Color: Solid/Nearly Solid
There are many reasons to knit with solid or nearly solid colored sock yarns. Perhaps you’re knitting for a conservative sock-wearer and don’t want to shock them when they open the gift box! Maybe you’re knitting for a guy (because guys are notorious for wanting ‘subtle’ sock colors). Many times, knitters who love knitting complicated lace patterns on the cuff love the solid/nearly solid colors because these show the pattern variations more clearly. (And really – if you’re going to knit beautiful patterns, then you want to make sure they show up well!) Here are links to the sock solids/nearly solids that we currently stock at The Loopy Ewe:
The Loopy Ewe Solid Series – Our favorite yarn for socks, lace and colorwork. We have 90 colors for you to choose from. 100% Superwash Merino, approx. 220 yd (55 g) per skein, with a recommended needle size of US: 0-1 (2.o – 2.25 mm). Machine or hand wash and lay flat to dry. You’ll need 2 skeins for 1 pair of socks.
Alpaca With a Twist Socrates – That wonderful, soft, cushy Baby Alpaca feel in a sock yarn! But don’t save it just for socks – you’ll want to use this for scarves, shawls, hats, mittens, gloves and baby knits. 30% Baby Alpaca, 30% Merino Wool, 20% Bamboo, 20% Nylon, Approx. 400 yds, 3.5 oz (100 g) Needle size: #1 (2.25mm) Hand wash and dry flat. 1 skein is enough for 1 pair of socks.
Araucania Ranco Semi-Solids – Araucania Yarns is inspired by ancient Chilean crafts made from hand painted natural yarns. Each hank is different, blended by artisans in the kettle to create several unique shades. The different spots and swirls of dye combine to make a beautiful collage of colors when knit up. 75% wool, 25% polyamide, Approx. 3.52 oz, 100 gr, 376 yds. 344 m. Needle size: 1-3 US (2.25 – 3.25 mm)
Hand wash gentle, dry flat. One size makes 1 pair of most socks (but always check size and yardage on pattern.)
Dream in Color - All three of the Dream in Color lines (Baby – a heavier laceweight/light fingering weight, Smooshy – fingering weight, Classy – worsted weight) knit up as a semi-solid and show excellent stitch definition and can be used as sock yarns. Try all three weights. In each case, 1 skein will make 1 pair of most sized socks.
Louet - Available in both a fingering weight and a sport weight, these true solids are perfect for colorwork, as well as showing off your patterns beautifully when knit as a single color. You’ll need 2 skeins for a single pair of socks in most sizes.
Alchemy Yarns of Transformation, Juniper Elements – A great semi-solid line with a tight, springy twist. 100% Superwash Merino, with approx. 232 yds (50 g) to a skein. Machine or hand wash and lay flat to dry. Needle size US 1-2.
In addition to the lines above, there are also plenty of solid color options available in many of our regular yarn company lines. Try: Artyarns, Blue Sky Alpacas, Claudia Hand Painted, Colinette Jitterbug, Crystal Palace Panda Cotton, Fleece Artist, Hand Maiden, Lorna’s Laces, Madelinetosh, Mountain Colors, and Shibui Knits. For Indie-Dyers who have some yarns in the solid/semi-solid range, try: Dragonfly Fibers, Dye Dreams, Enchanted Knoll Farm, Fiber Optic, Fiberphile, Hazel Knits, Indigo Moon, Perchance to Knit, String Theory, Tempted, and The Sanguine Gryphon.
