October 29-31 — All yarns will be invoiced at 10% off. Take two or more, get 15% off! This includes any yarns from the latest collection shown on here the Blog main page and everything on the Blog Reader Specials page.
Category Archives: Blog Reader Specials
The Socks in Progress
Last week I shared a video about starting a pair of socks (see here). And here is the progress I’ve made as of a few minutes ago. (a more pedantic discussion is down below)
I cast on and got started, then about half-way up the toes I discovered a problem, so I set them aside to dye a batch of Blog Reader Specials.
The socks were started with a Turkish cast-on, wrapping 2 needles with 14 wraps for each sock, then increasing every other round at both ends of each needle. For socks I do a yarn over for the increase, and on the next round I knit into the yarn-over through the back of the loop so that the stitch is closed. There are many different ways to do toe-up increases; this is just the method I like and use, at least for toes.
Anyway, I got about half-way up the toes and paused to count the stitches. Casting on 14 stitches, then increasing by 2 every other round, I should have had an even number of stitches all the way up. Nope. I counted 25 on the first needle. I looked to see if I had skipped in increase, and then counted all the stitches on all the other needles. Dang — they all had 25 stitches and should have had 26. So apparently, my Turkish cast-on only had 13 wraps somehow on both toes.
I wasn’t going to rip it all out and start over. I decided to remain diligent until I reached 35 stitches on each needle for each toe, front and back. Working with undyed yarn, inserting an extra stitch would have been too obvious, so I decided to start my contrast band that separates the toe stitches from the instep/sole stitches.
I have always centered my socks at the bottom of the toe, as well as up the center of the heel and back of the leg. This allows any shift in design or color to be less obtrusive.
So I knitted across the bottom of the toe for 17 stitches with the undyed, and then introduced the contrast yarn, knitting the remaining 18 stitches. I knitted across the top of the toe, came back around and knitted 17 stitches of contrast into the 17 stitches of undyed. When I got back to where I started the contrast, I know that was the 18th stitch, into which I knitted front and back (Kfb), then knitted around to the other side and did a Kfb at the 18th stitch. And, of course, I did the same thing on the other sock.
So, now I have 36 stitches on each needle for each toe, front and back.
I’m ready to start the next round, but I’ve not decided which sock yarn or yarns to add into this pair of socks. I’m going to leave that to faithful readers to suggest a skein from all the yarns on the Blog Reader Specials page. I may well decide to incorporate multiple skeins, with each new color separated by 2 rounds of the contrast color. Please leave a comment below with the BRS # of the colorway you want me to start with.
I have seen other socks knitted with different yarns, and they are often cute, but my regimented mind requires a strong contrast band to separate the various colorways, just like I require the contrast between the toes/heels and the rest of the sock. I’m sure if I spelled out all the “rules” my brain concocts for socks, some of you might question my sanity. But rest assured, my sock-knitting rules only apply to my own socks. In real life there are no rigid rules for socks or most other things. 🙂
Tomorrow I will reskein the most recent BRS yarns so I can ship on Thursday; and also on Thursday I will pull new hanks from cones so I can dye a new batch on Friday. Reaching the end of the month I realize I’m already over $400 short toward the bills due on Saturday, so I will likely dye a larger BRS collection and hope more sell. Nearly everyone I know is feeling the pinch these days, and I’m not sure where the breaking point for many people I know. I’ll just keep doing what I know how to do and hope it all works out.
Beautiful New Combinations
Several months ago, a fellow dyer shared her collection of dyes from a different manufacturer. I pulled several of them again this week to use with the brand I’ve been using. I like the way they work well together.
There are a couple of confetti dyes, several segmented, and a few fades. The only true DumpDye this week is #771-772 — a combination of blue, gray, purple, and brown; they came out a little darker at one end than the other because of how I immersed them in the dye bath so they appear as fades, but the dyes were all blended in the bath before immersion.
These are all Phydlbitz Sock 2.0 (75/25 Superwash 25-micron Merino/Nylon, 430+ yards), and are normally $28.00 each.
See some you’d like? Just send me an email and I’ll take care of it for you. If you are out of the U.S., please let me know.
I expect to have these ready to ship on or about Thursday, with a new collection to show on Friday or Saturday.
Available Yarns:
Rack 1 – 749, 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, 758, 759, 760
Rack 2 – 761, 762, 763, 764, 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, 770, 771, 772
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Foursomes, anyone?
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. 🙂
Are These Autumn Colors?
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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Surprised Even Me!
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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Sunbleached Driftwood?
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.
I Tried Something New
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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How do I describe these?
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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Fiber Fun!
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.