Okay, so the Mid-October Surprise sale continues, at least through Friday — all yarns are $24.50 each, with just $1-per-skein for shipping. All available yarns are shown on the Blog Reader Specials page.

But I was sitting here musing about some of the yarns and how they could be used together.  What about a simple triangular shawl pattern, but using 2 different colorways, with 8- or 10-row bands of each color, BUT doing stockinette for one color, then reverse stockinette for the other color.  It would result in a welted texture, rather than just a plain smooth stockinette all the way.  You could do a 5-stitch garter stitch or seed stitch border along each side going across the top.

This is just one way to use different coordinating or contrasting colors.

So I pulled out some Twinsets that feel like they’d work together in such a scheme.  First I got a picture of them all, and then made different pairings, shown down below.

Your color sense and inspiration is probably different from mine.  I realize the sun and shadows wreak havoc on trying to judge individual pictures, and I would be more than happy to photograph whatever combination you’d like to see together.  Just email me and let me know which yarns you’d like.  I can’t control the sun or shadows but I can at least photograph combinations all in one light at the same time. 🙂

Happy Saturday!

First, I failed to mention it but October 1 was my 19-year anniversary!  It’s been a wild ride, and a lot of people didn’t think I’d last more than a year or two.  I’ve seen dyers come and go, but I’m still here.  Barely, but here nonetheless. 🙂

I went into yesterday’s dye session thinking I would color for autumn, with changing leaves and the colors of the world changing.  I’m not sure I hit that particular target, but I am really tickled at how the colors landed, anyway.

Several segmented dyes, all of which will create some interesting spiral striping socks, Twinsets #731-732, 733-734, 739-740, and 743-744.   Each of these includes at least 4 different dyes.  We also have a couple of interesting fades — Twinsets #725-726 and 737-738.

A few DumpDyes include #727-728, 735-736 (reblended reds, plus gold and brown), and 747-748 (navy, chestnut, and other colors — but NO black at all).

These are all Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 SW 25-micron Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards each), normally $27.50 each.  For Saturday and Sunday, you are welcome to claim any matching Twinset of this new collection for just $25.50 each skein.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your selections noted.  I’ll mark your requests off the Available Yarns tally chart below and send your PayPal invoice.  If you are outside the U.S., please let me know so I can calculate your international shipping rate.

I expect to have these ready to ship on or about Wednesday.

Rising Prices

As much as I dislike the idea, I have held off raising my yarn prices since at least 2022.   With the cost of nearly everything rising , I will be raising the base yarn price to $28.00 per skein starting next week.  I would love to keep prices the same, but I still need to eat and cover my bills as well.   If you want any of the previously posted Blog Reader Specials, this would be the week to claim them.

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1 – 725, 726, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 736
Rack 2 – 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, 744, 745, 746, 747, 748

Click images to view larger version in your browser.

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Happy Sunday!

I wasn’t sure where I was going when I started the dyeing yesterday, so I  don’t know if I got there, but that’s okay.  Once it all came out after the wash-and-rinse, I am overall pleased with this week’s collection.

Starting backwards (sort of) the last Twinsets I dyed were both Dump Dyes; #701-702 is a blend of all the leftover darkened navy, sky blue, gray, and violet, while #703-704 is a swirling blend of olive, gold, and some dribs of chestnut.  Twinset #707-708 is pure confetti,  while #719-720 is a combination of rose segments separated with a bolder confetti swirl.  Twinset #723-724 is an overall sky blue dip dye.

There are several segmented dye jobs with assorted colors.   The two Fade Twinsets look similar but #717-718 are faded olive, while #709-710  is a fade of leftover colors blended in the dipping bowl from one of the segmented yarns.

These are all Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 — 75/25 Superwash 25-micron Merino/Nylon, and marked at 430 yards, but closer to 460-470 yards.  These are $27.50 each, but you can claim a matching Twinset for just $26.00 per skein on Sunday and Monday.   They’ll be posted at full price on the Blog Reader Specials page after reskeining and labelling.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your selections noted.  Unless otherwise requested, I will ship via USPS Ground Advantage within the U.S.

I expect to have these ready to ship on or about Wednesday.

Available Yarns:
Rack 1 – 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710, 711, 712
Rack 2 – 713, 714, 715, 716, 717, 718, 719, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724

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EDIT to Add:   This Twinset has been sold. 

Check out these amazing muted colors!

They remind me of something like sun-bleached driftwood we’d find on the beach as I was growing up in Santa Barbara.

These are the kind of colors that would do well in a simple ripple pattern — Old Shale, Feather and Fan, or even chevrons.   Easy stitching while the yarn itself does the work for making your handwork stand out.

You can find this Twinset, along with so many other Twinsets and single skeins on the Blog Reader Specials page.

Happy Saturday!

I was musing recently about playing with color.  Midnight Green has long been one of my standard colors, a darked version of Knitivity Green #1.  So this week I was thinking about Red Velvet Cake — a popular dessert in some circles, made essentially by adding an ungodly volume of red food dye into a basic chocolate cake, often with a cream cheese frosting.

So yesterday I tried making Midnight Red Velvet by using my regular red dye, mixed with a bit of Espresso Bean dye.  It definitely came out looking rich (#677-678), but leans toward purple more than I’d like.  It would certainly make a dramatic shawl or lacework.

I used the remainder of that dye batch to splatter with some of last week’s blended Dark Rose to make #687-688.  As I was dyeing that pair last night, while it was still quite wet, it reminded me of something that would require an investigation from CSI.  I unofficially called it “O Blood Hell.”   Going into the steamer and then this mornings wash-and-rinse, it seems to have mellowed as the dyes migrated around a little.   Now it just looks stunning.  😉

There are several “confetti” Twinsets  (like #691-692, 693-694, and 695-696), all with four or more colors applied randomly.

Also appearing are several two-tone fades, and even a three-tone fade — #679-680 have hints of gray, navy, and chestnut, all in  pale pastel saturations.

Twinset #697-698 is a deep saturation of a navy and a purple , which were blended into the dye bath but seemed to have separated somewhere between application and steaming.

This week’s DumpDye, done at the end of the session combines the leftover chestnut, Indian yellow, and the bit of gold left from last week.  I really like the vibrant color, but because my proportions were inexact leftovers, there’s no way I can accurately reproduce it.

These are all dyed on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 blend of 25-micron superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards.

Phydlbitz Sock  is normally $27.50 each skein.  For Saturday and Sunday, you are welcome to claim any two or more skeins for just $25.50 each.

To claim the ones you want just send me an email with your selections noted.  I’ll send you a PayPal invoice which will also  include shipping inside the U.S.  If you are outside the U.S., please let me know so I can calculate the rate to your country.   I am aware that international shipping may be a challenge at this time for reasons for beyond my control, so I will understand if you aren’t comfortable ordering yarns at the moment.

I expect to have these all reskeined and ready to ship on or about Wednesday.

Available Yarns
Rack 1 – 677, 678, 679, 680, 681, 682, 683, 684, 685, 686, 687, 688
Rack 2 – 689, 690, 691, 692, 693, 694, 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, 700

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Happy Monday!

I wasn’t entirely sure which direction the dyes would take me last night, but after bursting the pouches for the wash-and-rinse, and then hanging the yarns to dry, the word “sexy” comes to mind.  I rarely use that word for my dye jobs, but these felt particularly awesome to me.

I used a mix of my regular dyes and some of the newer dyes I got recently, and was amazed how they worked together.  I’m also glad I figured out how to minimize the areas where dyes don’t strike.  It’s annoying to have blips of undyed sections, which I have always tried to eliminate, and I’m getting better at that.

There are several multi-color variations, some with sprinkle-splattered dyes, and others are more segmented with clearly visible sections.  Nearly every Twinset is a combination of three or more dyes used.

Only one is a true DumpDye this time — Twinset #661-662 is a combination of all the remaining teal, bright turquoise, and one of the greens (I forgot which).  It came out as a magnificent peacock blue color, perfect for your lacework shawl.

Two of the Twinsets are actual fades: #667-668 and #671-672 with long repeats (around 72-inches) .  Either of these Twinsets would make amazing subtle textured or lacework pieces.   For a dramatic work, you would take one skein of each pair to make textured stripes, like seed stitch or simple basketweave texture, allowing the yarn to do most of the ‘work’ to make a great piece.  For example, make Knit-Purl basketweave blocks with K5-P5 for 7 rows using one color, then doing 7 rows of P5-K5 with the other color; this will make your knit/purl blocks stand out.

Of course, any of the bright multi-colored yarns would be excellent socks (one skein makes an ample pair of adult socks).  Any six or eight random skeins (any of these or any previously shown Blog Reader Specials) would make terrific blocks for a baby blanket or wild-and-wacky autumn wrap or shawl.

As is my custom, I have rotated one skein of each pair, and then twisted the bottom of each skein in order to show as much of the color on each pair.  These will, of course, be neatly reskeined prior to shipping, but the one you order from the picture is the one you will get.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with the item number you want.

These are all Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards each), and are normally $27.50 each.  If you claim your on Monday, you can get each skein for $26.00 at Preview Pricing.

I expect to have these ready to ship on or about Thursday.

Available Yarns
Rack 1 – 653, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658, 659, 660, 661, 662, 663, 664
Rack 2 – 665, 666, 667, 668, 669, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676

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Happy Monday!

I’ve had some issues lately and wasn’t able to obtain yarns to dye for September, so I haven’t dyed this weekend. I’m hoping that I can sell enough this week to buy more yarn.  Need to raise about $600, if possible.

But, troubles aside, we have plenty to see on the Blog Reader Specials page.

First, these are the unclaimed yarns I just posted from last weekend’s collection:

And then I pulled some possible foursome bundles, combining newer yarns with others that were previously posted, in order to play with various compatible combinations:

I pulled out several foursome combinations that appealed to me as possible striping projects.  Mind you, as with a few weeks ago, these combinations are only suggestions, based on what tickles my own eyes.  You are encouraged to make your own combinations, and I am happy to pull out other combinations to photograph for you on request.  I’ve made sure all the item numbers are clear in each picture, and some items appear in more than one picture here.

All yarns on the BRS page will be invoiced at $20.00 per skein now through Friday,  12Sep2025.  You do not need to order four or more to get the discounted pricing.

To claim any yarns, just send me an email with your numbered item request.

This one has the same colors, but will stripe some as heavier in the purples, and others heavier in the pinks.

This combination seems perfect for a baby blanket with gentle colors throughout.

And another baby-soft combination.

This one is similar but  #639-640 are a little richer than the #99-100 just above. 

Here are several combinations of blues.

And here we start leaning into greens:

We are living in crazy times

As far as I’ve been told, my supplier intends to absorb current tariffs, but I’ve also learned that many countries are simply not shipping into the U.S.  Many small-time dyers (like me) are having troubles one way or another.  My current base yarn comes from Peru, but I don’t know how long my supplier will be able to get my base yarn.  I may have to switch to yarns from an American mill, which are of course very good quality as well but more expensive, which will mean my yarns will automatically cost money.  I’ve done all I could to provide great quality yarns at a fair price for indie dyed one-of-a-kind yarns.  If I have yarns in-house, I can dye and have yarns to show and sell.  Getting the yarns in-house is a challenge for me at the moment.

In other, more positive news, Houston seems to be experiencing cooler, most autumn like weather, and that’s always a nice change. My health is holding up as well and I’ve been able to get out and take a walk more regularly.

Happy Saturday!

Getting started into the dye session yesterday, I pulled dyes from two different manufacturers, to see how well they play with each other.  I think I accidentally created yarns for some amazingly horrendous Halloween knee-high stockings, or maybe festive  shawls for mid-autumn parties and Trick-or-Treating.  What a happy surprise!

Maybe it’s just my own wild imagination.  You probably have plenty of inspiration of your own for how to engage these brilliant color combinations into your autumn wardrobe.

All of these are Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards each) and are normally $27.50 each.  If you claim a matching Twinset on Saturday or Sunday, you will be invoiced at $26.00 per skein.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email request with your numbered items.   The ones you see are the ones you will get, as each Twinset is one-of-a-kind, and I don’t hold back extra skeins of a colorway.  The only time there are more yarns are when a custom order is placed to ensure the dyes are the same across the order.  I prefer a minimum of at least two skeins in a custom order.

I expect this week’s collection to be ready to ship on or about Wednesday.

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1 – 629, 630, 631, 632, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 638, 639, 640
Rack 2 – 641, 642, 643, 644, 645, 646, 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652

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Okay, so the Blue deal continues on the Blog Reader Specials page, but there are lot of yarns that don’t have blue or a blue-derivative in them.  What about those?

Well, here’s some colors to warm up your autumn knitting — there’s enough here for a Thanksgiving sweater, or 2 or 3 shawls in different designs, or even a whole bunch of socks in different patterns.

Everything on the Blog Reader Specials page is individually shot, but they were dyed on different days and photographed with different daylight lighting, so I’ve pulled these out to be photographed all together, and I’ve arranged them in different configurations.   By the way, any time a visitor wants to see a specific combination of yarns, I am happy to photograph a set; just tell me which numbers and send me an email to request a pic or two.

Click on individual images for a larger view.   Pricing shown down below.

Edit:  All but #171 (the bright yellow) have now been claimed.  

All of these are Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 SWMerino/Nylon, 430+ yards) and are normally $27.50 per skein.  But since the Blues are offered at $23.50 now through Friday (29Aug), it’s only fair that these are also offered at $23.50 per skein through Friday (29Aug).   Just email me and tell me which ones you want from this collection ranging from yellow to gold to coral to orange to red.  The item numbers are shown on the labels.