Yarn Name: Castle Fibers
Yarn Color: Spicy
Type: Indie
Content: 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 100 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 0
Purchase At: http://www.castleman.etsy.com
I was very pleasantly surprised when I received this yarn. It has a hard twist but is remarkably soft. I've also never seen this particular method of dyeing before. The dyer calls it "spaghetti dyeing", and it looks like someone took a paint brush and spattered the skein with various colors. The overall effect is gorgeous. This yarn will have exceptional wearing properties. One skein is sufficient for most patterns. The dyer is very friendly and has terrific communication skills. I have two skeins of her yarn and am looking forward to adding more to my stash.
Yarn Name: Hobbledehoy
Yarn Color: Rosy
Type: Indie
Content: Superwash Merino, Nylon
Put-Up: 460 yards
Weight: 106 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.Hobbledehoy.etsy.com
This is another of those extra-squishy yarns that you can't put down. It has a medium twist, so wearability should be fairly good. The dyer has exceptional dyeing skills; the colors flow, blend, pop up within each other, form secondary colors where they flow together, and have little surprises everywhere you look. Due to the generous put-up, one skein will make a pair of socks. This is a new dyer on the block, but one which I will frequent again and again.
Yarn Name: Hobbledehoy
Yarn Color: Bluegrass
Type: Indie
Content: Superwash Merino, Nylon, Donegal
Put-Up: 460 yards
Weight: 108 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.Hobbledehoy.etsy.com
As you know, I don't usually review yarns from the same manufacturer unless they're very different from each other. This yarn is made by the above dyer and has flecks of donegal spun throughout. All the characteristics of the above yarn are present in this one except for the donegal, which produces socks with a decidedly tweedy character. The only other difference is that it doesn't have as many colors throughout the yarn, but the presence of the donegal makes up for that with flashes of color.
Yarn Name: dye4fun
Yarn Color: Blue Spruce
Type: Indie
Content: 70% Merino, 30% Silk
Put-Up: 440 yards
Weight: 100 grams
Gauge: 7-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.dye4fun.etsy.com
This is yet another new dyer. Her yarn is gorgeous. The silk makes the yarn glimmer and it has a beautiful sheen. Only a few colors were used, but in such a way that they become part of each other. The dye was applied randomly so as to prevent any pooling, striping, or flashing. This yarn has a medium to soft twist and is exceptionally soft and squishy. Wearability should be good. Because of the generous put-up, you should be able to get a pair of socks out of a skein. Communication is good. Since this is not made of superwash merino, you will need to handwash the finished socks and lay them flat to dry or put them on blockers. I will be adding more of this dyer's work to my stash.
Yarn Name: C*EYE*BER Fiber
Yarn Color: Plum
Type: Indie
Content: 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon
Put-Up: 435 yards
Weight: 108 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.ceyeberfiberyarns.com
I have seen this dyer's yarn at The Sweet Sheep, but this is the first time I've tried it. I'm sure glad I did! The skein I got is dyed with shades of plum, from the darkest to the lightest. The colors flow effortlessly into each other. There are no hard breaks between the colors; rather, they change imperceptibly from one shade to the next. Soft doesn't begin to describe this yarn; it feels like velvet. This yarn has a medium to soft twist; wearability should be good. You will be able to get a pair of socks out of one skein. This dyer offers several different colorways; this particular colorway is seasonal. Another yarn which I will be buying a lot more of!
Yarn Name: Rabbitworks Fibre Studio - Toe Jam Sock Yarn
Yarn Color: The Sweet Sheep
Type: Indie
Content: 70% Merino, 30% Nylon
Put-Up: 440 yards
Weight: 106 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.fibrestudio.etsy.com
I have read this dyer's blog for a while but never realized that she dyed and sold yarn. What a pleasant surprise to find out that she does both! This yarn is soft and silky with a medium twist. Wearability should be good. The colors flow and breathe with no hard breaks between the changes. You will be able to get a pair of socks out of one skein. These colorways are non-repeatable and limited to stock on hand at The Sweet Sheep (http://www.thesweetsheep.com). I only bought one skein but hope to add many more to my stash.
Yarn Name: Dragonfibers
Yarn Color: Chaos
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 435 yards
Weight: 150 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.Dragonfibers.etsy.com
This is another new dyer for me. What a glorious yarn! Soft as can be, it is dyed in intriguing blobs and splashes of color. Since the color is blobbed more than actually dyed or painted, there is no blending between the colors. Rather, the base color is primary with the spots of color splattered throughout. This yarn has a medium to hard twist and should wear extremely well. One skein is enough for most patterns. Customer service was excellent before, during, and after the sale. With a generous put-up and a really good price, this yarn is a real bargain.
Yarn Name: Dragonfly Fiber Design
Yarn Color: Let It Rain
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 4 oz
Gauge: 8.5 sts/in
Needle Size: 1
Purchase At: http://www.etsy.com
Yet another new dyer for me. This yarn is gorgeous. There are parts where the colors have a hard break; other areas show the colors flowing into each other. Every stitch reveals a surprise. A hard-twist yarn, it will have excellent wearing properties. Unlike most other hard-twists, this yarn is extremely soft and well-suited for socks as well as any other item which requires fingering weight. One skein should be enough for most patterns; if your pattern has a lot of detail, check the yardage requirements. Customer service was good throughout the sale. I would have liked a little more contact with the seller, but since she's new, that may well improve. I would recommend this yarn to anyone.
Yarn Name: Dream In Color Smooshy
Yarn Color: Blue Lagoon
Type: Indie/Commercial
Content: 100% Superfine Australian Merino Suuperwash
Put-Up: 450 yards
Weight: 4 oz
Gauge: 6.5-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.theloopyewe.com
This yarn can't really be classified as a true indie, but it's very close, which is why I've included it here. A hard to medium twist yarn, it has remarkable wearing properties. The "Smooshy" in the name is an apt descriptor; this yarn begs to be squished and petted. It has a much puffier feel than most other yarns and knits up as such. With excellent yardage, you will only need one skein for most projects. The colors in these skeins are subtly variegated - the skein looks like a solid color until you look closer. When knit, the variations in color (and they are of one color family) become more apparent. This yarn is a joy to knit with and even nicer to wear. There are a number of colors available and they are easy to find at various merchants. With a wide range of gauges, this yarn is suitable for many patterns.
Yarn Name: Madelinetosh
Yarn Color: Ginger
Type: Indie/Commercial
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 395 yards
Weight: 118 grams
Gauge: 6.5-7.5 sts/in
Needle Size: 2-3
Purchase At: http://woolgirl.com
This is another yarn that I don't consider a true indie, but since it's hand-dyed, I've included it here. I avoided buying this yarn for a long time because of the non-indie status, but I finally gave in and bought a skein to give it a try. I'm sure glad I did! This yarn is incredibly soft , especially since it has a hard to medium twist. The colors are divine - they're like Dream in Color in that a basic color has all the different shades in it. This particular color also has what appears to be a soft green running through it. It knits up like a dream and is very comfortable to wear. It also will have excellent wearing properties due to the twist. Since this yarn fulls and is a little thicker than normal sock yarn, it's between a fingering and DK weight. This gives it good versatility with many patterns. Since the yardage is short of 400 yards (my baseline for purchasing one skein), you may need two skeins for more detailed patterns. Be sure to check the pattern requirements. This is one yarn I'll be adding a lot more of to my stash.
Yarn Name: Yarn Nerd
Yarn Color: Jewel of the Nile
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Merino
Put-Up: 430 yards
Weight: 3.2 oz
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.theloopyewe.com
Another brand new dyer, and what a terrific one! Yarn Nerd is dyed by a gentleman whom, I believe, is a computer programmer; hence the name. I was happily surprised when I took it out of the box. It's soft, soft, soft, with a medium twist and is very puffy and cuddly. Like the two yarns previously reviewed, this skein uses a main color along with all the shades of it; there are also highly variegated patterns. This yarn should make socks with good wearability. One skein should make a pair of socks; as always, check your pattern requirements. I'm looking forward to seeing what this dyer comes up with next.
Yarn Name: Vancalcar Acres Flock Sock
Yarn Color: Random Rainbow
Type: Indie
Content: 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 100 grams
Gauge: 8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://woolgirl.com or http://www.nysfarm.com
For a hard-twist yarn, this yarn is extremely soft and squishy. It comes in a wide range of colors and combinations; this particular colorway is very soft with all the colors of the rainbow represented. Even though the specs say that it gets 8 stitches per inch, I think it would get closer to 9 or 10; the yarn is very thin. Even though it's thin, it's also extremely strong. Socks made of this yarn will have exceptionally good wearing capabilities. One skein should make most patterns; if you have a very detailed pattern or one with cables, check your pattern requirements (a very good idea anyway). This yarn is available from many different merchants; you should have no problem finding it.
Yarn Name: Lavender Sheep
Yarn Color: Sexy Chocolate Cherry
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 460 yards
Weight: 100 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://woolgirl.com
I have many skeins of this dyer's yarn and will most likely get many more. There are many colorways offered, and all of them have colors which move, flow, and breathe. Secondary and tertiary colors appear where the color transitions take place. The yarn is extremely soft with a soft twist. They will have decent wearability as socks, but because of the soft twist will wear faster than a harder twist yarn. The softness more than makes up for this, however. Because of the generous put-up, one skein is all you'll need for a pair of socks. This dyer is very friendly with outstanding communication and excellent customer service when purchased from her directly. The yarn is a joy to knit with and flows through your fingers. I highly recommend this yarn to anyone who wants very soft, beautifully colored socks.
Yarn Name: Liisu Yarns
Yarn Color: Waves of Memories
Type: Indie
Content: 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Mohair
Put-Up: 205 yards
Weight: 2 oz
Gauge: 6-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://woolgirl.com
This is an exceptional yarn. The dyer has many different colorways from which to choose, all of which flow and move, creating secondary and tertiary colors where the color changes occur. I prefer to knit this yarn on a slightly larger needle than I usually use for sock yarn because of the mohair; it allows the stitches to bloom and gives the mohair room to be slightly furry. Exceptionally soft for a hard-twist yarn, it will make socks that have a long life. Knitting with it is a dream; it flows through your fingers and is easy to rip back should you need to correct a mistake. Because of the small put-up, you will need two skeins to make a pair of socks; check your pattern for yardage requirements. As with most other yarns that are highly variegated, I would use this yarn for patterns that do not depend on textural stitches for their make-up. Cables are the exception; this yarn looks wonderful in them. It also looks terrific when used in a lace pattern; the mohair isn't so prevalent that it obscures the yarn-overs. This is another yarn which I plan to add many more of to my stash.
Yarn Name: OneSheepHill
Yarn Color: Cheetah
Type: Indie
Content: 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Mohair
Put-Up: 462 yards
Weight: 108 grams
Gauge: 7-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://onesheephill.etsy.com
This is one of those yarns that you just want to sit and smoosh all day. It's incredibly soft and very pettable. With a medium twist, this yarn should have good wearability, but it will wear faster than a hard-twist yarn. The dyeing is incredible; the colors move, shift, pop up, disappear, and then reappear. There are areas of clear color followed by areas of black with orange or yellow mixed in or on top. The colors don't merely fade into each other; they dance. With such a generous put-up, one skein will be sufficient for a pair of socks. Delivery was fast, and the skein was well-packed. This is a new dyer for me, but one which I will frequent again.
Yarn Name: BungalowBuns
Yarn Color: Jewels of Autumn
Type: Indie
Content: 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon
Put-Up: 495 yards
Weight: 116 grams
Gauge: 6-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://BungalowBuns.com
I have to admit that I have no idea of where this yarn came from, but I'm sure glad it appeared today. The name of the color is an apt descriptor; it glows softly with reds, yellows, browns, and flashes of cream. This yarn is very soft and has a medium twist. It will make socks that have good wearability. There are no hard breaks in the color changes; they blend into each other effortlessly. With such a generous put-up, you should be able to knit any pattern and get a pair of socks with some yarn left over for repairs. I have tried to track this yarn down, but the website says the dyer now dyes under the Yarn Love label. I didn't see anything even close to this at that site, however. A mystery to be solved! In any event, this yarn is delightful; I would love to add more of it to my stash.
Artist: knithappens
Item Name: Hobo Gloves
Type of Purchase: Commission
Contact At: knithappens.etsy.com
Suzanne is the artist of knithappens and has the distinction of being the first non-yarn review. She has a wide variety of knitted items in her shop: panties, gloves with fingers, gloves without fingers, morkers (remember Mork from Ork?), hobo gloves (gloves with very short fingers), and other goodies. Because my hands get cold in the evenings due to poor circulation, I wanted a pair of gloves without fingers (but with finger stubs, also known as "hobo gloves") so I could knit. Fingerless gloves lay across your palm or various joints of your fingers; those would catch on the knitting. After doing an Etsy search, I chose Suzanne to make my gloves. I liked her "dotty gloves" pattern; they're basically a wild Fair Isle pattern that she has come up with. She worked closely with me, getting my hand measurements so the gloves would fit "like a glove", as well as suggesting several colorways. Being a Fair Isle pattern, the gloves are very warm; however, the yarn is thin, so they don't get in my way. Construction and delivery were very fast, and the gloves are a perfect fit. I can knit, type, and do anything that requires me to use my hands without them getting in the way. I wear them every night and absolutely love them. I would recommend Suzanne for any type of glove (or even panty). She is very friendly, has excellent communication, and delivers exactly what you order. Her prices are also very reasonable. I will be doing business with her again in the near future.
Yarn Name: The Plucky Knitter
Yarn Color: Schnapps
Type: Indie
Content: 80% Merino, 20% Cashmere
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 100 grams
Gauge: 7-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.thepluckyknitter.com
This yarn is dyed in the most gorgeous colors: turquoise, brown, and cream. There are several colorways to choose from. Soft as a cloud, this yarn will knit up into the most delightful socks, but wearability will not be very good. Socks made from this yarn are better suited to wearing as bed or house socks, although you could wear them with sandals and not cause undue wear. One skein should make a pair of socks, although you should check your pattern for yarn requirements. One thing that I was unhappy about was the delivery time. I ordered it on October 1st; it didn't arrive until November 5th. I waited almost two weeks before I contacted the seller. Supposedly, the first shipment was lost in the mail. However, it took another two weeks for the replacement to arrive, and it was shipped Priority Mail. I don't know what was going on, but it was apparent that it wasn't shipped promptly, which was borne out by the postmark on the package. I'm confused by this, because she has a 100% satisfaction rating on Etsy. Other than that, I love the yarn. I don't think I'll be doing business with this particular dyer again, however.
Artist: Scout's Swag
Item Name: Sock Blockers
Type of Purchase: Website
Contact At: http://www.scoutsswag.com
This is the second non-yarn item I've reviewed, and it's a dandy. I don't remember exactly where I found out about this seller, but she has a delightful site full of goodies. I was in need of sock blockers and knew she made some, so I gave her site a try to see if she had any in stock. She did, so I ordered a pair of mediums. Delivery was extremely fast, and the blockers were carefully packed to avoid damage. They're made of a hardwood which has been sanded smooth and sealed to keep moisture from penetrating the wood. There's a cutout of a martini glass at the tops, and a stitch marker in the shape of a martini glass (with a toothpick and olive!) is tied to them. They're well-made and will last for many years. I'm delighted with the service I received and will be doing business with this seller many more times in the future.
Yarn Name: YarnAddict Yarns
Yarn Color: Mixed Berries
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 440 yards
Weight: 106 grams
Gauge: 7-8 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://YarnAddictAnni.etsy.com
Anni makes the most gorgeous yarns, and this one is no exception. Soft, puffy, and an absolute joy to knit with, this yarn is technically a two-color yarn, but secondary colors form where the colors fade into each other. This yarn has a medium twist, so it should have good wearability. When knitting with it, the yarn flows through your fingers. Due to the generous put-up, one skein should be sufficient for a pair of socks. Anni also has laceweight yarn which is incredible. She is extremely friendly and has lightning-fast shipment, usually arriving in a week from the UK. Anni also has other colorways from which to choose. In addition, she runs Sockamania - an enormous effort that gives a lot of knitters joy. I will be doing business with Anni again many times in the near future.
