Back in stock: Bamboo Pop!

Posted by Julia on March 28, 2023

Just in time for spring, we’ve got a fresh supply of Universal Bamboo Pop!

Universal Bamboo Pop:

DK weight
solid and variegated shades
50% cotton, 50% bamboo
292 yds/100g
$11 each

We chose a mix of solid and variegated shades, designed to stand alone in one-color projects or pair up for high and low contrast combinations. Anne is working on a “Hitchhiker” shawl with Bamboo Pop – check it out next time you’re here at the shop!

What else to make with Bamboo Pop? Here are some ideas!

Tees and tanks:

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – top-down tee with ribbed circular yoke
“Simple Tee,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – cap- or long-sleeved tee, worked flat and seamed
“Me Oh My Tee,” by Park Williams – cropped tee
“Yume,” by Isabell Kraemer – lace yoke tee
“Nova,” by Shellie Anderson – sleeveless top with high/low hem and collar
“My Little Secret Crop,” by Jessie Maed – ribbed cropped tank top

Accessories:

“Easy Folded Poncho,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – stockinette poncho with optional cowl
“Two-Color Cotton Cowl,” by Purl Soho – two-color brioche cowl
“Loreley,” by Melanie Berg – two-color triangular lace shawl
“Boneyard Shawl,” by Stephen West – triangular textured shawl
“Once Were Weavers,” by Francoise Danoy – triangular lace and drop stitch shawl

Come by the shop to plan your warm-weather knitting! We look forward to seeing you there.

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Scout.

Posted by Julia on March 14, 2023

We recently unpacked a box full of Kelbourne Woolens Scout, the soft and sturdy wool that’s become a staple in our DK weight section.

Kelbourne Woolens Scout

DK weight
2ply, worsted spun
100% wool
274 yards/100 grams
$18 each

This order brought us some new colors as well as old favorites, rounding out Scout’s color palette in a satisfying way. We now have over two dozen shades!

This soft yet unfussy DK weight wool works up beautifully in everything from colorwork and cables to simple stockinette – keep scrolling for a fresh batch of pattern ideas!

Garments:

“Sheep Camp Sweater,” by Jennifer Berg – colorwork yoke pullover with arrow motif
“Kaav,” by Kate Davies – colorwork cardigan
“Arboreal,” by Jennifer Steingass – colorwork yoke pullover with leaf motif
“Bean & Olive,” by Andrea Mowry – child’s colorwork yoke pullover with heart motif
“Louvre Sweater,” by PetiteKnit – top-down raglan pullover with mock turtleneck
“Moby Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – cabled vest

Accessories:

“Ampersand Wrap,” by Tif Neilan – asymmetrical triangular shawl with garter stitch stripes and herringbone stitch
“Pressed Flowers,” by Amy Christoffers – triangular shawl with mosaic flower motif
“Dustland Shawl,” by Stephen West – crescent shaped textured shawl
“Codlin Heid,” by Kate Davies – colorwork hat with geometric motif
“Gro Hat,” by Fiber Tales – textured hat with plant motif

Look for Kelbourne Woolens Scout in the DK weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry. You can also order online for local pickup or shipping – just use our online order form!

Cumulus and friends.

Posted by Julia on February 3, 2023

Fyberspates Cumulus is the newest yarn here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, a soft and fluffy lace weight alpaca/silk blend. Though it’s lovely on its own, it plays well with others – here are some yarn and pattern ideas for holding Cumulus together with heavier yarns!

Cumulus + fingering weight:

“Oslo Hat – mohair edition,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette hat
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – segmented ribbed hat
“Pink Fizz,” by Andrea Mowry – cabled pullover
“Balloon Sweater,” by Petiteknit – pullover with balloon sleeves

Cumulus is shown here with Isager Alpaca 2 and Kelbourne Woolens Cricket (above) and Isager Merilin and Kelbourne Woolens Perennial (below).

Cumulus + DK weight:

“Kobuk,” by Caitlin Hunter – bobbled hat
“Honey Glow,” by Tamy Gore – lace and brioche shawl
“Novice Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – stockinette vest
“Ingrid Slipover,” by PetiteKnit – textured vest

Cumulus is shown here with Fibre Co. Acadia and Brooklyn Tweed Arbor (above), and Kelbourne Woolens Scout and Isager Jensen (below).

Cumulus + worsted weight:

“On the C Train,” by Espace Tricot – ribbed beanie
“November Balaclava,” by PetiteKnit – fisherman’s rib balaclava
“Ghostwood Mittens,” by Kiyomi Burgin – stockinette mittens with cable detail
“Cedro,” by Thea Colman – textured pullover

Cumulus is shown here with Malabrigo Rios and Berroco Ultra Alpaca (above), and Brooklyn Tweed Tones and Shelter (below).

We can’t wait to see what other color and yarn combinations you come up with – see you at the shop!

Back in stock: Brooklyn Tweed Arbor.

Posted by Julia on January 13, 2023

We’re delighted to have a fresh batch of Brooklyn Tweed Arbor on our shelves!

Brooklyn Tweed Arbor:

DK weight
100% Targhee wool
145 yards/50 g
$18.75 each

This shipment brought us ten of the most popular shades of Arbor, from moody neutrals to saturated earth tones. You can see all of the colors Arbor comes in on the Brooklyn Tweed website – we have most of them here at the shop, and will happily check on any colors and quantities you’re seeking!

Arbor is known for its springy elasticity, soft hand, and stellar stitch definition. We’ve seen so many incredible garments made with Arbor over the years – here are some of the most popular patterns:

“Tincture,” by Andrea Mowry – two-color mosaic hat
“Hirombe,” by Jared Flood – twisted rib hat
“Guernsey Wrap,” by Jared Flood – textured wrap
“Kirigami,” by Gudrun Johnston – bottom-up seamless pullover with textured yoke
“Geiger,” by Norah Gaughan – tailored, intricately cabled cardigan, knit in pieces
“Soldotna Crop,” by Caitlin Hunter – top-down, short-sleeved, cropped colorwork pullover
“Dog Star,” by Tin Can Knits – bottom-up seamless pullover with colorwork yoke

Look for Arbor in the DK weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with lots of other Brooklyn Tweed yarns – we have Tones and Tones Light, Dapple, Peerie, Loft, Shelter, Quarry, and more!

Sark, by Kate Davies.

Posted by Julia on October 28, 2022

Kate Davies’ newest book is here! Let’s look inside Sark ($28).

Davies’ newest collection is focused on twisted stitches, shown in delicate natural shades of wool that show off the embossed appearance of the texture patterns.

Davies took inspiration from designer Norah Gaughan and her recent Twisted Stitch Sourcebook. Sark includes an interview between Davies and Gaughan, and it’s a pleasure to listen in on their conversation.

All of the projects in this book are knit with Kate Davies’ own line of yarn, Ooskit, a DK weight wool. We don’t have it here at the shop, though we wish we could, but we have a great many excellent substitutes – Isager Jensen, Kelbourne Woolens Scout, Brooklyn Tweed Arbor, Fibre Co. Acadia, and more. We’re happy to help you come up with yarn and color substitutions!

Come by the shop to browse this and other Kate Davies books – she’s a favorite of ours, so we do try to keep her books in good stock! Currently we have Inkling, Bluestockings, Yokes, West Highland Way, Milarrochy Heids, Warm Hands, Inspired by Islay, Ten Years in the Making, Shore, Colours of Shetland, The Book of Haps, and Davies’ memoir, Handywoman.

Back in stock: Malabrigo Caprino!

Posted by Julia on October 18, 2022

It feels like we unpack at least one Malabrigo order each week – everyone loves their memorable colorways and soft fibers. This week’s Malabrigo box held a sizable restock of Caprino, a super soft merino/cashmere blend.

Malabrigo Caprino:

DK weight
hand-dyed, variegated, speckled, and semi-solid colorways
80% merino, 20% cashmere
159 yards/50 g
$18 each

I knit Andrea Mowry’s “Nightshift” shawl with Malabrigo Caprino a couple of years ago, and it now hangs at the shop, inspiring knitters to make their own. It was fun to combine semisolid, variegated, and speckled colorways in this slip stitch pattern and see how they worked together.

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

“Sophie Scarf,” by PetiteKnit – small garter stitch neckwarmer
“Novemberist Hat,” by Vanessa Smith – colorwork hat and mitts
“Pātikitiki Hat,” by Francoise Danoy – colorwork hat and cowl
“Tincture,” by Andrea Mowry – mosaic hat
“Dissent Cowl (knit),” by Carissa Browning – slip-stitch cowl inspired by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s famous collar
“Ikigai Cowl,” by Breean Elyse Miller – openwork ribbed cowl

Look for Malabrigo Caprino in the DK weight section here at our shop, and pick up a free copy of Breean Elyse Miller’s “Ikigai Cowl” pattern with your purchase!

Back in stock: Fibre Co. Acadia!

Posted by Julia on September 20, 2022

We’re delighted to announce that Fibre Co. Acadia is back in stock!

Fibre Co. Acadia:

DK weight
60% merino, 20% alpaca, 20% silk
145 yards/50 g
$17.50 each

Acadia has long been a favorite yarn in our DK weight section, especially for projects where softness is key and some drape is welcome. The silk slubs takes the dye differently than the other fibers, giving most colorways a rustic, tweedy appearance, which belies its luxuriously soft hand.

Garments knit with Acadia have a mix of structure and drape. We have a couple of samples knit in Acadia at the shop so you can see and feel this in person; look for the Churchmouse “Easy Folded Poncho” and “Quaking Aspen” shawl next time you’re here.

Here are a few other pattern ideas for Fibre Co. Acadia!

“Acadia Loop,” by Elizabeth Smith – unisex hemmed neckwarmer
“Copenhagen calling,” by Isabell Kraemer – 2 color mosaic and lace cowl
“Mended Plaid Cowl,” by Jamie Lomax – stranded and textured cowl
“Anker’s Hat,” by PetiteKnit – ribbed beanie
“Norie,” by Gudrun Johnston – slouchy textured lace beanie
“Simple Gifts,” by Dee O’Keefe – triangular shawl with leaf lace panel
“One Sweater DK,” by Becky Baker – basic stockinette raglan pullover in 15 sizes from Age 1-2 – 64″ chest circumference
“Beekeeper Cardigan,” by Marie Greene – textured saddle shoulder cardigan

Come by to give Acadia a squeeze and plan your next project! We’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays; masks required for entry.

New colors in Brooklyn Tweed Dapple!

Posted by Julia on July 29, 2022

Dapple is Brooklyn Tweed’s DK weight blend of organic cotton and merino, a soft and fluffy yarn that’s been very popular around here. We’re delighted to report that three new colors just arrived!

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple:

DK weight
woolen-spun, tonally dyed
60% merino wool, 40% organic cotton
165 yards/50 g
$15.25 each

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Verdigris

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Periwinkle

Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in Petal

Dapple is tonally dyed, meaning skeins in the same colorway differ from one another even in the same dye lot. Some are lighter, some are darker, some almost look marled! This isn’t immediately apparent when looking at one skein of Dapple at a time, so I’ve laid out big groups in a few colorways to give a better sense of the variety. You can see each color laid out this way on our first Dapple blog post, and we’re happy to show you all the skeins we have in a given color when you’re here shopping in person.

Lately, Dapple has been popular for Midori Hirose’s “Ranunculus” sweater, Viktoria Chevchuk’s “Burchett” cardigan, Aude Martin’s “Ashfork” vest, and Tamy Gore’s “Graphic Elements,” a colorwork pullover.

Click here for more pattern ideas, and look for Brooklyn Tweed Dapple in the DK weight section here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop!

HYS Color Club: Loch Lomond + Pressed Flowers.

Posted by Julia on May 20, 2022

The Spring season of HYS Color Club wraps up with a bigger project, a fun change of pace after April’s “Duality” scarf.

Club members got seven skeins of BC Garn Loch Lomond to knit Any Christoffers’ “Pressed Flowers,” a 2-color triangular shawl covered in mosaic stitch flowers.

A high contrast color combination is important for this project, ensuring that the pattern shows clearly. It was so fun to pick pairs for each of our Club members in these rich, tweedy colorways – I can’t wait to see their shawls take shape!

Of course, you can make a “Pressed Flowers” even if you didn’t join the HYS Color Club – just pick out two colors you love in Loch Lomond or another DK weight yarn.

BC Garn Loch Lomond: DK weight, 2 ply tweed, 100% wool, 170 yards/50 grams; $14 each. For “Pressed Flowers,” you’ll need 4 skeins in Main Color and 3 skeins in Contrast Color.

Come by the shop between 11 – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays to pick your own combination!

Back in stock: Bamboo Pop!

Posted by Julia on March 25, 2022

Just in time for spring, we’ve got a fresh supply of Universal Bamboo Pop!

Universal Bamboo Pop:

DK weight
solid and variegated shades
50% cotton, 50% bamboo
292 yds/100g
$10 each

We chose a mix of solid and variegated shades, designed to stand alone in one-color projects or pair up for high and low contrast combinations.

Bamboo Pop is made of equal parts cotton and bamboo, plant fibers that are lustrous and have beautiful drape. These qualities make Bamboo Pop ideal for summer tops and accessories. Here are some pattern ideas!

Tees and tanks:

“Anker’s Summer Shirt,” by PetiteKnit – top-down tee with ribbed circular yoke
“Simple Tee,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – cap- or long-sleeved tee, worked flat and seamed
“Me Oh My Tee,” by Park Williams – cropped tee
“Yume,” by Isabell Kraemer – lace yoke tee
“Nova,” by Shellie Anderson – sleeveless top with high/low hem and collar
“My Little Secret Crop,” by Jessie Maed – ribbed cropped tank top

Accessories:

“Easy Folded Poncho,” by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas – stockinette poncho with optional cowl
“Two-Color Cotton Cowl,” by Purl Soho – two-color brioche cowl
“Loreley,” by Melanie Berg – two-color triangular lace shawl
“Boneyard Shawl,” by Stephen West – triangular textured shawl
“Once Were Weavers,” by Francoise Danoy – triangular lace and drop stitch shawl

Come by the shop to plan your warm-weather knitting! We look forward to seeing you there.