Yarndale Sock Line Update

Back in July when I first mentioned the Yarndale Sock Line, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. We all have so many demands on our time and our resources that it’s not always easy to fit in some extra knitting and I did worry just a little bit that I might have started something that wasn’t going to be practical.  After all, there’s quite a difference between knitting small charity contributions and a pair of socks!

I shouldn’t have worried at all.  If there is one that I should know by now, it’s that the crafting community is a very generous community which appreciates that knitting something for someone else brings joy to both the knitter and the receiver – and to the person organising the charity sock knit – me!

Thank you so much to everyone who has let me know that they are knitting socks for the Yarndale Sock Line.  I’m so very grateful that you want to get involved, and although anyone posting socks will be sending them to Skipton and I haven’t seen them yet (it’ll be like Christmas when I get there in September!), I can share with you some of the photos that I’ve seen of socks that will be gracing the Yarndale Sock Line at this year’s Yarndale festival.  They have been knitted by ladies all over the world – England, Scotland, Wales, France, Australia – and these are just the ones I’m showing you here!

First up … socks in progress.  Long socks, short socks, children’s socks, 4ply socks, 6ply (DK) socks … socks knitted in cafes and at home.  In fact, socks knitted anywhere, just as you would knit a pair for yourself – but this time the socks will be bringing a smile to a stranger’s face.

I’ve noticed there’s a bit of a stripe theme going on, and I love that!

I’ve had quite a few suggestions now of places that would welcome pairs of socks for the people that they work with, and I’m going to be contacting them all – even if only one pair of socks is gifted to somewhere then it’s a pair of socks that someone wouldn’t have had otherwise.  It’s not too late to let me know if you have any ideas so do get in touch!

These are finished pairs, waiting for their gift labels.  You can find the information on what to write on the labels here – nothing fancy, just a simple message from the knitter to the receiver.

These pairs are all various sizes and patterns – there’s no rule for how to knit the socks (although if you’re a beginner you might want to have a look at the Sockalong tutorials to get you started).

Look, there’s even a pair of baby socks!

These are the socks all ready to be hung up on the Yarndale Sock Line.  I’ve got a vision of a washing line with pairs of socks pegged up and gently swaying in the Yarndale breeze.  These socks are going to look fabulous up there!

Don’t forget that if you live abroad and want to join in, you don’t have to post your socks to England, you can gift your socks to someone locally and send me a picture so that I can peg the picture up on the Line.  This is what’s happened with this pair of socks – the knitter has already gifted them to a retirement home for elderly ladies in France and I know that there will be a French lady there with a smile on her face at having these beauties on her feet.

It’s not too late to join in if you’d like to knit a pair of socks.  You can find all the details of how to get involved in this post and I’m going to be collecting the socks on 8 September when I go up to Skipton to see Lucy and the other ladies at the Coopers Knit n Natter – ooh, I have missed going there over the summer holidays!  I had never realised just what a boost to your wellbeing knitting and nattering is and I’d recommend to anybody that they got involved with their local group if they can.

You can also bring your Yarndale socks to Black Sheep Wools on 5 or 16 September if you’re coming along to say hello which will save the postage (note that I have said nothing at all about spending the money on yarn or cake instead!), and of course you can bring them with you if you’re coming to Yarndale on 26 and 27 September.

You’ll be wondering where my pair of socks are.  It’s no good organising a charity sock knit without putting my own pair up there!  Well, they’re here!  I’ve got enough yarn left to make a smaller pair too, so I’ll be casting those on later on today.  The yarn is Superba Circus 4ply shade 001 in case you’re interested, and it knits up very nicely so I may well take note of the hints that small daughter has been dropping and make a pair for her in the same yarn.

I can’t tell you how delighted I am to be able to show you these pictures, and to know that you’re going to be able to see them for yourself if you’re coming up to Yarndale, and especially that afterwards they’ll be going to a good home.

I will be photographing all of the socks that are knitted for the Sock Line so will be able to show them all off to you in September in case you’re not able to make it to Yarndale, and I’ll also be able to let you know later in the year where the socks have been gifted to as well.

Thank you to Alison, Angie, Beryl, Catherine, Corinne, Ella, Helen, Jacquie, Joy, June, Karen, Leigh, Marion, “Murphy” and Tina for letting me share the pictures of your beautiful socks – and thank you to you too, if you’ve sent pairs that I haven’t seen yet!

It’s an exciting project!

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13 Responses

  1. Amy at love made my home says:

    You are a wonderful inspiration Christine!!!! In sock terms and in pure loveliness terms!! Well done everyone who is knitting away! xx

  2. Jo says:

    I think it's such a wonderful idea. I will definitely be sending a pair to be included.

  3. Angel Jem says:

    Now I really wish I could knit socks! I am so looking forward to seeing all the socks and the pictures at Yarndale!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      If you ever want to have a go, I'll show you how, Jo 😉 It's going to look fab at Yarndale, I'm so excited! xx

  4. La fargussienne says:

    Cheers from another small village… in France, I enjoy every post you made, thanks ! Hélène

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Hello Hélène, it's lovely to see you, thanks for visiting! What an interesting blog you have – and thank goodness for Google translate! 🙂 xx

  5. Penny says:

    Queen Of Socks we salute you! X

  6. Gez Butterworth says:

    WONDERFUL Christine!

    Can't wait to see photographs from Yarndale!

    I think I joined a little too late to gift my socks as you know I'm a complete beginner, I shall certainly look at gifting socks at Christmas if sock 2 goes to plan and it seems to be doing !!!!

    Have a great weekend. Hugs, Gez xx

  7. JillS in NZ says:

    Yesterday I posted some socks to your PO Box from New Zealand. They should arrive in plenty time, I hope. I would love to visit Yarndale, but we rarely return to the UK these days, so this will get me there in spirit instead!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Wow, that's fantastic, thank you Jill! I will be sure to post lots of pictures after Yarndale so you can see your socks there on your behalf! xx

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