I've been contemplating socks a lot lately. And doing laundry.
What do the two have to do with each other? Not much, other than the fact that while I was folding said laundry I realized that I had just washed and dried most of my sock collection and since it was all arrayed in front of me, it seemed like a good time for a picture.
Something about taking pictures really brings things into focus that I hadn't noticed before. In this case, I had been under the impression that my sock collection was brightly colored. But as I looked this picture over, I realized that my socks might be multi-colored, but there's not a whole lot of bright vibrant color. Apparently, I knit bright colored socks, but those are the socks I knit for swaps or to give away. How strange. And I had never noticed it before. But this collection is stunningly void of anything like a vibrant red, orange or yellow. It's as if I went to the colorwheel and consciously selected cool colors. And as I looked around my room and in my closet, I discovered that this type of color collecting also extends into my wardrobe (although I do have a couple of red turtleneck sweaters, they're definitely outnumbered by the grey, black and brown garments). If I didn't know I was a Midwesterner before, it became painfully clear on Tuesday morning. Either that, or my quest for guy-friendly sock yarn has seriously damaged my perception of what "brightly colored" means.
Now the clothes, well, I can live with that. Orange and yellow next to my skin are just not a good thing. Cool colors and colors with blue undertones go best with my skin. But socks are not meant to be worn next to the face and should give me the freedom to go wild with some bright happy colors. And, of course, when I looked into my sock yarn stash, the whole bright color thing doesn't get better. Not surprisingly, the only bright vibrant colored sock yarns are ones that have been given to me by other people (the orange and purple and yellow striped Opal socks were part of one of my trades with Emma!). Clearly, when it comes to socks, I need to follow the Apple mantra and apply a little "Think Different".
As a girl who believes that there is no such thing as too much sock yarn, I'm always looking for something new and interesting when it comes to socks -- and I've got a lot of time to look as I work away on my Family Sock Challene socks .With that in mind, I'd love to know about everyone's favorite bright colored sock yarn. What companies produce your favorite colorways? What colorways make you think of happy summer afternoons or bright spring mornings? What sock yarn makes you happy when you just look at it -- even if it hasn't yet become socks?
I love looking at people's photos of their sock collection. I am working very hard to build up a sizable one for myself. Have you seen Sockbug's sock wheel? I love that!
http://sockbug.blog-city.com/joy_of_socks.htm
I've been making socks out of Lorna's Laces in Bittersweet. It's almost eye-searingly bright and yet I'm very attracted to them.
Some of my favourite colourways were made by Opal. You can see most colours here: http://www.ptyarn.com
I really love Brasil #5001, which are called Jelly Beans here in Germany - they're available in 6ply, as well. And look at the Petticoat, that's really colourful! :)
Lollipop and Rainforest have some really bright colours, too.
I'd also like to take part in the family sock challenge, I just finished the socks for sister #2 and cast on the socks for sister #1 - is it still possible to join? I'm going to knit socks for both of my sisters, my brother, and my parents.
Hope you'll find the yarns that you like! :)
Sandra
I'm knitting a pretty pastel shaded pair out of Trekking color 106. It looks like baby colors. The next pair will be Opal Petticoat, another pastel shade that is brighter. Here is a free pattern for the socks. http://www.tostetoes.com/petticoatsocks.htm
I prefer making a basic sock pattern with the Afterthought sock heel and toe on two circs. I plan on making the Petticoat socks for my Mom for Christmas.
I'm a fairly new sock knitter but I love Opal handpainted and also their other styles - self striping and fair isles are just amazing in how they can play into a sock. I love bright colors but I also tend to wear more neutrals - ya know, in NYC, most people wear black and grey ( so maybe earth tones are colorful!)
I love Lorna'a Laces, Daffodil(sunshine yellow, grass green and turquoise) and Neon(sunshine yellow, warm orange and pink) come to mind as well as some in the blue hues like Ice House. Trekking has some vibrant new colors - #107 in a pink, red, green colorway and #110 in an orange/ teal marl are my favorites. Socks that Rock has 2 new colors that are really bright, saturated color: Hot Flash - shades of pink from pale to vibrating hot pink and Lovers Leap - a stunning saturated shaded red. STR Fred Flintstone (shades of orange, yellow and gold) and Xmas Rock (emerald green, vibrant coral and clear yellow) are lovely too! Regia Nation has a Neon colorway in bright lime, yellow, orange and pink and a Jamacia colorway in the same tones but thinner stripes/more random In fact much of the new Regia such as the Canadian Collection is full of vibrant reds and pinks.
You might think about adding beads to socks too!
I too think one can never have too much sock yarn, can you tell?? :)
I believe you can go really funky with socks where it's nice to step outside one's normal choices and add a spot of unexpectedness!
Hope this helps!
I love the bright colors of Vesper Sock yarn. It's hard to get but worth the effort. And, of course, Socks That Rock.
Opal & Regia & Trekking XXL, hands down. The way that I wash socks (in the machine with Tide) seems to do a number on the bright colors of the handdyed sock yarns (Koigu, LL, etc.). But the Opal & Regia & Trekking XXL retain their eye-searing cheerfulness.
I've only just begun knitting socks and I can't wait to jazz up my sock drawer. I looked at it the other day and it's a sea of boring black socks. So far I have a bunch of Socks That Rock which is very colorful and soft, I have some Lorna's Lace and that's soft and bright too although I haven't worked with it yet. I recently bought some Sundara Yarn and it is super-saturated - if you want gorgeous color, try Sundara.
Lorna's Laces in the pink/green colorway they did for Knit Happens. You can take the girl out of the prep school but you can't take the Lilly Pulitzer out of the girl.
My all time favorite sock yarn is Lorna's Laces so far. I love the colors and I love the yarn. But when it comes to bright cheerful happy socks nothing beats my Lion Brand Magic stripe socks in "Bright Spring". The yarn isn't that great although it does soften after the first washing. But the colors are wonderful, almost electric even. It's pink, green and orange with the usual grey and white fairisle-ish stripes between the colors.
For bright colors and easy care (i.e. machine wash and dry), I'm with Claudia, it's Opal all the time for me! The Rainforest collection has some pretty colors --Parrot, Chameleon. Flamingo and Ladybug are very bright -- and the Lollipop and Brazin collections are pretty colorful too. Regia also, as mentioned above, has a lot of bright colorways.
i think regia has some very cheerful, bright colors, but one of my favorites is mountain colors bearfoot - they have gorgeous colorways, with all kinds of colors, including some really beautiful brights, especially in reds and greens. then there's always koigu and their incredibly gorgeous saturated colors - i saw an eye-poppingly bright kelly green the other day and i'm STILL thinking about it!
Big, huge Lorna's Laces fan here! I prefer the muted colors of her colorway, though. She has some REALLY bright ones but I, like you, just don't tend to gravitate naturally toward those. (My coloring is almost exactly the same as yours.)
The bright colored sock yarns that I like best are from Meilenweit. They may be "more of the same" as what you have been doing, though. They are rich and colorful but tend to look harmonious and almost "muted" when done up. I've used their "Fantasy" and their "Multi-effekt" self-striping yarns with great success.
The yarns that just give me goosebumps all the way from hank to wound ball to sock are Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in colorways like "Aslan" and "Black Purl". Also, Mountain Colors "Bearfoot" yarn is to absolutely DYE for. They've recently added some "zippy" colors to their palette. No picture on the internet can do justice to the depth of color and beauty of these two yarns.
I just love socks!! ;-)
I know what you mean. I ordered some STR last week but could not bring myself to order Hot Flashes. I just couldn't - way too bright for me. So far, my handlknits are more sedate in colors but my first pair of Jaywalkers was knit in animal print. Okay, I confess - it was an accident: I bought it from someone as destash yarn without knowing how it looked - at $4 including shipping for two balls, I couldn't pass up the Skacel Trampoline.
I agree with others about the Opal yarn. The Magic collection (I have pink, purple and orange)is very cheery.
Socks That Rock has some vivid colorways. I have Rock Star Jaywalkers otn and love how they're coming out.
My latest acquisition was a one-of-a-kind handpainted skein of Schafer's Anne in shades of fuschia and tangerine.
Socks that Rock! I am using the pop-rocks colorway that also looks like rainbow sherbet minus the green. A new one, turquoise, in the light weight is positively spectacular as well.
And I am sorry for your loss of your darling Sydney.
Btw, what kind of scientist are you? I ask because I am a grad student in molecular virology. Knitting and fibery pursuits keep me sane, and it is nice to see I am not the only one!
Nobody yet has mentioned Cherry Tree Hill Supersock--supersoft, superwash merino. For muted they have the absolutely fabulous Java (espresso and ebony shot with steel). And you can't beat the limey/gold/turquoise Life's A Beach for bright (made wavy sweater AND socks--will reply with pic on request). Also Regia Cotton Surf--all the best of wool and cotton in daffodil or orange/red/burgundy (currently on the loop for nephew #2) other more muteds also.
I think my favourite bright pair of socks are the striped pair I made from yellow and orange Lang Jawoll Cotton.
My very favorite socks are Socks that Rock colorway Fire On the Mountain. The colors remind me of vivid tie-dyed t-shirts, but they are so pretty together when knitted up. I bought Hot Flash but I think I have to find a 4 year old girl to knit for--way too bright for me!
I'm also a big fan of Melenweit(sp?) stripey yarns. Some of the colors choices look so weird together in the ball, until they transform themselves as you knit them up. Funky, that.
And I don't think that is a midwestern thing at all; I think we are driven towards colors that compliment us. But Socks do give you a chance to branch out!
I'm currently working up (well, actually just ripped out to change patterns, but the sentiment holds) some Knitpicks Sock Garden in Zinnia - a gorgeous orange/red/yellow variegated that was kntting up beautifully - nice and soft too.
Regia Nation 5399 - yowza! Also, there are a lot of fabulous Schaefer Anne colors. And STR Fire On the Mountain.
Oooo, definitely hand dyed yarns by Sunshine Yarns and Brooklyn Handspun. Go on..Google them and have a look-see. I have just received about five skeins between the wo and am itching to get started. BEAUTIFUL colorways. I have gotten back on a sock kick and now my large projects are languishing in the basket. Tsk tsk. But they are so fun to knit and portable to boot. No pun intended. ;0)
Awesome sock collection!
Schaeffer Anne, definitely. They are also who I go to for "man" sock yarn. I just bought some for my dad yesterday that's gorgeous and rich, without being the least bit bright *grin* LittleKnits just got in a bunch, too!
well, ditto on the STR Fire on the Mountain - in fact I just ran that on the ball winder. Gonna make me some stained glass type socks, I am, I am. Eventually. After this latest deadline is done.
I love looking at my sock collection, too; alas I look at it more in the hamper than all laid out and ready to wear or put away.