Isager Trunk Show!

Posted by Julia on August 2, 2016

We’re delighted to announce that a new trunk show has arrived to decorate our walls this month! Come by the shop before August 31st to see an array of garments and accessories knit in Isager yarns.

Isager is a Danish yarn company run by designers Marianne Isager and her daughter, Helga Isager.

Their yarns are mostly lace and fingering weight, and often combined two or three strands at a time to create bespoke fiber blends and unique colorways.

Isager has long been a favorite of ours here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop; Anne’s knit a handful of Isager patterns, guided knitters through plenty more, and even traveled to Denmark to study with Marianne and Helga a few years ago.

You’ll find our shop well-stocked with Isager yarns like Alpaca 1, Alpaca 2, Spinni, Tvinni, and Tweed.

We also keep lots of Isager patterns and booklets on hand, covering a wide range of projects, with an emphasis on contemporary knitted garments for adults and children.

Later this month, we’ll introduce a brand new Isager yarn at our Isager Yarn Tasting – sign up now to join us at this exciting event, and come by the shop soon to see the Isager Trunk Show for yourself!

Show and tell: summer shawls, part two.

Posted by Julia on July 9, 2016

Time for a second round of summer shawl show and tell! Here are some colorful shawls that started life as yarns on our shelves.

This one is a work in progress, a shawl-to-be on Amy’s needles as she prepares to teach a class on the subject. The pattern is “Dreambird KAL,” and Amy is knitting it with Shibui Staccato in the background, the solid black setting off the self-striping Kauni Effektgarn to great effect.

Catherine came in recently with this beautiful “Chevron 15” shawl, knit in two shades of Isager Alpaca 2.

The fabric is soft and light, and the surprising combination of bold chartreuse and soft teal works so well. Catherine has knit many shawls with this alpaca/merino blend, coming back to it again and again, a high form of praise in a world full of lovely yarns.

Loretta started this “Quill” in a class here at the shop, working with the sport weight Berroco Ultra Alpaca Lite.

This 5 color shawl is large enough to be considered a blanket, and looks cozy and classic in neutral shades, punctuated by a nice deep red.

Thanks to the many knitters, crocheters, weavers, and other fiber artists who use yarns from our shop in their creations; we love seeing what you make. More show and tell to come!

Hello, Pom Pom Quarterly.

Posted by Julia on July 6, 2016

One of our most exciting finds at TNNA this year was a magazine. Most of our TNNA orders wont arrive til August or later, but this one we received right away, selling out and reordering in less than a week. Just what is this exciting new publication? Meet Pom Pom Quarterly!

I’d heard of Pom Pom Quarterly before our trip to market, seen patterns from this pretty publication pop up on Ravelry, but I’d never held it in my hands.

As the Pom Pom founders and editors point out on their website, knitters are a tactile bunch, and to that end, they’ve made sure that the physical product is something very special. From the paper quality to the size of the magazine, Pom Pom is a pleasure to peruse. It also comes with a download code for the digital edition, so you can have it both ways.

Then there’s the content, which is just as thoughtfully created. Pom Pom features patterns, tutorials, and articles on knitting, crochet, and other crafts, along with the odd recipe, personal essay, or other surprise. The photography is beautiful, the designs are fresh, modern, and wearable, and the tone of the whole publication is enticing and inspiring.

I spotted some familiar yarns, too; the “Red Bud Isle” tank above is knit in Berroco Modern Cotton, and “Thornett” below calls for Isager Bomulin.

The Summer 2016 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly is back in stock and going fast – hurry in, or give us a call at (919) 732-2128 if you’d like to claim a copy!

Back in stock: Isager Alpaca 1.

Posted by Julia on January 25, 2016

Isager is a Danish yarn company run by designer Marianne Isager and her daughter, Helga Isager. We’ve carried their yarns, books, and patterns for years now, and do our best to keep a wide selection of colors in stock.

With that in mind, we recently replenished our supply of Isager Alpaca 1, so that all 21 colors are now on our shelves.

Alpaca 1 is a lace weight yarn made of 100% alpaca which is spun in Peru. Often, Isager patterns pair this yarn with Isager Spinni, Tvinni, Highland, or Alpaca 2, to make thicker fabrics and unique color or fiber blends. Think “Camomille,” “The Fan,” or the “Tokyo” shawl kit.

Just as often, Alpaca 1 is knit, crocheted, or woven on its own, for lightweight garments that are fuzzy and warm. Consider Silke K.’s free “Arnhem Loop,” Steve Rousseau’s “Darren,” “Alaric,” and “Carlos” shawls, or our own simple-as-can-be “Garter Stitch Shawl.” Look at our “Lace weight” board on Pinterest for lots of other pattern ideas, and look for Isager Alpaca 1 in the lace weight section here at the shop. See you soon!

More show and tell.

Posted by Julia on December 25, 2015

Time for a second batch of show and tell! Our first round was child-sized, full of sweaters and accessories for little ones; these finished projects are made by grown-ups, for grown-ups, though they’re no less playful. Let’s dig in.

Margaretta knit her second “Yipes Stripes Cowl” using five shades of Mirasol Qina, a soft and drapey blend of alpaca and bamboo. There’s something very satisfying about seeing this pattern in new color combinations; this cool palette is a particularly pretty one.

Amy recently taught a class here at the shop on stranded colorwork, focusing on Rachel Coopey’s “Northallerton” hat. For her own “Northallerton,” she used three shades of Baa Ram Ewe Titus, though this hat was quickly claimed by her daughter. Another hat was in order.

Amy knit this one with three shades of Cascade 220 Fingering, substituting different motifs for a colorwork hat all her own.

I recently knit Kate Gagnon Osborn’s “Seathwaite” hat, which is a free pattern written for Fringe Association’s Hatalong No. 5. I used one skein of Fibre Company’s newest yarn, Cumbria, a worsted weight blend of merino, masham, and mohair. The yarn is sturdy yet soft, fuzzy but smooth enough for well-defined cables. I made this for my sister as a Christmas gift, and enjoyed every stitch of it.

I also completed a shop sample not long ago, a “Starshower” cowl knit in Sincere Sheep Cormo Fingering. This unique hybrid of shawl and cowl falls so gracefully around the wearer’s neck. Come by the shop to try it on!

Theresa loves to knit and felt colorful slippers, and sent us a photo of her most recent polka-dotted batch.

She used Bev Galeskas’ classic “Felted Clogs” pattern and a variety of shades of Plymouth Galway, a worsted weight wool that is perfect for felting.

Here, Irene models her “Kashmir Cardigan,” from Helga Isager’s Amimono: the Map Collection. She used several strands of yarn held together to create a marled effect, augmenting some mohair from her stash with a few shades of Isager Highland and Spinni. Blended colors and fibers along with short rows and stripes make for a garter stitch coat that is so much more than just a garter stitch coat–nicely done, Irene!

A hearty thanks to all the fiber artists who start their projects here and share their progress with us! We love to see our yarns grow up into finished garments, and are so inspired by the work you do. See you at the shop!

Amimono: Room 606.

Posted by Julia on December 12, 2015

The latest pattern collection for Isager yarns is here! Take a peek inside Amimono: Room 606.

Isager is a Danish yarn company run by designer Marianne Isager and her daughter, Helga Isager. We always look forward to seeing new patterns for Isager yarns, especially from the Isagers themselves.

Amimono: Room 606 is a stylish collection of garments and accessories designed by Helga Isager, inspired by Danish modernist design and architecture of the 1960s.

As we often see in Shibui designs, Isager has a penchant for combining her yarns two or three strands at a time to create unique textures, marled colors, and a range of gauges. Many of these patterns use that strategy, and I’m always surprised at what an interesting effect it has on the finished garment.

Look for Amimono: Room 606 on the teacart by the newest publications, and peruse the rest of our Isager book and pattern collection while you’re here.

More October show and tell.

Posted by Julia on October 28, 2015

One of our greatest joys as yarn-shopkeepers is seeing what knitters, crocheters, and weavers make with our yarns. I’m always collecting photos of finished projects as they come through the shop for show and tell, letting them build up until I have enough for a blog post. It’s rare that I have enough for two show-and-tell posts in a month, but October has been one such month.

When Sidney felt the first Autumn chill in the air, she saw a need in her wardrobe for a cowl. She came to the shop seeking yarn for Katherine Vaughan’s “Here and There and Everywhere,” and settled on Malabrigo Rios. It was hardly a week before she walked in wearing it, but, as she pointed out, it’s amazing how quickly you can knit when you need something. I love the way the guernsey-style texture pattern looks in this semi-solid yarn.

Here’s my “Kaarina Pullover,” knit in Swans Island All American Sport. I finished it in the middle of the Swans Island Trunk Show, so I hung it up here at the shop with the rest of the All American Sport garments til the show ends on November 1st, 2015.

I’m happy with how it came out, and especially happy with the yarn. It was springy and soft in the hand, and softer still after blocking. I’m looking forward to putting it on soon!

Anne has a newly-finished sweater on the wall here, too; here’s her “Slope,” knit in Shibui Twig. Like many Shibui patterns, “Slope” looks deceptively simple at first glance. Take a closer look at the pattern, and you’ll find smart, carefully-chosen design elements. You might just learn a new cast-on or short-row technique along the way–Anne did!

Here’s Sue’s latest scarf, woven on her Schacht Cricket Loom. For warp, she used Isager Alpaca 1, and for weft, she used Habu Cotton Nerimaki Slub. These two yarns are alike in color, but very different in fiber content and texture, and the resulting fabric is both fascinating and understated.

Thanks to everyone who brings in projects to share with us, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of the process. We love to see what you’re working on, and feel lucky to be surrounded by such creative and talented people. Hope to see you at the shop soon!

Show and tell.

Posted by Julia on October 8, 2015

The show-and-tell photos are piling up again! Time to share some of the projects you’ve so generously shared with us.

If you’ve been to the shop in the past couple of weeks, you’ve probably noticed this eye-catching sampler afghan hanging on the wall. Nancy knit this using two shades of Plymouth Galway, and Barbara Walker’s Learn to Knit Afghan Book, and she’s lent it to us for awhile as she guides her students through afghans of their own.

The Learn to Knit Afghan Book includes patterns for 63 different knit blocks, which can be seamed together in any combination to make an afghan. This looks like a fun way to try new stitch patterns and techniques, and an engaging way to make a blanket.

Sherri is a knitter who recently took up weaving on a Schacht Cricket loom, and above is her first-ever woven scarf. She used Plymouth Galway in a heathered red shade for most of the warp and weft, accented with stripes of Plymouth Gina, a self-striping yarn. We’re looking forward to seeing what comes off her loom next!

Here are two gorgeous pieces made with Isager Alpaca 1, a delicate lace weight yarn. Sue knit the blue shawl on the left and wove the green scarf on the right, as interested as ever in the way a yarn’s behavior can differ from craft to craft. You may recall her weaving projects from my last show and tell post; I love to see what her curiosity and enthusiasm cause her to create!

Robin recently knit this lovely shawl with a self-striping sock yarn whose label had disappeared since leaving the shop and settling deep into her stash. I know from experience how satisfying it is to use yarn that’s been hanging around awhile, how it frees you up to get new yarn for a new project, and Robin did just that!

Margaretta knit this “Haruni” shawl with Shibui Silk Cloud, a lace weight blend of mohair and silk. She reported that the pattern is very well-written, feedback to take seriously from this seasoned knitter. I love how this shawl looks in this rich shade of purple!

Esther brought in this exquisite sweater from an Isager pattern collection, “No. 11, No. 12, No. 13…” Knit in the lace weight Isager Spinni, this has been a long-term project, and it’s one that I think she should be incredibly proud of.

A hearty thanks to all the fiber artists who start their projects here and share their work with us! We love to see our yarns grow up into finished garments, and are so inspired by the work you do. See you at the shop!

Show and tell, and lots of it.

Posted by Julia on August 28, 2015

One of our greatest joys as yarn-shopkeepers is seeing what knitters, crocheters, and weavers make with our yarns. I’m always collecting photos of finished projects as they come through the shop for show and tell, letting them build up until I have enough for good-sized blog post. There have been so many exciting new yarns at the shop this month that I’ve let the show and tell build up entirely too much. Settle in for a marathon show and tell post!

Debbie brought her “Technicolor Cowl” in recently to show us how it came out. While the pattern calls for eight mini-skeins of Dream in Color Classy in eight different shades, she used just three shades, for a more intentional yet no less vibrant color combination.

Here’s another finished product in Dream in Color yarn: Paula’s “In Threes,” knit in the decadent Classy with Cashmere.

Paula came in with a bundle of show and tell, in fact. She knit this “Winter Woods Hat” from the 2014 issue of Interweave Knits Gifts using Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light. The combination of stripes, colorwork, and a little bit of lace intrigued her, and she executed all three perfectly.

Paula’s “Cassandre Cowl” is particularly beautiful, with its grand colorwork motifs and delicate picot edging. The pattern is from Knitscene Accessories, 2014, and the yarn is the always delightful Swans Island Natural Colors Merino Fingering.

Debra has been a busy knitter lately; she too came in with a bag full of finished projects to share. Above is her “Horse Beanie,” knit in Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

Debra’s biggest knitting accomplishment of late has been this “Shetland Knee Rug and Throw,” from Martin Storey’s Scottish Knits, knit in the incomparable Fibre Company Acadia. On a real colorwork kick, she used the leftovers to design and knit this hat, incorporating a found chart of birds on a wire.

Since purchasing a Schacht Cricket Loom, Sue’s show and tell has switched from knitting to weaving.

She wove this scarf with a variety of plant fiber yarns, some solid, like Habu Cotton Nerimaki Slub, and some variegated, like Linen Concerto.

Sue has been particularly keen on weaving with variegated yarns, marveling, as I often do, at how differently those yarns behave in woven fabric than in knitted fabric.

She came in with her loom to show us her latest project, made with the leftover yarn from a shawl she knit, studded with random stripes of Isager Alpaca 1 in a contrasting color. We laid the knit shawl next to the woven fabric on the loom and studied the differences, which colors stand out, how they pool and pattern.

Kathryn dreamed up and knit this sweet polar bear sweater for her soon-to-be son using Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift.

I’m so impressed by this little sweater, from the classic color combination to her expertly self-designed colorwork charts to the perfect buttons. Bravo, Kathryn!

Folk Knitting.

Posted by Julia on July 18, 2015

The newest special issue from Interweave arrived at the shop this week! Take a peek inside Folk Knitting.

Folk Knitting features projects and essays inspired by textile traditions from around the world.

I spotted two patterns from Marianne Isager, excerpts from her Knitting Out of Africa and Inca Knits collections.

If these designs pique your interest, check out our collection of Isager books and patterns!

One of my favorite yarns appears in this special issue, too: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, a fingering weight 2-ply Shetland wool, perfect for colorwork. These wrist warmers were inspired by a beaded egg from Belarus.

Look for Folk Knitting on the teacart at the shop, surrounded by the latest books and magazines for knitters, crocheters, and weavers. See you there!