Saga Hill Designs

fine fibers & yarns – silk & silk blends
studio of artist/author W.J. Johnson

BOOKS & PATTERNS

YARN WORKS IS HERE!
LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
My bonus offer to you... All books shipped by Saga Hill will be autographed*. (Discount book sellers won't offer you that!)

Yarn Works: How to spin, dye, and knit your own yarn
By W. J. Johnson, author/photographer/designer (pub 2014, CPI–Creative Publishing international).

Yarn Works is a complete guide on how to spin, dye, and knit ALL fibers. It includes the science behind fibers; goes into depth on spinning—from the history of the spin to how to make your own spinning equipment; discusses the history of dyes and the dyeing process and demonstrates how to work with natural and synthetic dyes. There are also 10 patterns for knitters that follow a different fiber (protein, cellulose, synthetic) right through the spin and dye process, ending with a finished knitted project using the yarn created from the spinning and dyeing workshops offered in the book.
GO TO PRESS RELEASE FOR EVEN MORE INFO

SH-BK005 – Price: $29.99 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents).
*NOTE: If you would like your book dedicated to someone in particular, put that request in your order notes on the PayPal sales review page (select "Add Special Instructions" under your shipping address). Of course, if you don't want it autographed, also please state that.

Other books containing my patterns:

Knitting Socks From Around the World
CURRENTLY BEING DISCOUNTED TO REDUCE STOCK!
Kari Cornell, Editor (pub 2011, Voyageur Press)
Knit an heirloom pair of socks from any of the four corners of the globe. This book contains the history of sock knitting (by Nancy Bush) and 25 stunning sock patterns from well-known designers (e.g., Beth Brown-Reinsel, Nancy Bush, Candace Eisner Strick), including myself, W. J. Johnson (Midsommar Blommor Socks). I've also created a yarn kit for this sock (see Kits on this page).

BUY NOW AT 30% OFF RETAIL PRICE!
SH-BK001 – Retail Price: $24.99 USD
SALE PRICE: $17.49 plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

Knitting Scarves From Around the World
Kari Cornell, Editor (pub 2011, Voyageur Press)
Part of the Knitting From Around the World series, this book contains 23 patterns for scarves from around the globe—including stylish traditional projects from Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, the British Isles, the Americas, and Asia. Pattern introductions provide a background of knitting techniques from that part of the world, including schematics and charts.

This book contains a scarf pattern that I designed (the Swedish Lovikka Scarf), inspired by traditional Swedish Lovikka mitten design.

SH-BK002 – Price: $24.99 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

Baby Knits From Around the World
Kari Cornell, Editor (pub 2013, Creative Publishing international)
From the Knitting From Around the World series, this book showcases 20 designs by well-known artisans hailing from classic knitting traditions in Scandinavia, Ireland, Scotland, England, the Baltics, Europe, South America, and North America. The book includes detailed instructions for ever-popular baby hats, blankets, sweaters, booties, pants, dresses, toys, and mitts; while introductions to each pattern detail the history of the technique that the design employs.

I have two patterns in this book: Swedish Dubbelmössa (two layer hat) and Chinese Double Knot Headband.

SH-BK004 – Price: $24.99 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

KITS BY SAGA HILL

Midsommar Blommor Sock
This kit contains all the yarn you need to knit the "Midsommar Blommor Sock" (up to the large size), as found in the book: "Knitting Socks From Around the World".
NOTE: THE PATTERN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS KIT! YOU WILL NEED A COPY OF THE BOOK TO KNIT FROM THIS KIT!

Kit contents: 550 yd natural, undyed yarn & 60 yd hand-dyed fingering weight yarn, both in 70% silk/30% merino blend. At this time, only the Falun Red hand-dyed yarn is being offered (see photo above and pattern in book).

VERY FEW KITS LEFT – WHEN THEY'RE GONE, THEY'RE GONE FOREVER!
SH-5040 – Price: $28.00 USD, plus shipping

Silk Fusion Kit
Silk fusion is created from silk and a special textile adhesive. The process creates a flat or sculptural silk material that's very strong and can be turned into purses, lamp shades, bowls, garments—just about anything you can imagine. It's a blast to work with, super easy to do, great for adults and kids, opening a new world of creative ways to work with silk fibers. Any silk fibers may be used in silk fusion but the kit only contains honey tussah. The silk in the kit is enough to create an 18 x 18 piece of silk fusion.

Kit contents: Complete instructions, 0.9 oz [25 g] honey tussah silk; 2 fl oz [59 ml] JoSonja's® Textile Medium; 18 in x 36 in. [46 cm x 91.5 cm] fiberglass screen; and 1 paint brush.

SH-5020 – Price: $24.00 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

Bohus Stickning

"Radiant Knits: The Bohus Tradition"
Bohus Couture Design
An exhibit at the American Swedish Institute, January 23–April 5, 2009.

I partnered with Susanna Hansson (noted Bohus knitting expert in the US) and the American Swedish Institute (Minneapolis) to create this once-in-a-lifetime Bohus Knitting exhibit in 2009. Opening weekend welcomed guest speakers, artists, and museum visitors from across the U.S., Canada, and Sweden—as they enjoyed a film premiere, special tours, lectures, and knitting workshops. Vintage Bohus couture garments were on display in two galleries. It was truly a historic event.

Bohus Stickning (Bohus Knitting) was a Swedish knitting design organization (1939-1969) that continues today in the hearts of many knitters and through knitting kits being created by Solveig Gustafsson (www.solsilke.se). I was honored to be the photographer, an author, and design artist for the 52-page exhibit booklet Bohus Stickning-Radiant Knits: An Enchanting Obsession and a set of 6 art cards that were created just for the exhibit. The exhibit booklet is SOLD OUT but you can still purchase a set of 6 art cards here – but only while supplies last!

Art Cards—$12.00, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)
Supply is limited!

books, patterns, & kits…
designed/authored by
W. J. Johnson of Saga Hill

Below are other items that Saga Hill offers – these are not made by Saga Hill but are products we are proud to carry in our online shop…

Silk Metamorphosis Poster
This two-sided 18.5 x 18.5 inch poster features beautiful drawings and text that describe the life cycle of the silkworm from egg to cocoon, to moth to silkworm again. The front side of the poster explains and depicts how the silken strand is released from the cocoon and made into yarn and cloth. The reverse side is filled with further fascinating silk information. A great teaching tool spanning science, culture and history—or a great addition to your fiber workspace!

SH-00130 – Price: $8.00 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents).

PURL & LOOP STASHBLASTER™ LOOMS

These mini looms, made by Purl & Loop (a small craft business in Texas) from U.S. sourced birch wood, are so great for using up odds and ends of yarn. They are also perfect tools for weavers who want to quickly test colors since the warp slots are true to specific weaving epi (ends per inch).

Swatch Maker 3-in-1

This portable weaving loom allows the user to make 3 different swatches with 8 ends per inch (e.p.i.), 10 e.p.i and 12 e.p.i. all on one single portable loom. This is a great way to test your fabric results before investing time in setting up a larger loom. The loom measures approximately 9.25" x 6.5" and has a work space of approximately 6" x 7" along with a ruler on the side. The Swatch Maker 3-in-1 Loom comes with a wooden tapestry needle, metal tapestry needle, and a threading needle (for the 10 and 12 e.p.i. holes), cotton carrying bag, and photo instructions.

Swatch Maker 3-in-1 Loom
TEMPORARILY SOLD OUT - contact us for a restock date
SH-3.95005 – Price: $49.00 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

Wee Weaver Loom

This lightweight and portable birch loom is made of 1/8" birch wood, and measures approximately 4" x 4 1/2" with a work area of 3 3/4" x 3 1/2". It is set up for a warp of 4 ends per inch (e.p.i.). It comes with color photo instructions, wood tapestry needle, small metal tapestry needle for the smaller and tighter areas of the project, wee weaving comb, wee pick up stick and a reusable cotton carrying bag.

Wee Weaver Loom
SH-3.95016 – Price: $28.00 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)

Stash Blaster™ Placemat Weaver

This Stash Blaster™ birch placemat size weaving loom measures 18" x 13" with a project size yield of about 16" x 12." It is made from 1/4" birch wood and includes a wooden needle for weaving and color photo instructions.

Stash Blaster Placemat Weaver Loom
SH-3.95017 – Price: $46.00 USD, plus shipping (plus sales tax for MN residents)