Tag Archives: fingering weight

Peavine + Tukuwool Fingering.

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Gudrun Johnston’s “Peavine” is our featured hat pattern for September, the final month of the HYS Hat Club!

HYS Hat Club members received four skeins of Tukuwool Fingering for the project, enough to knit two or three “Peavine” hats with the colors in different arrangements. Here’s a trio in each of the HYS Hat Club color palettes – Warm, Cool, Neutral, and Surprise.

Warm 

Cool

Neutral

Surprise

For HYS Hat Club members, we also included a Knitter’s Graph Paper Journal, and we have some for sale at the shop, as well – knitter’s graph paper has squares that, like knitted stitches, are wider than they are tall. This makes them ideal for penciling in all manner of knitting charts, from cables and lace to intarsia, texture patterns, and – of course – colorwork.

  • Tukuwool Fingering: fingering weight, 100% Finnish wool, 220 yards/50 grams; $12.50 each or $50 for 4 skeins needed to make “Peavine”
  • Knitter’s Graph Paper Journal: $12 each

Order online if one of these colorways piques your interest – we’re also open for drop-in shopping, no appointment required, from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. See you at the shop!

Studio Sock + Studio Sampler.

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Itching to cast on with our newest arrival, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock? Consider Leslie Anne Robinson’s “Studio Sampler,” an asymmetric triangular shawl.

Robinson’s design moves through garter stitch, stripes, and brioche, keeping things interesting with a variety of stitch patterns and color combinations.

Pick three shades that excite you and have fun watching them interact as you knit – they can be high or low contrast, from the same color family or not. Here are a few combinations I came up with!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Truxton Circle, Joyce Scott, and Gwynn Oak.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Petworth, Oliver, and Hollins Market.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Washington Circle, Amy Sherald, and Cedonia.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Bolton Hill, Lauraville, and Ernest Shaw.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Reservoir Hill, Ernest Shawl, and Hollins Market.

Look for Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in the fingering weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays! You can still use our online order form to place orders for local pickup or shipping, as well.

Yarn ideas for Stephen West’s “Shawlography” MKAL.

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We know many of you are fans of designer Stephen West and often participate in his annual Mystery Knit-Alongs – it’s that time of year again, and “Shawlography” is the pattern-to-be. It calls for five colors of fingering weight yarn, 100g each, and West’s motto for yarn selection this year is, “Say yes, don’t stress!” – as in, all kinds of fingering weight yarns are welcome here, and we have tons to choose from at the shop!

Lady Dye Superwash Fingering, $32 each

Stephen West made a very helpful video about color selection, and I watched it carefully before putting these combinations together. He suggests sticking with solid or semi-solid yarns for maximum contrast, though speckles may be used sparingly.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, $34 each

It’s important to have some light colors, some medium, and some dark for this design – this provides contrast as the colors interact with one another throughout the shawl.

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, $26 each

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, $26 each

One strategy West recommends is selecting five shades from one color family, being sure to include lights, mediums, and darks.

Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, $15.25 each

Kelbourne Woolens Camper, $9.50 each

Another way to approach it – pick a gradient of neutral colors and one or two bright color pops.

Kelbourne Woolens Camper, $9.50 each

There are so many possibilities here at our shop – come by between 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays, and we’ll be happy to show you around! We’re still taking online orders for local pickup or shipping, too; just fill out our online form.

Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, $15.25 each

Koigu Collector’s Club: Space Exploration.

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The Koigu Collector’s Club continues! Each month, we’ll receive 21 skeins of KPPPM in a limited edition color dyed especially for a select group of local yarn stores that carry Koigu.

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

This month’s limited edition color is Space Exploration, a highly variegated mix of black, white, and gray. Anne, who loves neutrals, was drawn to it, and pointed out how nicely it pairs with Malabrigo Mechita in Gris.

Consider holding Mechita and KPPPM together in Tif Neilan’s “Moon Link Cowl,” a bandana shaped accessory that slips over the head like a cozy cowl.

Another pattern idea – Noma Ndlovu’s “Nobomi Shawl,” an asymmetric triangle worked from the widest end to the narrowest point, decreasing all the way. I like Kelbourne Woolens Perennial as a contrast color, though there are many other options in our fingering weight section here at the shop – come by to browse between 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays!

Hello, Neighborhood Fiber Co.!

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We are thrilled to announce that we are now stockists for Neighborhood Fiber Co.!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. was founded by Karida Collins, a dyer and designer based in Baltimore, MD. The company is so-called because Collins’ 70+ colorways are all inspired by and named for the urban neighborhoods and landscapes in and around Baltimore and Washington, DC.

Photo of Karida Collins © 2021 Neighborhood Fiber Co.

Along with their unique and vibrant colorways, we also admire Neighborhood’s commitment to environmentally-sound practices, justice, equality, and empowerment. In 2020, Collins created the NFC Momentum Fund, a donor-advised charitable fund that has distributed more than $50k in grants to community organizations in the Baltimore community.

Our first Neighborhood Fiber Co. yarn is Studio Sock, a soft, sturdy, tightly plied organic merino wool that’s machine washable for easy care.

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock:

  • fingering weight
  • hand-dyed
  • machine washable
  • 100% organic merino wool
  • 400 yds/4 oz
  • $32 each

Studio Sock is perfect for knitting socks, of course – here it is in Laine’s 52 Weeks of Socks, put to beautiful use by designer Sachiko Burgin.

Hand dyed fingering weight yarns like this one are also great for knitting shawls and lightweight sweaters – here are some pattern ideas:

Accessories:

Garments:

Look for Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in the fingering weight section here at our shop! We’re open for drop-in shopping, no appointments needed, from 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. Online ordering is still available for local pickup or shipping – thanks for shopping with us!

Yarn ideas for “Summernight Sky,” by Lisa Hannes.

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Lisa Hannes’ latest design has us playing the color game… here are some yarn ideas for “Summernight Sky,” a two color mosaic shawl.

Hannes uses a fingering weight, single ply, superwash merino – one shade is semi-solid, and the other variegated. A high contrast color combination will ensure that the mosaic pattern shows.

Lady Dye Superwash Fingering: fingering weight, hand-dyed, single ply, 100% superwash merino wool, 425 yards/100g; $32 each

Punta del Este Mericash Solid: fingering weight, single ply, 80% merino, 20% cashmere, 264 yards/50 gm; $18 each

Koigu KPPPM: fingering weight, hand-dyed, 100% superwash merino, 175 yards/50 g; $15.50 each

Kelbourne Woolens Camper: fingering weight, 100% wool, 200 yards/50g; $9 each

Reach out if any of these combinations catches your eye – we’re happy to help calculate yardage or answer any questions that come up as you plan a “Summernight Sky” shawl of your own! You can also come by the shop to browse in person – we’re open for drop-in shopping from 11 am – 5 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays.

New colors in Malabrigo Sock!

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This week brought us 15 new colors in Malabrigo Sock!

Malabrigo Sock:

  • light fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated and semi-solid colorways
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 440 yards/100g
  • $20 each

This is Malabrigo’s new Encantados collection, unique hand dyed colorways inspired by fairytales and children’s stories.

I’ve arranged these shades in coordinating trios, thinking of Malabrigo’s popular “Temperance Shawl,” but there are so many other ways of combining these shades – it’s a rich palette, full of possibilities!

You may recognize this last combination, Jasmine, Gingy, and Myths – they were premiered earlier in the year, and you can see them knit into a “Temperance Shawl” below.

Want to knit a “Temperance Shawl” of your own? Order online for local pickup or USPS Priority Mail shipping, or swing by the shop between 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays!

Merilin + Dingley Dell.

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In the heat of the summer, we see more and more knitters looking for lightweight tops and tees to knit, and Isabell Kraemer’s name often comes to mind. She’s a prolific sweater designer, and many of her patterns offer a short-sleeved option – think “Yume,” “Laia,” and “Ooh La La.”

“Dingley Dell,” by Isabell Kraemer. Photo © Isabell Kraemer

“Dingley Dell” is her latest, a color block tee made in a wool/linen blend, and I think Isager Merilin would be perfect for it.

Isager Merilin:

  • light fingering weight
  • 80% wool, 20% linen
  • 228 yards/50 g
  • $11 each

Depending on what size you make, you’ll need between 2-4 balls each in two colors – check the sizing on Ravelry, and know that we’re happy to help you calculate yardage! Here are a few more color ideas…

Make an in-store shopping appointment to select your own color combination, or pick from the options above and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Koigu Collector’s Club: Macaroons.

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The Koigu Collector’s Club continues! Each month, we’ll receive 21 skeins of KPPPM in a limited edition color dyed especially for a select group of local yarn stores that carry Koigu.

Koigu KPPPM:

  • fingering weight
  • hand dyed, variegated
  • 100% superwash merino wool
  • 175 yards/50 g
  • $15.50 each

This month’s limited edition color is Macaroons, a variegated mix of bright yellow, purple, pink, and green against a creamy vanilla backdrop.

We have a whole rainbow of Collector’s Club colorways in stock, and Macaroons fits right in.

I think it particularly plays well with Vintage Valentine, a more saturated colorway that picks up some of the same shades. From there, I wandered over to our Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, and came up with three color combinations for Tamy Gore’s “Shades of Peony” shawl.

Yarn bundles for “Shades of Peony” are normally $92.50, or $78.63 during our Annual Inventory Sale – order online for local pickup or shipping, or make an appointment to shop our July sale in person!

 

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

Spindrift + Brilliant Corners.

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July’s selection for the HYS Hat Club is “Brilliant Corners,” by Kate Davies, and 3 shades of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

HYS Hat Club, July 2021: “Brilliant Corners,” by Kate Davies, Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, and highlighter tape.

This textured colorwork design was inspired by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, whose song “Brilliant Corners” is marked by regularity as well as unpredictability – traits Davies incorporated into this three-color hat.

“Brilliant Corners,” by Kate Davies. Photo © Kate Davies Designs

Spindrift is one of my very favorite yarns in the shop, a classic Shetland wool that comes in over two hundred colors, so I had great fun selecting HYS Hat Club colorways. Here’s a trio in each of the color palettes – Warm, Cool, Neutral, and Surprise.

  • Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift: fingering weight, 100% shetland wool, 115 yards/25 g; $6.90 each, or $20.70 for 3 needed to make “Brilliant Corners”

Here’s our Spindrift display from above, a special spot here at our shop. Happy to help you put together a custom colorway, just order online and tell us what you like. In-store shopping appointments are also available – click here to schedule an appointment!