Manly colors

Would you be suprised to learn that nearly all of the knitters that come in the store are women?  No, you probably aren't at all shocked by this.  If you read the comments on my blog, visit Ravelry, or attend a knitting group, you might notice that the majority of the knitters you encounter are women.  I don't know why this is.  I plan to teach my sons to knit, and I hope that it's something that they enjoy. 

I can probably count on two hands the number of male knitters that have come in the store over the past year.  And when they do come by, I love it.  I love seeing what they are knitting, what colors they are choosing, and getting a fresh take on what men would like to knit or would like as gifts. 

One of the most common questions we get in the store is "Can you show me some things that my husband/son/daughter's boyfriend/grandson might like?"  Because even though the majority of the crafters coming in the store are female, they are often knitting for the men in their lives.  So over the next couple months, I'm going to highlight for you some sock yarns that might be appropriate gift knitting for the not-so-adventurous-with-color men in our lives.  If you are a man or have a man in your life who likes color and wants a teal/lime/yellow pair of socks, that's awesome for you.  But my husband likes (somewhat boring) gray, navy, brown and black and I am often looking for colors that he would definitely wear and finished socks that would hold up to not-delicate washing and wearing.  And I also want to enjoy what I'm kntiting for him and not want to poke my eyes out trying to knit tiny black stitches in the evening.  Not fun.

Are you in the same boat as me?  Do you often find yourself knitting for someone who would prefer colors that aren't infused with passion?

Here are a few ideas to start with:

Lorna's Laces Solemate, shown below in Camouflage, Jeans and Cedar (also available in Shepherd Sock Multis and Solids).  Not shown- more "safe" colors like Solids of Charcoal, Chocolate, Navy, Dobson, Denim and Echo.

There are also (and will be more in the future) some nice options in Poste Yarn's striping colors.  M22 is a nice navy and gold for those who want typical Michigan colors.  Also consider Empire State for black/silver sports team socks or at least a fun striping knit in safe, neutral colors.

While Malabrigohas some awesomely bright and eye catching colorways, they also have some interesting, more subdued ones.  Check out Alcaucil, Cote D'Azure and Cordovan

Are there particular colors you've knit for the men in your life who could be described as less-than-adveturous?  Do share.

Comments

[Ann]

I used Lorna's Laces in the beautiful color Echo to make a pair for my Florida dwelling brother--figuring the Outlast fiber would be comfortable during both the warm days and cooler nights there. He loved them!

[brandi]

my son would lover cedar

[Lynn]

thankfully the men in my life love color! However I did make a pair of basic socks for my husband, they were a hunter green with grey heels. My son picks out oranges and browns and my nephew loves blues and greens.

[Leah]

I'm knitting a pair of socks for my DH in a subtle variegated mocha color. He does prefer solids though. So, I save the fun color combos for myself. :-)

[Andy]

I'm a guy and I knit. Yay, me! I've never been in your store, but I've been on your order form several times. ;-)

Anyway, my bit to add here is that, while I am most likely to choose "manly" colors for a sweater, I will wear pretty much any color on my feet. In fact, for hand-knit socks, I mostly think the more color, the better; since I can buy subdued color socks most anywhere.

In my opinion, the design element that makes something too feminine for me to wear on my feet (or anywhere else for that matter) is holes. Holes make it lace and that's not good.

So there's my opinion. Remember it's just from one man.

[Anne]

The socks that my husband wears the most in winter is a pair of socks made with Solemate in Charcoal. I also made Opal Polar Light 5402 that seem ok with boots.

Sometimes its hard to pick out a variegated colorway in case it has a little bit of the dreaded pink or purple.

[Bonnie]

I feel so grateful that my husband isn't afraid of color. His favorite socks are knit out of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball Stärke 6--crazy colors and they don't match. One of my male friends, however, is much more traditional. I used an Opal in Momo 19044 for him.

[Leslie]

I am pretty lucky - my 92-year-old Dad loves bright red socks and hats and scarves and my Husband isn't totally dull --screaming lime & pink might be a bit much for him - but he really likes 95% of the Opal colors, so that makes it easy. My son will wear whatever I knit him no matter the color, he will love it because it was made for him. Yup, I'd say the guys in my life make it easy

[Candice Kush]

Yes, my husband loves his hand knit socks! I did grey the first 2 years and then he said he could probably handle a bit of color, so the next year he got a light variegated blue with seafoam variegated toe and heel. Both in Shibui sock. They're his favorites. He wears a size 14 shoe, so it takes every bit of 2 skeins. Luckily he doesn't like socks to be too tall. I like to use a 6-ply or something just slightly bigger than the usual sock yarn, knit on 2's.

[Mary]

My husband loves color too, and he wanted all of the Van Gogh yarns made into socks for him. I made him choose only half the colors so I could have some too. I also made him fingerless mitts from scraps of many colors. He's a fashion statement!

[Bonni Nechemias]

My choices for the granny square crocheted bag are............
Baltic by Madelinetosh sock
and
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Special Edition Grand Street Ink