[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is 100% home grown springy woolly goodness. A collaboration between Fancy Tiger and Elemental Affects, Heirloom Romney is made in the US from sheep to dyehouse. This sturdy yarn is aptly named – Romney wool is known for its strength and durability, and one touch will tell you this yarn will stand the test of time. That one touch will also surprise you, as this isn’t as itchy and dense as a lot of other Romney yarns. Still a solid, warm feeling yarn, it has a bloom to it that gives it an almost fuzzy springiness.

I have had a love affair with Heirloom since earlier this spring, when I first caught a glimpse of it. The first thing I noticed was the wonderfully fun, modern color palette.  I love the muted, heathered brights, especially this yellow-green color, named Quinoa.   I first saw this in a print ad, by the way, so I must admit to falling for Heirloom before I even felt it. And then I felt it.

This is a newer yarn, so there aren’t a ton of patterns out there that have been written specifically for it. (Stay tuned!) That said, I’ve got a couple recommendations: There’s the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] pattern, which would be perfect knit up in this yarn. That’s also a basic enough pattern that can easily be tweaked to incorporate a second color – imagine those socks in dark gray with a stripe of Quinoa in the cuff!  And (at the risk of being berated by Lopi fans worldwide) Heirloom would also be great for some of your favorite Icelandic sweater patterns . Weavers will enjoy it too, as it has good yardage, and surprising strength for such a lofty yarn. An Heirloom Romney blanket next to a cozy fire would be pretty ideal as the days get colder!

Wonderfully squishy, Ushya Yarn by Mirasol is the new bulky on our block. Ushya is 98% Wool, 2% Polyamide (fancy nylon), and totally wearable. This week only, through Monday November 21st, Ushya is 10% off!

I love knitting with bulky weight yarn. I tend to knit obsessively until I finish a project, so it’s great when that happens, well… quickly. There was a time in my life (not that long ago) when I was knitting exclusively with bulky yarns. Grab some US 15 needles, cast on 10 or so stitches, and you’ve got a scarf within a few hours. There are so many great quick knit projects that this yarn would be awesome for, but it also makes a great “roving” style wool for thrummed knitting. Speaking of thrummed knitting, Ushya is the perfect replacement for the Plymouth De Aire that was originally used in our Alpine Topper hat pattern.

Yes! [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] is 40% possum and 100% awesome! Durable and luxurious, Zealana Rimu is a stunning blend of merino wool and brushtail possum. This machine washable DK weight yarn is incredibly soft and warm. When knit up, the  fabric boasts a unique shadowy halo which really highlights the modern color palette of wearable neutrals and brights. This yarn is truly a show-stopper.

The pattern book, [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] boasts that it’s “New Zealand MADE to amaze” and they aren’t wrong. The Mesh Shawlette made the cover page for good reason. Knit with 4 skeins of Green Taru this shawl does a wonderful job of showing off that fabulous shadowy halo that I mentioned before. Or perhaps you’re in the market for a go-to winter hat? Found it! The Fisherman’s Rib Slouchy Hat is knit up using 1 skein of Shadow and 2 of Rata Red. Who doesn’t love a little pop of color in the winter?

Truly a classic, Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn has stood the test of time. It comes in neat little 107 yard, 50 gram skeins (we call them jelly beans). Classic DK Wool is a go-to for any knitter familiar with the line, or anyone looking for a new standard in a DK weight since it is suitable for all sorts of projects. Spun from premium grade, extra long fibers, it’s really warm and durable. Use it to knit your favorite hat, pair of socks, blanket, sweater, mittens… you get where I’m going. And if you need to find a pattern, Jo Sharp has you covered there too. Not only does she have lots of patterns specifically designed for the Classic DK Wool, but she also recommends it as a substitution for other Jo Sharp lines such as Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre Yarn, Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed Yarn, and Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton Yarn.

Speaking of patterns, check these out: This pattern for a garter stitch jacket keeps popping up on my radar, particularly the shorter version (pictured). I’d also like to point out that the majority of Jo Sharp patterns come with a second design as well. This pattern not only includes instructions for the jacket, but also a cabled hat. You can download it here- [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]

But then there’s the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , which is a favorite amongst the Halcyon staff. This pattern includes instructions for the coat in two different lengths, the longer version being the red one pictured here.

Ok one more, then I’ll leave you alone…  I also really like this pattern, the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . I love how cozy that shawl looks.  Not to mention, there are also instructions for a unisex sweater included with the shawl pattern.

We’ve got another great new yarn here at Halcyon- [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] ! This is a new member of the Noro family, and a unique one at that. Noro is famed for their brightly variegated, single ply yarns. Our little Noro corner in the shop is a veritable riot of color. Enter: Tennen. Also a single ply, Tennen is a much more subtle line, featuring more tonal variation in a palette of neutral colors.

Tennen yarn holds its own! I knit up a swatch of our color 0270, which is a grayish sage green . You can see that it still has Noro’s trademark variegation, but in a more subdued color scheme using just the green, white, and gray. These colors make the knitted fabric look just as soft as it feels.

The color palette and fiber content aren’t the only things that make Tennen stand out – it’s also a very generous put-up. Tennen is sold in 100 gram skeins, each containing approximately 275 yards. That cozy sweater I’ve been picturing out of this yarn is looking a little more attainable now! Being a worsted weight yarn, this would suit a ton of different patterns for all kinds of projects.  If you’re looking for some ideas to start with, Noro also released a book specifically catered to Tennen. It’s called [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] – check it out!

Let me tell you about one of the absolute softest yarns I’ve ever had a chance to touch:   [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .  This is part two of the Pure Bliss Collection, a new collection of uniquely luxurious yarns from Debbie Bliss. Wait until you hear what’s in it!

Just like with the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] I told you about a while back, Debbie Bliss has released a book of beautiful patterns to be knit up out of the Lhasa . These patterns range from smaller accessories to a few larger projects (dubbed as “investment pieces” by the designer herself).  The Leaf Cowl (shown on the Lhasa book’s cover) is a unique, approachable way to try a bold color. Available in a simple, but full palette of neutrals and brights, there are plenty of options.

I’ve fallen in love with [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .  Not that I’m that hard a sell, usually. But I think you might fall in love with it too once you check it out! That’s because not only is this yarn beautiful to look at, it also has a beautiful story. The Falkland Islands are widely known for producing some of the highest quality wool in the world. In fact, I recently read that every bit of land on these islands is used as pasture for… you guessed it, sheep.  Not only are the islands a friendly habitat for our woolly friends, but they’re also home to an abundance of animal life from birds to fish. I mean, I’m a little jealous of the sheep below, chillin’ with Megallanic penguins and geese. Looks like someone took the most beautiful rolling sheep pastures and dumped them in the middle of a brightly colored ocean. Those sheep are luuu-cky.  Well, the wool this yarn is made of comes straight from that paradise.

Debbie Bliss also released a little book of patterns to go along with the yarn, the [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] . Drawing from traditional cabled and textured designs, the patterns in this book are wonderfully modern. The Cable Jacket that’s featured on the cover is actually my favorite. It’s made of seemingly mismatched pieces, each featuring their own cable pattern. When put together, it makes a beautifully modern, unexpectedly simple jacket.

Herriot Fine Alpaca by Juniper Moon Farm Yarn is every fiber lover’s dream, combining alpaca’s undeniable softness with added durability from nylon. To make it even more enticing we’re offering a sale price of $19.75* now through Thursday, August 25th (regular price $21.95). Herriot Fine is 461 yards of fingering weight bliss, 75% alpaca and 25% nylon. Create luxurious socks, shawls, sweaters and accessories. Weavers: Herriot Fine is suitable for both warp and weft with a tabby sett 10-12, twill sett 12-15.

Wrap up in Herriot Fine,  Heirloom Lace Cashmere Wrap (download version) requires 2 skeins and the pattern and is FREE with the yarn purchase (make sure to add it to your cart). Double strand one skein for Cashmere Cowl with a Twist (download version), another FREE pattern with yarn purchase. Alpaca socks? Yes please!   Classic Socks - Yankee Knitter (or as download).

Are you a bookworm – these titles will have you knitting Herriot Fine over and over!   Sock-Yarn Accessories - 20 Knitted Designs with Style and Savvy, Sock-Yarn Shawls, Sock-Yarn Shawls II - 16 Patterns for Lace Knitting