Happy Monday!

I started the dye session yesterday with a request (or more like a suggestion) for more solids to go with so many multi-colored sock yarns.   I think this week’s colors will be amazing on their own, in combinations with each other or used as a contrast against all those amazing multi-color sock yarns on the Blog Reader Specials page or in your stash.

There are some straight solid colors, like Teal (#437-438), Gold (#439-440), Purple (#449-450), Emerald (#451-452),  Ecru (#455-456) and Turquoise (#459-460).   There were also some blended colors, like the slightly Chestnutted-Red (#447-448), a blended red and purple maroon or burgundy sort of color (#457-458), a navy-black fade (#443-444), and a blend of espresso bean and teddy bear brown (#453-454).

The ecru was dyed double-strength just to get it looking like more than undyed ivory, but that particular color comes from the manufacturer as a blended dye of many colors.  Thus, you will see the occasional blips of rust or blue where not all the pigments dissolved.   There was a small saturation of the ecru remaining so I used  it for #445-446 with a light chestnut, for a two-tone fade.

Twinset #441-442 is (to me, anyway) the most interesting.  I started with a straight yellow dye solution but it was too bright for my eyes last night, so I used the last of the dark charcoal from a couple weeks ago as a fade overdye.  The fade darkened the yellow so it is a two-tone fade.

These are all on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0, the new 75/25 blend of 25-micron Superwash Merino/Nylon, marked at 430 yards.  Since it come to me in pre-measured hanks at 115gm, it is more like 460+ yards for now.  If the coned yarn comes available so I start pulling my own hanks, I will start pulling at around 440 yards.  It’s a hassle for me to change the labels, so I’ll continue to mark them at 430+ yards for all Phydlbitz Sock yarns.  As always, better to under-promise and over-deliver whenever I can.

All of these will be going to the Blog Reader Specials as they are processed, and will be ready to ship on or about Thursday or Friday.  But you can claim the ones you want right away at $27.50 each.   For Monday and Tuesday, take any matching pair for just $25.50 each.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email (ray@knitivity.com); I’ll mark your requests of the Available Yarns tally chart below and then send you a PayPal invoice.  Upon payment I will print your shipping label so when the yarns are fully dried and processed I can ship to you.  You should receive your tracking number from PayPal right away.

Available Yarns
Rack 1 – 437, 438, 439, 440,  441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448
Rack 2 – 449, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460

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No special codes, just tell me “Happy Fathers Day” when you email me your order to get 15% off between now and June 15.

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Happy Monday!

In spite of how it looks, I didn’t use any straight purple dyes in last night’s dye session.  I used a couple different a blues, some leftover deep red from last week, and a little bit of fluorescent fuchsia.

All of this week’s yarns are on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0, which is 75% 25-micron Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon, and are 430 yards each, and will be available on the Blog Reader Specials page at $27.50 each.

Feel free to claim the ones you want while they are hanging here to dry, where you can see the color distributions and saturations.  I rotate one of each pair and then twist the bottoms to show as much as I can for each pair.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your numbered requests.

See further discussion of these yarns down below the pictures.

Available Yarns:
Rack 1 – 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424
Rack 2 – 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, 430, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436

Several of this week’s Twinsets were dyed Dye-on-Wet — instead of premixing the dyes in my dye jars, I applied an acid solution to the dyes and lightly applied dye powder straight onto the yarns.  This is more evident for example on Twinsets #421-422, #425-426, and #435-436.   That’s also how I did Twinset #413-414, but with a little more dye than I meant to use, which allowed for a much greater mixing of the dyes on the yarn.

As I mentioned above, I didn’t prepare any straight purple dye this week, but relied on dyes mixing on the yarn or in the dipping bowl.  Twinset #429-430 was a blend of Peacock Blue and the Fluorescent Fuchsia.  These were mixed in the bowl for a solid color, but the fuchsia struck first and stuck well, while the blue didn’t strike so evenly, so it looks like a bright purple, with an underlayer of pink.  I promise it was a single blended color in the bowl. 🙂

There are several two-tone fade combinations this week.  I keep thinking these need to be worked up into an asymmetrical shawl or something, to really show off the colors better, perhaps combining a soft subtle fade in stockinette,  with alternating bands of wild bright colors in a textured stitch of some sort.

I’ll be trying to put in an order for more yarn this week.

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Shown here are the unclaimed yarns from the most recent collection, which I have just posted to the Blog Reader Specials page!  Click through to see all the available yarns ready to ship.  All yarns will be invoiced at 20% off Thursday through Saturday.

Update:  Preview Pricing continued through Sunday:  $26.00 per skein for this new collection (#383 – 412)

Happy Saturday!

Lots of interesting combinations this week!

I started out with the Ivory and Charcoal to make sure they are clear of all other dyes.  The ivory yarns were processed fully like my regular yarns, just without applying dyes — the pre-dye soak, the wrapping and steaming, including the wash-and-rinse process, and they will be reskeined along with all the rest of the yarns, same as what I normally do.  I even did the wash-and-rinse separately to ensure no other dyes migrated onto them.  Unlike undyed yarn from the mill, handling them with my full process ensures they are ready-to-knit without needing special handling when you get them.

The Charcoal was dyed with a blend of black and gray, aiming for a deep deep gray charcoal, but because of the black dye they came out with a slightly brown tinge that I wasn’t expecting.  I’m hoping they will dry to a completely neutral gray.   Either way, they are definitely solid and will act as an excellent contrast for just about any of my yarns. I normally dye as Twinsets for those larger-than-socks projects, but both the Ivory and the Charcoal skeins were handled individually.  This means there is a slight variation between the Charcoal skeins.

Worked together, the Ivory and Charcoal would make a definite statement, but either one would work well as contrast or accent yarns for more vibrant knitting when combined with other colors.

I also attempted to replicate the Cat’s Paw Nebula colorway from many years ago, probably pre-2012.  Neither Twinset (#387-388 and 398-399) came out as expected.  The yarn base is different, the dyes are different, my techniques are different.   C’est la vie, it happens this way sometimes, and it is part of the reason I no longer offer repeatable colorways on demand as I once did; too many variables in my process makes it hard to replicate colorways to my satisfaction.   Having said that, of course, either of these Twinsets or any of the others will work up into some amazing wearable art, and that’s what counts.

All of these are on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75-25 25-micron Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards). Any single skein will make an ample pair of adult socks; a Twinset will easily work up into lovely knee-highs, a light summer shawl or scarf or other wearable project.  Or, you might be looking for interesting colors for a baby blanket.

Normally these will be $27.50 when moved to the Blog Reader Specials page, but for Saturday you can claim any two or more for just $26.00 at Preview Pricing.

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 they are all one-of-a-kind, and I don’t have 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 – 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394
Rack 2 – 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409
Ivory & Charcoal:  395, 396, 397, 410, 411, 412

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Hey, do you remember the yarns I showed hanging on Saturday?  The yarns that were claimed have been packed and ready for shipping.  Shown below are the unclaimed yarns that I have just put to the Blog Reader Specials page.  Click through to see all the individual pictures.

Tuesday through Friday (May 20-23) all matching Twinsets will be invoiced at 15% off, and all individual skeins will be invoiced at 10% off.   Just make your requests by email, same as normal, but no special codes for this Twinset TWOS-day offer!

Happy Saturday!

Starting the day yesterday, my brain was full of ideas of different things I wanted to try, including the Cat’s Paw Nebula.  I was looking through my recipe book and discovered a few other colorways to combine, including the amazing Carina Nebula colorway.

and the colors I derived from it (shown here on a sport weight yarn).

And, since I have both recipes, I’m going to do a “Look To The Stars” set of dye jobs next week when I have nothing to do but focus on this project.    If you know if a similar amazing colorway from the Hubble Space Telescope, or elsewhere, with amazing colors, please let me know.   I’ve seen several images of the Horsehead Nebula, for example.

Anyway, this week we have a stunning collection of color combinations, some very brilliant and some calming and subdued.

These are all on Phydlbitz Sock 2.0, 25-micron Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards, which are normally $27.50 each when they go to the Blog Reader Specials page.

For Saturday and Sunday, you can take any two or more skeins (matching Twinset or random singles) for just $26.00 each.

A few deserve noting:  Twinset #363-364 is a two-tone fade of  blue-gray and speckled chestnut, with a band of solid chestnut in the middle.  Twinset #371-372 is a medium gray with just a light fade, while #367-368 is a chestnut fade.  Twinset  #379-380 is a pale turquoise fading into an ice blue.

Any of the fades, either two-tone or monochrome, would work up into a stunning simple triangle shawl in garter stitch with a 3-stitch border and 3-stitch center spine, starting with either an Emily Ocker cast-on or even a tab cast-on

Of course, any of these skeins would make fabulous socks (one skein will knit an ample pair of adult socks), but there are many amazing patterns for sock yarn pillows, baby goods, and even sweaters.  A friend of mine knitted her husband a sweater vest from just two skeins of my sock yarns.

By the way, you’ll note in the images below that they are marked as 430+ yards.  I have always added a little extra yardage when I pull hanks from cones, but the  yarns I’m using now come pre-hanked at about 460 yards.  Since I prefer pulling my own hanks I’ll leave the labeling as I have it, but rest assured you will always get more than 430 yards.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your selections.  I’ll mark your selections off the Available Yarns tally chart below and send you a PayPal invoice to include shipping.  If you are outside the U.S., please let me know so I can calculate international shipping.  In most cases, I can ship up to six skeins for $37.50, whether it is 1 or 2 or 6, so the shipping-per-skein is less when you order more at a time.  🙂

I expect to have these ready to ship Wednesday or Thursday.

Available Yarns:
Rack 1 – 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370
Rack 2 – 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377,  378, 379, 380, 381, 382

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The other day, a regular at the Knitivity Facebook page mentioned “Cat’s Paw Nebula” and asked about recreating it.

This morning I did a deep dive into the ancient catacombs of my earlier dyeing days and discovered I do still have the dye-mixing recipe with the dye placement schematic, and was even able to find a couple of pictures.  The top image is after dyeing, and the lower image is when they are all reskeined and ready to label and ship.

It was so long ago that I don’t remember which yarn base I used, although it was definitely a sock yarn, and I am pretty sure I can somewhat replicate it, although maybe not exactly, since my techniques have changed over time.

Because this is complicated process, involving both time and labor, I won’t be able to offer my regular Preview Pricing on this, if I decide to do some of these.  But I am wondering if there is an interesting in getting hold of this colorway for your sock and sweater knitting pleasure.  Feel free to comment below or send me an email to express your interest.

Are you a mother? Do you have a mother? Do you know a mother?  Have you ever met a mother?  Place an order today for two or more skeins of yarn and get 20% off your total order!  So simple. No special codes. This deal expires at midnight, Sunday, 11May2025.

This includes any available yarns not claimed in yesterday’s post as well as any previously posted Blog Reader Specials.

Update:

The yarns not claimed during the Preview Pricing period have now been posted to the Blog Reader Specials page.  Here is the group shot of them all.

Good morning!

What a beautiful day in Houston!  I had a fun time dyeing yarns last night.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I went into the session without a specific goal in mind.   Actually, if you know me, you know that this is how I normally approach a dye session — grab a random selection of 10 different dyes and then see what happens.

Four Twinsets in particular — #335-336, 339-340, 341-342, and 353-354 — are practically begging to be knit up with strong contrasts, either undyed off-white, deep charcoal, or some other solid contrast, either in stripes, stranded knitting, color blocks, intarsia verticals, or some other technique to show off the beautiful color arrays in the multi-color yarns.

Twinset #337-338 is a two-tone fade of violet and chestnut.  I don’t think I have ever combined these two colors before, but they came out stunning, in my opinion.   All of the two-tones this week are perfect for knitting up with plain knitting to take full advantage of the two-tone effect.   Twinset #351-352 is a beautiful Foggy Fade, while #355-356 is a fog and a light martini olive fade.  In a future session I want to  capture that light olive color and dot it with bits of russet, reminiscent of the pimento bits in martini olives.  🙂

This week’s Dump-Dyes — #345-345 was a Dump-Dye of all the remaining violet, navy, and other blue-related colors, and it came out a rich navy solid.  Then for #357-358 I used up all the gold, yellow, gray and other colors, which resulted in a lush shade of grass green   Either of these would be perfect contrasts for an of the multi-colored skeins mentioned above.

By the way, I don’t do a Dump-Dye in every dyeing session, but when I do they nearly always result in deep rich solids (or nearly solid), so they are always great for your solid-color projects. Another fact is that the Dump-Dyes are created by combining remaining dyes from that day’s dyeing session, so they nearly always coordinate with at least one or two other yarns of that week’s session.

These are all on Phydlbitz 2.0, 75/25 25-micron Superwash Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards, and are regularly priced at $27.50 each.  For Saturday and Sunday, however, you can claim the ones you want for just $25.50 each.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your numbered requests and I’ll send you a PayPal invoice.  Once paid, I will prepare your shipping label right away so that I can ship as soon as the yarns are fully dried and ready to go.

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

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1 – 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346
Rack 2 – 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358