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.

However. You must be a Sleeping Bear Yarn Club member.

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.

After that, they may be unavailable forever. 

Club memberships are available for 3, 6 and 12 months, with the ability to pay monthly, quarterly or in full.

A current membership of any kind will grant you access to the Colors of Leelanau.

Not a current member? Sign up HERE.

Already a member? Click HERE to order the Colors of Leelanau.

We’ll be taking pre-orders for the Colors of Leelanau for a VERY limited time‑‑through April 18th only.

Orders will ship with the June 2022 packages.

Not sure what to knit with a single precious skein? Consider combining multiples and fading them‑‑making a gradient color run‑‑like the So Faded Sweater, What the Fade Shawl or Fluorite Socks by Andrea Mowry, Dip Dye Raglan by Camilla Vad (and hold them with mohair‑‑gasp!) or the original Find Your Fade Shawl. And of course our Basic Buzz Hat would be a knockout.

Love some of the colors so much you want a full sweater’s quantity? Try this Ravelry search HERE for fingering weight sweaters. Some of our favorites include Joji’s Granito, Tif Nielan’s Beachcomb Tee and Mebuki by Ririko.

And of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that so many of these (okay, all of them!) provide a gorgeous backdrop for mohair sweaters, too. Some favorites are the Cozy Classic Raglan by Jessie Maed, The Daily Ritual Raglan by Park Williams and of course, The Love Note by Tin Can Knits. (Holding a fingering weight and a laceweight yarn together will yield a DK weight gauge.) Try a Ravelry search for DK weight sweaters HERE. We’ve got several laceweight mohair yarns in the shop, including Fangirl Silk Mohair, Moondrake Mohair Lace, Wobble Gobble KidMo, Little Fox Nuages,  Bella Filato Bella Suri and Quince & Co. Piper.

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.

15% Discount: the pattern, the needles AND the yarn. We’ll be knitting ours with Brooklyn Tweed Loft (a fingering weight wool) and Stitch Together Studio Mid-Coast String (a millspun fingering weight wool) in your choice of two custom colorways: Honeybee and The Hive Collective. Need to order needles? Find them HERE.

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.

To order the kit:

-Choose your 4-9 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed Loft HERE.

-Choose your 1-2 skeins of Stitch Together Mid-Coast String HERE (HONEYBEE) or HERE (The Hive Collective).

-Add the Stonecrop Pullover Pattern HERE.

Use coupon code stonecrop15 to receive the 15% discount.

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.

What’s inside the box? This package includes so many treasures, it’ll knock your hand-knit socks off: one full skein each of Brooklyn Tweed Loft and Little Fox Yarn Nuages, one ready-to-brew cup of Great North Chai tea, one forest creature enamel pin from Wildship Studio, one mini Farmhouse Candle, one exclusive (new) mitten pattern, one Kristin Hurlin greeting card, and one Michigan Mitten sticker from Wander & Gather to make things extra festive. Even better? Shipping is included.

Icicle (gray):
-Brooklyn Tweed Loft in ‘Narwhal’
-Little Fox Nuages in ‘Whisker’
–‘Alpen Glow’ notecard
–‘Chickadee’ enamel pin
–‘Treemoss + Cedar’ mini candle
–Great North Chai
–Mitten State sticker

Cranberry (red):
-Brooklyn Tweed Loft in ‘Long Johns’
-Little Fox Nuages in ‘Tomato Tomahto’
–‘Early Winter on the Crystal‘ notecard
–‘Robin’ enamel pin
–‘Cranberry  + Spruce’ mini candle
–Great North Chai
–Mitten State sticker

Deep Freeze (blue):
-Brooklyn Tweed Loft in ‘Flannel’
-Little Fox Nuages in ‘Galway Girl’
-‘Lone Spruce‘ notecard
–‘Moon Bear’ enamel pin
–‘White Fir + Cypress’ mini candle
–Great North Chai
–Mitten State sticker

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.

Looking for the Evergreen Campfire Mug? Find it HERE.

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. 

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.

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.

Find the full palette of Tones HERE.

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.

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 on Saturday, 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.

The prizes include:​​​​​​

-a Joji & Co. needle wallet in ‘Dusty Pink’, a skein of Must Stash Yarn Self-Striping 2020 Advent Sock + 2 skeins of Playful Day Yarns Worsted ($225)

-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. 

Pre-order The Nickel Anniversary Box HERE.

Merino with a capital M. Round and smooth, this yarn rebounds against your hand with a satisfying spring. Ranch 03 Campbell-Hansmire comes in a modern palette of vibrant colorways, showcasing the glowing hues that only Merino can provide.​​​​​​​

This limited edition yarn is both brand new and exceedingly special: from a small flock from one ranch in Eagle County, Colorado, this collection offers a soul-filling burst of inspiration for winter-weary eyes. A smooth-spun sport weight, Ranch 03 is light and soft, warm and lithe, sturdy and bursting with life‑‑synonymous with Spring.

For 30 years, rancher Julie Hansmire has been lovingly tending and thoughtfully breeding her Merino flock, honing the sheep’s high quality fleece into a supple wool with unparalleled softness. Dedicating herself to the hard-bitten life of open range ranching, her commitment to the Merino breed shines through her joyful demeanor and earnest candor.

​​​​​​​Moving with the seasons, the flock is grazed across open grasslands by Julie’s close-knit team of Peruvian shepherds. This environmentally-sustainable ranching method cuts down on flammable brush and controls the spread of noxious weeds. The Campbell-Hansmire Merino sheep are ethically sheared and compassionately raised, producing a soft, downy wool that mirrors the tenderness of their care.

Not sure what to knit with Ranch 03? Liz knit the child’s size of the Hansmire Hat with two skeins of Rosegold Ranch 03 for Cecily. Two or three skeins will make the Dalleray Cowl, and, if you’re feeling like sinking your teeth into a bigger project, go for some gorgeous colorwork–the Spero Sweater.

We invite you to meet Julie Hansmire, and listen to her describe her life’s work‑‑raising responsible, sustainable, beautiful Merino sheep‑‑by watching this video ​​​​​​​HERE.

‘it’s okay if you aren’t okay. not feeling your best. dealing with so
much stress. so much tension in your body. up late and can’t sleep.
it’s okay if you’re not all put together as you normally are. but
nothing is normal during these times. you’re going through a deep
cleansing and keeping it together really means allowing yourself
to fall apart and see yourself in pieces. you’re strong enough to
re-assemble yourself. you are your own missing peace. relax your
mind. you are loved you are loved you are love.’
-Adrian Michael, ‘missing peace’

We are tired. Life is hard. We know you feel it, too. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay.

It’s okay not to have anything to say.
To need to talk.
Not to push on as normal.
To want to get Back To Normal.
To abandon your knitting.
To cast on All The Things.
To rest.
To move.
To sleep.
To binge.
To weep.
To laugh.
To indulge.
To refrain.
To comfort.
To seek pleasure.
To safely gather.
​​​​​​​To retreat.

We are coming up on a sobering anniversary, and with it comes a range of emotions that are wringing us dry. We are grieving, in very public and very personal ways. For what was, was is, what will never be. We are taking time to sit with these feelings‑‑the only way out is through.

Remember‑‑when you can‑‑that you are not alone. You are important. You are necessary. More people love you and need you than you could ever know. If you need someone to talk to, please text HOME to 741741 to connect with a real, life crisis counselor who will listen, at any time, and give you a soft place to land.​​​​​​

Adrian Michael Green is a human whose work we love and deeply respect. The poem in this newsletter is from Giver II, but every single one of his collections is magical, lyrical and speaks to the Soul.

Open Stitch
Saturdays
10 am to 12 pm EDT

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.

JOIN US HERE.

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.)​​​​​​​