Brooklyn Tweed’s Shelter is one of our shop’s sweethearts‑‑and one of the most iconic yarns for Makers today. Lightweight yet warm, rugged yet refined, limitless yet dependable, it’s everything we want in a worsted weight yarn. And today, we’re so excited to introduce 12 brand new hues.
A deeply saturated rainbow, this palette fills in lots of gaps, both in terms of color AND supply-chain shortages. A true navy blue stocking cap? Try Deep Dive. An eye-popping chartreuse statement sweater? Pollen’s calling your name. An Aran pullover? Puff is as bright white and clear as a billowy, midsummer cloud.
The new Shelter colors are skein-dyed‑‑slightly different than the original BT Shelter recipe‑‑which means the colors are deeper and more intense, and they read more as solid colors vs. heathered, tweed or tonal.
Saturday‑‑9 am to 4 pm Sunday‑‑11 am to 4 pm Monday‑‑closed
Memorial Day marks summer's official start in Northern Michigan, and it's also our anniversary celebration. This is our Copper Anniversary, which means that 22 years ago, on a quiet little street in a sleepy little town, a happy little storefront opened its doors to the wool-loving public for the first time.
But.
Life is not always happy. Memorial Day, is of course, meant to honor those who are no longer with us, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. The least of all, and perhaps the most devastating, are the elementary school children who were killed in Uvalde this week, the Black community in Buffalo last week, the Asian salon in Dallas the week before. And so on.
Enough.
We encourage you, wherever you live, to get in touch with your senators and congresspeople to tell them how you feel about gun violence in your community‑‑and how they can do better for the public they pledged to serve and protect. Donate where you can. Reach out to family, to neighbors, to your people. Love each other. We're all we have‑‑and every single one of you is so very precious. More precious than any gun.
This weekend is our celebration of the work that so many do and have done to make this life what it is today‑‑and we want to share it with you in every way. At many points this weekend, we imagine we'll be laughing and sharing funny stories about years gone by. And other moments, picking shards from our hearts. We are here for you and here with you, whatever you're feeling. Pick up your needles, hop onto our Saturday Zoom, stop into the store, browse the website while you're sipping your morning coffee. Life is hard. Life is beautiful. Thank goodness for knitting. Always.
And. What's a custom colorway without a few companion color pairings? We've also brought in a limited supply of two additional Mohair Silk colorways, 'Lise' (deep raspberry) and 'Yellow Brick Road' (LBA's signature yellow) to hold together with Raspberry Honey, whether you're interested in knitting a Basic Buzz Hat, a Love Note or even a fade with all three mohairs, like the Dip Dye Raglan. Not into mohair? Knit the Raspberry Honey Super Sock on its own‑‑one skein will make a pair of simple summery socks (our Constant Companion pattern)‑‑and a few skeins will make a lightweight summery sweater. (Try the Cozy Classic Light by Jessie Maed.)
Paisley & Gold Sewing was founded in Macon, GA in 2016 when Erika Green was a full-time college student. In need of a creative outlet, she put her sewing skills to the test and created her burgeoning craft business. Paisley & Gold products bring together the finest materials and stunning design to create something very special. She believes in quality, care, and creating unique products that everyone can enjoy. Colorful, creative, and inspired by what she sees everyday, each product represents what she loves about the world she lives in. Her mission is to ensure that every item is made with heart and integrity. She believes in reviving the United States fashion industry by ethically producing all of her items in studio in the Slow Fashion way. Her hope is to educate customers on the importance of handcrafted products and small business. Every item is made by Erika in Columbus, Ohio.
Chicago-based collage artist Catherine Elizabeth uses exclusively upcycled newspaper to create her art. No paint or dyes. Created with over 100 individually hand-cut and torn pieces found in ads, pictures and comics, her art exists to tell stories and preserve memories. We are in love with these Leelanau scenes and are so proud to introduce these notecards to you this weekend. (Pro tip: slip these notecards into a standard frame‑‑they all make wonderful, affordable art pieces for your walls.)
Michelle Zimmerman is a lifelong Michigander, mother, teacher and ceramic artist based in the greater Detroit area. A graduate of Michigan State University, she majored in studio art and graphic design with a minor in photography and worked as a designer until she became a mother. In 2009, after returning to college to become a teacher, she earned a Master of Teaching degree from Oakland University with certifications in visual arts, language arts and social studies. She currently teaches at Notre Dame Preparatory School and creates these gorgeous ceramic yarn bowls for yarn enthusiasts who like to combine art and craft. With silky smooth glazes, yarn bowls are both functional and beautiful, whether you're using them while knitting or displaying your yarn collection. Each one is completely unique.
Because we can’t bear to leave our long-distance customers out of the weekend merriment, we’re giving away one Paisley & Gold Cincy Bag in Birch (an $80 value!)‑‑FREE. There’s absolutely no purchase necessary to win this giveaway–we can’t wait to see who will end up with this beauty after the weekend.
Sitting and creating with you on Saturday mornings...it's what we DO.
Join us every Saturday morning as we sit and drink caffeinated beverages and knit (or crochet/spin/stitch/weave!) together. It won't be exactly the same as being together in person, but it'll be so very good to see you.
Meeting ID: 835 6727 2501(In the event that the link itself isn't working, head to Zoom's home page, enter meeting ID: 835 6727 2501 and you should be able to get right in.)
Spring is taking root in Northern Michigan. And before we barrel into full-on Summer, the Universe taps on our shoulder: not quite yet. We’re in Mercury Retrograde season, which is this wobbly, in-between span of time in which so many things (basic communication, daily routines, relationship nuance) feel harder, like we’re moving backward. Everything just seems…off. Because, well, cosmically, it is. For us, we notice that every time Mercury turns retrograde (it’ll be four times total in 2022), we’re not entirely catapulted off center, but instead have an almost physical longing to return to unfinished projects. Yes, absolutely, in relation to knitting, but also in terms of organization, sleep patterns and soul searching. It makes us want to put our house in order.
And. At the same time, Spring’s familiar, cyclical pull. Aching to see signs of life after a long season hiding beneath a white blanket. Trimming away the tattered, winter-worn bits and breathing a billowy breath into our current surroundings. We want that delicious, Edison bulb yellow to spark something inside. Sometimes it requires a new tool. A pair—or a set!—of shiny, new needles. A well-placed lapel pin on last year’s spring coat. A tiny scrap of beautiful fabric stitched to the cuffs of a moth-bitten sweater. Mending the parts that have worn thin and strengthening the bits we are proud to build on. Old, but new again.
Rather than push against the frenzy, we are chosing instead to use this time of pause to revisit and set intentions for Practice. More daily knitting‑‑to soothe, to comfort, to restore, to energize, to align. More scheduled contemplation‑‑deep breathing, long walks, five minutes of utter quiet. More herbal tea, more sun, more rest, more greens‑‑in our bodies and in our line of vision. Here’s to more of the things that restore your soul, despite the maelstrom swirling around you. You deserve good things, dears‑‑sending you our love.
Okay, okay, so perhaps all this is a bit woo for you, but maybe just don’t make any really big decisions for the next few weeks? Promise us you’ll at least try to re-commit to taking care of yourself during this time: don’t forget your vitamins, get a little extra sleep..and whatever you do, do NOT text that ex!
It’s been almost eight full years since we launched our Sleeping Bear Yarn Club and it has blossomed into something beyond our wildest dreams. (And just wait until we tell you about Year Nine! Sometime next week, that is.)
Because our club continues to grow every month, there are many, many customers who’ve only just joined us‑‑and have missed out on some of the previous months. And almost everyone has said that they’d love to get their hands on at least one more skein of one colorway or another.
So. We’re opening up the opportunity for everyone who has been hoping to get another go at one‑‑or more!‑‑of our exclusive yarns. We reached out to the brilliant dyers who’ve produced colorways for our Sleeping Bear Yarn Club and asked them to dye a limited edition run for the spectacular colors from the first eight years: The Colors of Leelanau.
And, as always, these yarns are available to you at 10% off retail prices.
We’ve said from Day One that these colors are exclusive to our members and we still stand by that. Before you can order any of the colorways pictured here, you first have to join the club.
After that, you can order any of the colors between now and April 18th.
Love some of the colors so much you want a full sweater’s quantity? Try this Ravelry search HEREfor fingering weight sweaters. Some of our favorites include Joji’s Granito, Tif Nielan’s Beachcomb Tee and Mebuki by Ririko.
Not sure how to choose your coordinating mohair, or how it will look with the yarn? This blog post from Tin Can Knits is so very helpful‑‑thank you, Michele, for sending this one along! Read the post HERE.
*Um. We mean knit with it. Who hoards yarn anyway?
The Stonecrop KAL: January 1st-February 14th, 2022. Our first sweater of the New Year.
THIS IS A PRE-ORDER AND WILL SHIP THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 20TH, 2021.
This is one of the most extraordinary projects we’ve created through Wool & Honey–the combined effort of wool aficionados all across the country. The wool–Bluefaced Leicester–was grown in Michigan and processed by our friends Jon and April of Zeilinger Wool Co. in Frankenmuth. The wool was dyed in the fleece by fiber artist Kayanna Nelson of Stitch Together Studio in two custom colorways–Honeybee (created by Kayanna) and The Hive Collective, an off-the-cuff collaborative hue designed by the devoted fans at our virtual 20 year celebration in June 2020 (that’s you!) This was the first virtual event we ever hosted–remember how we were just beginning to navigate the world of Zoom?!?–and it will always be the sweetest memory. The base yarn in this colorwork sweater is US grown, spun and dyed Brooklyn Tweed Loft, yarn that’s only become more dear to us as our relationship with BT has strengthened over the years. The sweater design is the brain child of our dear friend and former Michigander, the one and only Andrea Mowry. The sample was knit by our favorite sample knitter and friend, Melissa Hunter, and several of the display swatches were knit by our biggest fan, our very own Michele Greenan. And the prize for finishers? A custom sock set dyed by local dyer Gwen Perenchio of Bella Filato Studio, designed to coordinate with every shade of Mid-Coast String.
JANUARY 1ST-FEBRUARY 14TH, 2022.
November 27th-December 12th: Order the yarn and needles now through December 12th. Everything will arrive in the store (or straight to your doorstep!) with plenty of time for you to cast on by January 1st. When you’re done, we’ll expect to see finished shots of you and your sweater! Email us at thebuzz@woolandhoney.com, use the #WoolAndHoney hashtag on Instagram or post on our Facebook page.
Help every Saturday: We’ll be dedicating our Saturday morning Open Stitch Zoom gatherings to the Stonecrop KAL January 1st-February 14th. We’ll be here to chat in real time, help you if you get in a rut or offer insights into navigating the pattern–but primarily it’ll be a chance for us to motivate each other.
Prizes: Every single participant who completes their sweater during the time frame will receive a custom, handdyed sock set from Gwen at Bella Filato Studio–a $35 value–AND every single participant who completes their sweater will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate to Wool & Honey.
In the words of the designer, our dear friend and former Michigander Andrea Mowry…
“Knit from the top down and full of texture, with easy to master colorwork motifs, this sweater is hard to put down! Perfect for layering and styling into a plethora of outfits for say – a fun weekend at a fiber festival! Rhinebeck’s NY Sheep & Wool 2022 anyone?”
Size (finished bust circumference): 30 (34, 37.5, 42.5, 46)(50, 53.5, 58.5, 62.5)” 76 (86.5, 95, 108, 117)(127, 136, 148.5, 159) cm Recommended ease is -2 to +2”/-5 to +5 cm; Liz is wearing the 37.5″ on a 42”/95 cm bust with 4.5″ of negative ease.
Yarn: 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) (7, 8, 9, 9) skeins Brooklyn Tweed Loft(fingering weight) and 1 (1, 1, 1, 1) (1, 2, 2, 2) skeins Stitch Together Studio Mid-Coast String (millspun fingering weight). Our sample was knit in ‘Snowbound’ + ‘Honeybee’.
Needles: Main Fabric: US 5/3.75 mm –24”/60 cm to 40”/100 cm circular and preferred needles for small circumference knitting (Magic Loop or DPNs)
Ribbing: US 3/3.25 mm – 16”/40 cm circular for collar, 32”/80 cm for hem and preferred needles for small circumference knitting for cuffs, plus a spare for the Tubular Bind Off.
Bobbles: Crochet Hook Size E/3.5 mm (Use the needle size you need to achieve gauge. The ribbing needle should be 2 US sizes smaller than the Main Fabric needle.)
Gauge: 27 sts & 36.5 rows = 4”/10 cm on larger needles. Measured over stitch pattern in the round after blocking.
Oh, wondrous winter! Oh, sparkling snow! Oh, cozy quarters! As the light dims and days seep into long, icy stretches before us, our fingers reach for the greatest creature comforts we can cast on: the simple mitten. Uncomplicated stockinette flanked by basic ribbing, they are both understated and elevated; a classic favorite for the champion knitter and a first-tier challenge for the brave, new one. The colors we’ve chosen here are an homage to perhaps the greatest piece of children’s literature, and one that sparks some of our warmest childhood memories: Jan Brett’s The Mitten. A jaw-dropping depiction of the Ukrainian folktale, the book is filled with intricate folkloric drawings, magical forest creatures and centers around knitting: a fluffy pair of mittens made by a Baba for her spirited grandson.
We’ve incorporated one of our favorite methods here–holding a fingering weight yarn together with a fluffy laceweight–and this one feels both rustic AND luxurious, with a tweedy solid to create textural nuance, and silky Suri alpaca taking the place of mohair. Not only do you have the opportunity to play with color, but holding two yarns together adds both warmth and ease–a heavier weight gauge means this project is quicker to knit. And. We thought that in addition to the basic mitten, we’d also offer both a convertible pair and a fingerless pair that would double up on those days when you need even more finger mobility. Choose the fingerless pair for totally unfettered access, or wear the flip-top pair with the lids down when you want full coverage, flip the tops down when you need to change the radio or turn up the heat or fish that perfect Petoskey stone out of the water.
Tuck this box under your favorite knitter’s tree. Make a pair for someone on your list. Unpack the box and gift different pieces to the people you care for–the enamel pin for your vet tech, the sticker for your daughter’s stocking, the candle as a token for a holiday host. Or save the entire box for yourself for a new project in the New Year–you deserve a wintry treat.
And as if three options weren’t enough, there’s enough Nuages left from your mittens that to knit a Basic Buzz Hat. (Or use the contents to make a hat instead.) The mittens and the hat both work up at the same gauge and require roughly the same yardage. Purchase an additional skein of Loft to hold along with your leftovers and you’ve got an entire coordinating, cozy set. Choose a different fingering weight yarn and you’ll have a matching-but-not-quite-matchy set.
Please note: if the shipping address is different than the billing, please enter address in the order notes at checkout. These boxes will come with the contents pictured seen here–there are no substitutions, exclusions or replacements. The Evergreen Campfire Mug is NOT included in The Mitten Box but can be found for add-on purchase HERE.
Small Business Saturday: the day we look forward to all year—a day we can say ‘thank you’ to all of our dearest friends, our customers AND our vendors that make the shop the vibrant community space that it is. (Hint: that’s all of you.) And sometimes, we say it best with gifts. We’re in LOVE with this year’s—the one that’s in every Small Business Saturday order: a custom sweater fob from artist Katy of Katrinkles in Rhode Island. This is a knitterly gift that you can turn around and gift to your favorite wool lover‑‑or you can absolutely keep it for yourself. Every online order placed today (from now until 11:59 p.m. EST!) includes a gift, and if that weren’t enough, today is our infamous double-punch day: for every dollar spent, it's worth two on your Wool & Honey frequent customer card‑‑the best way we could think of to honor our loyal following. (Each order includes one of these cards, and if you’ve got others at home, send them back to us and we’ll combine them—and if you’d like, create an online gift certificate for you to use from the comfort of your own home.)
And. Today, more than any other day, our shop is bursting with all of our favorite gift items: candles, enamel pins, magazines, gifts‑‑and of course, yarn. Like, WHOA Y’ALL. Swipe left to see some of the sweet new additions to the shop—the Makers are tagged in the photo, and there’s a link in the profile to see all of the new things, both in-store and online. We are so grateful for you, dear friends. Thank you for loving wool as much as we do, for supporting us in everything, for welcoming our ideas with open arms, for filling our souls with stitches. We can’t imagine doing anything else—and we can’t possibly do it without you. We love you hardcore.
The limited edition Knitter's Backpack in 'Juniper'.
Thursday, November 25th closed to spend time with our immediate families
Friday, November 26th‑‑Plaid Friday closed to in-person sales for the safety of our communities, OPEN ONLINE with a 20% OFF ALL DAY
Saturday, November 27th Small Business Saturday 9 am to 4 pm-double-punches a FREE gift with all orders, in-store and online a top-secret announcement
Sunday, November 28th 11 am to 4 pm
Monday, November 29th‑‑Cyber Monday 10 am to 5 pm A HUGE surprise!
Tuesday, November 30th -- Giving Tuesday 50% off ALL sales (in-house and online) donated to Project Knitwell
Want to be among the first to receive more details about the weekend? (Yes, there are LOTS more.) Drop us a line at thebuzz@woolandhoney.com and we’ll be sure to add you to our newsletter list.
Thank you, dear friends, for being a part of our hive. We might not be able to gather in person right now, but we will always have Making to bring us together.
Introducing Tones, a versatile worsted weight yarn, ideal for sweaters, accessories, and blankets. Woolen spun from Wyoming-grown Columbia wool, with a round and springy 3-ply construction for outstanding stitch definition in textured and cabled knits, Tones is designed, sourced, spun, and dyed entirely within the United States.
Persimmon Undertone/Overtone (the swatch is Overtone), Melba Overtone/ Undertone
Tones’ unique colorways offer knitters and crocheters countless options for creativity. Light and dark heathered base yarns are overdyed with traditional techniques to create coordinating Tone Pairs. Each Overtone is a light, bright version of a color, paired with a deeper, more subdued Undertone for a total of 12 pairs of harmonious hues, 24 colors in total.
Starting with a light and a dark heathered base yarn, Brooklyn Tweed uses traditional overdye techniques to create Tone Pairs of harmonious shades. Make your piece a Crosstone‑‑mixing and matching over/undertones from multiple colorways‑‑or a Duotone, using an Overtone and an Undertone in the same colorway.
Baseline Overtone/Baseline Undertone.
In each of the product photos, you will see two skeins pictured side by side. This is a Tone Pair with the same color name; the OVERTONE is on the left, the UNDERTONE is on the right. The Overtone is a brighter, clearer color and the Undertone is a more muted, grayed-down version.
Not sure what to knit with Tones? Try these projects, clockwise from upper left: 1. Habitat by Jared Flood (1 skein) 2. First Raglan by Jared Flood (7-14 skeins) 3. Turn A Square by Jared Flood (1 skein total) 4. Ashby by Leila Raven (6 skeins) 5. Sparkwood by Lis Smith (2 skeins) 6. First Colorwork Cowl by Jared Flood (2 skeins Main Color, 1 skein each of up to 4 additional Contrast Colors) …OR any of your favorite patterns that call for Brooklyn Tweed Shelter‑‑the gauge AND the yardage are interchangeable between Tones and Shelter.
This is the first mill run of Brooklyn Tweed Tones, and we have a very limited selection in our shop. The next restock is set to land Late Fall/Early Winter, so if you miss your chance to order Tones today, please don’t fret‑‑we’ll have more as soon as BT Headquarters send out the next batch.
Sisters, wearing the same hat‑‑the pattern that we’ve designed for the The Nickel Anniversary Box. I carried the same mohair throughout both hats, but chose a different color of Hudson + West Weld‑‑’Tobacco’ for me, ‘Dusk’ for Liz‑‑for an entirely different look.
This will be the second year in a row we’re not able to revel in our shop’s anniversary with an in-person event—and 21 years is kind of a big deal. But instead of being sad (we’ll cry if we think about it too hard!), we’re getting very, very excited to celebrate with you from afar. In fact, we’re planning to bring the party to you. Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 29th at 1 pm ET—and there’s the ultimate party companion to go with it.
Introducing The Nickel Anniversary Box. Think party favors, but for knitters. From now through May 10th, pre-order one of these boxes to be delivered straight to your doorstep, and while you’re welcome to take a peek, wind the yarn and set up the other extras when the box arrives, it’s meant to be shared together.
What’s inside the box? Valued at twice its listing price, this package includes so many treasures, it’ll knock your hand-knit socks off: one full skein of Hudson + West Weld, one ready-to-brew cup of Bee Happy tea, one full set of semi-precious stone stitch markers (handmade by our favorite jeweler Liz Saile), one exclusive (new) hat pattern, one beeswax votive candle and a handful of sweet (surprise) party favors to make things extra festive. Even better? Shipping is included.
The hat pattern comes from our love of pairing a laceweight mohair silk with a fingering weight to achieve new levels of texture and colorplay in our knitting –and to get DK-weight gauge at the same time. (Which, as you know, means a project that’s quicker to knit!) The box comes with the skein of fingering weight (Hudson + West Weld), and when you add it to your cart, you have the option to stash dive for the mohair, or for an additional charge, allow us to select a coordinating skein of mohair for you.
The colors—for the yarn and the stitch markers–will be a surprise. Almost every box will be different, but we think that that’s a huge part of the fun. Not just for you when your box arrives, but as we all start knitting together during the party, you’ll be able to share your color combinations with the group. A few rounds in and the magic begins!
Tucked inside your box will be a special Zoom link invitation for 1 pm onSaturday, May 29th–let’s see how many of us can get together virtually at the same time! At 2 pm, we’ll have a drawing for not just one but FIVE (5) grand prizes—that each of the party-goers will be entered to win.
-eight (8) skeins of AVFKW Dawn in ‘Milk & Honey’ from the original dyelot ($210)
-ten (10) skeins of Barrett Wool Co. Woolens in ‘Garner’ ($120)
-one full set of ‘Little Women’ collection minis from Six and Seven Fiber ($80)
AND
-one Fringe Supply Co. Field Bag in ‘Waxed Canvas Clay’, an experimental color that never went into production (read: SUPER RARE UNICORN‑‑priceless)
Light the candle, bring your favorite mug, a pair each of US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4 mm) 16” circular needles and let’s sit and enjoy an afternoon cuppa (hot or iced!) and cast on a new project together.
Boxes will be shipping on May 19th, and because we need time to gather enough party supplies for everyone, we’ll be offering pre-orders through May 10th only. Even if you’re not able to join us at the virtual party, this special box is not to be missed; it’s an incredibly good deal, but it’s also simply gorgeous–all the ingredients you need to spend an afternoon treating yourself.
These photos are just a FEW examples of the mystery color pairings we’ll be putting together–the combinations are truly endless.