Yarndale Sock Line 2017 roundup

Can it really be that time of year again when I’m able to say to you “look where all the Yarndale socks have gone?”

It doesn’t seem like five minutes ago that I was asking you if you’d like to get involved in the Yarndale Sock Line this year but here we are in December and it really is that time of year where I can tell you that all the socks have gone to new homes.

I collected the first parcels of socks in August …

and using the system that I set up last year to log all of the sock details, soon had them all up on my spreadsheet and waiting for Yarndale.

The socks came in thick and fast after that first parcel collection … it didn’t take long before last year’s total of 161 pairs had been passed …

Wow!  This was going to be the best ever Yarndale Sock Line!  Here’s a quick reminder of what they looked like on the Sock Line at Yarndale this year …

They were just fabulous!  All 340 pairs of them, swinging gently in the Auction Mart and showing off the talent and generosity of so many knitters.  Over 100 more pairs came in during the Yarndale weekend to make up the total, and everybody who came in to the Knit n Natter lounge to see them was very impressed.  I was very impressed that the washing line holding them up didn’t break!

Back home, it took me a week or so to recover from the excitement of Yarndale and then it was time to start thinking about rehoming the socks.  I like to send the socks to different places every year and am always looking for suggestions for places or organisations that might like them.  Surprisingly, they tend not to be the big charities who don’t have time to distribute pairs of socks, and it’s not possible for me to hand all the pairs of socks out individually to homeless people and not just because I can’t be everywhere – people are homeless for all kinds of reasons and some don’t like to be approached; rough sleepers don’t want to attract attention with brightly coloured socks and I’d have no way of knowing what size would be appropriate and I couldn’t carry them all –  so the practicalities of doing that mean that it’s always better to give them to an organisation that is specifically geared up to knowing how best to distribute them.

I had more suggestions than ever this year, which was great as I had more socks than ever to give away.  Some of the places I phoned didn’t want them, which might sound odd given that those of us who love our hand knit socks couldn’t ever imagine anyone turning them down, but they had their reasons and it was good to have more places on the list to call instead.

I’ve listed all of them on a separate page, along with the names of the knitters whose socks have gone to those organisations.  You can find that page here.

The last of the socks were sorted and boxed up a week or so ago …

and they’ve all been received at their new homes now.  They’ve gone to more organisations than ever this year which has been really lovely; you should know that all those hours that you spent knitting and the words that you wrote on the tags have made a difference to someone and you should feel very proud.

Thank you so much to everyone who got involved with this year’s Yarndale Sock Line.  It’s been a huge success once again and – I think – embodies Yarndale’s mission to bring creativity and community together in a really wonderful way.

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14 Responses

  1. Lilly's Mom says:

    This is another amazing story to add to your Yarndale socks. It's so nice that this idea of yours has continued to grow and I'm sure will grow for years to come. And, you're giving something back to those in need. My best to you, Pat xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It's amazing to think that this is the third year we've done this and how well it's going – thank you! xx

  2. Jo says:

    Many congratulations on organising such a well supported and worthwhile event, I know that each of those 340 pairs of socks will bring a little comfort and happiness to those 340 recipients. I always enjoy reading this post each year, telling us of the places where the socks have gone and I'm especially thrilled this year to find my own pair of socks have winged their way to Victoria Care Home in Rainford as they'll be on the feet of a resident with dementia, and as my own mum is suffering from this horrible thing, it's something which is close to my heart. Thank you for all the time you take to organise this.

  3. mrssheepie says:

    Shall be doing a pair for nest year. Only started knitting socks this year and didn't want to inflict my newly acquired skills on someone other than my family!
    Christine it's a wonderful thing that you are doing, you should be proud of yourself x

  4. StitchyDragon says:

    Wow! That is awesome you have got all those lovely socks sent out already (Yarndale was what 11 weeks ago?). I'm sure they will bring smiles to all their new owners, and it cheers those of us who read about this magnanimous project too! Have a lovely week,
    Helen x

  5. Anonymous says:

    what a wonderful project you have co-ordinated. well done . t takes a lot of work to get it sorted.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Big thanks to you too for taking the time to organise and co-ordinate such a wonderful project – I can't begin to describe the excitement I just got from seeing my name on that list and hoping someone has benefitted x Vicky from Brum

  7. Sarah says:

    I ended up getting behind with socks I intended for you. Can I just post them to you anyway in the new year?

    • Winwick Mum says:

      No, I'm afraid the Yarndale Sock Line is finished for this year now, but I'll be running it at Yarndale again next year if you want to hold onto the socks and send them to me in 2018 🙂 xx

  8. Christina says:

    How wonderful! I admire your dedication to this amazing project and I am sure all socks will be well loved. x

  9. My Creative Life says:

    Brilliant, such a lot of hard work for you to sort tho. Well done, you're very kind hearted. Cx

  10. Anonymous says:

    Thank you Christine. Enjoyed taking part. Have a lovely Christmas! Eilidh x

  11. Anonymous says:

    Christine,
    My second attempt at posting. The Sock Line is amazing and is a treat to see and it is all thanks to you. You've created a wonderful warm woolly giving experience and taken on hours of work both before and after Yarndale. You are fabulous!

  12. Julie says:

    Such a lot of wonderful sock knitters who took part. It was lovely to see my name amongst them.

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