The Fire Co is hosting a Sock Knit-A-Long (KAL) starting June 1st! the KAL is Free and Knitters of any skill level can join (Fibre Co’s ‘one sock’ pattern is ideal for novices). If you’re a beginner sock knitter this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the free resources offered though the KAL!
They are kicking off their “Month of Socks” with a Zoom party hosted by The Fibre Co. founder Daphne, One Sock designer Kate Atherly, and knitting teacher Renée Callahan.
The party starts June 1st at 5pm BST | 12 noon EDT | 9am PDT
The party is the first event in The Fibre Co’s month long celebration of sock knitting focusing on the #TheFibreCoOneSockKAL. You only have to do one of two things to be able to take part in the KAL and to win prizes:
1. Knit the One Sock pattern in any yarn (see the white socks below).
OR
2. Knit any sock pattern in Amble yarn (see below for some inspiration).
If you would like to join the KAL on 1st June, please register by clicking the link below!
I saw this sweater and felt a jolt of “Yes PLEASE!” Lapponia is a simple round yoke sweater, with easy colourwork from collar to hem. The sweater has a short cropped length and easy, relaxed fit. It’s knit in a fingering weight yarn, which is a nice transitional-season thickness and offers you lots of yarn choices. (If you’re planning on buying this pattern get it now, it’s on sale for the next couple of days.)
Choose a size with approx. 4-8” 10-20 cm of positive ease.
Yarn Options
Lapponia is designed with fingering weight yarn, so you’ve got lots of different options to choose from. All of the yarns below are soft, comfortable, easy to work with, and will look beautiful. Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s the right choice for you, so I’ve tried to break them down:
The Budget Friendliest Option: Cascade Heritage is a staple fingering weight yarn. It’s incredibly soft and easy to work with, and comes in lots of colours (and if we don’t have one we can look into ordering it for you). It mostly comes in solid colours, but also some heathers. 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon; 100g/400m (437 yds), machine washable, made in India. $16.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1 (pink in the sample), 1 skein of CC2 (yellow in the sample), and 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins of MC (turquoise/teal in the sample) of Cascade Heritage.
The Artsiest Option: Artfil Belleis a gorgeous hand-painted yarn from Quebec (it’s both milled and dyed there). It’s super soft and has a lot of body and squish. The dyeing is very painterly; sometimes subtle and other times very vivid. 80% superwash merino wool & 20% nylon; 100g/354m (387 yds), machine washable, made in Canada. $28.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Artfil Belle.
The Knitterly/Eco Option: Fibre Co Amble is a gorgeous fingering weight yarn made with sustainable materials. It’s super soft, squishy, and gorgeous to work with and wear. If you’re a knitterly kind of knitter (some use the term ‘yarn snob’, but I prefer ‘afficiando’), or if you just have an appreciation for gorgeous textiles (previously known as a ‘clothes horse’, I prefer ‘connoisseur’) this yarn will make you very happy. Incidentally, the heathered colours are the result of combining the natural colours of merino wool and alpaca. 70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% recycled nylon; 100g/325m (355 yds), machine washable, made in Peru. $29.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 3 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Fibre Co Amble.
The 100% Natural Option (Budget Friendy): Amano Chaski is a great, all natural fingering weight sock yarn with ZERO synthetic fibres. It’s a soft and extremely comfortable blend of superwash merino, pima cotton and linen. The fibre blend also makes it a great yarn for transitional seasons. Chaskis comes in a selection of soft colours, and is also a budget friendly choice. We’re expecting our first shipment of Chaski this week, but you can place your order now! 60% uperwash merino, 30% pima cotton, 10% linen; 100g/350m (383 yds), machine washable, made in Peru. $20.97/skein.
You’ll need: You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4) skeins of MC of Amano Chaski.
The Light as a Feather Option: Fibre Co. Meadow is a super yummy blend of wool, llama, silk and linen, making it a great yarn for shifting seasons. It’s super soft and luxurious, but also has a bit of texture and depth of colour because of the fibre blend (and sometimes the dyeing is fancy too). Meadow technically a heavy lace-weight yarn, which is a bit thinner than what the pattern pattern calls for, so you’ll want to go down to a 3.25mm/US3 needle and possibly make a size larger in the pattern (keep an eye on your tension). The extra yardage on the thinner yarn may also pay off for sizes in the 44″ to 60″ range because you’ll need less of the main colour. The 40% wool, 25% llama, 20% silk, 15% linen; 100g/498m (545 yds), hand wash, made in Peru. $34.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1, 1 skein of CC2, and 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3) skeins of MC of Fibre Co. Meadow.
The Kitchen Sink Option (budget friendly, all Season, no-wool, eco friendly): Berroco Remix Lightis a very light blend of recycled fibres that’s easy and comfortable to wear all year and work with. It has a slightly tweedy texture, which makes it a great wool-free alternative for stranded knitting (the finished projects on Ravelry are AMAZING). Customers are constantly pleasantly surprised by this yarn’s incredible performance – this is a ‘listen to me now, believe me later’ moment. My suggestion is to let go of what you think you believe about synthetic fibres (beliefs aren’t real anyway, they’re just constructs our minds come up with because our pre-frontal cortex likes to concoct narratives and then host story-time over and over and over). Take a leap, close your eyes and knit. I promise it does not look or feel like plastic; those who know me know I can’t stand squeaky yarns (except for making pompoms, squeaky yarns make amazing pompoms) and I would never recommend one without a warning and a good reason. Remix Lightis technically a DK weight, so you should go down a size in the pattern and go up to a 3.75mm/US5 needle. 10% silk, 9% linen, 27% cotton, 30% nylon, 24% acrylic; 100g/400m (432 yds), machine washable, made in France. $15.97/skein.
You’ll need: 1 skein of CC1 (pink in the sample), 1 skein of CC2 (yellow in the sample), and 2(2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4) skeins of MC (turquoise/teal in the sample) of Berroco Remix Light.
P.S. Streaming Pic Of the Week
My current streaming pic is the The Great British Baking Show on the CBC Gem app. I’ve been watching seasons 8 & 9, and the finale of season 9 is amazing … I won’t spoil it, but I want to! If you find yourself falling down this particular rabbit-hole I heartily suggest upgrading for your free month of premium service, otherwise the commercials will drive you up the wall (you’ll never be able to look at an avocado again).
The Fibre Company has paired up with several designers this spring for an exhibition of sock-spiration with their new (ish) sock yarn, Amble. All the Amble deets are at the bottom, below the gorgeous sockies, but to sum it up its a super soft and yummy yarn that was designed with as small an environmental footprint possible.
The Fibre Company’s yarns always come with happy energy, when I open a shipment from them it’s like meeting someone new who you know will become a good, lifelong friend. Their corporate tag-line is “Yarn for projects you’re proud of”, but their behind the scenes mantra, what really motivates them, is Sustainability (which is something that I think also takes a lot of integrity).
Anyway, ideals aside, if you want to work with a yarn that’s HAPPY, give Fibre Company Amble a whirl. The patterns below have all been knitted with Amble, and if you bought a copy of 52 Weeks of Socks you’ll definitely want to check in out, it’s ideal for textures, single coloured sock patterns. To help get this awesome yarn into your hands, Fibre Company Amble will be 10% Off from now until the end of the month (the discount will automatically be added in your chart at check-out, so you don’t need to jump through any hoops). Just promise me one thing – don’t delay this particular gratification. Don’t stash it this yarn, get it on your needles and use it NOW! Everyone needs a little boost, and everyone deserves happiness.
Hedera
Hedera by Coraline Kerisit features a delicate lace pattern reminiscent of the shape of leaves. Sample shown in Amble, shade Isel.
Mind Garden
Mind Garden by Yucca has the option for two beautiful patterns on the leg. Samples shown in Amble, shades Buttermere and Scafell Pike.
Wollaton Socks
Wollaton Socks by Emily Joy Rickard features interlinked cables moving into a rib texture across the foot. Sample shown in Amble, shade Windermere.
Mara Socks
Mara Socks by Zsuzsanna Orthodoxou features a lattice stitch and reinforced heel. Sample shown in Amble, shade Buttermere.
One Sock Pattern
To go along with Amble, The Fibre Company has also come out with a universally sized pattern called One Sock, a classic top-down sock pattern to fit all feet. With lots of opportunities to customise the fit and design, this pattern comes with the ‘One Sock Guidebook’, a resource that walks makers through the process of knitting beautiful socks that fit. You can find the pattern HERE. The pattern is written by Kate Atherly, one of the best knitting teachers I’ve ever come across. In my opinion, this pattern is a great deal for someone who is new to sock knitting. I know the pattern is supposed to be the main attraction, but I think the guidebook alone is well worth the cost of admission!
Fibre Company Amble
The Fibre Company Ambleis a soft, beautiful, and eco-friendly sock yarn! It’s super soft, squishy, and gorgeous to work with and wear. The composition is a springy 2ply fingering weight full of body. While it’s perfect for socks, it also makes great hats, mitts, shawls & wraps, sweaters – anything you want to wear against your skin. Plus, what really made me extra happy is that it’s made with environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and uses recycled nylon to further reduce its environmental footprint (read more below).
70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% recycled nylon (see below for details)
100g/325m (355 yds)
Fingering Weight
32 sts per 10 cm / 4 in
2.5 mm/1.5 US needles
Machine wash on wool cycle or hand wash at 30C / 86F. Dry flat.
The Fibre Company Ambleis a soft, beautiful, and eco-friendly sock yarn! It’s super soft, squishy, and gorgeous to work with and wear. The composition is a springy 2ply fingering weight full of body. While it’s perfect for socks, it also makes great hats, mitts, shawls & wraps, sweaters – anything you want to wear against your skin. Plus, what really made me extra happy is that it’s made with environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and uses recycled nylon to further reduce its environmental footprint (read more below).
70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% recycled nylon (see below for details)
100g/325m (355 yds)
Fingering Weight
32 sts per 10 cm / 4 in
2.5 mm/1.5 US needles
Machine wash on wool cycle or hand wash at 30C / 86F. Dry flat.
Made in Peru
All about the Yarn
When The Fibre Co. set out to design a sock yarn, they stayed true to their guiding principle of harnessing the beauty that nature provides in a way that is gentle on our planet. They waited until a recycled nylon and an alternative to the standard chlorine processed washable wools became available. The end result is a soft yet durable yarn from Merino wool and alpaca fibres processed with an eco-friendly, anti-shrinkage Easy-wash treatment. The recycled nylon adds strength and durability. The shades are borrowed from the successful palette in their Cumbria yarn with the cream and all heathers using a natural ecru Suri alpaca whilst the others use a natural brown Suri alpaca.
What does ‘Easy-wash’ mean and why do they use it? ‘Easy-wash’ is a trademarked name that refers to a process used to make the wool and alpaca fibres in Amble machine washable without shrinking. The Easy-wash method is chlorine-free and AOX-free, making it the best environmental choice for producing machine-washable wool. The wool and alpaca fibres are treated with eco-friendly oxidants to remove the scales that ordinarily cause wool and alpaca to shrink when washed by machine. The oxidants used are sourced in Germany and are certified under the REACH, Oeko-tex and ZDCH (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemical) standards. This means that the Easy-wash treatment does not create hazardous chemicals, which is not the case with most machine washable wools in today’s market.
Much of the available machine washable wool yarn is made with a chlorine treatment process that produces high levels of toxic Adsorbable Organohalogens, known as AOX. While yarns produced in this manner are not known to be toxic to the user, AOX used in the treatment end up in wastewater and have a detrimental impact on tributaries, wildlife, and fauna.
What is recycled nylon and why do they use it? Nylon fibre is not easily biodegradable. However, it has strength qualities that give yarns and the socks made there from more durability. The recycled nylon used in Amble comes from leftover industrial waste of processing nylon, thereby diverting waste from landfills, and using fewer production resources like water and fossil fuels than virgin nylon.
One Sock Pattern
To go along with Amble, The Fibre Company has also come out with a universally sized pattern called One Sock, a classic top-down sock pattern to fit all feet. With lots of opportunities to customise the fit and design, this pattern comes with the ‘One Sock Guidebook’, a resource that walks makers through the process of knitting beautiful socks that fit. You can find the pattern HERE.
The pattern is written by Kate Atherly, one of the best knitting teachers I’ve ever come across. In my opinion, this pattern is a great deal for someone who is new to sock knitting. I know the pattern is supposed to be the main attraction, but I think the guidebook alone is well worth the cost of admission!
Rye Light is a great pattern that leverages a simple texture to make the most of a solid or semi-solid coloured yarn like Amble. It’s a great pattern for beginners, and it comes with it’s own instruction built into the pattern (the designers even wrote a How to Knit Socks Tutorial). It ranges from size Baby up to Adult Large, and best of all, it’s a free pattern.
Amble also makes a great sweater yarn, especially for fair isle. The yarn has a lovely depth of colour, a heathered look which actually comes from the naturals colours of wool and alpaca blended together. It’s a springy two-ply yarn that soft to the touch (no itchies) and a pleasure to work with. I especially like the fair isle sweaters designed by Jennifer Steinglass, but it’ll be gorgeous in any suitable pattern, for adults and children alike.
Solvi starts at the neckline and is worked seamlessly from the top down, and in the round. Short rows shape the back and neckline of this sweater. The colourwork yoke is knit, then the body and sleeves are then separated- stitches for the sleeves are transferred to spare needles or waste yarn and underarm stitches are cast on. The body is worked on one circular needle and finished with a ribbed hem. Sleeve stitches are then transferred to knitting needles, the underarm stitches are picked up, and the sleeve is knit top to bottom, finishing with a long ribbed cuff.
Needle A: US 4 / 3.5 mm DPNs (if desired) or 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needles for magic looping cuff, 16” (40 cm) or 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needles for magic looping (neckline), and 24” (60 cm) or longer circular for hem ribbing.
Needle B: US 5 / 3.75 mm DPNs (if desired) and 32” (80 cm) or longer circular needle for body and magic looping sleeves.
