Wullenstudio Trunk Show!

March 5th, 2010 .

One of our favorite local fiber artists, Shiela Rovelstad Designs, is extra-beloved this month! Wullenstudio in all its glorious rainbow colors in the Yarn of the Month for March, meaning it’ll be 10% off for the rest of the month. See many of the colorways knit up into socks:

And check out a few brand-new colorways.

You won’t miss the trunk show when you walk in (unless you’re looking for a trunk. There isn’t one), but you might miss everything else. We’ve been rearranging like crazy people, so take some time to wander around to get the feel of the new layout. The trunk show is right in the middle of the new Sock Section, where you’ll see all the fingering weight yarn in the store in one place. We’re not finished yet, but we already are enjoying the changes!

Spring Is in the Air

February 26th, 2010 .

If you’re like me, you got really excited this week, as there have been a few short days warm enough to exit the house without a winter coat on. Even though we’ve had snowy wind today to chill us to the bone, we’ve started prepping for spring here at the shop. Within the course of three days, we have received no fewer than six brand new yarns. If you’re starting to think about spring projects, this is the time to take advantage of some new cottons and washables as the season comes in.

First on the list is Worsted Merino Superwash, a new yarn from Plymouth for the spring. The name pretty much says it all - this yarn has a coiled construction that lends lots of loft. This would be perfect for an acrylic-free baby garment, so we got some baby colors for you to choose from.

Number two is a new sock yarn from Skacel called Sockina Cotton. This yarn is curiously soft and smooth, composed of 55% cotton, 25% nylon, and 20% acrylic. We expect that this self-patterning sock yarn will be both sturdy and pleasant to work with.

Third, along with a resupply of the ever-popular Jojoland Harmony, came another offering from Jojoland, simply named Cashmere. This laceweight comes with a generous 400 yards in a skein, and we have enough in several colors for you to make an excellent shawl to ward off the March chill.

In this little picture are yarns four and five, bulking up our wall o’ cotton. On the top to shelves is a brand new yarn from Berroco called Weekend. This is a highly economical acrylic/cotton blend, also machine washable. We have four colors in stock right now, with several more on the way. The pattern support is excellent for this yarn as well; we’ve got some new books from Berroco with new summer patterns. On the bottom two shelves of this shot are seven colors of Berroco’s Pure Pima. As the name suggests, this yarn is 100% Pima cotton, and has a beautiful subtle shine.

Last, but not least, (although made for the smallest), is Plymouth’s new baby yarn called Bear Hugs. Like Cotton Kisses, this is a whole baby sweater kit disguised as a mere ball of yarn! Each ball contains tucked inside it a pattern for a wee baby wrap sweater and two buttons. And believe it or not, one ball is enough to complete the project. We have plenty of yarn in five different colors, even if you need more than one ball for a size bigger than 6 months.

Phew! And that doesn’t even go into the restocking of other cool things like Berroco Sox, Jojoland Harmony & Rhythm, Plymouth Jeannee, and other things I’m sure I’ve forgotten. Come in and take a look!

Recovery Mode

February 23rd, 2010 .

Still breathing hard over here, but mostly recovered from the Superbowl sale that you all were so kind as to come for! In the process of restocking, we got a new beauty that you might like to know about.

It’s a new Handmaiden yarn called Swiss Mountain Sea Sock. It’s 51% silk, 29% superwash merino, and 20% seacell in those Handmaiden colors we all know and adore. It is a true machine washable sock yarn, but I don’t know if I could bring myself to make socks out of it. Feel free to prove me wrong. And please do come and buy my favorite color before my self-control breaks down and I buy both skeins:

New, New, New…

February 4th, 2010 .

It may seem like most of our posts are about new yarn these days, but we can’t help it! All the new things coming through our doors are too lovely to keep to ourselves (plus, keeping them to ourselves would be at least a little bit counterproductive). We’re busy stocking up for the Superbowl Sale this Sunday, so there have been a few particular treats of late.

Malabrigo Twist is a heavy worsted/bulky weight merino from the makers of the terrific Malabrigo Worsted that is the 2nd most popular yarn on Ravelry. Unlike Malabrigo Worsted, Malabrigo Twist is plied, lending extra stability and consistency to the fantastic merino softness. We have four colors in stock with plenty for sweaters in each, though this may not last until Sunday!

Next, we have Berroco Pure Merino.

This stuff is a real treat, and definitely worth looking at on Sunday. It goes without saying that Pure Merino is deliciously soft, but it’s also one of the rare yarns with enough loft and sheen that even dark colors will have excellent stitch definition. So we splurged and got some to-die-for darks, in addition to some autumnal mid-range hues.

Last, but certainly not least: Have you ever loved a yarn so much that you wanted to have one in each color? Apparently, we do:

We just got in the mail a bag of all 20 colors of Crystal Palace Mini Mochi. (Two colors not shown: a light grey to light brown color, and a pastel mix.) This is a superwash, fingering-weight, gradually self-striping yarn useful for socks, shawls, or light sweaters. The single ply makes it extremely soft and light, but it’s durable enough to walk on in a pair of socks. Combine a colorway with a solid (Louet Gems, perhaps?) for a glorious slow-fading fair isle.

Phew! We’ll see you soon.

Good Things are Coming…

January 25th, 2010 .

Sheep & Wool is coming, and the first prognostications are at our door.

On Saturday, we received a shipment of FatCatKnits wonderful rovings. With no fewer than ten colors in five different fibers, there’s enough of each to do a significant amount of spinning. A couple of us have our eyes on the Merino/Bamboo 50/50 blend, so come scoop one up while they’re hot!

How DO you pronounce that brand?

January 23rd, 2010 .

We’ve brought a brand new yarn into the shop. It’s called “Araucanía.” Do YOU know how to pronounce it? Jared & Rebecca go for the literal Spanish (ah-raow-kah-KNEE-ah), while Coleen has settled on a more Americanized (aw-ruh-CANE-yuh). The latter may become the consensus, as it at least has one less syllable.

We have several colors of the “Ranco Multi” sock. Which is your favorite?

No less glorious is Araucanía’s “Nature Wool”; we have several of the semi-solids and one multi to pick from. As of today, there’s plenty for a sweater in any color, though many of these shades would look glorious together in a colorwork number. Pay a visit and pick some for your very own.

January 7th, 2010 .

Happy new year from us here at Cloverhill! We hope you all had excellent and merry celebrations, and that you’ve finished your Christmas projects and are ready to knit something for yourself.

One of our favorite local dyers stopped by today to replenish our stock of Wullenstudio Sock. Since I (Rebecca) compulsively arrange yarn into rainbows, it is coordinated and ready for your picking pleasure.

Sheila dyes her yarns by hand, and most of the 75% superwash merino/25% nylon skeins in our possession are semi-solids. They are perfect for a lace scarf, or a pair of socks in a fancy pattern that would get lost in a sock yarn of more varied hue. It’s incredibly soft to work with, though you might not be able to tell, what with how tightly the 450 yards are twisted down into a compact little skein.

See that dark green in the lower left corner? That’s a new color, called “Bungle in the Jungle.” It’s a dark sort of foresty green with lighter, yellowish flecks. You should come and buy it before I do. See you soon!

Happy Holidays!

December 24th, 2009 .

We hope you all have blessed holiday celebrations with loved ones. Here are our holiday hours:

Christmas Eve (Thurs., Dec. 24th): 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Christmas Day (Fri., Dec. 25th): Closed

Sat., Dec. 26th - Wed., Dec. 30th: Regular hours

New Year’s Eve (Thurs., Dec. 31st): 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

New Year’s Day (Fri., Jan. 1st): Closed

Congratulations to Risha!

December 20th, 2009 .

Risha had a beautiful baby girl yesterday! Mom and baby are doing well and enjoying looking at the pretty snow.
Congrats Risha! I can’t wait to meet her.
Jolene

Yarn of the Month: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride!

December 3rd, 2009 .
Lamb's Pride worsted and bulky weights

Lamb's Pride worsted and bulky weights

We have just received a huge shipment of Brown Sheep’s classic yarn, Lamb’s Pride in both worsted and bulky weights.  The nicely stocked display inspired us to encourage you all to check out this great yarn by making it the yarn of the month! This means you will get 10% off your purchase of instock Lamb’s Pride yarn and we will also donate money to American Heart Association based on the sales of this yarn.

Ravelry tells me that Lamb’s Pride Worsted is the 9th most popular yarn among Ravelers!  No surprise as this 85% Wool, 15% Mohair single ply worsted weight yarn is infinitely useful and has proven itself durable and beautiful, both.

Use Lamb’s Pride for any project (any kind of project, really!) for which you want beautiful color, stitch definition, softness, and strength.

Try Lamb’s Pride for warm sweaters for the family ~ Wonderful Wallaby is a classic sweater for a huge range of sizes which is perfect for Lamb’s Pride.