Yarn Name: hazel knits artisan sock
Yarn Color: Chuckanut Drive
Type: Indie
Content: 90% Superwash Merino, 10% Nylon
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 132 grams
Gauge: 8-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-2
Purchase At: http://www.hazelknits.com

Bright, vibrant colors; a soft hand despite being a soft hard-twist; heavy for the put-up - this is a delightful yarn. As you know, I'm not a fan of the hard-twist, but this one is exquisite. The colors form secondary colors at the joins, as well as having little blobs of color peek through other colors. Since the put-up is 400 yards, you need to check your pattern requirements carefully to ensure that you have enough yarn. Smaller sizes should have no problem; anything above a size 8 or 9 will most likely have to purchase two skeins unless the pattern is a simple one. Wearability should be excellent. This artist also creates knitting jewelry in addition to her yarn line.





Yarn Name: Dashing Dachs
Yarn Color: Enchanted
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 560 yards
Weight: 4 oz.
Gauge: 8-9 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-2
Purchase At: http://www.DashingDachs.com

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what "Dashing Dachs" meant, so I went and looked at this dyer's website. It turns out that her family has a dachshund (Dachs) who likes to gnaw on knitting needles, and then dashes away (Dashing) when she tries to retrieve them. In any event, this yarn is gorgeous. Available in many different colorways, all the skeins I purchased have a soft twist, inspired colorways, soft blending at the joins, vibrant colors, and a very squishy feel in the skein. Due to the generous put-up, all sizes and patterns should require only one skein. I'm not too sure how well this yarn will wear when knitted into socks due to the soft twist and pure merino content; however, it's such a lively, bouncy yarn that I don't care. You may also purchase this yarn through Woolgirl.





Yarn Name: Creatively Dyed Yarns Ocean Series
Yarn Color: Numbered
Type: Indie
Content: 70% Wool, 30% Seacell
Put-Up: 365 yards
Weight: 118 grams
Gauge: 6-7 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://www.creativelydyed.com

Seacell is made from seaweed and has antimicrobial properties. It is the new hot item to blend with wools such as merino. I was curious to see what it would be like, so I ordered a couple of skeins. I don't particularly like the feel of the skein, but once you separate a strand, it's much softer. This is what I call a "fat fingering" weight. It's very heavy for the put-up, which is sparse; you will need two skeins for most patterns and larger shoe sizes. The twist is soft, and the colorways inspired. The colors move, dance, and flow into and out of each other, forming very interesting combinations. The dyer is very friendly and customer-oriented. I'm not too sure about this yarn yet, but perhaps I'll love it when I knit with it. I don't particularly like trendy things, no matter what the medium. Trendy things come with a steep price tag, and so it is with this yarn. If the put-up were greater, I could justify it. As things stand, however, I won't add any more of it to my personal stash. For those who love it and are willing to pay the price, it should knit up into incredible patterns.





Yarn Name: Spindle Cat Studio
Yarn Color: Hosta
Type: Indie
Content: 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon
Put-Up: 450 yards
Weight: 104 grams
Gauge: 8-10 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http://spindlecatstudio.etsy.com

I have been buying this dyer's yarn from the time I began buying indies. Her earlier colors tended towards the black/gray/white families; lately, however, she has branched out and begun dyeing colors on top of black as well as more conventional colors. That's where the conventional stops, however. I was stunned when I received this skein. There are few parts of the individual strands that are a solid color; for the most part, even the "solid" colors have undercurrents of other colors showing through or different colors dancing throughout the skein. There are no discernible breaks; the colors just ebb and flow, making music as they swell and recede. This yarn is soft as butter and flows through your fingers. With a medium twist, wearability should be good. These yarns knit up into the most interesting patterns. Due to the generous put-up, you should need only one skein for almost all patterns. This dyer has excellent customer service and offers a variety of items. I can't recommend this yarn highly enough.





Yarn Name: All Spun Up
Yarn Color: Woodland
Type: Indie
Content: 100% BFL
Put-Up: 440 yards
Weight: 4.3 oz.
Gauge: 8-10 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http:/Allspunup.etsy.com

This is a new dyer for me, and I'm glad I found her. I found it hard to believe that this was handspun; her spinning skills are outstanding. With a loose twist, this yarn may not wear very well, but it will make wonderful sandal or house socks; it also has the durability of BFL going for it. Her colorway is beautiful; because the two plies are different, they combine to make fascinating combinations. The put-up is excellent, especially for a handspun; you should be able to get a pair of socks out of one skein. This yarn is exceptionally soft, especially for BFL (which I've always found to be a bit harsh in the skein). I would like to see a lot more of this artist's work. Give it a try; you won't be sorry.





Yarn Name: Tempted
Yarn Color: Fascination
Type: Indie
Content: 100% Superwash Merino
Put-Up: 400 yards
Weight: 130 grams
Gauge: 6.5-7.5 sts/in
Needle Size: 2-3
Purchase At: http:/www.theloopyewe.com

Vibrant. In your face bright. Deep saturation. All this and more in one skein. There are a number of colorways to choose from, all of them beautifully painted. The different colors have hard breaks, but then bounce back to the color they came from. This is a hard-twist yarn, so wearability will be excellent. The hand is good, but as is typical of hard-twist yarns, it's not especially soft. I have a hard time believing the given SPI; you should get around 8-10. I also would use a size 1 or 2 needle, not a size 3. If you want a hard-wearing, beautifully painted yarn that will shout out when you wear the socks made from it, this is your choice. Because of the put-up, you may need two skeins for a pair of socks; be sure to check your pattern for requirements.





Yarn Name: Yarn Pirate BFL
Yarn Color: Spruce
Type: Indie
Content: 100% BFL
Put-Up: 420 yards
Weight: 98 grams
Gauge: 8-10 sts/in
Needle Size: 1-3
Purchase At: http:/www.yarnpirate.com

This dyer is well-known among knitters who clamor for spots in her "Booty Club". She puts out a variety of yarns; this one is her BFL line. With a soft twist, it should have decent wearability because of the durability of BFL; however, I wouldn't expect socks made of it to last too long with regular wearing in closed shoes. Her colorways are always inspired; this one didn't disappoint. The colors fade, swirl, dance, and blend into each other; even her semi-solids are works of art. One skein should be sufficient for a pair of socks. She also sells books, roving, and other items in her shop.