Videos

The Clover Pom-Pom Maker - quick, easy, fun pompoms! is a clever little tool for making perfect pom-poms every time. Fast and easy to use, each set includes two sizes of Pom Pom Maker, approximately 2.5″ and 3.5″ each. You’ll only need about one half to one ounce of yarn, or approximately 50 yards of worsted weight yarn to make the larger size. The thicker the yarn, the less yardage you’ll need. Mix and match colors, throw in some sparkle, try making stripes… there’s no limit to the fun textures and look. Each pom pom has it’s own character – just check out the video above to see for yourself!

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- Jo Sharp Garter Stitch Jacket and Cabled Hat Pattern - Pattern Download

But then there’s the Jo Sharp Empire Coat - Pattern Download, 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 Jo Sharp Cable Shawl plus Unisex V-Neck Sweater - Pattern Download. 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- Noro Tennen Yarn! 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!

Why am I smiling? My new hooded scarf knitting pattern – with pockets – is here! Check out my video for some tips and and tricks for the Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets Download.

Well, I’ve come a long way since I was a teenager (much to my parents’ relief). At the request from my lovely coworker Kate, I decided to finally tackle the elusive hooded scarf project. We grabbed our picnic basket and skipped down to the store, full of excitement at the thought of all the yarn possibilities. After spending a long time browsing shelves upon shelves of potential colors and fibers (have you ever been to Halcyon Yarn?  It’s very big!), we landed on the Halcyon Signature Victorian Boucle Yarn.  It has such a lovely drape when knitted up, and despite the mohair it is surprisingly silky – not itchy like you might expect. And because of that mohair, it is wonderfully warm and lightweight.  I immediately dove for the most “Red Riding Hood” red I could find (our color 3560), and it was decided.

Convinced yet? Try one of these: Cherry Lucet by Wool Tree Mill,  Filigree Rosewood Lucet,  Lucet Braiding

A few weeks ago we introduced you to the Solid Wood Hand Felting Tool - Palm Washboard, a fantastic tool for wet felting. We’ve now gone one step further and made a video so you can see it in action. I think you’ll agree it’s one cool little tool that definitely belongs among your felting tools. This video is also a mini-introduction to wet felting (with the Palm Washboard) so if you’ve ever been curious, take a gander!

With its unique fiber combination of 35% Hemp/Flax, 35% Cotton and 30% Rayon, Block Island Blend Yarn is a stand out among Halcyon’s Signature Yarns. We’ve been excited about this yarn all along – even more so as we’ve brought production closer to home. If you’re not familiar with this yarn you’re missing out. This stylish 3-ply yarn has one ply of a gentle slub cotton for textural interest, one ply of rayon for subtle sheen and one ply of a hemp/linen blend for added body and strength. You’ll love the wonderful textural dimension it adds to both woven and knitted pieces. Each fiber takes the dye slightly differently creating rich tonal colors and with 29 colors there’s lots to love. Make sure you check out Halcyon’s video highlighting Block Island Blend to see this distinct yarn.

Long known for its elegance and sophistication in woven wraps and table linens such as the Woven Cowl Wrap - Block Island Blend and the Seguin Sunset Table Set weaving pattern, Block Island is now being discovered and loved by knitters. The new [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] features Block Island Blend color 2110 (8211) in Therese Chynoweth’s Mint Cascade, a gorgeous cardigan with set in sleeves with each side framed by lacey cascading leaves. Of course we’ve always known it’s a fantastic yarn for knitting. We’ve experimented knitting it at multiple gauges with both a single strand as well as doubled. There’s something to love about each swatch. One of our all time favorite sweater patterns is the Very Versatile Neck Down Hoodie / hooded pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple in which we used 2 stands of Block Island knit at 4 stitches per inch. How about lace? Just 3 mini cones is all it takes for the Heirloom Lace Scarf in Signature Block Island Blend. Give Block Island Blend a try and let us know what you think.