Tag Archives: shibui

Reed and Pebble, Grass and Stone.

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“Grass and Stone” is a brand new pattern by Elizabeth Elliott, a bias-knit scarf with subtle part-row stripes of single and doubled yarn at each end.

The yarns are Shibui Reed and Pebble, the first a linen chainette and the second a tweedy blend of recycled silk, merino, and cashmere. Reed brings drape and Pebble brings softness, creating a unique fiber blend that’s just right for a warm-weather accessory.

“Grass and Stone” is 8″ wide, and available in two lengths – 72″ or 90″. The 72″ scarf requires 2 Reed and 3 Pebble, while the 90″ scarf requires 3 of each.

Shibui Reed: fingering weight, chainette, 100% linen, 246 yards/50g; $20 each

Shibui Pebble: lace weight, 48% recycled silk, 36% merino wool, 16% cashmere, 224 yards/25g; $21.50 each

Reed and Pebble make an intriguing combination, even in matching colors – these fibers each take the dye a little differently.

Combining different colors can be good fun, of course – here’s a low-contrast pair that should blend together in a gentle marl.

The pattern is free when you buy Reed and Pebble for the project – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order. Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Yarn ideas for Laura Nelkin’s Open Minds MKAL.

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A knitter recently brought our attention to Laura Nelkin’s upcoming mystery knit-along, Open Minds, asking if we could help put some yarns together. I’m always happy to help make suggestions for just the right yarn and color combinations, but a mystery knit-along is usually a little tricky. After all, how to choose colors for a project you can’t see? Luckily, Laura Nelkin has made it simple with a video explaining how much contrast is needed, and in which yarns. I watched carefully and had fun putting together the following color combinations:

Each of these bundles includes the following:

  • 1 skein Kelbourne Woolens Perennial: light fingering weight, 60% superwash merino, 25% suri alpaca, 15% nylon, 497 yards/100 g; $26 each – this will be the MC (main color)
  • 1 skein Ella Rae Lace Merino: light fingering weight, hand-dyed, 100% superwash merino, 460 yards/100g; $23 each – this will stand in for the MS (mini-skeins)
  • 2 skeins Shibui Silk Cloud: lace weight, 60% kid mohair, 40% silk, 330 yards/25 g; $26.50 each – this will be the LY (lace yarn)

The total cost is $102, and Laura Nelkin’s pattern is sold separately on her website. To get the yarn from us, order online for local pickup or shipping!

Cima + Kinetic.

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“Kinetic” is a mistake-rib cowl designed by Antonia Shankland, where two colors are blended together at the center, making a marled fade.

It’s knit with two strands of Cima held together, making a super soft and springy fabric that’s perfect for wrapping up in. My very favorite cowl was knit with 2 strands of Cima held together, so I can attest to its coziness – it’s years old now, but still the one I reach for all fall and winter!

The “Kinetic” pattern is free from Shibui – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order. You’ll need 3 skeins each in two colors.

Shibui Cima:

  • lace weight
  • 70% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool
  • 328 yards/50 g
  • $16.50 each

We have a big selection of colors available in Cima, and there are lots of intriguing ways to combine them – here are a few that caught my eye.

 

If any of these color combinations grabs you, order online for local pickup or shipping! We’re also happy to help put together a custom colorway just for you – just let us know what shades you love!

 

New colors from Shibui.

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We’re delighted to have three new colors from Shibui! Pacific, Lotus, and Majesty are now available in Cima, Koan, and Silk Cloud.

“Elate,” by Britt-Marie Brehmer, knit with Shibui Cima and Koan in Lotus.

 

As we looked through Shibui’s Spring 2021 pattern collection, Anne and I were particularly taken with “Elate,” by Britt-Marie Brehmer.

Twisted ribbing and slipped stitches give this simple tee textural interest, and the yarn combination is an intriguing blend of plant and animal fibers – Cima and Koan held together throughout.

Shibui Cima:

  • lace weight
  • 70% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool
  • 328 yards/50 g
  • $16.50 each

Shibui Koan:

  • light fingering weight
  • 70% linen, 30% silk
  • 248 yards/50 g
  • $21 each

Lace weight Cima brings softness and elasticity in the form of merino and alpaca, while light fingering weight Koan lends coolness and drape with its linen and silk content.

Pick matching shades in Cima and Koan for a solid look, or similar shades for a subtle marl.

Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

“Elate,” by Britt-Marie Brehmer, knit with Shibui Cima and Koan in Lotus.

Pebble + Duality.

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“Duality” is a brand new scarf/wrap pattern by Jane Vanselous, a simple but unusual design that takes the shape of overlapping rectangles.

It’s knit from end to end, using two colors that are worked together in the main body of the scarf, but separately on the edges.

The yarn is Shibui Pebble, a feather light lace weight blend of recycled silk, merino, and cashmere. Most Shibui colors are available across all of their yarns, presenting differently depending upon the fiber content; here in Pebble, those colors are rich with tweedy flecks.

The scarf size (8″ x 66″) uses just one skein in each color, while the wrap (18″ x 75″) calls for three of each.

 

Shibui Pebble:

  • lace weight
  • 48% recycled silk, 36% merino, 16% cashmere
  • 224 yards/25 g
  • $21.50 each ($23.50 for Julie Hoover colorways)

We have a big selection of colors available in Pebble, and there are lots of intriguing ways to combine them – here are a few that caught my eye.

The pattern is free when you buy 2 skeins of Shibui Pebble – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order.

Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Shibui Haven.

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We’re delighted to have a fresh supply of Shibui Haven after a recent restock!

This decadent DK weight merino/cashmere blend has been mighty popular for Shellie Anderson’s “Helix” hat – we’ve lost track of how many of you are out there making one, or coming back for a second! We’ve got all your favorite colors back on our shelves, along with a few new shades.

 

 

To make “Helix,” you’ll need 1 skein each of Shibui Haven and Shibui Silk Cloud, yarns that are known for their softness. Together they are an extra special treat for the hands.

Shibui Haven:  DK weight, 80% merino, 20% cashmere, 160 yards/50 g; $25 each

Shibui Silk Cloud:  lace weight, 60% mohair, 40% silk, 330 yards/25 g; $26.50 each

The pattern is free when you buy 1 skein each of Haven and Silk Cloud to make the hat – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order.

Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Nest + Silk Cloud + Standing Tall!

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Here’s another soft and squishy Shibui yarn pairing, a bit like the “Helix” hat I wrote about earlier this month, but with a twist.

In her “Standing Tall, Hat & Cowl Collection,” designer Lucinda Iglesias matches Shibui Nest with Shibui Silk Cloud, a delightful combination that’s just right for a cozy hat or cowl.

The pattern includes instructions for two hats and cowls – a simpler set as well as a cabled variation. The simpler version is shown here in gray, mostly stockinette with a swath of ribbing; the cabled one is below, in red.

 

 

Shibui Nest:  DK weight, 75% fine Highland wool, 25% alpaca, 175 yards/50 g; $20 each ($22 for Julie Hoover colorways)

Shibui Silk Cloud:  lace weight, 60% mohair, 40% silk, 330 yards/25 g; $26.50 each ($28.50 for Julie Hoover colorways)

 

  • For either of the hats: 1 skein each of Nest and Silk Cloud
  • For either of the cowls: 2 skeins of Nest and 1 skein of Silk Cloud
  • For a matching set: 3 skeins of Nest and 2 skeins of Silk Cloud

Shibui’s colorways are the same from yarn to yarn, though each shade looks a little different depending on the fibers in play. Most of these pairs are made from matching colorways, but a few are near matches, which will bring a little more depth to the resulting fabric.

The pattern is free when you buy 1 skein each of Nest and Silk Cloud – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order.

Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Back in stock: Kelbourne Woolens Perennial.

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We recently restocked some of the most popular colors of Kelbourne Woolens Perennial, a soft and fuzzy fingering weight yarn.

Kelbourne Woolens Perennial:

  • light fingering weight
  • 60% superwash merino, 25% Suri alpaca, 15% nylon
  • 497 yards/100g
  • $26 each

The folks at Kelbourne Woolens have designed this yarn to be something of a staple – soft from the alpaca but sturdy from the nylon, easy care on account of the superwash merino, suitable for all kinds of projects.

Browsing through Perennial projects on Ravelry, Joji Locatelli’s “Cedar Pullover” caught my eye – though it originally called for a linen yarn held double, several knitters had made it with Perennial held double. This got me thinking… wouldn’t it be lovely to hold Perennial together with a linen yarn? A little bit of fuzz, a bit of cool drape – a balanced fiber blend for a three-season sweater.

For nearly matching colors that would bring depth and a hint of marled variation to the knitted fabric, I looked to Shibui Koan. It’s also a light fingering weight, composed of 70% linen and 30% silk, with 247 yards/50 g; $21 each.

Knitters on Ravelry have also used Perennial for Caitlin Hunter’s “Navelli,” a cropped, short-sleeved colorwork pullover. Since the main color requires so much more yardage than the contrast colors, I picked pairs of Isager Alpaca 2, which comes in smaller skeins.

Isager Alpaca 2 is composed of 50% alpaca, 50% merino, with 275 yards on each 50 g skein; $12 each.

Order online if one of these “Cedar Pullover” or “Navelli” colorways intrigues you, or if you’d like to see a special combination just for you! Just let us know what size you’re planning and we’ll double check the yardage requirements.

We’re happy to help you plan your next project, and can ship your order or hold it here at the shop for local pickup. Thanks for supporting our small business!

Haven + Silk Cloud + Helix!

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Shellie Anderson’s “Helix” has been a popular project here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop lately, a simple hat made elegant with the use of truly luxurious fibers.

To make “Helix,” you’ll need 1 skein each of Shibui Haven and Shibui Silk Cloud, yarns that are known for their softness. Together they are an extra special treat for the hands.

Shibui Haven:  DK weight, 80% merino, 20% cashmere, 160 yards/50 g; $25 each

Shibui Silk Cloud:  lace weight, 60% mohair, 40% silk, 330 yards/25 g; $26.50 each

The pattern is free when you buy 1 skein each of Haven and Silk Cloud to make the hat – we’ll print a copy and include it in your order.

Pick your favorite color combination and order online for local pickup or shipping!

Andorra + Tweed Silk Cloud.

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We recently replenished our supply of Kelbourne Woolens Andorra, a bouncy sport weight blend of merino and highland wool with a dash of mohair.

Kelbourne Woolens Andorra:

  • sport weight
  • 60% merino wool, 20% highland wool, 20% mohair
  • 185 yards/50 g
  • $12 each

Not long ago, I put together some color combinations for a knitter interested in combining Andorra with a lace weight mohair for Jacqueline Cieslak’s “Water Born” headwrap. I noticed that the Andorra color palette lined up beautifully with Shibui Tweed Silk Cloud, matching in places or providing a bit of contrast and interest in others.

Shibui Tweed Silk Cloud:

What else to make with these delightful pairs? Check out PetiteKnit’s “Anker’s Hat,” Isabell Kraemer’s “Leni” hat, or Emily Luis’s “Frida” headband.

Anxious to get some mohair on your needles? Order online for local pickup or shipping! We’ll be closed on January 1, but are otherwise here for orders and pickups between 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays.