Hilde's Corner - Here's to old favorites!

Fall is in the air! I am so ready for fall - it’s my favorite time of year. Cooler temps, the changing colors, the autumn sun. And we can start wearing some of our handknits again! Sweater weather is just around the corner.

Jen is bringing some new yarns into the shop and it is very exciting to see what comes out of all the boxes that are arriving. We feel like kids at Christmas! 

With all these new yarns getting attention, I wanted to talk about some of the yarns that have been in the shop a while - ones that have become favorites of mine. I’m sure they feel a bit like a toddler that has a new baby in the family - they want attention, too! Ha ha!

One of my all time favorites for softness is Juniper Moon’s Beatrix. It is a bulky yarn made with 30% angora, 54% wool, and the rest is nylon. It is one of the softest yarns you will ever touch. In my opinion, it needs to be something that is next to the skin so one can truly appreciate this yarn. I think it is best used for cowls, though hats would be wonderful, too (it’s just that any hair on one’s head would get in the way of really feeling this wonderful yarn!) I made a simple cowl with this last year and wore it nearly every day when I went out for my walks during the winter. (so stinkin’ soft it’s like wearing a kitten around your neck!) I am happy to report that this yarn still has not pilled! The project looks as good as the day it came off my needles. What with gift-giving season around the corner, something knit up with Beatrix would fly off the needles and wrap your recipient in luxurious softness. Something like Next Step Cowl by Fabrications Ott (free on Ravelry) or Betula Ring by Carina Spencer ($6 on Ravelry).

Another favorite yarn of mine is WoolPop. It’s DK weight yarn made of 50% bamboo, 35% superwash wool, and 15% polyamide. I love it for its drapiness, the evenness of the fabric it creates all knit up, and the colors. It also holds up well to wear. It’s nice for those sweaters that call for drape, and shawls or ponchos look lovely in this (the sample in the shop drapes so beautifully!) A customer came into the shop the other day wearing the tee Lemon Spritz by Marie Greene ($12 on Ravelry) and it was beautiful! I think Iris by Yumiko Alexander ($8 on Ravelry) would be a great fit for WoolPop.

Here’s a fun-looking pattern that one could combine both Beatrix and Woolpop. Winter’s End by Victoria Myers ($6.95 on Ravelry). The pattern has both a hat and a cowl. 

So next time you’re in the shop checking out the new yarns be sure to stop and look at the old ones as well. They want attention, too! 😄