Tag Archives: isager

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!

Back in stock: Isager Merilin.

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We’re pleased to have Isager Merilin back in stock, with more colors than ever!

Isager Merilin:

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

We’re always on the lookout for plant and animal fiber blends, since they offer the best of both worlds: elasticity and drape, structure and coolness.

Merilin blends merino wool and linen, fibers that take the dye differently, giving the yarn a heathered quality more pronounced in the darker shades.

Years ago, I knit this little swatch showing Merilin on a range of needle sizes, but I have my eye on a bigger project as soon as time allows – a narrower version of Theresa Gaffey’s now-classic “stole.” I can’t wait to pick out colors!

Til then, what else to make with Merilin? Here are a few ideas…

Look for Merilin in the fingering weight section here at the shop, where you may well find your next project. See you there!

Isager Archives KAL: “Inge Sweater” color ideas.

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Our first Isager Archives KAL meeting was on Wednesday evening, and we had a great time knitting along together! It’s not too late to join us – we’ll gather again on March 27, from 5-7pm, click here for all the details. Anne, Bailey and I have all settled on the same pattern, Lene Holme Samsøe’s “Inge Sweater,” but our colors and yarn choices vary.

Anne made her first swatches using a mix of Isager Jensen, Brooklyn Tweed Imbue Worsted, and a single ply alpaca from deep in her personal collection. She’s not happy with the fabric yet, and just cast on for a new swatch replacing the Imbue Worsted with more Jensen… looking forward to seeing it!

Bailey’s “Inge Sweater” is most similar to the color combination in the pattern, but her yarn choice is unique – a mix of Sandnes Garn Sunday, Isager Tvinni, and Jensen.

For my “Inge Sweater,” I’m using a DK weight wool that was gifted to me years ago for the main color, and two shades of Jensen for the contrast colors.

Inspired to join us and knit an “Inge Sweater” of your own? Here are more color ideas in Isager Jensen!

I’m picturing the three combinations above with the lightest color in the background, as in Samsøe’s pattern photos, and the combinations below with the darkest color in the background, though they could be arranged any way you like.

I love the toothy, rustic texture of Jensen, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea – if a softer, more economical yarn is your preference, try Kelbourne Woolens Scout!

Look for these and other suitable yarns for “Inge” in our DK weight section here at the shop. We’re happy to help you find the perfect yarn for your project!

52 Weeks of Accessories.

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52 Weeks of Accessories ($50) is the latest book from Laine, an inspiring tome packed with 52 patterns from 48 international designers. Let’s take a look inside!

This is the fourth in Laine’s ambitious 52 Weeks series, and instead of focusing on a particular kind of garment, it invites knitters of all skill levels to cast on for pleasing, small projects.

Inside the book, you’ll find hats, scarves, socks, and mittens, of course – but also slippers, shawls, headbands, hoods, bags, bracelets, collars, cowls, and scrunchies!

Paging through the book, I was pleased to see some familiar yarns, like Brooklyn Tweed Tones Light and Loft.

As ever, we are happy to help you find the perfect substitute for yarns we don’t carry – below are a few substitutions that came to mind as I browsed the book, Isager Silk Mohair and Fibre Co. Amble.

52 Weeks of Accessories is $50, not a bad price for 52 patterns – look for it here at the shop, or order online for local pickup or shipping!

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…

Isager Archives Knit-Along!

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Join us for an Isager Archives Knit-Along!

We are beyond excited for Isager’s latest collection, Isager Archives. Inspired by the designs of Åse Lund Jensen from the 1960’s and 1970’s, a group of Danish knitwear designers have created new patterns for Isager yarns:

We can’t wait to cast on!

photo © Lene Holme Samsøe

Anne, Bailey and I are particularly excited about Lene Holme Samsøe’s contribution, “Inge Sweater” in Isager Jensen – the pattern comes out on February 16, but we’re already studying the yardage she posted on Instagram and getting our yarn together!

Why join our KAL?

Camaraderie and prizes! We will host three KAL meetings here at the shop:

  • Wednesday, February 28, 5-7pm – getting started
  • Wednesday, March 27, 5-7pm – sharing progress
  • Wednesday, April 24, 5-7pm – show and tell, and a chance to win a $50 HYS Gift Certificate!

photo © Isager

How to join our KAL?

Come by the shop to purchase yarn for any of the Isager Archives patterns; everyone who does so before April 24 is eligible for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate, whether or not you make it to all three KAL meetings. We have lots of Isager yarn in stock and plenty of lovely substitutes, too – but we are happy to special order for you if needed.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions about our Isager Archives KAL, and come by the shop to buy your yarn and sign up!

Show and tell: Bailey’s samples.

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Since Bailey began working here at the shop, her hands have been busy knitting samples. Anne and I love seeing the patterns, designers, and color combinations she selects, and so does everyone who comes to the shop for inspiration! If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ve already seen Bailey’s “Static Mittens” in Sandnes Garn Double Sunday – let’s take a closer look at what else she’s been making.

The ephemeral mohair sweater in the middle is Bailey’s “Aura Top,” knit with Malabrigo Mohair. We so often see mohair held together with other yarns, but it’s dreamy on its own, too! Pattern by Rows Knitwear.

Above is “Berlin,” a cowl designed by Helga Isager and knit with Isager Alpaca 3, a lofty chainette yarn composed of alpaca and wool.

Bailey knit this chic “Best Beret” with a skein of Kelbourne Woolens Germantown, a smooth and sturdy worsted weight wool that’s ideal for creating a structured accessory like this one. Pattern by James N Watts.

Most recently, Bailey made this “ribblesdale vest,” by Lily Kate France, a brioche waistcoat knit with Kelbourne Woolens Scout.

Look for all of these samples here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with plenty of yarn to make them. We hope you find inspiration here!

A Knitting Life: Out into the World, by Marianne Isager.

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This week, as a new year begins, we welcome a beautiful new book by Marianne Isager, A Knitting Life: Out into the World ($47).

A Knitting Life: Out into the World is the second volume of Marianne Isager’s career retrospective, following the Danish designer as she travelled around the world beginning in the 1990’s.

Trips to Latin America, Africa, Greenland, and Nepal all informed and inspired her designs, presented in this book along with photos and prose.

As ever, Isager loves to mix and match various yarns for unique color and fiber blends.

Paging through the book, I was pleased to see Bouclé and Alpaca 3 in the mix, and Anne fell in love with this “Yakke” jacket, knit with Jensen and Silk Mohair.

A Knitting Life: Out into the World is $47, and available here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop, along with a wide selection of Isager yarns – you can also order online for local pickup or shipping. Hope to see you soon!

Show and tell: gifts from Anne’s needles.

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I’m always amazed at how much knitting Anne does, between shop and class samples, gifts for her family, and the occasional sweater for herself. Today I want to share some of the knitting she’s done for her grandchildren throughout the year, “with love in every stitch,” in her words.

For her youngest grandson, Anne knit this “Daydreamer,” by Jennifer Steingass. The whimsical rainbow colors come from Brooklyn Tweed, a mix of Loft and Tones Light.

Her granddaughters picked their own patterns this year, and helped arrange the colors over Zoom.

This is Jessica McDonald’s “Little Abloom,” knit with Kelbourne Woolens Camper for the main color and a few precious skeins of the discontinued Shibui Pebble for the contrast colors.

This is Anna Johanna’s “Helianthus,” knit with another discontinued yarn, Brooklyn Tweed Peerie, with a few other yarns from Anne’s stash to fill out the color palette.

For her eldest twin grandsons, Anne made these cozy bed-sized blankets with Malabrigo Mecha, and got them done before Hanukkah, no less. What a feat!

Amidst all those significant projects, she still managed this bundle of hats! From left to right: a “Winter King Hat” in Brooklyn Tweed Quarry, a Super Simple Circular Hat Calculator in Noro Bonbori and Isager Silk Mohair, and a couple “Oslo Hat – Mohair Edition,” knit with Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, Malabrigo Mohair, Sandnes Garn Sunday, and Isager Silk Mohair. 

Thanks to Anne for sharing all her projects with us, and for keeping the shop filled with exciting and inspiring yarns!

Laine Magazine, No. 19.

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Let’s look inside the new issue of Laine!

Laine Magazine is a publication out of Finland, a knitting and lifestyle magazine with a love of natural fibers as its focus, and a reputation for beautiful designs and artful photography.

This Winter 2024 issue is a beauty, celebrating the meditative nature of crafts with serene photos taken in a ceramics studio.

Along with profiles of fiber artists and seasonal recipes, there are knitting patterns, of course, from talented designers all over the world, the likes of Helga Isager, Maxim Cyr, Veera Välimäki, and others.

  

I spotted a cozy colorwork hat in this issue that uses Isager Alpaca 2 and Silk Mohair held together, a luxurious combination! We just restocked these two yarns and have plenty of colors to choose from – look for them in the fingering weight and lace weight sections, respectively.

Laine magazines are $30 each – come by the shop or order online for local pickup or shipping! We also have Laine No. 8 (marked down to 50%, no less!), along with Laine’s recent books, Little Book of Moon-Inspired Shawls, Echoes, Grand Shetland Adventure Knits, Mouche & Friends, Neons & Neutrals, Making Memories, and The Knitted Fabric. See you at the shop!