Every now and then someone will send me a message either apologizing because they’ve made one of the Silk Road Socks projects in a wild color or asking if I’d mind if they do.  My response is usually ‘awesome, can I see it’ or ‘of course it’s ok.’  Really folks, once I’ve sent them out into the world, my designs aren’t just mine anymore.  They’re yours too, and you can do with them what you will.  It’s charming that you ask, but I promise it’s much more interesting to see how you make them your own than it would be to just see exact copies turned out again and again.

So the other day when I stumbled across ABC Carpet & Home and their mind-meltingly amazing rugs, I knew I had to share.  This place takes rugs, many in very traditional patterns and overdyes them in absolutely florescent hues (the picture over there is one of the more subdued options).  The results are stunning.

My first thought upon seeing them was something like ‘holy crap, is there any conceivable way I can justify buying one of these as a research expense?’ (Answer: ‘no, absolutely not.’)  My next thought was ‘hmmm, I wonder if I could take one of the rugs rolled up under the bed and play mad scientist in the back yard with a wading pool and a whole lot of kool-aid.’  (Answer: see above.)

After that, I figured I could at least show you guys (perhaps one of you has a better research budget) and offer it as absolute proof that you can take something with the most traditional roots imaginable and whack some massive color on in and come out with something lovely.  So pretty please, feel totally free to make the Silk Road Socks (or any other pattern for that matter) and make it in whatever color floats your boat.

(The picture is ABC Carpet & Home’s, click it to go directly to the listing for their carpets and see more rugs and be filled with a whole new kind of wool lust.  And if you’re ABC Carpet & Home and want me to take the picture down, just let me know.)