JoJoLand’s Melody Superwash yarn is a runaway hit this fall. This beautiful fingering weight superwash wool yarn has slow, subtle color transitions that are similar to Noro yarns, but the colors are much more muted. Dusty pinks, deep blues, and shy violets mingle together in quiet harmony.

Melody Superwash yarn, color 28

Each ball has 220 yards and costs $6. It’s ideal for socks and a pair will cost $12.

The Swirl Shawl

If you’re looking for a little challenge, you could also cast on for a Swirl Shawl. The Swirl Shawl was designed with Melody’s slow color changes in mind. The pattern is made of hexagons that decrease into their centers. Each hexagon is different from the one before it, creating a subtle patchwork look.

We’re offering a second session of the Swirl Shawl class, if you missed the first one. The class begins Monday, October 13.

We’re just beginning to experiment with Melody’s subtle colorations. Let us know what you discover!

We’re lucky to have our friend Martha Onusconich as a Loop regular. She’s not just a talented and knowledgeable knitter, she is generous and willing to share her knowledge and experience with you. Since she’s often knitting socks - Martha only wears socks that she’s knit herself, which I find extremely impressive - so she’s my go-to person for all things sock from yarn and pattern preferences to heel and toe variations.

You may remember that Martha had her sock design - Lucky 7 - published last year in the book Just Socks. Now we’re pleased and proud to tell you of Martha’s latest design - Corrugated Magic. Once again, Martha’s employed clever techniques to create a challenging and beautiful sock. And this time, punched up with bold color choices.

Corrugated Magic was designed at the request of, and exclusively for, the Six Sox Knitalong group. This group knits 6 intermediate to advanced original designs a year. Membership is open, but you will need to enroll.

If you still haven’t joined the world of sock knitting, there’s no time like the present. Our next sock class begins on Monday.

Congratulations, Martha! Corrugated Magic is a beautiful sock!

Lately I always have a baby gift on the needles with all the babies my friends and family are having. It’s nice to have a few patterns that I know and can knit quickly and easily.

These Baby Socks from the Fall 2008 Knit Simple are just one of those gifts. Designed by sock knitting master Wendy Johnson, these cute little socks are a snap to knit and are a big hit with new moms and dads.

I knit 2 pair from 1 hank of Koigu KPPPM yarn. It’s a great pattern for using leftover bits of fingering weight yarn.

Knit Simple also includes a women’s version of the sock, so you can make yourself a pair too!

Superwash Me from J. Knits is a beautiful 2-ply fingering weight yarn. We have it in twelve beautiful semi-solids, each named after a US city or state. It’s buttery soft and each skein has a whopping 550 yards! That’s more than enough for a pair of socks–with cables!

I know that a few of you still haven’t been bitten by the sock bug, but there are a million things this yarn could become. Superwash Me is a little lighter than some sock yarns, which makes it perfect for lace. One skein would make a beautiful Flower Basket Shawl. One skein would also make a beautiful, scarf-sized Landscape Shawl–two would make the largest size.

I’m trying my hand at colorwork with a pair of Eunny Jang’s Anemoi Mittens. The pattern calls for 50 grams of each color, which is only half of a skein of Superwash Me; I’m planning to make matching fingerless gloves with the leftovers.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to knit socks. I always have a few socks on my needles and I’m constantly trying to bring new knitters over to the Sock Side.

Socks are great summer knitting, and a perfect project year-round. I love that a sock is small enough to toss in my purse and isn’t going to make me overheat while I’m knitting in the park or while waiting for the bus. There are so many options—different heels and toes, and new patterns to try—that I never get tired of socks.

The socks you see here were knit out of the beautiful Kureyon Sock yarn, by our good friend Martha. In addition to new colors of Kureyon Sock, we have a huge selection of sock yarn in every color imaginable.

We offer sock classes regularly. The next class starts on July 7. I hope to see you there!

I squealed when we opened the boxes this morning and saw new! Noro! Kureyon! Sock yarn! The new colors just gorgeous! If you haven’t experienced Kureyon, you’re definitely missing out. Kureyon Sock Yarn is a fingering weight version of the very popular Noro Kureyon. Noro yarns are known for their beautiful, subtle color transitions. When knit, each color flows seamlessly into the next creating a sophisticated stripe. Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn is 70% wool and 30% nylon, so your socks will be beautiful and durable.

I’m going to cast on for a pair of socks, but what if socks aren’t your thing? Noro Kureyon Sock yarn is machine washable and would make a beautiful Baby Surprise Jacket. Or why not try a Feather and Fan scarf or a beret?

We have eight new colors that are sure to inspire. You can drop by the shop or check them out on our website.

Deb loves Smooshy Yarn. Deb loves Smooshy so much that she came in the morning after we announced it’s arrival to see what we had and to loan us this sock. She said that if people see how beautifully it knits up, they’ll buy it and we’ll continue to stock it. She said it’s become her favorite sock yarn.

It’s the Merino Lace Sock pattern from Interweave’s Favorite Socks.

The stitch definition is wonderful and the yarn’s subtle shading is lovely. (The bright blue underneath is the sock blocker, not the yarn!)

This is a close-up of the pattern that goes down the front and back of the leg.

Deb’s strategy is working! Everyone loves her sock and Smooshy!

Sock knitters will probably know from the title what I’m about to tell you.

Smooshy Yarn by Dream in Color has arrived at Loop!

This was the best find of my trip to the Yarn Market in January. Dream in Color is a small company in Illinois owned by two former yarn shop owners. They dye 100% Australian superwash merino wool yarn in a variety of weights, all available in their spectacular palette of subtle color variations.

Smooshy is Dream in Color’s fingering weight yarn. There’s approximately 450 yards in each 4 ounce hank. The recommended gauge is 6.5 to 8 stitches on size 1 to 3 needles. It’s become popular in sock knitting circles, but it’s a versatile yarn that can be used for scarves, mittens, baby clothes - even sweaters! Check out Jeanie - a beautiful shawl in the current edition of Knitty.

I’m not sure if I should cast on for a pair of socks (I have 2 on the needles already!) or a hat where I can do some color work. Elizabeth and Laura are both knitting themselves Cookie A’s Red Herring Socks pattern. I could join in and get my socks and color work in one!

I’m very excited to have finished a pair of socks. I start plenty of socks. I love sock yarn and I love seeing people wearing hand knit socks. But I can never seem to finish. This is the first pair of socks I’ve completed in years.

The yarn is Kaffe Fassett’s Regia Landscape Sock yarn in the color Earth. The pattern is Knitting Pure & Simple’s Beginner’s Light Weight Sock, which I highly recommend if you’re new to sock knitting.

I don’t know what was different this time, and yet, here we are. I’ve even started another pair. (These were a gift, so now I want a pair of socks for myself.) I could’ve returned to the half dozen or so socks that are sitting at home on needles, but they weren’t in the store when I was ready to start. Besides, there was a new color of Koigu’s KPPPM yarn that kept calling to me.

I’ve already turned the heel and am heading down the foot on my new sock. Who knows, I may just be a sock knitter after all!

Eisaku Noro is known for combining long color repeats and complex color combinations to create some of the most visually stunning yarn available. We are pleased to have his first sock yarn - Kureyon Sock.

Each 100 gram skein will yield a pair of adult-sized socks. As an introductory special, buy 2 or more skeins of Kureyon Sock yarn and receive a 10% discount, now through December 31, 2007.

Now, which color to cast on with first?!