Mock Darned Socks Bring Cheer to the End of the Year!

Mock Darned Socks Bring Cheer to the End of the Year!

Non-crafters may think we’ve lost it, but we know our community of makers will understand what we mean when we say socks are absolutely the best gift you could receive — at Christmas or any other time of year. And so we are so happy to be able to give that gift to our our lovely, loyal Loop lovers this year in the form of a wonderful pattern by beloved former Loopette Emma Brace!

Emma Brace’s Mock Darned Socks have the look of a well loved garment

Emma was such a huge part of Loop for the 10+ years she worked with us. If you ever came across her in the shop, on the phone, or in one of her classes we’re sure you’ll agree that she is a total one-of-a-kind knitting and yarn genius, and a sock queen to boot! We couldn’t quite bring ourselves to say goodbye to this pillar of our community when she moved back to France this past spring, so we just said à bientôt. And we were over the moon when she agreed to come back this autumn to teach us all how to make some very fun and funky socks she dreamed up.

Emma’s Mock Darned Socks are the essence of creative expression. Inspired by the techniques of visible mending, they combine one main colour with mini skeins and scraps in so many fun flourishes that can be mixed and matched at the whim of the knitter. Emma puts so many techniques to work here that even the most seasoned pros will be kept on their toes (if you’ll pardon the pun). This pattern is our holiday gift to all of you, and we can’t wait to see what you make of it.

This pattern started as Emma’s “therapy socks” during the early months of Covid, and while the pattern was born out of a difficult and uncertain time, their therapeutic power can blast away even workaday woes. We love the sentiment behind the design as much as the quirky, well-loved aesthetic of the finished product. Emma says the pattern “felt like chaos I could control, a mess of a pattern of my own making and design, directing each thread as I knitted, giving them an overly darned and cherished look.”

Did we mention these socks are also super comfy?

One of our favourite things, really, about these socks is the element of play Emma brings to the whole endeavour. This project would be a fantastic opportunity to let your mind run free in our Mini Skeins section where there are so many fun and unique options. With little bits of some of the most special yarns on the planet, it’s a great way to build your stash for this and other projects. We also have a fantastic range of Sock Yarns to choose from for your main colour!

The Mini Skeins section at loopknitting.com is a great way to build out your stash. We’ve been loving playing with little bits of yarn even for patterns that are designed for just one colour. Susan’s Scrappy Sophie Scarf is a great example of this.

Emma’s Mock Darned Sock Pattern is available for free on our website for all who want to try their hands at a super engaging knit. This pattern uses stranded colourwork, embroidery, and multiple needles. The socks are knit from the top down. You’ll need to be able to follow a chart and be game for experimenting with designing your own colourwork. Other than that, just be ready to be creative!

Download the pattern here

New Embroidery Classes

Come create your own dictionary of stitches at Loop with Stitch School co-founder Melanie Bowles

We’re so excited to welcome Melanie Bowles to Loop to teach some serious embroidery skills! Melanie is a Senior Lecturer at Chelsea College of Art and a textile designer and educator whose mission is to make textile craft accessible to everyone. She co-founded Stitch School to share the wonders of stitching with the world. On Saturday 25 February she will be at Loop all day teaching two sessions on embroidery. The morning session will cover the Stitch School A-Z Embroidery Sampler and the afternoon will cover the Stitch School Homework Sampler. Participants will receive a sampler kit and a few hours of hands-on instruction from Melanie. This is a great way to get into embroidery or to introduce someone else to the craft — maybe even as a Christmas gift!

Mini Scout Kit

Brilliant knitwear designer Florence Spurling is at it again! She has created a mini version of the Scout Shawl, which has been a Loop favourite for a long time. We’re creating some wonderful Scout Shawl Kits, which are available to pre-order now and will ship starting from Monday, hopefully in time for Christmas if you live in the UK. The pattern is available to purchase on its own from Monday 19 December through Florence’s Ravelry and her Website, where she’ll offer an introductory 15% discount using the code SCOUTMINI. Florence will also be coming to hold a workshop on the Scout Mini Shawl at Loop in the new year. Full details on our website!

Zakami Baby Fluffy Lace

Zakami Baby Fluffy Lace

If you’re in the market for a dreamy yarn, look no further than Zakami Baby Fluffy Lace, which has just arrived. This stunning combination of baby suri alpaca and mulberry silk lace is perfect for lightweight garments that feel totally deluxe. Zakami yarns are hand-dyed in small batches in the UK and it’s a real treat to have them in the shop!

Shipping and Visiting

As a reminder to UK shoppers, any shipped orders for Christmas will need to be placed before Monday 19 December at noon to allow us time to get your items packed up and out the door. Unfortunately, final pre-Christmas shipping dates have passed for the rest of the world. Don’t forget you can always order an electronic gift voucher or PDF pattern to be delivered via email!

If you’re planning to visit us this season, keep in mind we will be closed 24-27 December, open 28-30 December from 11am to 5pm, and then closed until 4 January, when our normal hours will resume.

Happy holidays!

2 Comments on “Mock Darned Socks Bring Cheer to the End of the Year!

  1. Many thanks, Susan, to you and to Emma Brace for this very thoughtful holiday gift! I am sure that I will be giving the super socks a go in the New Year. The free form concept is definitely right up my street.

    My current scarf project is also a sort of make it up as I go along kind of knitting and embroidering. Definitely inspired by Hikaru Noguchi stitching. I thank you for introducing her talents to me.

    Best wishes to you and yours as we celebrate bringing light to dark December and hope for lots of good developments in 2023. xo

  2. Thanks so much for the beautiful Emmas Mock Darned Sock Pattern.
    I like it and will try it.
    Merry Christmas for you and stay healthy ☃️
    Angelika from Germany

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