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.

I’ve just uploaded to the BRS page all the unclaimed yarns from the most recent collection of Blog Reader Specials.

I particularly want to show off Twinset #605-606 — an amazing sea water blend of blues and other colors.  But in particular I want to highlight to amazing tiny-tiny flecks of blue; this is because I added a bit of sky blue into the dye bath and the dye molecules do not dissolve as readily as some of my other dyes.  While not deliberate, I am not complaining about these little flecks!

But mostly I wanted to point up this week’s impromptu deal:  If it’s blue, this deal’s for you.   Every Blog Reader Special that has any blue (or blue derivative, like green or purple) will be invoiced at $23.50 each skein.  🙂     I’ve marked all the ones I could see that have a blue or blue derivative, except the ones from 2024, as those are already $20.00 each.

Visit the Blog Reader Special page and see what’s available and ready to ship!

Happy Saturday!

I had a wonderful dye session yesterday!  At first I wasn’t sure but I discovered a different method of softening the dyes and I am so tickled with how they turned out.  It has to do with how the dyes were applied, and then how I treated them after applying the dyes. As you can see from the yarns, there are several water-themed combinations available this week.

Most of these Phydlbitz Sock Twinsets have several different dyes applied individually before further treatment, but a few of them are DumpDyes — like #613-614 (some of the blues and a gold into the dye bath), #623-624 (all the leftover teal, turquoise, and sky blue), and #607-608 (yellow base with a pink overdye).  What fascinates me is that even when mixed in the dye bath, certain combinations fully blend, while in  other combinations the dyes “break” and you can see the various colors.

Many of these Twinsets will also combine with some of the previously posted Blog Reader Specials, so be sure to check there and allow inspiration to guide your selections.   And then be sure to send me pictures of what you create with my yarns.

I can see any of my yarns working together for shawls, scarves, sweaters, and even leggings (!).   As an easy-care yarn, these are especially good for baby items, and can be tossed into the wash.

These are all Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards each) and are normally $27.50.  For Saturday and Sunday, you can take any two or more for just $26.00 each, including any selections from the Blog Reader Special page.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your requested items.  I’ll mark your selections off from the Available Yarns tally chart below, and send a  PayPal invoice.

Did you know I offer a referral bonus?  If your friend places an order and tells me your name and email, you’ll get a 10% discount on your next order.   I’m also happy to fill a group order, so if your local knitting group wants to order yarns, I can ship them all to one address which reduces the shipping costs for everyone in your group.

Available Yarns:
Rack 1 – 605, 606, 607, 608, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616
Rack 2 – 617, 618, 619, 620, 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627, 628

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Happy Friday!

I had an “interesting” dye session last night.  I was expecting solidly-solid colors, and some of the Twinsets complied, while others made up their own destination.  Eh, it happens that way sometimes.  But in the end, they’re all beautiful colors.

I did want to point out that I didn’t use any purple dye powder — all the seeming purples (#583-584, 591-592, and 601-602) are mixes of assorted blues and reds, mostly remixed from  previous weeks.  I didn’t like  601-602 to begin with so I added a blip of navy into the dye bath, but failed to completely dissolve the new dye powder fully; thus, there are some interesting navy blotches in the mix of two-tone red-maroon fade.

Twinset #581-582 is a monochrome fade in one of my favorite shades of blue — not quite cadet blue, not quite gunmetal, either; just calmly assertive blue, in my opinion.  I prefer the fade more than a solidly-solid.  What you make of it, of course, is entirely up to you, but I can envision a handsome scarf, shawl, or socks.

Twinset #585-586 is one of those blended dyes that looked fine in the dye bath, but seemed to separate during the steamer process as dyes settled into place.

Twinset #599-600 started as a mostly solid yellow, but it felt too bright, so I dropped the last little bit of red into the dye bath and slowly dipped the Twinset to create a two-tone fade of yellow-orange.  Very vibrant and striking, and would look amazing when combined with #597-598, which is a blended dye of Espresso Bean and Teddy Bear Brown.

Twinset #603-604 is a new-to-me dye called Golden Grown.  #593-594 is another new-to-me color called Topaz Yellow.  I’m pretty sure these two Twinsets would work together in stripes or maybe a subtle stranded colorwork pattern.

All of these are on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 SW Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards) and are available for $27.50 each.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your selection numbers.  I’ll mark your requests off the Available Yarns tally chart below and send you a PayPal invoice.  On payment I’ll buy and print your shipping label so when these yarns are dried and ready to ship, they can go right away.

I expect these to ship on Wednesday.  I’ll be in clinic on Tuesday afternoon and probably won’t be here to catch the mail carrier to pass them off.

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1 – 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, 588, 589, 590, 591, 592
Rack 2 – 593, 594, 595, 596, 597, 598, 599, 600, 601, 602, 603, 604