Monday, February 22, 2010

Greatest Yarns Ever, continued



Years ago, I heard the story of a mitten knitter, who never finished a pair without immediately casting on another. She would say, "The day that I do not have a mitten on the needles, is the day that I will be dead." The years went by, and her hands stayed busy, providing much comfort to cold hands in her family and community. One evening, as her gnarled, weary hands finished another pair, she calmly wove in the ends in the mitten, and lovingly put away her needles, and went to bed.
She never woke up.
Now, knitters are a superstitious group. So, I never finish a sock without immediately casting on another. Of course, since I usually have at least four pair on the needles at any given time, I believe myself to be pretty safe. But, hey, you never know.

As a devoted sock knitter, I would be remiss in not including what I believe to be the most delicious sock yarn ever.
Last week, I came home from work, foot sore and cold. I put on one of my pairs of socks knit from Mountain Colors, Bearfoot, and immediately sighed in pleasure and comfort. Yum.

Bearfoot is a blend of 60% Superwash Wool, 25% Mohair, and 15% Nylon. It washes in the machine beautifully, and is a dream to knit. The colors are glorious. The color below is Eureka.


This is an amazing sock yarn, and my all time favorite.

I use size 2 needles, and cast on 64 stitches. And while I truly admire the complex, gorgeous patterns for socks out there, when it comes to socks, I just want to knit around on autopilot. I always have a sock next to the telephone, and one in the car in case of a breakdown. If I have to wait for AAA, I will have a soothing, mindless project to calm my nerves.

This colorway is Sapphire Trail, and the sock that I will be knitting next.
Spring can't be far off, but you still have time to crank out a pair of cozy, soft, luxurious socks for yourself.
Knit on.

5 comments:

  1. Love the story and I'm glad I already do this with any project. When I don't have a project ready and have to look for one I get sad and stressed.
    I have a sock yarn baby sweater I want to make so I'll check out this yarn.

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  2. I love the brilliance of that one with the purple in it. It really pops!

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  3. I thought I had used some Bearfoot for my socks but, on checking, it was Weaver's Wool Quarters...makes a nice sock, by the way. I also have a skein of their Mountain Goat in Ruby River colorway; I might make a shawlette- the 198 Yards of Heaven pattern. I'll have to try some of the Bearfoot for a pair of socks; they do have nice colorways.

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  4. I recently knitted a pair of socks for myself in Bearfoot - a muted orange color - and enjoyed every stitch. The yarn is so soft, but strong too, so it feels as though it is up to the challenge of ensockifying my somewhat gnarly feet. :)

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  5. Bearfoot. My favorite sock yarn as well. Colors as great as the yarn is soft...ahhhh

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