Ninth Day of Sock Yarn

On the Ninth Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to meeeeee.....

Nine balls of Cascade 220 Superwash yarn!

To enter to win nine balls of your choice of colors to knit whatever blanket, sweaters or winter accessories you might want to make for yourself or others, simply answer the following question in the comments below.

Tell us about the types of gifts you knit for others and the care they require. Do you knit easy care items with superwash yarn (which is what we focus on at SSYC- used to be just sock yarn when we opened 15 years ago, now it's sock and easy care wool blends) or do you knit pieces that require a lot of care to keep up, perhaps wedding shawls of silk or shawls that require a special washing and blocking every time? I'd think that most people knit easy-care type of projects for others, but perhaps that's because that's what we offer at SSYC and so that's what people are looking for from us. I'd love to know what kinds of projects you're comfortable gifting and if you worry about how they will be cared for or if you just gift them and then just hope for the best. Or if there is a certain project you are super proud of and would like to share with us - feel free to leave links to a Ravelry project page or an Instagram post if you want to show it to us.

This is just a small part of our Cascade 220 Superwash wall. We carry every color (when available). Also the Wave and Effects (speckles) versions. It's quite intoxicating in person to see over 150 colors and getting to choose the exactly colors you want for your project.

I don't have anyone in my life that really will give that much of special care to projects I knit for them, so I knit easy-care gifts for people. I think my mom is the only one who hand washes the socks or scarves I gift her, even though I give her a little mesh lingerie bag with her socks so she can just throw them in the wash. Most of the things I knit are for the people in my own household, and it's usually hats. And as you can see in the picture below (from three days ago when we had a bit of snow), the hats I knit aren't really treated that gingerly. They are worn under sweaty heads in the snow, then discarded on the back porch in a pile of snow gear. But I don't think that's a bad thing, I'm glad that what I've knit for my family is being used and appreciated. Both hats were made from Madelinetosh Yarn- the blue one is Tosh DK color Danger Will Robinson (color is sold out now but more arriving next week), and the gray one is Trip Wire in Vintage that we have in the Sale Section right now (the color is sold out though, but we have dozens of others for $10 off right now- these deals can sell fast). I use this pattern a lot.

I do recall knitting more lacey type scarves for my sister, mom and sis-in-law awhile back. I made a lot of these a decade ago, and used silk blends. I do think that Silk Merino and Opal Silk would be great options for something where you want the luxury of silk but don't want it to get completely ruined with washing and wearing. I always give a mesh lingerie bag with the socks and hats I knit for people, and a note saying something like "These socks can be put in the wash in this bag. Please pull the bag out before the dryer and let them air dry."

Life in the Long Grass Silk Merino in Harbour

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Want to join us in all of our 12 Days of Sock Yarn? Just stop here on the blog every day Dec 13-24 and answer that day's question in the comments. I'll randomly choose one winner each day (announced here and e-mailed to winners in January). It's just our own little yarny holiday here at SSYC that we've now been celebrating here for more than a decade. It's great fun to get to know others, and I think it's going to be especially nice to connect with others this way considering we can't get together in person. Do join us!

Comments

[TammySue Davis]

I love to knit house socks in a superwash this will be great

[Kathleen]

Definitely easy care for all my projects. I’ve made shawls for my mother and m-i-l and I just finished a ruana for my sister. They were all done with a superwash merino. I love your idea of including a lingerie bag with the gift!

[Leslie]

I knit socks, colorwork mittens, and shawls/scarves for gifts. Usually use Merino superwash

[Hannah]

I've mostly knit easy care baby gifts with superwash merino. Blankets, hats, mittens, sweaters, animal plushes! I hate to think all the work I put into a project might accidentally get destroyed if it's fragile! Superwash is easy for everyone and nice and comfortable. Happy holidays!

[Christine Becker]

I knit sockhead cowls (discovered at ssyc and I wear mine everyday)for my daughter and daughters in law, and perfection cowls for sons in law. I knit little hat ornaments and stuck in some Christmas cards. All super wash.

[Rebecca Schubert]

There’s only my husband to receive knitted gifts, and they are caps, mittens and scarves. I choose soft, warm wool. Since the care of these articles is up to me, I can choose sturdy, but fussy wools because I’m willing to hand wash them. A guy who used to have one or two different fleece options is now thrilled to have a wardrobe of choices of gorgeous accessories.

[BethW]

I have only made a few pairs of socks and a couple of scarves and hat sets for friends and family. I usually use superwash yarn, but I always print out care instructions on pretty little notecards for them. What happens to the items beyond that, is anybody’s guess!

[Kelliinkc]

I knit hats, socks, and baby items for gifts and always go for easy to care for materials.🙂

[Lorraine C]

So far only a hat and a winter set (hat, mittens, and matching scarf). We're all busy people so it's machine washable material for all. But no matter what, it's lay flat or hang dry only. Knits do not go in the dryer or the person moves towards no longer knit worthy.

[Coby Hanna-Butler]

I almost exclusively knit for others. Not sure why! I did use some of my “special” stash yarn to make myself a hat, scarf, and mittens. But yes, I will only use Superwash for gifts!

[Beth]

I make lots of socks as gift knits along with hats, scarves, vests and mittens.

[Beverly Shearon]

I usually knit easy care items like scarves and socks.

[Noreen]

I used to gift but they were not appreciated so now I gift to my immediate family and since I’m the one who washes clothes I don’t worry about it.

[Marilyn Foran]

I tend to knit easy to care for items. Either in acrylic, cotton, super wash, or whatever may work best for that person and what they can remember! Hats, scarves, bags or whatever has caught my attention is what comes off my needles. I've set out try try my hand at a temperature blanket, my temp range is going to be a bit difficult being from 35F to 118F! This will be a easy to care for gift to someone close.

[Carol]

Most of my gift knitting is hats in superwash yarn. But just today, I mailed away a Banana Leaf Shawl in Malabrigo Lace--definitely a hand wash and flat dry item, but I'm sure the recipient will take good care of it.

[David]

I gift items that are knit with easy to care for yarns. The items are usually hats, scarves, and shawls. I’m working on my first sweater (for my Dad)!

[Becky Creighton]

This is the first year I’ve been able to knit gifts. I’ve made a couple hats that are superwash yarn.

[Sue Cooper]

I try to make sure that the gift isn’t a burden. I just finished sweaters for the grandkids in a washable wool/acrylic blend. They will included lingerie bags for washing even though I provided bags for washing previous sweaters. A new bag every two years isn’t nagging.........is it?

[Mary]

My adult kids and their spouses love getting socks. They know they need to dry flat and they are excited to have them and take care of them. I look for easy care fibers for gifts. I think people would be disappointed to ruin something.

[Kat Gatzke]

I don’t do a whole lot of gift knitting but when I do I definitely go with easy care yarns - super easy wools, cottons and blends. I usually do smaller projects like wash cloths and hats but I have made a cabled scarf for my boyfriend and a baby blanket for my niece.

[Heather Mallady]

I gift hats to friends and family. Some are superwash and some are hand wash.

[Laura Nixon]

I knit with acrylic yarns for children as they do most everything with them but wear the item as intended, LOL

For adults I use wool for warmth and tell them it doesn't need to be washed unless they drop it in the mud and step on it.

Dish cloths and towels I use unmercerized cotton.

[Meaghan]

I usually only go for easy care things for gifts. Most of the people I know do not like hand washing items.

[Tara]

I always knit gifts in superwash yarn when the recipient is outside our household. For my family, I've knit a few items in non-sw yarn because I'm the one that's going to be washing it.

[Carol]

I am more likely to use washable yarn when making items to gift. This year, I took a break from my usual sock knitting and knit several pairs of felted slippers and a few hats and gloves.
The granddaughters are receiving doll clothes (in superwash wool) for their various dolls.

[Amy]

I knit mostly socks, scarves, mittens, and hats for others. I usually do use super wash wool for easier care. It’s too easy to accidentally throw a wool piece into the wash and then it’s dunzo!

[Renee Anne]

I tend not to knit gifts for others very often. Each of my nieces & nephews has a handknit toy (except the newest one - he's 6 months old so maybe for his birthday), both my boys have handknit toys...but that's about it. I will make things for others but it's on my time and when I want. It's rare that I'll do something on someone else's schedule. So, there's that.

[Michelle W]

I tend to knit superwash or plant-based accessories for gifts

[Lynn Gutzmer]

When I knit anything as a baby or child gift, it has to be machine wash and dry, so I’ll either use superwash wool, sock yarn, or nice acrylic. For other gifts, it depends on the recipient. But I don’t usually knit large items as gifts, just hats/cowls/mitts.

[Nancy]

I knit SOCKS for gifts. Everyone on my list gets socks, and I live to use Opal for easy care. Some recipients get socks in merino/nylon blends too, but Opal is my go-to yarn for gifts. I have also used it for a gift baby sweater and a baby blanket. It is easy-care for everybody.

I have made cowls and hats for gifts, too, but people only need a few of those. Everybody needs socks.

I would live to get som pe Cascade 220 Superwash to knit something for my new grandson!

[Penny]

Socks, wraps, shawls and sweaters. I want to do some hats and fingerless gloves

[Sheree K]

I knit mostly socks for gifts and only out of supwerwash or something that can be thrown in the dryer. My family and friends understand and appreciate my knitting but I dont think they would remember (or want to) handwash something.

[Alicia Anderson]

I knit easy care items. Normally hats or socks.

[Elizabeth Ann]

Definitely easy care for hats and mittens!
Maybe more gentle care for the knit worthy a faults in my life.

[GH]

After my favorite wool sweater now fits Barbie (true accident and person forgiven)...i pretty much only use washables! That way no tears get shed. Merry Christmas!

[yolanda v]

I knit and crochet blankets, wash and dish clothes, hats, and other accessories that require minimal care. I create with hand wash only yarn for knitters and crocheters, because we KNOW.... :)

[Rebecca]

My friends prefer acrylic stuff. For family it goes either way. Luckily my mom has no problem hand washing items so I can use whatever fibers I want.

[Chantal Paquette]

I like to knit socks for my loved ones, but unless they still live with me, I use superwash yarn!

[Chris Goudeau]

I always make sure my knitted gifts are easy to care for. I made socks and mitts from leftovers. An instruction card for the mitts said wash by hand and lay flat to dry.

[Sharon Popp]

Yes, I do like to use easy care yarn for gifts I make. Giving a gift with complicated care instructions negates the “gift” of it, because you just gave them a chore! What a great idea to gift a lingerie bag with a gift of socks! I’m going to us that idea in my future sock gifting!

[Sarah]

For those who are rough on hand kits, hats, mittens and felted slippers are my choice. I’ll do something more complicated for those who are more gentle.

[Frances Graff]

I do hats and socks and occasionally a sweater that are easy to care for. They seem to last longer and look good longer

[Patricia Richardson]

I mostly knit/crochet easy-care items (superwash or acrylic). I make lots of baby blankets, afghans/throws for friends and family (grandkids/great-grandkds). However, I still always include washing/drying instructions when gifting to others. I selfishly use my "luxury" yarns for hats, scarves, shawls and socks for only myself😊.

[Laurel Kubby]

Hats, gloves, & socks with easy care wool for most people. Shawls & scarves for those who will give it a little more love.

[Lois]

Happy my family is knit-worthy so I use all types of fiber for my gifting which is mostly socks, cowls and hats.

[Claire Sleeman]

I make a lot of hats for people because I know they will be appreciated and they don't get washed much. If I make baby things I try and make them to go in the washer and dryer, new mom's have better things to do that lay flat dry that sweater. Mostly I knit for my husband and myself. He is knitworthy and takes good care of his gifts.

[Linda]

Hats and socks! Hand wash hats, machine wash socks.

[Tara]

It depends on the recipient and the user. Baby gifts, always easy care! Some discerning recipients, they may just get to good stuff, but those are few and far between. And since I prefer to use the good stuff, I actually don’t knit for others very often!

[Jackielemon]

Easy care, washable for gifts. Socks this year, slippers, gloves, hats in years past.

[Teri P]

I don't knit a lot of gifts, but those that I do knit are always easy-care.

[Lara]

The gift of choice this year is Gnomes. Hopefully they will not require much washing, but they are made out of superwash or acrylic yarns. Generally I try to make gifts out of washable wool or acrylic and blends of the two, unless I know I can trust the recipient to be careful. Also, I usually only gift accessories that shouldn’t require much regular washing.

[Georgia Green]

The types of gifts I knit for others and the care they require fall into both of the categories that you mentioned. I knit easy care items -- hats, scarves, wraps, blankets, afghans -- with superwash yarn (yes, like Cascade 220 superwash!), and I also do knit pieces that require a lot of care to keep up, like made to measure fitted skirts and lacy christening blankets and shawls that require special washing and/or frequent blocking.

The kinds of projects I am comfortable gifting to both categories. I provide instructions on care to the recipients, all of whom are without exception family members or close friends. I am most proud of the original designs that have taken the time to document your patterns, either for charity (free downloads) or for sale ... You can see them all on my Ravelry page at

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/g-k-green

Two popular free downloads are:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oh-dream-big-sselmw-arm-knit-scarf-cowl

and

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/free-your-hands-hold-all-for-walker

which are, respectively, supporting scarves for schools and veterans with mobility issues.

I am also extremely proud of my formerly-ftee Flow (Wrap), which is designed so that, through use of specific instructions and techniques, the act of its creation purposely exposes the knitter to those aspects of knitting that are the most stress-reducing:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flow-wrap

Note: For those without access to Ravelry.com, images of these designs are also available on my Instagram account: @gkgreenknits

[Georgia Green]

The types of gifts I knit for others and the care they require fall into both of the categories that you mentioned. I knit easy care items -- hats, scarves, wraps, blankets, afghans -- with superwash yarn (yes, like Cascade 220 superwash!), and I also do knit pieces that require a lot of care to keep up, like made-to-measure fitted skirts and lacy christening blankets and shawls that require special washing and/or frequent blocking.

The kinds of projects I am comfortable gifting also fall into both categories. I provide instructions on care to the recipients, all of whom are without exception family members or close friends.

I am most proud of the original designs that I have taken the time to document formally as patterns, either for charity (free downloads) or for sale ... You can see them all on my Ravelry page at

https://www.ravelry.com/designers/g-k-green

Two popular free downloads are:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oh-dream-big-sselmw-arm-knit-scarf-cowl

and

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/free-your-hands-hold-all-for-walker

which are, respectively, designs in support of programs providing scarves for students/schools and in support of veterans (or others) with mobility issues.

I am also extremely proud of my formerly-free pattern Flow (Wrap), which is designed so that, through use of specific instructions and techniques, the act of its creation purposely exposes the knitter to those aspects of knitting that are the most stress-reducing:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flow-wrap

Note: For those without access to Ravelry.com, images of these designs are also available on my Instagram account: @gkgreenknits

[shelly]

My family has all moved to Florida and doesn't need knit items any more!!! I only knit socks for my kids as that's all they'll wear. Most of my FOs sit in my closet. :(

[Stephanie E]

I knit mitts mainly for others, or stuffed animals, so far! Mainly they need hand washed.

[Cindy M.]

For the babies- sweaters, afghans, and hats in the most washable yarn I can find.

For adults- hats, scarfs, mittens, sweaters and socks in superwash wool.

Wash Cloths in cotton.

[Sarah]

The gifts i knit are usually out of superwash. Socks, hats, mittens. Most are for my boys and socks are just easier in superwash.

[Tracy Spinka-Doms]

Some of the people I knit for, I knit for every year. By now they know how to take care of woolens, so I am not afraid to use hand-wash only materials. For others, I will try to stick with superwash and give a card with care instructions included.

[Stacey D]

Generally I knit gifts in easy-care yarns. Except for my mother-in-law - she’s also a knitter so gets really nice yarn, since she will care for items properly, and appreciates the yarn and effort.

[Cindy Peabody]

Chick fil a Christmas eve

[Penny]

My aged mother accidentally shrank a pair of socks that I knitted for her. It happened years ago, and she still feels terrible about it, so I learned my lesson. Since I can't supervise someone else's laundry habits, I no longer take a chance on using hand wash yarns for gifts. There are lots of lovely, machine washable choices available these days.

[Kate]

I knit baby blankets for the babes, cozy blankets for the newlyweds, and scarves and hats for others. Every once in awhile, I make a few dishcloths to have around as gifts. Most of the time the yarn used is washable, but I just made a baby blanket with a yarn that wasn't machine washable (yikes!) because I fell in love with the color before I looked.

[Marilyn Robinson]

I knit socks. I try to make an assortment of different fiber, sizes and colors so when it comes time I have a pair suitable for anyone on my list. Most of the socks I give are easy care superwash. I always include the laundry instructions and a sample of Soak with each pair.