Seventh Day of Sock Yarn

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

three skeins of hand dyed goodness!

To have a chance at winning a skein of your choice, one each from three different US hand dyers (Six & Seven Fibers, Stitch Together Studios and Yarn Love), simply answer the following question in the comments below:

We all have those skeins of hand dyed, variegated yarn that we couldn't live without. What pattern/s do you like for those single skeins that were impulse bought, but now you'd like to knit up? Leave us the pattern name and the Ravelry link (if possible). You're also welcome to link your own project pages if you'd like to show off how you knit it up. Please do share your inspiration in the comments below and I'll randomly choose one winner.

April Showers, Neon Flowers shown here

Most of the skeins I have are fingering weight. After all, that's the majority of what we offer and it's also what I gravitate to when at other yarn shops. The easiest patterns to think of for using these skeins are the Sockhead Hat and the Sockhead Cowl. Close to You is a popular one, as is the tried-and-true Hitchhiker. Also take a look at Knit Night. For socks, how about Aquaphobia- it's been around for years and I still haven't made it. For worsted weight project, I like the Field of Wildflowers hat from Joji Locatelli (photo used with permission). She used this yarn for the photo below.

We have 5 more Days of Sock Yarn coming up, so do stop here at the SSYC blog (our shop journal - I've been writing/sharing shop and life news here for over 16 years) every day until Christmas Eve so you can win. Full details of the contest can be found here.

I posted later in the day during the weekend, so I'll leave the sixth and seventh day comments up a little longer than usual so you can enter those.

Comments

[Karla]

Oh this is an easy one~~
Close to You Shawl by Justyna Lorkowska!!!

[Joyce]

I love the sockhead hat, and have the cowl on my list. Casapinka has a One and Done pattern I want to try.

[Karla]

Here's the link to the pattern
Close to You Shawl
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/close-to-you
Enjoy!!
Karla

[Bonney]

I would love to knit myself a Wurm Hat with this shown yarn. I've knit dozens of hats for others this Christmas and I'm ready to knit something for myself!!

[Judy]

Usually, socks. I've got two people in addition to myself, who like my hand-knit socks.

[Beverly Shearon]

I love the Fractal Danger Shawl -it’s on Ravelry. It works up nicely on variegated or striped fingering weight yarn

[Yvonne Evans]

Hmm interesting question. The impulse buy skein of yarn that I have gotten if it looks good as socks I go with a plain gusset heel sock by Wendy D Johnson she has both fingering and DK weight. Also I am currently working on a scarf called the Long Stocking Muffler by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Website and also recently discovered a scarf called workday scarf by Sue Flanders. Also my fav scarf pattern is the one row handspun scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. I play with various patterns likely why my Queue page on ravelry is so long. LOL Gotta have some fun. :)

[dawn]

I knit socks with them. I have a tried and true plan vanilla that works for me. I tend to knit while watching TV at night, so it is nice and mindless.

[Virginia Harnischfeger]

Depending on the yardage - either a scarf or socks.

[Deb Temple]

I love using Basic Socks that Rock. Plain vanilla sock that shows off the colors. It is a Ravelry pattern

[Trudy]

Usually socks. But Close to You is a favorite. Sock head cowl & hat run a close second. Hitchhiker is also in the running. Any hat pattern is great too

[Heather H]

Hitchhiker, Close to You or Sockhead Cowl!

[Laurie Bowman]

I like just plain vanilla socks with FLK heel - my go to!

[Linda McLaughlin]

I like the Snap hat from Tin Can Knits, it uses several strands of sock weight yarn.

[Diane]

I will make my own generic sock pattern, though I made some Woven shawls by Casapinka to use as scarves to gift.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-5

[Deborah Kelar]

I have knitted The Storm shawl by Joji a few times with those special single skeins. It is a pattern that works well with varigated yarn and is completed quickly.

[Deb Adams]

Alli shawl pattern. I am partial to crescent shaped shawls.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alli-2

[Carol Stadler]

Sock head hat and Hermoines and Vanilla for socks.

[Marilyn H]

My vote is the 3 colour cashmere cowl by Joji. There is a lot of room for modification according to the yarns you've chosen. It doesn't have to be cashmere or three colours. You could make 2 cowls or more with three full skeins, changing up the order of colours and the size of the bands of colour. Great way to use the leftovers from knitting a pair of socks. Have fun!

[Stephanie]

I have several skeins of sock yarn that fit the impulse buy target. When I dip into the stash I'm either gonna knit a plain vanilla sock or some fingerless mitts. Sockhead is always a good one too.

[L]

Socks. I especially like the Mercury pattern https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mercury-socks They look great in a solid, variegated or striped.

[Natalie]

My go to is always socks- I prefer a vanilla pattern but also love the one you shared that is knit 3 purl 1. Especially for male socks!!

[Rose Birchall]

Close to you shawl
Sockhead hat
Bristlecone fingerless mitts by Nikki Wagner
Ribbing on the side socks by Jane-Marie Wright

[Amanda Swanson]

Broken Seed Stitch socks are fun for busy yarn, just pair with a solid color. I would use a black or dark grey with brights. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/broken-seed-stitch-socks

[Carolyn Zewe]

Reyna, Close to You or socks are my favorite one skein projects.

[Suzanne]

I made a Vary the Gate with a single skein. It was a fun knit. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vary-the-gate

The Sockhead hat is fun if I want to make a hat.

I hope to make a Musselburgh hat next year.

[Kimberly Dzingel]

Cowls. Cowls, oh and cowls. Did I mention cowls? Lol. I’m a sucker for a nice cowl. 😀

[Diane]

I like sock yarn because since I live in southern California, it’s the most wearable. I rarely knit the same pattern twice unless it’s requested so enjoy finding new patterns to go with new yarn.

[Mary Kay]

Most recent pattern that I discovered on Ravelry is the Wild Bees pattern. And thinking I need to find fingerless mitten pattern if they don't turn up the heat in my office soon.

[MarthaO]

The Sockhead Cowl and Hat are my go-to patterns, thanks to you. Allison. I want those beautiful knitted items to be more visible than socks.

[Jenn H]

The sockhead is my go-to for busy yarn! But usually my kids claim those wild skeins for socks or mittens (they like how palmistry mitts fit!)

[Diana Byrum]

I have in my queue Sofi Socks and Glastonbury Socks. I have also knit Close to you.

[Julie]

Usually just traditional socks but sometimes a cowl or hat

[Lisa]

I love these suggestions! I have a serious weakness for beautiful hand dyed skeins,but don't always love the way they knit up. I find I like garter stitch for them -- I just did a Get Garter Beret and loved how it turned out.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/get-garter---beret

[Susan Ipavec]

I like to knit Hermione’s Everyday Socks or hats (Sockhead Slouch) with those impossible-to-resist impulse skeins.

[Dana Snyder]

I love making socks and using the skeins in shawls but I love the Pensive Cowl! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pensive-2
I’ve made four so far from colossal sock! I’m giving toe as gifts this year!

[Lisa Anderson]

Forgive me, but I crochet. Hopefully you’ll let me participate. I love this fingerless glove pattern and it works up beautifully with a hand-dyed skein. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/orchard-mitts

[Michelle]

I currently like this diagonal pattern: https://ravel.me/diagonal-knit-scarf-3 or maybe a hat.

[Jessica]

Sockhead hat and cowl and vanilla latte socks.

[Susan]

I really don't use a sock pattern. I knit a simple sock that fits my foot perfectly and I love them. If I want to do something different I'll knit a plain cap or a simple cowl. Don't have a pattern for any of them. To me it's all about the gorgeous yarn.

[Terri B]

I have used the sockhead hat and cowls for those skeins.

[Rachelle Price]

Any hat really shows off single skeins or close to neck cowls!

[Sarah S]

I love making winter accessories - especially hats and mittens. I don't tend to make the same things twice, though, so it's hard to pick a go-to pattern. There are just so many patterns to try, and I feel like I'm always learning something new with every different one that I try!

[Lynn B]

Vanilla socks, hats and a favorite- 3 color cashmere cowl. I have made a couple of these cowls for gifts and need to make one for me. Lynn

[Mary]

With single skeins of fingering weight yarn, I usually choose one of the many sock patterns in my Ravelry library I haven’t knit yet and go for it. But, if I’m looking for something more mindless than a new pattern, I go for DRK Everyday Socks (https://ravel.me/drk-everyday-socks). There’s nothing like a toe-up sock knit in a simple rib!

[Denise Walsh-Horowitz]

With the single skein sock yarn, my favorite project besides socks is the Be Simple Shawl. A very nice project to knit while watching TV.

[Marianna]

I'll make a basic cowl, hat or a Hitchhiker with a single skein. I also like to combine bits and pieces of colorful skeins and make a linen stitch scarf. I make them in the round and then steek and create the fringe. They are great take along projects and since they are pretty mindless I can chat or watch tv when making one.

[Jenny Slater]

I definitely love the pattern Rose City Rollers for those colorful single skeins that one can’t leave the store without! If all else fails, they can also always be added to a granny stripe blanket 😊

[Kate]

My go to sock pattern is “simple skyp socks” (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-skyp-socks)

[Elizabeth]

Ysolda Teagues Musselburgh hat is my new favorite for single skeins!

[Kim Holbrook]

My favorite pattern for single skeins is Reyna!

[Pat Phythian]

The One Row Scarf Pattern by Stephanie Pearl McPhee is a favorite of mine for hand dyed yarn. Just google the pattern and it will come up. It’s easy, reversible, and unisex. Works for any weight of yarn and can be adapted to shawls and blankets.

[Ellen C,]

Hats or cowls are my go to.

[Paula Vail]

Here's my list of patterns from which I choose to avoid color pooling and maximize beauty for a hand-dyed or variegated yarn:
Alternating Slip of the Stitch
Ampersand
Aquaphobia
Breman Muster
Broken Seed Stitch
Charade
Diamonds in the Fluff (slip st)
Geek Socks
Hermione's Everyday Socks
Let it Shine
Pooling the Strings Socks
Raindrop
Regenbogensocken (Rainbow)
Scatterby
Skype
Show-Off Stranded
Simplicity
Slip Stitch Lines
Socks on a Plane
Sorbet
Syncopation
Temperance
Timber Columns
Vanilla Bean Striped
Yamadori
Zigzagular

[Sarah]

Oslo hats or socks!

[Becky Creighton]

I’ve had Reyna in my library for awhile and think it’d be great with a hand dyed skein.

[Pris]

Churchmouse Yarn’s Moroccan Bed Socks!

[Marilyn]

One Perfect Skein Shawl https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-perfect-skein by Fredi Baker is the perfect pattern for special skeins of yarn.

[Kathy]

Socks, Starshower Cowl, hats, cowls are a great way to use those really luxurious skeins.

[Bonny]

Hitchhiker is a wonderful pattern for single variegated skeins!

[Labrista Wadkins]

No purl monkeys and vanilla socks.

[Cheryl]

I'm always looking for texture or lace to minimize pooling with variegated yarns. Recently I made A Mermaid's Tale by Elizabeth Finn and Petals & Picots by Swift Yarns. I'm loving all the new patterns to investigate!

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-mermaids-tale

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/petals--picots

[Joanne Christman]

I will be using a single skein of gorgeous yarn in a woven table runner in the very near future.

[Melissa]

My go-to for a skein that either isn’t superwash or doesn’t contain nylon or another fiber for strength is a Hitchhiker scarf. It shows off everything well!

[Teri P]

I'm working on the One Skein Wonder Shawl right now. It's taking a while as it is my go-everywhere project. 5 or 10 minute chunks of time add up, you know. I really like the way it looks and am looking forward to finishing. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-skein-wonder-3

[Sally]

I love using my special bought impulse yarn (usually variegated) for socks! The pattern I use the most is Helen Stewart’s “Simple Curious Socks”! It’s always a surprise to see how they turn out! The pattern is available on Ravelry (not sure how to do the link).

[Melissa Friedrich]

I love making Lambing Mitts, I hold it double or use a solid or tonal to hold double with those pretty hand dyes variegated skeins
https://www.toltyarnandwool.com/blogs/blog/17124140-lambing-mitts

[DenaZS]

I’d make fingerless mitts from that pretty yarn. I do a 3/1 rib-pretty easy.

[Rebecca Wessling]

I make socks. Lately have been using Hermione Socks pattern.

[RB]

I mostly like to knit sock , a simple K3P1 rib pattern works with any yarn hand dyed variegated, tonal or even self stripping yarn . It is simple mindless knitting pattern and keeps the beauty of the yarn

[Trish]

Favorite sock pattern is Petty Harbour by Reyna Curtis.

[Patsy Coats]

Usually make the Sockhead hat or the hitchhiker shawl

[Linda]

You hit on my choices and I would also add High Speed Knitting ---> https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tgv-high-speed-knitting

[Linda L. in WI]

Each skein tells me what it wants to be, in its own time.
Most end up being socks. I use my standard sock pattern, and insert in the top of the foot and the shaft whatever stitch pattern the skein wants. (Sometimes it changes its mind halfway through, and frogging ensues.)

[Gloriane]

I like Susan B. Anderson’s Yowza weigh-it shawls, which I’ve used for fingering and heavier-weight yarns. I also like her Smooth Operator Socks for a vanilla sock pattern with a fun yarn.

[Diane]

Rochambeau cowlette; https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rochambeau-cowlette

Nurmilintu: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nurmilintu

As well as Reyna, Hitchhiker, Close to You, Sockhead Cowl, and socks

Pebble Beach shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl

[Brooke Smith]

I'm a horrible collector of singles! I'm starting to get into fingerless mitts - wish me luck!

[Robyn]

Casapinka's One and Done, designed especially for those "can't live without it but don't know what to do with it" single skeins of fingering weight!

[Hilda C]

I've knit Hermione's Everyday socks a couple of times and it worked with a solid and a variegated yarn. Otherwise just a vanilla sock pattern works since I want the yarn to take center stage.

[Karen]

I’ve made Something Autumnal (a shawl) by Romi Hill.
Autopilot Sock is a favorite as well!

[Emily Heyerdahl]

Hitchhiker is my go-to shawl for single skeins of variegated yarn!

[Beverly J White]

Close to You by Justyna Lorkowska always turns out great every time I knit it. Easy by Marina Behm is another one.

[Elizabeth]

For shawls, Hitchhiker or Casapinka's Woven (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-5) which looks really great in those special variegated skeins! For socks, Hermione's Everyday Socks (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermiones-everyday-socks) are my go-to pattern.

[Donna Gerber]

One of my favorite patterns for that have to have single skein is Easy LYS Shawl. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-lys-shawl
Also like One Skein Wonder. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-skein-wonder-3
I have a tendency to collect those single skeins that I just can’t live without so I’m always looking for new ideas for using them. I’m planning on lots of hand knit socks once I retire.

[Kelly L]

I like a nice hat that uses the whole skein like Musselburgh by Ysolda Teague. Or a really good scrappy shawl that uses lots of colors like the ones done by Stephen West.

[Lisa Barrett]

bracket form by Meghan Jackson - https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bracket-form and Storm Shawl by Joji Locatelli - https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/storm-shawl-5

[Alene Sternlieb]

https://ravel.me/practically-perfect-and-perfectly-practical
Hats! I love this one with a fur topper
https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/as3v/821686345/99DB8DAD-B2A6-4BA0-A4D3-99620DBF6AC0_medium2.jpeg

[Lois]

Everild Cowl by Emily Wood

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/everild-cowl

[Maggie Hume]

I always turn to Martina Behm or Helen Stewart for single skein projects for me. But lately I’ve been knitting baby and toddler sweaters and single skeins work great for those. For those sweaters I like Tin Can Knits patterns.

[Lisa L]

I usually look for chevron or feather-and-fan type patterns. I also like to pair loud handdyed yarns with a solid using brioche.

[Anne]

I’ve made three Porcelain Berry shawls and the pattern is easy to memorize and take along. Shows off beautiful colorways.

[Pat]

I usually knit socks. Maybe I will try Fields of Wildflowers. Beautiful!

[Elizabeth Oswalt]

Socks!

[Ann]

Either the sockhead hat or just a vanilla sock pattern for variegated yarns to allow the yarn to “speak”.

[Filomena]

Socks and scarfs

[Stephanie]

Basic socks are my go tos for highly variegated yarns.

[Sabrina Snyder]

I love to show off my special yarn by knitting fingerless gloves. My hands are always cold. I have fingerless mitts in all my sweater, jacket and coat pockets. It's a real treat to see mitts made out of a beautiful yarn on my hands!

[Donna]

I love knitting socks…toe up. Toe up socks with a difference is my go to pattern which I do with various heels.

[Penny]

Socks, cowls and fingerless gloves

[Annabeth]

Socks are my go to for impulse skeins! If the yarn has fun colors or striping I’ll do a vanilla sock, but I’ll sometimes throw in a contrast for heels and toes or find some other fun pattern if it’s not too distracting.