Sock Yarns Galore and More!
Is there anything better than hand-knit socks? No matter how plain or ornate, the feeling of slipping them on makes every morning a bit brighter and every evening a bit cosier. We may not quite be on sweater weather yet, but a warm sock is the perfect way to get in the mood for all the beauty of autumn.
The yarns pictured above are: top centre: New Rico Dégradé in “Red” (001) and “Olive” (007); first row left: Life in the Long Grass Fine Sock in “Hearth”; first row centre: The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock in “Golden Praline” and “Envy”; first row right: Kremke Lazy Lion in “Deep Water” (006); second row left: Schoppel Crazy Zauberball in “Tapetenwechsel” (2429); second row centre: John Arbon Exmoor Sock in “Quickbeam”, “Aggy”, and “Fuzzpig”; second row right: Laines Vilaines Boulettes Chausettes for Loop in “Tomato Throwing’” and “Running in Golden Fields”; bottom row left: Gusto Wool Echoes in 1530; bottom row centre: Lang Jawoll in “Pea Green” (216) and “Peacock” (188); bottom row right: Loom DK Sock Mini Set in “Scholarly”.
The joy of knitting socks starts way before the finished product. For us, picking sock yarns is like being a kid in a candy shop again, with so many exciting options and so many ways to mix and match! From saturated hues to hand-dyed masterpieces, this is one area where our imaginations run wild. We have so many lovely options at Loop.
Lang Jawoll is our bread and butter when it comes to sock knitting. Available in an incredible 84 colours at Loop, this is a trusty yarn you’ll always want to have to hand. Better yet, each skein comes with a spool of nylon thread dyed to match. By holding this double with your main yarn, you can easily reinforce the toes and heels of your socks to buy a bit more time before you have to start darning. This is a yarn that will carry you far!
Colour always adds a bit of flair to socks, and we have some lovely options that bring harmonious hues to your knits without the trouble of switching skeins. We’ve just received a new sock wool from Rico called Dégradé, which has a lovely ombré effect. For colour-shifting fun, Schoppel Crazy Zauberball is a classic. This yarn makes lovely, fuzzy socks — and it’s a blast to stripe with a solid colour, too, if you want a challenge! Gusto Wool Echoes and Kremke Lazy Lion are both hand-dyed, self-striping beauties that will give you gorgeous results.
For yarns that are beautiful to work with as well as to wear, there’s nothing like hand-dyed yarns from independent dyers, and we’re so lucky to have many wonderful producers working not too far from Loop. From the beautiful area of West Cork, Ireland, Life in the Long Grass Fine Sock has long been a Loop staple. The Uncommon Thread, whose Tough Sock has never let us down, is made just a short train journey from London in the English seaside town of Brighton. John Arbon Textiles makes yarns like Exmoor Sock using traditional practices in the West of England (and is now run by a former Loopette!) Loom Wool produces yarns in small batches in Somerset, England, and their DK Sock Mini Sets guarantee colour coordination. Across the English Channel, indie dyer Marion makes gorgeous Laines Vilaines Boulettes Chausettes near Lyon, France. What a beautiful bounty!
If you’re looking for sock patterns to knit, we recommend getting started with our free Toe Up Afterthought Heel Sock Pattern. This is a great pattern if you’ve never made socks before, and it’s a perfect jumping off point to play around with colour and texture as you gain more experience. Check out our full collection of Sock Patterns, or knit a pair for every week of the year with Laine’s 52 Weeks of Socks!
Aitor Saraiba at Loop!
We’re so thrilled to be the first place in the world where you’ll be able to get Aitor Saraiba’s book in English! As part of Selvedge London Textile Month, we’ll launch the English edition of Aitor’s book Embroider, Mend and Sew on Friday the 18th of September at Loop. This event is strictly limited to 30 people, so make sure to get your ticket soon! You can reserve your spot on our website — just keep your confirmation email, which will act as your ticket. As a little thank-you, your ticket includes 10% off shopping at Loop on the night, and a gift of our special project bag designed with Aitor. You can also now preorder Aitor’s book as well!
New Haberdashery
We love getting new bits of haberdashery! And this week’s arrivals are making us even more excited for the coming season of knitting. Super sweet Toadstool Stitch Markers make your crafting sessions extra cute, and colourful Mini Snips with Sleeves are easy to find in your knitting bag. Plus, their attached sleeves mean you won’t get any unexpected pokes.
One-on-One Tuition and Knitting SOS
Every once in a while you come across a head-scratcher of a knitting issue you just can’t solve with written instructions. That’s where our One-on-One Tuition and Knitting SOS sessions come in handy. Our free Knitting SOS days will get you over quick hurdles, while our dedicated One-on-One Tuition can provide more tailored instruction. We’ve just added more dates for both types of teaching. Book yourself in for an hour of One-on-One Tuition, or drop by for Knitting SOS once a month on Sundays between 10:30am and noon: September 27th, October 18th, November 15th, or December 13th!
Sale Yarns and More
If you’re looking to stock up on knitting supplies, we have some real beauties on sale! Between our Yarn Sale, Haberdashery Sale, Patterns & Print Sale, and limited time only 50% Off Sale you’re bound to find something you’ll love!
Enjoy every stitch!