Sock Yarn Studio Review (plus Giveaway)
Am I the only one to procrastinate with housework? I swear my house is never cleaner and my dinners are never more delicious than when I have some sort of deadline looming. A few weekends ago, when I should have been doing any of a host of things more immediate and pressing, I somehow decided to organize my stash. This was egregious procrastination by housework. It wasn’t even something like dishes or laundry that really does need to get done on a regular basis. The stash could have stayed a mess for another 6 months and no one would have called the health inspector on me. It was really quite shameless. But, in the process, I did learn two things.
First, I have a *lot* of sock yarn. No, really, an awful lot. It is by far the most common weight of yarn in the stash. Second, most of it is simply not destined to become socks. You see, I’m sort of obnoxiously picky about what I’ll make into socks. Goldilocks has nothing on me. Of the three, 30-liter buckets of sock-ish yarn in the primary stash (I have primary stash, secondary stash, and backup stash), only one is destined to become socks.
I don’t think I’m alone in this. Surely I’m not the only one with a bit (or let’s be honest, a lot) of sock yarn that isn’t going to become socks. Which is why I’m sure that Carol Sulcoski’s newest book, Sock Yarn Studio: Hats, Garments, and other projects designed for Sock Yarn is going to be wildly popular.
The book starts off with an introduction to sock yarn with a special focus on the various ways yarn can be dyed (solid, multi, patterning, striping) and how this will effect your knitting. This is something Carol can speak to with some authority, given that she’s also written Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn. This material is well worth reading and will help you feel confident when working from your stash (or making a selection at your local yarn store).
But of course the heart of a book like this is the patterns, and here you’re in for an even bigger treat. There are nearly thirty patterns, divided into one, two, and three (or more) skein projects. This organization is genius because it lets you easily find just the sort of project you’re looking for to use up that special skein. The patterns are impressively diverse. There are things you might expect like hats, gloves, scarves, and cowls. But there are also shawls, sweaters, tank tops, pillows, and even a blanket. The techniques are as diverse as the project and include lace, cables, fair isle, entrelac, and steeking. The patterns have all the things you’ve come to expect from Carol’s work, clear instructions, easy-to-read charts, lovely photos. But there are also lots of helpful sidebars to guide you over any tricky bits (or point you towards more information if you’ve fallen in love with a technique and want to know more).
I think at this point it might be best for me to just hush and show you the pretty pictures. This hat is from the one skein section and is the project I was lucky enough to contribute to the book, Vert:
These Roxy Legwarmers are from the two skein section and may just be the cutest legwarmers ever:
And from the three skein section, this lovely Bliss Capelet looks like the perfect thing to snuggle up with as fall really settles in to stay:
This is only a tiny sample of the projects though, so you totally owe it to yourself to head over to the book’s Ravelry page and check the others out.
And, as a little encouragement to do just that, I’ve got a present for one of you. I’ve got an extra copy of the book, and a skein of the Spud & Chloë Fine yarn in Cricket I used for Vert. Just leave a comment here telling me which of the projects is your favorite, and I’ll pick a winner later this week. I’ll leave comments open through Thursday, October 25th, so you’ve got a bit of time to make up your mind!
Oh, and lest anyone be concerned, the photos are all ©2012 Lark Crafts and used here with permission.
I love the Cushington Square pillow. What a gorgeous pattern.
I love the Vert hat and the Poppy Beret and I also have way too many skeins of non-sock sock yarn in my stash. 😉
Exam study leave used to involve rather a lot of procrastinating by tidying re-organising my room.
I like those legwarmers.
Torn between the Cushington Square and the Autumn Walking Scarf to use up all the bits I have around…and Vert will be perfect for my niece in Arizona, where she still needs an air-conditioned hat!
HI,
This is very good blog, good to vist
Regards
Gokakmills
My favorite is the Habitude scarf (closely followed by the Lizalu blanket). What beautiful projects!
Lisa H.
I’m torn between Vert and the Golden Lace Baby Cardigan…also really like the Cushington Square Pillow, although I can’t see me knitting a pillow…so, I’m sure the next time you hear from me, I’ll be knitting a pillow.
I’m thinking my granddaughter needs those legwarmers!
I just love the Autumn Walking Scarf. I’ve never done any colorwork, so it would be a challenge for certain. But it is so gorgeous I’d sure give it a try. Thanks for the giveaway.
I really like the Lisatra Short Cowl – and the very simple gloves. I need to knit some gloves…
Ooh, great book! I would make the furbelow shawl first!
I really like the Habitude scarf. I love knitting lace and I think it’s awesome that even though this is lace it doesn’t look completely fruity on a guy. Super smart design.
I love the Cushington Square Pillow as well as those legwarmers. (I think that legwarmer stitch pattern would great on lots of things.) Then again, the Vert Lace cap and the Thornapple Wristwarmers are great, too…
The Fair Isle Peacock Hat is lovely, as are all the projects. Could see myself using many of the patters.
That looks like a great book! Those legwarmers are adorable, and I was especially drawn to the Thornapple Wristwarmers! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love the Deux Violettes gloves. Though it may just be that I need gloves!
Vert is beautiful — perfect for the cold winter ahead!
Love the Fair Isle Peacock Hat! They’re all gorgeous though.
Deux Violettes is my favourite – I love that button detail at the wrist.
I love the roxy legwarmers!
It’s not easy to pick a fovorite, but I do LOVE the Alexander Street Hat!
So many choices but I think the Deux Violettes Gloves might jump onto my needles more quickly than the others
I love the Autumn walking scarf.
I have to agree, those are the cutest legwarmers ever!
Thornapple Wristwarmers are my fav. Thanks!