Well it's been a minute since we last had a tried and true sock yarn but we have had one in the works for the last SIX YEARS. And it is finally, almost ready!
So here's the story:
In 2019 (maybe 2018?), we purchased a bale of California Rambouillet wool from Lani Estil that had been superwashed in the United States with the hope of making a sock yarn. We sent this bale to Kraemer in Pennsylvania.
Around this time, we received a small batch of yarn that had been milled in Italy designed especially for sock knitting. Because of its tight twist, (resulting in a bouncy, round yarn which happens to showcase stitch definition beautifully), every time we pulled a strand of yarn from a cake it would coil and resemble a little doodle -- so we named it just that -- Doodle. And as soon as it ran out, we wished for more. But there was only a small amount.
So we decided to use the California wool sitting in Pennsylvania to make a new batch of Doodle but then with the pandemic and life the project kept getting pushed back. And then early this year, Kraemer said they would start charging us a storage fee. Fair. But really what was happening is that Kraemer was closing. So we decided to push ahead and finally mill Doodle.
(Also early this year, we learned we had a second bale of California wool at Kraemer. More on that yarn soon.)
So let's take a closer look at the specs - and I have some questions for you...
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Doodle
100% California Rambouillet wool
400 yards / 100 g
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sz 0: 32 sts / 48 rows
sz 1: 28 sts / 39 rows
sz 2: 27 sts / 35 rows
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Questions for you:
Since we've been out of the sock knitting game for awhile, I want to hear your thoughts!
1. What patterns do you love?
2. What colors are you hoping for?
3. Are you a sock pattern designer?
If so, let's work together! We are planning to release this yarn at Sacred Sheep and would love to launch a pattern, or two, or three!
Email us with your responses at info@averbforkeepingwarm.com and you will be entered to win a skein of Doodle!
And in the meantime, we are dyeing the first batch!
You can see below. This is a variation of Passionflower, one of our most beloved colorways.
Thank you as always for supporting California farmers, wool, natural dyers, and investing into the beauty and good health of making.
Warmly,
Kristine
