Decidedly Hilltop

Washable, kid-friendly yarns

2008-04-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

In our "after the fire" re-examination of our yarn brands and products, we went for the big Berroco add, and picked up many of their kid- and machine-washer-friendly yarns. I'm tempted (as always) to buy projects to try out all the new yarns. My nephews' first birthday is coming up in June, so this funky doggie sweater in the "Just for Tots" Comfort DK book might be a good excuse to try that line.

"Comfort" also comes in worsted weight, for even quicker sweaters. It's super soft, 50/50 acrylic/nylon, and I'm very curious as to how it knits up.

We also have a wider range of one of my most-tempting baby yarns, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, plus Plymouth's Dreambaby DK (more traditional baby colors, 50/50 nylon/acrylic--super soft and very sweet) and Jelli Beenz (bright colors twisted with a strand of shiny, rainbowy acrylic--75/25 acrylic/wool)

And then there's good old Cotton-Ease and Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, in lots of colors.

We have a bunch more new yarns and colors (Blue Sky Skinny anyone?), but I'm going to stop typing to save my hands for knitting later. Feel free to e-mail or call us if you want to know more, check colors before you swing by, etc.

PS All the above links go to (Ravelry.com. If you're not a member, I strongly suggest you enter your e-mail address and sign up when you get your invite. This invaluable web site has grown in leaps and bounds and is a fantastic resource for knitters and crocheters.

Jane Crossover Sweater

2007-12-31T12:41:00.000-08:00

We have kits in to knit this beautiful sweater from Perl Grey in lovely Ottawa yarn from Fleece Artist.

I knit this sample for the store in a very short time, as the pattern is primarily stockinette with very little seaming.

I think it looks very good on, if I do say so myself! Easy to dress up or down. Comfortable and a quick knit.

Brand new cabled fingerless gloves!

2007-12-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hi this is Robin (not Shannon)
I am pretty new here at Hilltop and I've been keeping myself busy with new yarns and new patterns for holiday gifts this winter. My favorite gift so far is these fingerless gloves with a pretty cable and a nice, fitted thumb. I've been perfecting the pattern (with Jenny's help) to get it ready for distribution. I know that I have been running across a lot of requests for fingerless gloves this year, and people love what easy fun gifts they are. So check these pictures out and get ready to knit and sell the heck out of them!

These lovelies are made using a single skein of Blue Sky Suri Merino and size 4 needles. nice, huh?

Q: What are you doing this Saturday?

2007-12-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

A: Attending Prairie Girl's Guide to the Holidays at Hilltop Yarn!
The Prairie Girl's Guide to Life author (and avid knitter) Jennifer Worick will demonstrate quick & customized gifts for the holidays, rustic ways to decorate your home, and most importantly, frustrating activities to let go and new meaningful traditions to create in their place (yes, you CAN knit instead of doing those Christmas cards!).

Saturday, December 8, 1:oo-3:00 PM. Give us a call to sign up. This workshop is FREE!

All copies of Jennifer's book, purchased during our event, will be 10% off. Channel your inner-Laura Ingalls Wilder!

See you there!

Ornaments

2007-12-06T18:02:00.001-08:00

ornaments
Originally uploaded by dinahsaurus

I don't know how many other people out there wait until the last minute to knit gifts, but I always do. I start making holiday knitting plans months ahead of time, and then start knitting somewhere around the time I notice it's past Thanksgiving.
This year, I've made up a bunch of these quick little ornaments from Handknit Holidays, designed by Leigh Radford. I can use up my scraps from the year's projects and, in only an hour, still have something handcrafted for my friends and relatives.

Calling all charitable souls

2007-11-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know, when I am not shaking a tail feather at Hilltop Yarn, I am a service learning tutor for the University of Washington's Psychobiology of Women class. I am fortunate to be working with three students who are currently voluneering at the Pike Place Senior Center. One of them posed a question to a client of the center. She asked him if he could have one thing, what would it be?
He responed that he wanted to be warm and was tired of being cold. This touched her immensly and she decided that the three of them should organize a drive of sorts. They are collecting new and gently used winter accessories for the seniors at the center. If you have anything that you have intended to wear for the last few winter seasons, but never have this would be a good time to donate. Or if you are out and about and feeling especially generous, knock yourself out. To give you an idea, this center services over 1,000 people. The students know they probably won't get enough for everyone, but that doesn't mean they are not going to hope they do.
I will be using Hilltop as a vehicle for collecting these things. If you are in the neighborhood, or if you're not, drop by and give the gift of warmth this year.
I will be picking up the donation box at the close of Wed, Dec. 5th.
If you have any questions email me at: Garcis@u.Washington.edu

Thank you,
Shannon Garcia

Queen Anne Artists Trunk Show

2007-10-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

Our own Jenny Chase-Rappaport is participating in the Queen Anne Artists Trunk Show this Saturday November 10th from 11-4pm with her unique hand crafted toys and accessories for all ages. Her booth will be "Rocket Boy and Danger Dog Knits."

Come by and check out her wares!

Perfect Punctuation Scarf

2007-10-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hilltop's One Skein pattern for October is the Perfect Punctuation Scarf (named for its double-sided Comma Stitch pattern). Knit with one skein of Malabrigo, this scarf is temptingly soft and perfect for men or women. Kat models a sample knit in the beautiful fall colorway "Stonechat." This pattern is free with a yarn purchase to Purl One members!

Composed Mitts

2007-10-14T21:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished the Composed Mitts from Fall 2007 Interweave Knits Magazine. They are made out of Blue Sky Sport Weight Alpaca except for two of the colors that I needed which I found in my stash. They were fun and challenging. If you are up to a little fairisle, then they make a relatively quick project. I recommend using two circular needles rather than double points. Saves on time and creates a smoother fabric. If you haven't tried the 2 needle technique then give it a go. I started them on Oct 6th and finished them watching Thursday night TV on the 11th. I had some intense knitting hours to work on them otherwise they would have taken me a little longer.

The pattern is well written and the graph is great. I ended up duplicate stitching the red berries on the green vine. I didn't like the idea of carrying 3 colors at once. I like how the red and orange stand out and the bobbles on the cuff give the mitts a feminine look.

You may catch me walking around town with my cute new mitts. Alpaca is so warm and cozy. I wear them to work on the computer before the heat has kicked in. Seattle is the perfect place for fingerless mitts.

Come on into the shop and check out the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits Magazine. If the fairisle intimidates you, look into taking a class or ask the knitting experts ways to adapt the pattern. I think that these mitts would look great in stripes too.

Vouchers!

2007-10-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: we're not mailing Purl One Club vouchers anymore. We sent e-mails when they were printed, but it seems a lot of accounts' junk boxes ate them!

Any of the vouchers that expired on September 30 have been extended to October 31. We've been calling people, so check your voice mails and answering machines. We'd love to see you, whether you have a voucher or not, so come on in!
-Jen-

Lucy's Cat

2007-09-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Lucy, one of our Hilltop regulars, made the Jingle Cat pattern from the newsletter with one skein of Blue Sky Cotton, held doubled. It made such an adorably fat cat! And isn't that pink felt nose a nice touch?

Get Your Hooks Out!

2007-09-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

If you're a crocheter, a lapsed crocheter, or a knitter who wants to learn crochet, be prepared for our Crochet Me event on October 14th! At this book signing, trunk show and crochet talk, you can see projects from the book and meet local pattern designer Julie Holetz. Crochet Me is an excellent online resource for crochet patterns and techniques, and the new book includes the best fashion-forward work of its designers. Keep checking the blog for sneak previews!

Hobo Bag in Action!

2007-09-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hilltop customer Julie just completed her version of Monica's Hobo Tote, and both she and her daughter were happy to model it for the blog. Didn't she do an amazing job on those grommets? It looks like just the thing for carrying around the city this Fall!
We always enjoy seeing customers' versions of our Decidedly Hilltop patterns. If you've knitted or crocheted one, please bring it in or send us a photo, and let us know if you'd like to be on the blog, too!

Pretty new yarn for fall!

2007-09-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Hello there, yarn lovers! I'm Jen and I'm the newest addition to the Hilltop staff. I just enjoyed my second day of training and one of the best parts of the day was getting to walk past the display of Malabrigo worsted over & over again. We just got it into the shop, and while we don't have every color that you see there on the website, we have many beautiful ones, including variegated and kettle-dyed solids. Malabrigo is a butter-soft merino wool, perfect for sweaters, felted bags, even baby hats. If you have a Ravelry account, hop on there and see what others have made with their Malabrigo. We also have the Malabrigo laceweight in some stunning colorways, including a stunning blue and jaw-droppingly gorgeous purple. At almost 500 yards per skein, the laceweight would make any number of shawls with just one or two skeins.

I have one skein of Malabrigo in a coppery brown sitting in my stash. What should I make with it? What have you made with your Malabrigo lately?

Manos on Sale!

2007-09-05T13:36:00.000-07:00

Our stock of Manos del Uruguay wool yarn is on sale right now, for 20% off, with an extra 5% off for Purl One members! This hand-dyed, thick-and-thin yarn has beautiful, subtle color variations, and it felts well, too. Snap some up soon for the best selection of colors!

Last Chance for Jaeger!

2007-08-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't heard... The Jaeger yarn brand is being discontinued, so if you are a fan of the outrageously soft Extra Fine Merino, now is a good time to hoard! There are still quite a few balls of it left at 20% off (and an extra 5% for Purl One members), as well as some of Jaeger's variegated Baby Merino DK.

Coming Soon...

2007-08-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

Three of a Kind
Originally uploaded by dinahsaurus

...a Decidedly Hilltop pattern inspired by Seattle's Baby Boutique! This soon-to-be-available baby toy pattern will be free with the donation of a handmade item.
If you haven't heard, Hilltop is helping the Baby Boutique collect hats, sweaters, booties, mittens, scarves and blankets for our city's homeless children. A child's hat or booties can be knit up so quickly with leftovers, but can really make a big difference in someone's warmth this winter. Your handknit or hand-crocheted items can be brought to the shop and we will deliver them to the Baby Boutique. More information on the pattern soon!

Hilltop 5 year Blanket

2007-08-13T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hilltop recently celebrated it's 5 year anniversary! Accordingly us employees wanted to make something to give our illustrious shopowner Jennifer and we decided on a group blanket.

Can you tell we like group blankets around here? They give us all a chance to participate, with enough variety to play to multiple strengths and keep our interest. Admit that you too would knit more blankets if you could somehow get away with just knitting part of it. :)

Betsy instigated the blanket plan, while Jule carried it to fruition. Martine helped with the perfect Jennifer color choices. Susan traced a shield from the stained glass windows in the store to knit them into the blanket. Jule charted the drawing of the house into a pattern and Betsy knit it in. Kat, Karen, Daphne, Anne and Shannon knit some of the garter squares. Kathryn and Jenny also knit squares. Teresa knit and made it to the seaming party.

Jule based the pattern on Mason Dixons' Moderne Log Cabin blanket. We used Colinette sock yarn (doubled), Kid Silk Haze, and Lambs Pride worsted. We're pretty proud of it and we hear Jennifer loves it. :) 5 more years!

Penelope Vest

2007-08-06T18:17:00.001-07:00

Flowers
Originally uploaded by dinahsaurus

After many, many months of procrastination, I finally finished my version of the RYC Penelope Vest that I wore in last November's fashion show. It was just in time to see the original one head back to the sale shelf, because the yarn has been discontinued! (and if you liked that vest, it's still back there, ready-to-wear!) Not to fear, though, if you, too, loved the designs in Classic Woman; Nashua Ivy is a perfect substitute for RYC Soft Lux. It's the same yardage, just as soft, and it even has the sparkle. This vest is in Blue Teal, but it also comes in a pretty green, and a purple, and a cream, too. The wacky flowers are not part of the original pattern, but after all that teal ribbing, I felt that the vest just needed *something.* I'm not sure that it needed something quite so bright, but so far, they can stay!

Gift Knitting

2007-08-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

See that look on our faces? That's why gift knitting is some of the best knitting around!

Photo by: Seth Howard

That's Karen, Martine, Jenny, Jesse, Betsy, Kat (me), Teresa and Daphne holding up a group project knit by Hilltop for Jesse and me on the occasion of our wedding! Here we are receiving this lovely blanket at our reception. (Not all knitters involved are pictured.)

It was knit using Lornas Laces Worsted, Cotton Fleece and a whole lot of love! The pattern is from Nashuas' Bloom book which may be meant for babies, but I'm not taking that as any kind of hint. :)

It's been cool enough that we've been able to snuggle under it already! Thank you to the above and to all the other knitters. (Please speak up so I know who all was involved.) We love it.

got Rowan?

2007-06-20T15:48:00.000-07:00

One more thing: this weekend (Thursday through Sunday), there is a SALE on all of Rowan's discontinued colors here at Hilltop! Most yarns are 20% off, and there are some beautiful colors of Big Wool, Ribbon Twist, Soft Lux and Soft Baby just waiting to become your next project! If you need inspiration, RYC books are 20% off, too.

Upper Queen Anne Art Walk

2007-06-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Come join the local artists showcasing their work at various businesses around upper Queen Anne for the first ever Upper Queen Anne Art Walk! Look for balloons in front of the participating business locations and come meet the artists.

Hilltop Yarn is showcasing the photography of Amy Smith.

"A world traveller and mother of two girls, Amy Smith brings a unique creative vision to her photography of people and the beauty of ordinary things. She strives for her work to represent simple creativity and the loveliness of the everyday."

Come experience Amys' work for yourself at Hilltop Yarn this Thursday at 6pm.

Reminder

2007-06-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

Knit Night at Half Price Books on Capitol Hill.

Knit from 7pm on with Kat and others, tonight!

Thats:

115 Belmont Ave., E.
Seattle, WA 98102-6324
206.267.7777

We knit upstairs by the art books. Bring your current project. All skill levels are welcome.

New Patterns!

2007-06-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

We have two new patterns for Spring/Summer 2007.

This is the Gossamer Skirt, Decidedly Hilltop Pattern #60. A blend of Manos Del Uruguay and Karabella Gossamer yarns.

A delightful, flirty skirt perfect for a picnic.

For kids ages 6 months to 6 years old Monica has designed the Sweet Roses tank top, pattern #105.
This smocked top looks adorable as a blouse or a short dress. Ready for an outing to a playdate or the playground!

Summer's here!

2007-05-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

As if Memorial Day going by wasn't enough of a sign that summer's here, today's 80+ degree temperatures totally convinced me. That's why I'm so happy I just finished up my new short-sleeved cotton sweater:

It's from the new Nashua pattern collection, North American Designer Collection #4. I substituted the Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece for the specified yarn, and I couldn't be happier. Having just 20% of merino wool in there with the cotton makes it easier to work with, plus it makes the lace pattern more blockable.

What makes me really proud of this sweater are the darts I added! The pattern has pretty minimal shaping in it, and I would've had to make a larger size for it to fit. Not wanting to look like I was wearing sack, I made a smaller size and just added shaping where it was needed. A minimal amount of math and two side darts later = a sweater that fits! There's really something about clothes tailored to fit you, you just can't help but smile when wearing them. And really, why go through all the time and energy of making something by hand if it's going to fit you like something pulled off a rack? I have a feeling I'll be wearing this one a lot this summer.

Interested in learning more about darts and shaping? Hilltop resident expert Jule (she taught me everything I know on the subject) is teaching a "Summer Shape-Up" class, Saturday, June 9th and 16th. Check out the Hilltop website for more info.