Show and tell: Bailey’s samples.

Posted by Julia on February 2, 2024

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!

Pom Pom Quarterly: 10th Anniversary issue!

Posted by Julia on June 10, 2022

The 10th Anniversary issue of Pom Pom Quarterly has arrived here at the shop!

This unique new issue has a flip double cover, and the patterns within are divided between warm and cool weather garments and accessories.

PPQ has also switched to a larger format and increased the number of pages, so photos are bigger and instructions are easier to read.

Issue 41 features patterns by James N Watts, Sylvia Watts-Cherry, Dawn Henderson, Sari Nordlund, and more.

I love seeing almost every garment knit in multiple colorways, and shown on a few different models – it gives a sense of the enormous possibility that exists in each design.

As ever, there’s good reading material in this issue, too – an essay about cultural appropriate and Sashiko by Atsushi Futatsuya, a crafter’s guide to London, where Pom Pom was founded, and a thoughtful guide to yarn substitution.

Pom Pom Quarterly is $25.50 – come by to snag a copy between 11am – 5:30pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays. We’re also taking orders online for local pickup or shipping. Along with this issue, we have the Summer 2019, Autumn 2019, Summer 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Winter 2021, and Spring 2022 issues in stock – these older issues are $18.50 each, preview them on our blog and get in touch if you’d like to add them to your Pom Pom collection!

What to knit with BT Tones?

Posted by Julia on August 24, 2021

Brooklyn Tweed’s new yarn, Tones, is already turning heads here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop. What to knit with this colorful stuff? Here are some ideas!

There are two new patterns especially for this yarn, Jared Flood’s “First Raglan Sweater” and Lis Smith’s “Sparkwood” cabled hat.

Because Tones can easily substitute for Shelter, there’s a world of patterns to choose from; here are some ideas from both the Brooklyn Tweed pattern archive and independent designers!

Garments:

“Grettir,” by Jared Flood – colorwork yoke pullover
“Retrograde,” by Tamy Gore – colorwork yoke pullover
“Sundottir,” by Dianna Walla – colorwork yoke pullover
“Bergitte,” by Kristin Drysdale – colorwork yoke pullover
“Tea with Jam and Bread,” by Heidi Kirrmaier – color block pullover with pockets
“Nuuk,” by Jonna Hietala – short sleeved pullover
“The Weekender,” by Andrea Mowry – reverse stockinette pullover with slip stitch detail
“Truss,” by Melissa Wehrle – v-neck cardigan with ribbed detail
“Ondawa,” by Michele Wang – cabled boat neck pullover
“Docklight,” by Julie Hoover – lace and fisherman’s rib pullover

BT Tones in Melba Overtone, a “Docklight” pullover-to-be.

Accessories:

“Turn a Square,” by Jared Flood – striped beanie
“Bough,” by Leila Raven – cabled hat
“Oleander Reversible Hat,” by Laura Chau – cabled hat
“Our Toques,” by Tif Neilan – colorwork hats
“Shik’is Hat,” by Jennifer Berg – colorwork hat
“Best Beret,” by James N Watts – classic stockinette beret
“Hatdana,” by Denise Bayron – bandana shaped hat/cowl
“Bradway,” by Shannon Cook – textured color block shawl
“Wheaten,” by Anne Hanson – lace and cable scarf, wrap, or throw
“Twin Lakes Cowl,” by Tressa Weidenaar – colorwork cowl
“Turbulence Cowl,” by Laura Chau – 2-color short row cowl

BT Tones in Granita Overtone and Granita Undertone, soon to become a “Turbulence Cowl.”

Look for Brooklyn Tweed Tones in the worsted weight section here at our shop – we’re open from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays, for drop-in shopping, no appointment required!