versatility of this plush yarn. Last week, we received a large box from Ewe Ewe, nearly doubling our inventory of the stuff, and bringing every missing color back to this basket.

Anne and I have used Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted for two shop samples. Anne made two “Boston Whaler” hats with just two skeins of Wooly Worsted, inverting the colorway for the second hat. The pink-on-indigo version stayed here at the shop, while the indigo-on-pink hat went to her granddaughter, of course.

Now that Ewe Ewe comes in 20 colors, there are plenty more color combinations to play with, which of course is what I found myself doing as Rosi and I unpacked the yarn.

Ewe Ewe has lots of other patterns that call for two colors or more, including the “Easy as ABC Top-Down Raglan Baby Sweater,” the “Layer Cake Cowl,” and the newly released “Fireside Wristlets,” a free pattern for simple ribbed mitts. If you’re not in the market for a baby hat, but you still want to play the Ewe Ewe color-combining game, consider these!

Our second Ewe Ewe Wooly Worsted sample is the “Wearever Wrap,” a colorful triangular shawl that I crocheted in just a few afternoons at the shop. When I saw the sample “Wearever Wrap” at market in June, I knew I’d like to make one for the shop, and selecting six colors was half the fun.

I used an H hook (5 mm), which was smaller than recommended in the pattern, and still it blocked out to a nice, generous size.

Come by the shop to flip through the Ewe Ewe pattern binder, admire Wooly Worsted in all 20 shades, and plan your next project!

Rustic Modern Crochet.

Posted by Julia on January 3, 2014

The first Interweave publication of the new year has arrived, bringing inspiration for new crochet projects.

Rustic Modern Crochet, by Yumiko Alexander, is a collection of crochet garments, from scarves and hats to tunics and wraps. Alexander uses unusual and unexpected stitch patterns throughout, and a range of yarns from lace to bulky weight.

Come by the shop to take a closer look at Rustic Modern Crochet and peruse our sizable collection of knit and crochet pattern books. Here’s to new projects in the new year!

Interweave Crochet & Crochet Accessories.

Posted by Julia on December 6, 2013

Looking for crochet inspiration? Check out the teacart at the shop, where we show the latest publications, and you’ll find two magazines on the subject.

Crochet Accessories is an annual special issue from Interweave packed with patterns for hats, mitts, cowls, scarves, shawls, wraps, and other accessories. The Winter 2014 issue of Interweave Crochet has a nice selection of accessories as well, along with vests, jackets, and sweaters for adults and children alike.

I was particularly intrigued by these two colorful shawls. The striped one is worked in Tunisian crochet, and calls for lace weight yarn–wouldn’t it be lovely in Isager Alpaca 1, Fibre Company Meadow, or Shibui Cima?

Come by the shop to pick up a magazine, and be inspired to pick up a hook and start stitching. See you there!