HRYC

Lately I’ve found myself feeling indecisive about what to knit, and maybe you have too. So I've been trying to finish projects to clear some head space for new things - easier said than done!

The world feels noisy and uncertain, and sitting down with soft yarn and a simple pattern feels like a kind of antidote. The rhythm of making, the soft hand of knit fabric, even just winding a skein gives us a moment to breathe and find steadiness again.

Looking for a sense of calm and connection is what keeps us going at HRYC. Every project, every chat in the shop, every colour on the shelves, it all reminds me that creativity is its own kind of hope. Whenever I mention this to people hanging out with us, they nod eagerly - our space is for you to find the space you need to process daily life.

So wherever you are, I hope you’re finding a little time to make something just for you. Below, I’ve shared what’s new in the shop, a few things we’re loving lately, and some gentle inspiration to keep your hands (and heart) warm.

My foster puppy, Kip, has been making the most of my latest snuggly project - proving that yarn is the best comfort!

Our next Lights Up Knitting film promises to be woolly delightful - featuring a murder mystery, talking sheep and Hugh Jackman, it feels like just the silly entertainment we need.

Join us on Tuesday 12 May at Light House Petone.

Meet from 5:15pm, film starts at 6pm and every ticket gets a free treat to enjoy during the movie and entry into our prize draw.

What's on Tash's needles? Well, I had a bit of a Poet sweater disaster, which was just the humility needed to go back and finish some WIPs.

At the moment I'm knitting this very simple moss stitch cowl using handspun made with Malabrigo Nube in Zinnias. I wanted something very simple to let the yarn shine and it's been what my brain needed to relax.

I also cast on and finished a Musselburgh hat in Knitsch Merino 4ply in the shade 1/4 Acre Dream. It's slightly too big, so I think I'll be casting on another one using smaller needles.

Next on my needles is Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston, knit using Jamieson & Smith sport weight which we recently received into stock. I've knit a swatch with it, and it's wonderfully toothy, Great for a nice hard-wearing cardigan like this one.

Our ongoing love for all things Shetland continues, with the return of some much-loved titles and a re-stock of J&S jumper weight.

Shetland Wool Adventures has been fully re-stocked, and each issue is a quiet wander through the isles with stories, photos, knitting patterns and recipes.

Grand Shetland Adventures is a collab between Gudrun Johnston and Mary Jane Mucklestone - a celebration of yarn and pattern from the wild weather isles.

Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight is now re-stocked and selling as quickly as ever. It's worth coming in to see in person and play with colours, but we do also offer sample cards - you just have to pay shipping.

Okay so it's not Shetland related at all, but we all need a pep-talk and these Certificate of Achievement note pads from Oh, Laura are a tiny moment of delight. Give your friends a certificate for something silly and make their day!

Would you like to work with us? We're looking for someone to join as a casual part of our small but mighty team.

Holland Road Yarn Co isn't just a shop, it's a place where we build a community of knitters and crafters. We really love our customers and bend over backwards to bring them the best possible yarn buying experience.

Role: Casual 

Hours: average 4 per week, spread out over a month 

Potential availability required: 

• 2pm - 4pm Wednesday to Friday
• Saturday 10am - 4pm
• Sunday 11am - 3pm
• Thursday 7pm - 9pm

We're looking for someone who can cover ad-hoc hours when permanent staff aren't available or we need extra cover. 

In a given week, this might look like supporting an event on or off-site, covering Craft Night and working a Sunday shift. Or it could be working 10-2 on a Saturday while Tash is teaching. 

There is the possibility of more hours as we increase our class and event offerings. 

The roster is usually confirmed a month in advance, but you may be required at a day’s notice to cover illness. 

Our ideal person is:

• a knitter and / or crocheter
• loves helping people find solutions 
• welcoming and inclusive 
• confident with technology - we use Shopify and google docs, on Apple devices 
• willing to keep the store clean and tidy 
• confident being sole-charge in store
• able to start in early to mid-April
• available during school holidays 

You may also be: 

• a spinner, weaver, stitcher or sewist

We offer:

• the living wage
• a sweet discount on everything except re-loved
• easy parking if needed
  

How to apply: 

Send us a personally written (not generated) cover letter and short resume by Wednesday Friday 27 March to tash@hollandroadyarn.co.nz.

We don't use AI to screen applications. 

Interviews will be held before Easter. 

It may be late in Socktober, but it's never too late to start a pair of socks to celebrate!

Katie came up with the brilliant idea of running this knit along while sorting all our little sock yarn nuggets that have collected in-store. 

We all have these little balls lying around, so why not make use of them! All you have to do to take part is tag us in an instagram post with a pic of your frankensock - that is, a sock project that is using up bits and pieces of yarn to make a delightful hole. Make sure to add the tag #hrycsocktober to join the fun, and we'll put you in the draw to win one of our brand new HRYC tote bags, along some extra treats.

Draw is open for entries until 15 November, and is available to NZ and Australia residents. 

If you need a pattern to work from, our free Super Simple Sock pattern is just the ticket - it's a great blank canvas to add your random yarns to.

And here's what Katie has come up with for her socks - a rainbow matching pair!

I had the great pleasure on the weekend to spend some time with the Wellington Shetland Society at their knitting workshop.

There were two groups - one learning how to knit fair isle, and another working on a lace scarf. It was really interesting to see how people were putting colours together and working to understand the structure of the old shale lace pattern.

We've had lots of people asking about our next Jamieson & Smith order. It looks like it will be on the way in mid-October, so if there's colours you're after let us know. Do keep in mind that the current terrible exchange rate means the price will increase this time round.

Coming up: 

Join us for a riot of colour for a Yarn Therapy Pop-Up! Jo is coming by this Saturday to share her amazing yarn with us all.

Visit us this weekend for the vibrance - 10am - 4pm Saturday 27 September

And if we didn't have enough to look forward to, Nikki of Dark Harbour Yarn is joining us again too!

You'll find deep and moody and snarky shades of Dark Harbour in-store on Saturday 4 October, 10am - 4pm.

Last but not least - Spinning Sunday is this weekend! Which means we're open 11am - 2pm this Sunday 28 September. Stop by for a break from the kids, or for some relaxed spinning time.

It's been almost a month of having the new shop open, and our hearts are full from all the wonderful encounters we've had.

This week we have loads of new stock arriving - I wanted to chat about the two fluff yarns we've added to the shelves as they are similar but different.

First up is Kremke Silky Kid, which is a mohair and silk blend. This is your classic kid mohair lace, a light and fluffy yarn great for holding together with other yarns or using on its own.

Lots of people can't cope with mohair and so avoid it as much as possible. But we can't deny that the 'hold two yarns together' knitting patterns aren't going anywhere soon. In this yarn, i've gone for dark and jewel tones to add depth to your projects.

On the other fluffy hand, we have Lana Grossa Setasilk. Different to the Kremke yarn in that it's made with suri alpaca and silk, not mohair. Great for those with mohair allergies as it gives an alternate to all those 'hold two yarns together' projects.

In my experience, alpaca fluff yarns come out a little denser, the shade of this lace-weight yarn tending to dominate a bit more than its mohair cousin. It's also a little cheaper (which we all appreciate these days).

I've gone for pastels and brights in Setasilk, in contrast to the deep shades os Silky Kid.