Exciting things!

Hellooo!  How are you doing?  Thank you for all your comments on my last post about the Yarndale Sock Line socks – all the socks are in their new homes now and are being very much appreciated!

Well, it’s exactly a week to go until Christmas if you celebrate it, and you’re either very organised and enjoying the run up, or you’re (like me) very glad that it’s not Christmas Day tomorrow!  I am nearly ready, though, and I’m very pleased to tell you after this month’s Monthly Musing that all my Christmas cards are sent and I’ve been feeling very festive this week!  🙂

This is such a busy time of year for us all (and especially if you’re in the US and you’ve had Thanksgiving to organise recently as well!) and I am quite sure that you’ll be hoping for a few quiet days to put your feet up once the festivities are over!

So … I’ve got a couple of exciting things to tell you about both for now and to look forward to in January (in the new decade, doesn’t that sound like a whole new adventure?!) when we have all got our breath back.

Here’s the first of them …

A photo of a small oak occasional table. On the table to the left and in the foreground is a booklet of sock patterns called Socks Made Simple. To the right is a small saucer decorated with circles of green, blue, red and turquoise with two shortbread fingers sitting on it. At the top of the picture is an orange Herdy mug of tea

Well, would you look at that!

I’m really thrilled to have more patterns published in a magazine this month.  These ones come in an exclusive booklet with issue 111 of Knit Now which is out in the shops today.  There are four patterns which use my WYS Signature 4ply Brightside and Seascape yarns, along with Bubblegum, which I think contrasts beautifully well!

As you know, I always write my patterns to be manageable, even if you’re quite new to knitting socks.  There’s nothing in these designs that you won’t have practised knitting already, either in one of my other patterns or perhaps in another project that you’ve knitted.  You’ll have to do a bit of counting, and perhaps tick off rounds on a chart but that’s all!

The main image of the photo is a magazine pattern picture of a pair of socks knitted in WYS Winwick Mum yarn Brightside. There is an orange Herdy mug and a saucer with two shortbread biscuits to the right of the picture

Boxy Rib socks are a variation of the basic Sockalong sock, so super-easy even if you’ve not knitted socks before.

The main image of the photo is a magazine pattern picture of a pair of socks knitted in WYS Winwick Mum yarn Brightside and WYS Signature yarn Bubblegum in a mosaic pattern. There is an orange Herdy mug and a saucer with two shortbread biscuits to the right of the picture

Ah, I LOVE these (even if I say so myself!).  Ryegrass is knitted with Brightside and Bubblegum, and the clever mosaic stitches (they’re just slipped stitches, you can do this!) change the way the colours appear.  I am very VERY happy at how these turned out!

The main image of the photo is a magazine picture of a pair of socks knitted in WYS Winwick Mum yarn Seascape. There is an orange Herdy mug and a saucer with two shortbread biscuits to the right of the picture

I love a cable and I couldn’t bring myself not to include one in this set of patterns!  Love Spoon socks are so called because of the cable design down the front – it looks to me just like a Welsh carved wooden love spoon!  Don’t let the idea of cables put you off if you’ve never knitted them before – there’s a beginner tutorial to go with my Easy Cable Socks which you can read through which will help you to get started with charts and cables.

The main image of the photo is a magazine pattern picture of a pair of socks knitted in WYS Signature yarn Bubblegum. There is an orange Herdy mug and a saucer with two shortbread biscuits to the right of the picture

Finally, Carousel socks – also knitted in Bubblegum and I liked the contrast between the bold colour and the rather delicate pattern.  The lace reminds me of the poles of the carousel at a fairground – I was imagining beautifully painted wooden horses whilst I was knitting these!

Along with the pattern book – which is actually a supplement to the main magazine – comes a set of sock blockers and a magazine chock-full of fab patterns and articles.  It’s such good value for £6.99 when you think that you could pay that for a single pattern on Ravelry!  It’s due out in the shops today (Thursday 19 December 2019) and you should be able to get a copy from newsagents and supermarkets.  If you live overseas, you won’t be able to get a paper copy unless you have a subscription (MoreMags post worldwide), but you can buy a single digital copy which comes with the supplement.

2022 update – these patterns are now available as individual PDF downloads here.

Do you like them?  One of the best things about social media is that I get to see what people are making, and it’s lovely when I see my patterns and my yarn being used!

Now, on the subject of my yarn, it’s been eight months since the WYS Winwick Mum Collection arrived in the shops.  This time last year, I was busily knitting up the sample socks ready for the photo shoot in January – and I couldn’t tell you anything about it!  I asked recently if anybody had any photos of their projects knitted in Winwick Mum yarn that they would be happy for me to share in a blog post, and there were plenty, so thanks to everyone who has let me share their photo!  Are you ready for some Winwick Mum yarn spam? 🙂

First of all, here’s the yarn knitted up as the Basic 4ply Socks.

A collage photo showing three pairs of plain socks knitted in Winwick Mum yarn. On the left is Seascape in shades of turquoise, in the centre is Brightside with red, green, navy, yellow and blue stripes; the socks have red toes, on the right is Wildflower in shades of pink, purple, yellow, green and cornflower blue

L-R: socks knitted by Vanessa, Tricia and Sheryl

A collage photo showing three pairs of plain socks knitted in Winwick Mum yarn. On the left is Hidden Gem in shades of purple, mauve and ecru, in the centre is Brightside with red, green, navy, yellow and blue stripes; on the right is Seascape in shades of turquoise,

L-R: socks knitted by Diana, Colin and @alchemilla72

A collage photo showing three pairs of plain socks knitted in Winwick Mum yarn. On the left is Wildflower in shades of pink, purple, yellow, green and cornflower blue in the centre are five pairs in Seascape (shades of turquoise), Hidden Gem (shades of purple), Seascape in shades of turquoise, Wildflower in shades of yellow, green, purple, pink and cornflower blue, and Brightside with red, green, navy, yellow and blue stripes. On the right is Brightside with red, green, navy, yellow and blue stripes

L-R: socks knitted by Hannah, Libby and Fiona (these are baby socks!)

A collage photo showing three pairs of plain socks knitted in Winwick Mum yarn. On the left is Wildflower in shades of pink, purple, yellow, green and cornflower blue, in the centre is Seascape (shades of turquoise), on the right isWildflower in shades of pink, purple, yellow, green and cornflower blue

L-R: socks knitted by Sharon, Alison and Sam Antha

A collage photo showing four pairs of socks. There is one pair on the left, two pairs in the middle and one pair on the right.

L-R: Wildflower socks by Alison, Wildflower socks knitted in Hidden Gem by Helen, Seascape socks by Helen and Brightside socks by Carole

A collage photo showing three pairs of socks. On the left is a pair knitted in purple Hidden Gem yarn using the Winwick Mum Hidden Gem pattern, and on the right are two pairs knitted in the red, blue, green, yellow, navy striped Brightside. One is a plain pair and the other is knitted in the Winwick Mum Seascape pattern

L-R: Hidden Gem by June, plain socks on the left and Seascape knitted in Brightside on the right by Christine F

Socks knitted using my other patterns (these ones are available for free here on the blog) …

A collage photo showing three pairs of socks.

L-R: Easy Lace Socks by Caroline, Easy Lace socks (reversing colours) by Caroline, Neat Ripple Socks by Jen

Socks knitted using other patterns …

A collage photo showing nine pairs of socks

L-R: top – Undulance by Tricia, Aquiphobia by @Fenwench, pattern not given by Anita L-R: middle – short sock with picot edge by Carrie, modified Jaywalker by @norahowley, Jaywalker by Anita L-R: bottom – pattern not given by @chamelonwoolshop, rib socks by Allison, rib socks by @sarahjomakes

Not just socks …!  It’s been lovely to see the yarn knitted up into other projects too.  I like the way the stripes come out differently to when they’re knitted as socks.  Brightside, in particular, has been popular as a choice of yarn to use with other projects.  I think the stripes look as if they’ve been drawn on with crayons with this hat …

A collage photo showing three views of a hand knitted hat

Sockhead hat knitted by Vanessa

and look at this tank top knitted by a yarn shop customer for her grandson!  I think it’s called a vest in the US, although my recollection of a vest is something that I used to resist having to wear under my clothes in the winter when I was a child – and is the first thing I’m pulling out of my wardrobe at the moment! 🙂

A photo of a child's tank top (vest) knitted in Winwick Mum Brightside yarn. The tank top has stripes of blue, green, yellow, red and navy

Knitted by a customer of @thelostsheepwoolshop

Here are some more projects.  I think they all look fabulous!

A collage photo showing a pair of fingerless mitts, a shawl and a baby hat

L-R: Easy Fingerless Gloves by Sam (@sconch), Pincha shawl by @moonwm, baby hat by Jennifer

A collage photo showing a picture of a Hitchhiker knitted scarf, a hand wearing a long finger mitten and a close up of the stitch pattern of a crochet Virus shawl

L-R: Hitchhiker by Michelle, fingerless mitts by @thehareandoak, crochet Virus shawl by Bertha

It’s been lovely to see the yarns out and about, too.  I do think that there is more knitting in public these days, and I think the world can only be a better place for it.

A photo showing the park land beneath the Angel of the North sculpture. In the foreground is a close up of a sock being knitted in blue/green/yellow/red/navy Brightside yarn, in the main section of the picture is an expanse of grass and in the background is the outstretched metal wing of the Angel

Knitting beneath the Angel of the North – @knit.one.stitch.one

And …

A collage of three photos showing a young woman knitting a sock at a heavy metal knitting competition. On the left, she is proudly walking onto the stage, her knitting held above her head (she is using Brightside yarn). She is wearing black jeans and a black band t-shirt with a white logo on it. On the right are two photos; the top one shows the woman standing next to a man in a yellow Hawaiian shirt playing a red electric guitar; she is still knitting her sock - and the bottom photo shows the young woman headbanging to the the music with another knitter whilst knitting her sock

Source: L – (c)Ryne_Ryynänen_Facebook, top R – Joona-Kotilainen-Tovari-Oy, bottom R -(c)Ryne_Ryynänen_Facebook

This is Heather, taking part in the Heavy Metal Knitting World Championships in Finland earlier this year.  Yes, this is a real thing, and that really is a Brightside sock that she’s knitting!  How fab is that?!

That’s quite a selection of photos, isn’t it?  What I’m REALLY hoping that you’re thinking now is that you’re feeling inspired to cast on something for yourself in the Winwick Mum yarn that is stashed away in your house (I know it’s in there, you told me at Yarndale! 🙂 ) … or that you’ve seen in a yarn shop … because just maybe, I can interest you in something that I’ve been working on for the New Year …

A photo showing a cosy winter scene. To the bottom left is some winter greenery with fairy lights resting on it; in the centre is a pair of crossed legs and feet soaking up the warmth of the log fire which you can see in the background. The person is wearing a pair of socks knitted in purple Winwick Mum Hidden Gem yarn. To the right is an orange mug with the Herdy logo on it which has tea in it., and behind that is a coal bucket and some fire irons

A Knitalong!

I haven’t done anything like this since the Sockalong tutorials (although they are a permanent knitalong which anyone can join in with at any time), and January can be such a long, dark month that I thought it might be a nice idea to have something to look forward to.  There’s no pressure to join in, of course, and if you do join in, there’s no pressure to have finished your project within the month; this KAL is all about being kind to ourselves, about recharging our batteries after the busy-ness of Christmas and getting ready for the Spring to arrive.

Does that sound like something you might like to do?

The KAL will run for four weeks from 10 January to 31 January 2020.  I’ve got a brand new sock pattern to share with you which I’ll post on 10 January, but you can knit any pattern that you like – if you’re new to socks, knit the Sockalong pattern; if you’re experienced at knitting socks, knit my new pattern or another one that you’ve had your eye on – perhaps one of the ones in the Knit Now supplement, or perhaps last month’s Simply Knitting magazine – or perhaps a completely different pattern altogether as it doesn’t have be one of mine; if you don’t want to knit socks at all then pick something else that will make you feel good to knit.  We only want to feel calm and happy in our Winter Havens!

Each Friday, I’ll post with ideas of how to create our own Winter Haven over the coming weeks, and I’ll share photos of people’s projects too, so do make sure that you tag me on social media posts if you’re going to join in – there will be a special hashtag that I’ll share with you when the KAL starts.  (Oh, and don’t worry if you haven’t got any Winwick Mum yarn – I’d love to flood social media with projects knitted in the Winwick Mum colours, a bit of brightness in the depths of winter, but you can still take part if you don’t have any.)

I know that everyone is super-busy at the moment, so I’ll remind you of this again as the date gets closer, and I really hope you’ll be able to join in!

 

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25 Responses

  1. Susan Rayner says:

    A wonderful post! Love the socks and the other knits too! Can't wait for the KAL!! Off to hunt down Knit Now immediately! I look forard to your posts all year long and am already looking forward to a 2020 full of lovely socks!! Wishing you, your family and everyone a very Happy Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

  2. Barbiedi says:

    Sock along Sounds very exciting, I will be joining in, I need some me time. All these exciting things happening I need the Knit now magazine as well, thank you, hope you have a lovely Christmas and best wishes for the New year xxx

  3. sustainablemum says:

    Wow so many different socks, what a riot of colour. I have been inspired by you to buy some sock yarn to knit some more socks, I haven't made any for ages. I had plans to cast on after Christmas when all my gift knitting is done so your KAL is perfect timing. I don't really use social media much, only my blog, so I hope that won't be a problem.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      That'll be great – and no, it doesn't matter at all that you don't use social media, it will just be fab to have you join in 🙂 xx

  4. happy hooker says:

    A Winter Haven CAL sounds just the thing to get us through those long, cold days. I'm in! Love the idea of a heavy metal knitting competition. I'm a long-time knitter, but I'm not sure I could knit behind my head, especially when rocking to some heavy music – must try it! xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Brilliant! I haven't tried the heavy metal knitting either (although my husband has a good selection of it in his vinyl collection that he's promised to play over Christmas – we can't wait ….!) xx

  5. Unknown says:

    Hello Christine! I've never posted before, but I had to post this morning to tell you I do so enjoy reading the things you have to share. I love your ideas and the beautiful colors of yarn! I would love to get some for myself. Is it possible to purchase from you in US dollars? I do hope so. Pegeo from NV

    • Tiffany says:

      Hi Pegeo.
      The West Yorkshire Spinners website has all of Christine's yarn colours and they post worldwide.
      Wool Warehouse also has them and posts worldwide.
      The West Yorkshire Spinners website below has a Stockists page (scroll down at least half way for US stores) and has a great many US stockists listed 🙂
      wyspinners.com/
      Hope that helps 🙂

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Hi Pegeo, thanks for your comment, it's lovely to hear from you! I don't sell the yarn myself but Tiffany has given you all the information that I would have done. There are more stockists in the US now, and the more you ask at your local yarn store, the more likely they are to be able to get it in themselves xx

  6. CarolineYarnUnique says:

    Oooh – super exciting! I only started knitting socks very recently and have been heavily reliant on your patterns amd social media groups for support! Huge thanks and I'll be joining in ��

  7. Anne J says:

    Wow – what an inspiration to see all those socks!
    I've been knitting on and off more many years but have only recently tackled socks and have knitted 3 pairs from your basic sockalong pattern as Christmas presents – one pair was supposed to be for me so the next pair will definitely be for me!
    I picked up the Knit Now magazine in the supermarket yesterday – only really for your pattern book as I want to try some other sock designs.
    I will hopefully join the KAL in January as well.
    Thanks for your very detailed instructions – they are so easy to follow.
    Happy Christmas!

    • Winwick Mum says:

      That's brilliant to hear, and I'm so glad the tutorials have helped you! It'll be great to have you join in with the KAL – there's plenty of time to decide on a pattern and I'll be posting more before we start too with some more ideas 🙂 xx

  8. Unknown says:

    Love the sock head in Brightside, which is my favourite colourway. I've just knit one in autumn colours, maybe Brightside will be my next one. Look forward to the Winter Haven. Enjoy your Christmas with the family.
    Julie xx

    • Winwick Mum says:

      The hat looks fabulous, doesn't it? I had to look twice, I love the way the colours look like crayons! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas too xx

  9. happyneedles says:

    Hope I can join KAL in January. I am so thrilled for all your patterns, yarns etc. Have a wonderful Christmas.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      It will be great if you can – and thank you for your lovely words! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too! xx

  10. Jan Maier says:

    Is your yarn available in the U.S.? I live in Connecticut.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Hi Jan, yes it is, although depending on whether there's a store close to you or not, it might be cheaper and easier to get it from the UK (this is what lots of people in my Facebook group who live overseas do). Here's the information that Tiffany gave to Pegeo in a comment above which will hopefully help you:

      The West Yorkshire Spinners website has all of Christine's yarn colours and they post worldwide.
      Wool Warehouse also has them and posts worldwide.
      The West Yorkshire Spinners website below has a Stockists page (scroll down at least half way for US stores) and has a great many US stockists listed 🙂
      wyspinners.com/
      Hope that helps 🙂

    • Jan Maier says:

      Thanks so much!

  11. selina says:

    KAL sounds like a brilliant idea!
    loved all those socks! so many! am afraid i don't have any of your yarn yet, i tried but couldn't get it (sold out fast) & not sure how your site works (want to buy your books too) i will have another go in the new year .
    have a wonderful xmas & a safe new year
    thanx for sharing

  12. Onceuponathimble says:

    What a brilliant post and good news about the KAL. I have just finished one of your zig zag socks for my grandson, but he never wears matching socks so I am using a different colour for the Contrast Colour for the other one!! I am much slower knitting these but they are giving me a terrific sense of achievement. Happy Christmas.

  13. Jen Heald says:

    A lovely list. I loved seeing everyone's projects and being mentioned in dispatched is a bit special. I'm really looking forward to the CAL. I will have some WYS yarn ready.xx

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