ILONA ANDREWS

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Gift Sending: Yarn

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Help, knitting mafia, help. 🙂

I am trying to find a knock-your-socks-off yarn gift to give someone for Christmas. I have a pretty good budget, and I want really beautiful multicolored hand-dyed yarn, not just solid colors. I can’t really rely on Etsy as much, because most of yarn shops there dye to order, and we don’t have that much time before Christmas. I need to order that gift ASAP.

Normally I would go with something like Madeline Tosh, but I really want to send something special this time. Something that’s worth the “yarn porn” tag on Instagram. I’ve looked at Miss Babs, but I seem to be hitting decision paralysis. I want specific colors and my own view of what I would buy is short-circuiting my selection.

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  5. Sweet Georgia? https://sweetgeorgiayarns.com Some dye-to-order but some in stock (I believe).

    Tanis Fiber Arts? https://www.tanisfiberarts.com (same deal I believe, with some in stock?)

    Other favourites are Sweet Fiber (need to be on her mailing list), Gauge Dyeworks (self-stripping and also need to be on mailing list for when preorders open), and Mudpunch (self-striping, and ditto).

    Oh! New to my favourite list, often has stock: Black Cat: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/blackcatcustomyarn

  6. Hedgehog Fibres is stunning. I’ve bought from this shop on Etsy before with good success and (bonus!) their yarns are all on final sale so you’d be getting a sweet discount. https://www.etsy.com/shop/YarnGardenTexarkana?section_id=25388181

    Qing Fibre is my new fave. I’m knitting a cardigan on their super soft sock base and I am IN LOVE with the yarn. Stunning colorways, great to knit with, really soft. Washes/blocks beautifully. The only downside is they’re based in the UK so shipping times may be a little longer (not sure). https://www.qingfibre.com/collections/in-stock

  8. Ancient Arts Yarns (cat and dog breed themed for some!) Oink Pigments, and Three Irish Girls all have beautiful yarn, although I’m not sure on their individual processes.

  12. Neighborhood Fiber Co! It’s mostly semisolids, but they’ve got some good variegated and speckles in there too.

  18. Sorry, can’t help you – the fabric and yarn arts are beyond me. My hands get sweaty and everything I’ve ever tried turns into a grubby, snarled mess. Grandma Frida is my spirit animal. I stick to metals and jewelry making. 😁

  19. My favorite yarn dyer is https://indigodragonfly.ca/
    She has gorgeous yarn, fabulous colors, and smartass names for them. I particularly recommend MerGoat, Chameleon and Wingenhooven as bases. She has multicolored and tonals, and she can also create a special color for you according to your specifications. Seriously, there are not enough words to say how much I love her yarn.

  21. Must Stash Yarn does beautiful self striping and has a “shop in stock” link on their site. Muststashshop.com (but I just checked and they’ve got nothing purple).
    Mothy and the Squid is in the UK but is really on top of her shipping and has great service. https://mothyandthesquid.com (I searched purple and she’s got loads of choices). I have never had a problem with un-set dyes from this shop either.

    • Ok, this post is feeding an obssession I didn’t even know I had! I like this site. The colors are beautiful and they show a small sample of what they the yarn look like when used. And since my knitting is so basic as to be nonexistant I can see what the yarn looks like in action. I order from Canada all the time and have never had a problem.

  28. Not exactly the question you asked, but I am in a weekly knitting group (as a cross stitcher), and this is what I got them for Christmas.

    Ok, I’m not sure how to attach a picture. It’s a set of super cute stitch markers by HiyaHiya, a Susan bates “silvalume” handi tool (that is a crochet hook on one end and a knitting needle on the other, and the shop lady swears it is life changing for knitters), and a little book called “my little knitting book, a quick reference” compiled by Joan M Sheridan.

  29. I love me some Malabrigo. Soft, cushy, available at most local yarn stores so you can get a hand on it first.

  30. I love Malabrigo yarns! They are hand dyed and they work up beautifully. I get mine at my local yarn store and on Amazon.

  34. Qing Fibre or Le Bien Aimee. Soft yarn, beautiful rich colours, a pleasure to work with.
    I saw them in a shop in Amsterdam last week ( Stephen&Penelope) and absolutely fell in love.
    Let‘s just say that my luggage was much heavier when I got home…🙄

  35. I use Banshee yarns which have the most lovely saturated colours or Orchidean yarns for more multicoloured yarn. Both are in the UK, and just starting out. Hope you find what you are looking for.

  36. Rowan yarn is beautiful. They have the most gorgeous colours. I tend to stare at it and stroke it when I see it…. can’t afford it myself alas. Can’t help with the finding it in America I’m afraid (UK reader here!) But I’m sure someone can ship over there.

  37. I am not sure all of us shouting our favorites in the comments section will alter your paralysis but I am also willing to throw my favorites in the mix. I love Blue Moon (https://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=182_819&zenid=6p02fn45l321f8btjtp2fbdd17). The Yaksi is luscious but usually a single color. Her other colors just sing to me and she tends to dye nicely saturated colors. I have also ordered really cool sock yarn from https://store.selfstriping.com/. I love the yarn because the wrapper tells you the striping pattern so you know exactly what you are getting for socks. When I ordered, you also received a single, matching, funky stitch marker with each skein. It was a pleasant surprise.

    In general, if I wanted to give someone some really fabulous yarn, I would be looking for something with alpaca and silk in the mix. Strength, sheen, and softness all together.

    If you have the bandwidth, let us know what you choose! And I’ll have to find time to copy down all the recommendations here so next time I go looking, I have them.

    • Just did… table in .doc, am going to check them all and add commend 😀 YES! Wonderful way of passing time, and I can even order because my sister lives in the USA atm.

  42. You can’t go wrong with Ms. Babs. I am finishing up a shawl made with her “Yowza” DK weight yarn in the colorway Sailor Sunrise. It ranges from Purple to oranges, to light pink and back again. It’s amazing.

    To top it off, I missed on the conversion from fingering to DK on the amount of yarn I needed and didn’t have enough to finish. Off to their website I went, found the yarn and ordered a skein on Tuesday. It was here by Friday along with a 10 yard freebie of another color to try out and 3 free stitch markers for buying online the first time.

  44. Hypnotic Yarns does beautiful work, or you could try Knit Collage for something really different. Hope you find what you’re looking for!

  47. So how about the Ambah Adventure – the adventurous KAL wrap? – I think Kitterly, Jimmy Beans etc sells the kits and they’re fun.

    I can attest that Miss Babs is AMAZING and fun. I love their yarn and the quality is great. Neighborhood fiber company is great too. La Bien Aimee is stunning and fabulous yarn. I adore them too. Knittyandcolor on etsy is wonderful and they ship fast (if its in stock).

    Also, a special yarn bowl off of etsy might be a nice choice. Sometimes you can get them fairly quickly if they’re in stock, same with stick markers to add to the yarn purchase.

  49. Around here, there are usually like 3-4 different craft fairs over Thanksgiving week and the following weekend for Xmas shopper that have a multiple indie dyers. So you can support small businesses and touch.

  55. Two friends snagged a skein of Miss Babs for me while at Rhinebeck. I now owe them a huge favor for standing in line for 2 hours to get it (the three checkout lines were that long). Miss Babs really is yarn porn. And it is reasonably priced. The website tells you how many skeins of a particular colorway they still have. I got a Yowza “mini” (200 yards at 100 g) for $19. Their 8 oz (226 g) skeins are typically $48. Superwash squishy joy. I got the Chances Are colorway. Good luck with your shopping, and even if we have to wait until after Xmas so as to maintain the surprise, please let us know what you selected. 😊

  58. Me: Ooo, oo, I know just the one! (Local farmer / merchant, fabulous colorways, etc. etc.)

    (Bops over to her site to make sure her ready to ship stock is sufficient…

    …and it’s all fleece. Well, dyed roving. I mean, in my defense, I’m pretty sure she also sells yarn, but it is also true I’ve been more focused on spinning?)

  60. I made a mistake the other day about an online yarn company I really like
    (There are 2 companies with paridise in the name).
    The name is Yarn-Paridise, IceYarns.com
    They ship from Turkey in 3-5 days and you can buy at wholesale, 1 bag,usually
    about 400 grams at a time. Sometimes the bag will be $2.99 and the shipping will be about $6.-$7. I have bought a whole bag for the same price as one ball relabeled by a yarn company selling on line from the U.S.
    You can even use PayPal if you prefer. Because I use so much yarn, as I design and make at least one sweater a month, I have had several batches sent from them,
    Always perfect. You get an invoice within a minute after you click to buy and usually the next day you get the tracking number. They are that fast!
    I have seen so many yarns there that are relabeled for the fancy companies.
    Yarns come from all over the world on their site. Hope this helps 🎀😎

  61. My favorite yarn shop is Eat Sleep Knit. They have some really beautiful stuff. I love Hedgehog fibers, Lola Bean, and Nerd Girl for beautiful multicolored yarns.

  62. https://zenyarngarden.com/
    They are currently having a 30% off sale and their yarn is definitely #yarnporn. Look for their Artwalk series or their Gradient Trios which are meant to work together. They also do Limited Edition colours so your gift recipient will know they are getting something special. Roxanne and Neville make some of the most beautiful yarn on the planet. The yarn is superfine/superwash with cashmere (sourced in Italy) and the colours are to dye for!

  64. I’m a die hard Malabrigo fan. Also I’m addicted to single ply yarns. I highly recommend any Malabrigo single ply in their Persia colorway. Its a deep varied grey with little surprise turquoise spots and when you knit it up it feels like deep ocean.

    • I am also a big Malabrigo fan.
      The colours are beautiful ( all hand-dyed), the yarns are always very soft (even wool blends are never scrathcy) many of them are machine washable, and a Malabrigo-made item is always extremely durable (which is one of the main selling points for me).
      My special favourites are the silk-alapaca blends (I think they call it silkpaca). They are so soft, they can be used even for newborn baby hats and clothes, and, if taken care of, also capable of withstanding regular washing without loosing shape or becoming fuzzy for a looong time.

  65. Starlight reflective yarn…..little spots twinkle in the dark (it is glow in the dark, but only in tiny spots)

  66. Holy yarn!
    Who knew there were so many knitting enthusiasts?

    And they’re all on this blog…

    Kidding, kidding.

    Happy thanksgiving everyone.

  69. I love hand-dyed color too, but the softness of luxury yarn gives me more pleasure. I’m smitten with fingerling weight baby alpaca, but if I had a fairygiftgiver who was feeling generous, skeins of yarn from Clinton Hill Cashmere would blow my mind. In a good way.
    Just putting it out there.😊

  70. Tessdesigneryarns.com. Horrible website, most excuisite yarn ever. Silk, cashmere to die for.
    The website will really make you want to gouge out your brain but it’s worth it.

  74. I can’t knit. I have tried several times, but I end up stabbing myself with the needles . Or just knitting myself into knots. I can crochet, but 2 needles are my nemesis.
    But I love hearing about all the wonderful names and options. And colors. My mom was an artist and I grew up with color. I need color. I get depressed when I visit people with all white or cream homes. I may wear mainly black and grey,( New Yorker) but I usually wear color somewhere , tee,shirt,scarf. Or funky socks. I am a sock and scarf addict.
    Just heard about massive art heist in Dresden, Germany and I thought of Hidden Legacy. Maybe Alessandro, maybe one of Rogan’s relatives. Did anyone spot any ferrets in the area? Yea, I know , fictional characters, but still, first thought was Ferrets!!!

  76. Qing fibres. They do an amazing merino/ silk/ yak blend, and also a silk and merino blend. Good vibrant colours and holds a block well. And warm! So warm!!
    Colorsong sells Hand Maiden and Fleece Artist. Both lovely yarns and are beautiful blends with a variety of colours. It is a US shop, so you won’t have to worry about the time it takes to swim across the ocean!
    Otherwise, if you’re looking for something warm and a little bit out there, you could try tracking down a merino/ possum blend from New Zealand. (The possum is brushtail, not your weird American o’possum, and is an introduced pest in NZ) Touch Yarns would be your best bet there…
    There’s also Hedgehog Yarns, which is based in Ireland, a couple of different bases- merino/ silk, mohair, cashmere.
    Good luck!

  77. This shop is run by someone who went to the same university I did and we run in the same mom groups :-). She does lovely work and this is all dyed by her. There are things in her shop that are ready to go, but for future reference, I do think she does custom orders as well.

    https://www.shop.purplelambfiberarts.com/

  81. The shop at Mason Dixon Knitting has a number of hand dyes from different studios, with pretty colors. So you can see several options in one place.

  82. Try The Blue Brick: https://shop.thebluebrick.ca/

    Small, Canadian indie Dyer, with absolutely stunning color ways. She takes her inspiration from nature and her travels and includes her inspiration photo on the posting. Products fall into either tonal or ombré and a variety of bases.

    They’re drool-worthy.

    • LOVE LOVE LOVE her stuff – but I very sincerely doubt she can ship anything before Christmas. I mean – she is literally bleeding out of her eyeball, she’s so overworked right now.

      I think she did relaunch her website this week, so maybe there is a limited selection available to ship…but I wouldn’t count on it.

  83. In case no one has mentioned these small places– A Wee Bit Warped had some gorgeous multi-colored skeins when I was at market Friday. It would be calling, probably–not sure she has or needs a site.

    https://www.facebook.com/aweebitwarpedweaving/
    https://www.facebook.com/aweebitwarpedweaving/photos/rpp.204581516247074/2596958790342656/?type=3&theater

    Have gotten some beautiful hand-dyed stuff from Knitpicks–

    https://www.knitpicks.com/yarn/hand-dyed/c/300105

    Have not checked with Wool Emporium yet this year, but they have done beautiful alpaca things for me. Mostly natural colors spun as either solids or I’ve seen them do multi-ply for people in different shades.

    http://thewoolemporium.webstarts.com/fiber.html

    This is just for fun for you sometime; have not seen hand-dyed skeins here. The great ladies use natural colors. Pricey, yet cheaper than many places I have seen.

    http://www.qiviut.com/shop_gifts.cfm

  88. While I would be willing to upvote MANY of the former suggestions, I have to give a shout-out to my friend Jessie Ksansnak (www.yarnovernewyork.com.) She just did a shop update, and her colors are STUNNING and they DON’T BLEED. Her bases are gorgeous as well. Best of luck!

  89. YarnBaby.biz or Yarn Over New York are my go to sites for hand dyed skeins.
    So many have made it into my stash it’s difficult to pick a favorite.

  95. Honey Girl Farms – Shannah Harding dyes the most glorious yarns on a variety of bases. They really are special with themes to meet all tastes.

  98. Bronnatta yarn is sold at A Sheep at the Wheel north of Austin and their colors are wonderful for matching skeins between different colorways. I look forward to getting some of their yarn each year during the Hill Country Yarn Crawl.

  99. Try ExpressionFiberArts.com. I can’t really afford their yarn, but I drool over frequently, thinking “Someday!”

  100. Sundara Yarns (she hand-dyes small lots inspired by gorgeous images), Miss Babs, Frabjous Fibers, and Dragonfly Fibers are all amazing!

  101. I love knit circus yarns. I think they’re a bit pricey for what they are, but I love their gradiations. They make single skeins or matching sets for socks. And they do different yarn weights and you can get longer yardage for some.

    I do find their website a bit of a pain, but it’s still pretty, and I still keep buying from them.

  102. Try ExpressionFiberArts.com. I can’t really afford their yarn, but I drool over it frequently, thinking “Someday!” There are many different yarn bases and weights. The colors are gorgeous in both solids and multicolors.

  104. Fierce Fibers. They do color changes like nothing else I have found and have some cashmere blends to die for.

  107. Not multi color but if you want something unique I came across qiviut yarn in Alaska made from musk ox. Very warm and soft. Looked like there’s some being sold on Etsy.

  110. https://www.catskillmerino.com/ sells online too but has a booth at the Union Square market in NYC. When I was there for work a couple of weeks ago I bought some merino yarn, dip-dyed by hand so that it’s half blue and half cream. It’s soft and gorgeous.

  112. My current favorite indie dyers are: explorerknitsandfibers.com (I really want turning leaves and Christmas at Hogwarts), gooseyfibers.com (moon door and trolley witch are pretty), dragonhoardyarnco.com (lilith and gothic tea party) and sevensisterarts.com ( Aurora borealis or water lilies on the apex base, it has yak hair in it!).

    It’s hard to give color recommendations when I don’t know what family of colors your friend likes, can you tell I lean toward blue? Enjoy!

  114. I love Hedgehog Fibers and Spincycle Yarns – both have amazing and unique colors. Artisanal, hand-dyed yarns in various weights from fingering to worsted.

  115. I’m sure you have a billion suggestions by now – but this is LITERALLY MY JOB.

    I work at Firebird Yarns. We specialize in hand dyed yarn, especially from Northern California, but we carry brands from all over.

    I’m kinda an expert in high-end hand-dye.

    If you tell me more about what you are looking for (you said you want specific colors) I’m sure I can hook you up.

    • Our top selling indie dyer is Seismic Yarn & Dyeworks, located here in SF. Her bases are incredible. Even her entry-level yarn, “butter sock” is the softest (while still durable!) sock yarn available.
      https://www.seismicyarn.com/

      After that, Machette Shoppe out of Pennsylvania is probably our next top seller. We alway have an excellent selection of their yarn. We just got an order in from Dream in Color (Colorado, I think) – not what I consider to be an exclusive brand, but good colors.

      Also take a look at Cat Sandwich. Besides having the very best name / logo, her colors are a lot of fun. We are a little low on her yarn at the moment, but there might be something there that fits your requirements.

      I want to recommend both Sincere Sheep and The Dye Project – truly yarn porn brands – but both are known for their gorgeous tonals (not multi-colored).

      Again – if I knew exactly what color / yarn base (weight?) you were looking for, I could find the exact skein.

  116. You might call the knitting cup in Georgetown…last time I was in, they had several hand-dyed lots from a local for sale. Gorgeous stuff.

    • I was about to recommend A Sheep at the Wheel in Georgetown, TX. I can’t shop there – wool allergy – but their web site is fun. They do have (did have?) a “dyer in residence”, but it’s been a while since I checked them out.
      No state in the previous post, so they may be the same folks.
      They are at least not tremendously far if you need to look at what you are thinking of buying.

  117. I’m Canadian and there are LOTS of amazing Indy yarn dyers some have lots on hand others not as much but still dye and ship quickly. Your dollars go way further when you buy Canadian 😘

    Lots on hand
    Black Cat Custom Yarn (Etsy)
    Sweet Georgia (https://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/)
    Indigodragonfly (https://indigodragonfly.ca/)

    Orders dyed and shipped in under 2 weeks
    Cosy Posy yarn Co (https://www.cosyposyyarnco.com/
    she also has an update going up Dec 1st 10am EST)
    Hello Stella (https://www.hellostella.ca/
    her stuff usually ships with 5 days)
    GingerSnap (on Etsy but often has more then is listed)
    Fidley Dyeworks (https://www.fidleydyeworks.com/)

  118. I recommend bluemoonfiberarts.com hand dyed sock yarn is a specialty. They even have a sock yarn/pattern club and also host a sock knitting retreat. I have knitted with their yarn for years.

  119. I would love to be able to supply you with a yarn jar! It’s like a yarn bowl, but better. You guys have been my audiobook companions for the last two months in the studio, I’d love to be able to set you up with something!
    Check my Instagram @dieselclay for images, and I can email you more in the morning if you like the idea.
    Callie

  120. Blue Moon Fiber Arts. They have an incredible range of colours, including multicolours, and of fibres – here I’m just linking to their multicolour page. You can get each one for anything from a choice of sock wools, to silk laceweight, to thick wooly sweaters.
    https://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/newmoon/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=19_20&zenid=0jfr6p5qkqenmp8m6e84pa96v4
    It is dye to order, but they say shipping before 15 days and they’ve always done it within a week when I’ve ordered
    Their sock yarn is great. Soft enough to wear, but the socks can last for years.

  121. My daughter and I started to dye yarn this year, so my business is very new. Most of our yarns are the result of tests, getting a feel for the process, so we have a lot of one-of-a-kind skeins available. The bonus about our yarns? I developed my current skeins with domestic US wool I chose from farms along the east coast and in Ohio. Then, I had a mill spin it for me. They are not the same base yarns that most indie dyers use, but are a dream to work with. I especially love my wool+silk base.

    • So sorry for the multiple comments! I now notice that all the other posts I made finally showed up, lol. Up to now, they hadn’t appeared on this post,even an hour after I submitted them. 🤦🏼‍♀️

  124. You didn’t mention yarn weight but I love to shop online with Simply Sock Yarn Company. They have tons of yarns from all kinds of designers, US and international, and they get special lots all the time. They have sock yarn of course but also carry some DK and other weights. Site is simply sock yarn.com

  125. So color wise not so much, but my friend was VERY SLOWLY knitting a quivet cowl at a gathering this weekend. She passes around the skein she had. Every knitter had a hard time giving it back. It was SO SOFT. I have a couple of skeins of lace weight cashmere that are like that. Very petable very soft so nice to hold. Maybe go that way.

  127. If you want sock yarn, try Simply Socks Company (http://www.simplysockyarn.com). They carry a lot of yarn from different dyers. Biscotte yarns (http://www.biscotteyarns.com) have wonderful stripes. I’ve always looked at their Apple Core sock yarn.
    Lolodidit (https://lolodidit.com)has great variety, Mountain Colors (https://mountaincolors.com), and Raven Ridge Fiber Arts (http://ravenridgefiber.com) and Blue Brick https://shop.thebluebrick.ca and Pandia’s jewels (https://www.pandiasjewels.com) and finally, Art of Yarn which carries a lot of hand dyed Canadian yarn like Fleece Artist, at https://www.artofyarn.com/

    Good luck and happy shopping!

    • Blue Brick makes beautiful yarn but be aware that it sometimes takes a while for them to ship. I have not yet tried the “shop inventory” option, but anything they have to handdye can take a very long time.

      You might like String Theory Yarn (https://www.stringtheoryyarn.com/ ) or Done Roving Yarns (https://doneroving.com/) , both in Maine. The String Theory cashmere sock yarn — Caper Sock — is a perennial favorite in my family! If you like gradients, Done Roving Yarns are great.

  128. I’ve just learned about Eri silk yarn, which is produced without killing the silkworm. There are probably lots of vendor who dye and sell it. Haven’t bought any yet, but I probably will now that I feel guilty about the all the silk yarn I’ve bought in the past.

  130. If you want something already in stock, I would like to recommend La Mercerie Yarn in Washington. They stock several high end indie dyers. They have Hello Stella, Woolberry Fiber, and Olann which can be pretty spectacular. I recently bought a color way called Under the mistletoe from Woolberry directly. I could not resist.

  131. If you’re willing to buy international (german to be specific): https://das-mondschaf.de/ has absolutely stunning yarn – and does ship internationally. I love the references she uses for her colors, and she has different weights/blends for all the colors.

  133. You cannot go wrong with Plucky Knitter. Great company. A little on the expensive side yarn, but well worth it.

  137. I like Miss Babs a lot. I also like leading men fiber arts , Kim dyes Yarn, lolabean (she just did an update last night, so there may still be some) and Republic of Wool (she usually updates Friday). Simply Sock Yarn Co and Eat Sleep Knit are some non indie companies that I would recommend.

  142. Just drive to Austin and go to hill country weavers – then you can get whatever strikes your fancy without having to worry about ordering it…

  144. I’m friends with a woman who spins and has naturally dyed yarns. She’s also selling these adorable kits to knit your own lamb. It doesn’t look like everything is online, but here’s her website if you’re interested. https://hammondhandspun.com/

  145. The Mason Dixon Sock yarn is amazing, beautiful and a soft feel. https://www.masondixonknitting.com/shop/barnyard-knits-sock-fingering/
    I bought the “Walk in the Woods” and I love it!!!
    Link to my insta with a picture is of my first pair of socks ever- no judgement! But look at that color 🙂 https://www.instagram.com/p/B3lPStxgUcO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    I also bought “Alex Gadzinsky” from this set (https://www.masondixonknitting.com/shop/neighborhood-fiber-co-studio-sock/ ) and it’s equally wonderful

  146. I also love Miss Babs. Some other favorite indie hand dyed yarns include The Plucky Knitter (the ready-for-you section of their ship) http://www.thepluckyknitter.com, Bumblebee Acres Fiber Farm bumblebeeacres.com, SpaceCadet spacecadetyarn.com, and Into the Whirled Yarn and Fiber Co. intothewhirled.com.

  147. Freia Fine Handpaints Minikin Fingering Ombre Palette 9 Pack! I love their color combinations, and the minikin-sized yarn balls are perfect for fun knitting projects and experiments. They have a 24-pack as well that I have started leaving not-so-subtle hints to my husband for Christmas … I usually buy from yarn.com and they have a discount once you reach certain total pricing in your shopping cart.

  148. Seconding Hedgehog Fibers (https://www.simplysockyarn.com/hedgehog-fibres-sock-yarn/)! They’re fabulous.
    For future use:
    My second choice is Ancient Arts Fibre (https://ancientartsfibre.com/collections/fingering-sock), however, they’re dyed to order.
    I also like The Verdant Gryphon (https://verdantgryphon.com/pages/shop) a lot, but they seem to be sold out of most of their sock yarn. Their yarn is soft enough to make hats for patients going through chemo.

  149. I absolutely love lovecrafts.com. I’m a regular (very) customer! They have a large selection of yarn, kits, patterns & accessories.

  151. Ilona – have you tried yarns from loghousecottageyarns.com – I believe it’s on Etsy. If you find the yarns you want, they ship from Canada and the extra mail costs will be worth it. Beautiful stuff.

    • Have tried “the Blue Brick” She is in Toronto Canada. simply GORGEOUS YARN. She just redid her website so that there is a ready to ship and a died to order.

      urgeus

  152. i just made the Klaziena shawl by Kristen Bishop On Raverly. You could do it in under a week working a few hpurs everyday on it. I used yarnbees new rainbow wrapsody yarn from hobby lobby in sapphire blues. It is super soft and is a gradient yarn that goes from white to a deep blue. It was beautiful and i sent it to a lady author friend. It works up fast and has both a triangular and rectangular pattern that is stunning

  153. Oh lord ! Get the behind me Yarn Demon!!!! This has been and will continue next year to be FINISH PROJECTS, And empty those bins! Blanket format for donations. Man I can just feel the yarns now. Mmm mmm. Am SURE they would almost knit themselves. Am also sure Bank and adult daughter would start commitment ceremony. Granddaughter would help me escape I think. But I am saving these names!!

  155. Just about anything from The Unique Sheep would be a great gift. I love their Pashmi fingering weight(Merino&Cashmere.) They are running some specials right now for the holidays. If you need it right away call or email and ask about sets they have already dyed in stock.
    At least half my stash is TUS

  156. A few more Canadian suggestions:
    Feisty Fibres has just started selling on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Feistyfibresyarn She has an update this Thursday with her swanky fingering – it’s 17 micron merino, which means incredibly soft. Her colours are beautiful.

    Lichen and lace (sold on MDK knitting website as well)
    Riverside Studio
    both available online from Toronto’s Yarns Untangled: https://yarns-untangled.myshopify.com/collections/canadian-yarn

    Have fun exploring!

  157. I really like LoLoDidIt
    https://lolodidit.com/collections/signature-colorways
    Lauren is an indie dyer and always has a ton of yarn in stock and does speckles, seasons, and some quirky stuff (Hippo for the holidays, Yeti goes to <>, Harry Potter, sports teams, etc.) plus a big collection of tonal colors and a collection of really light colors she calls “barely there”.
    You’re sure to find something that fits your idea of color. She also has collections and pattern kits. Right now she doesn’t have a lot of gradient sets, but you can always put your own together. Her website is almost overwhelming because underneath each main category there are secondary selections.
    They do some dye-to-order stuff as well, but in contrast to those people who have almost “rush sales” where you have to be on-line at a specific date to get anything, you can go in and browse and order stuff that you can actually get. I’ve stopped going to the stupid “shop update” places. Like I can sit around and wait for a specific time to get in and not be able to get it anyway.
    She also has a ton of bases including some that are unique to her.
    Good luck!!!

  159. Just found a hand-dyed store today – Sweet Georgia Yarns (www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com)! Some lovely colors and fibers I am drooling over.

  160. No idea if the colors are what you’re looking for but I really like magpie fibers swanky sock (merino, cashmere, nylon) – I’ve knit up a few pairs and have been happy with them. String Theory Colorworks does a bunch of self-striping yarns. For a more widely available yarn, I’ve been really happy with malabrigo sock and socks that rock. Sock yarn I can’t personally vouch for but have drooled over includes Tanis Fiber Arts, Neighborhood Fiber Co, The Blue Brick. Good luck finding the perfect skein!

    • Try
      Yarncafecreations
      On Etsy. It looks pretty to me and I was looking for gifts for friends. I may be weird tho. 🙂

  161. Have you looked at simplysockyarn.com? They carry many of the best known yarns as well as unique independents.

  163. https://www.emmasyarn.com/ -young indie dyer from Florida. Gorgeous colors on different bases. Only sells through local yarn shops since she is from a family of knitters and knit shop owners. Does nice sets of yarn with coordinating colors, etc. Had an advent gift set of 24 different colors of mini skeins available last week but I think fourpurls.com sold out of those already!

  167. Might I suggest getting some alpaca yarn, it is unbelievably soft and has just as much colour range as any others. The shop I go to (in Australia) is small and you cannot shop online yet but thought you should try it if you haven’t already, it can be a little pricey though.

  170. My Mom is a crocheter and knitter. She gets most of her yarn from a Danish web site called Hobbi. They send to the states with no additional cost. Mom makes baskets and hats (went through chemo first go round and lost all my hair. Needed hats to keep my bald head warm).

  173. Hi,

    i know i’m late to the party, but only saw the blog post today.

    A word of advice, avoid buying anything other than mainly sheep wool for the yarn, alpaca is soft and lovely, but not suitable for socks at all, a small percentage of mohair is perfectly acceptable for instance, but socks should be usable, and not slip right off your feet (alpaca has no elasticity whatsoever).

    Most of the indie dyers i know well are from Europe (La Bien Aimée, Hedgehog Fibres, Uschitita, Skein Queen, WalkCollection, etc…)

    I do envy this Maryland Dyer, called Havirland, she has an etsy, and i went to check and there’s some ready to ship yarn right now, the bonus i think is that much of her inspiration comes from films, particularly cheesy horror flicks (the woman calls herself the Dario Argento of indie dyers…)
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/havirland?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=702035948

    Have fun shopping

  174. At one point I wanted to ask if you ever thought of writing a knitting circle book. Then I thought about you doing research. Going from store to store, city to city, country to country, and the websites of them all… I realized we would never hear from you again. Have a happy and fun filled holiday.

  175. My mother in law also loves vibrant colors and hand dyed yarn. When she wants to get a gift for her mother she buys from Expression Fiber. They have beautiful variations and show inspiration pictures behind each color.

  179. There’s a place in Quebec, called “mont tricot”, they have a beautiful selection of anything you could ever hope to find, including beautiful locally made yarn bowls. I know you mentioned yarn, but I got a gift of yarn in a ceramic yarn bowl and it all came from there and my socks were definitely knocked off. Good luck on your search!! If you can’t find it on the site, I suggest calling. Super helpful, wonderful people.
    Here’s the website:
    https://monttricot.getpayd.com

  181. Any of the Purl Soho projects would definitely fit the bill! Be warned some of their yarns and projects are absurdly expensive. They have a $400 pink ombre cashmere shawl on there…

  182. Have you visited Tinsmith’s Wife in Comfort, TX? They have a lovely eclectic mix of yarn and have national park themed sets as well.

  183. I have a few friends who are indy dyers & I recommend all of their yarns! They have some really fabulous indy, hand-dyed, custom colorways on luxe base yarns!

    Shannah owns Honey Girl Farms in Gerald, MO (https://www.sheepandhoney.com). She has quite a few of her colorways in a variety 4 ply/fingering weight yarn bases available & ready to ship. The quantity available is listed under each photo/description @ https://www.sheepandhoney.com/sock. I really like Lady Sansa (inspired by Game of Thrones – Sansa Stark) on the Silky Sock base @ https://www.sheepandhoney.com/sock/ladysansa & Newt (inspired by Newt Scamander – Fantastic Beasts + Where to Find Them) on 4 Ply (Baby Alpaca) base @ https://www.sheepandhoney.com/sock/newt.

    Melody owns Haute Boheme Fibers in central Maryland (https://hautebohemefibers.com). She has some really bright colorways on a variety of bases that are also ready to ship @ https://hautebohemefibers.com/product-category/hand-dyed-yarn/! Once you pick your colorway & available base, there is a notification that shows the number available. I’ve been working on an order & STEM: Mary Golda Ross on the Rodolfo Fingering base @ https://hautebohemefibers.com/product/stem-mary-golda-ross/ & The Rockies: Bitterroot on the Mimi Sock @ https://hautebohemefibers.com/product/the-rockies-bitterroot/ are both on my list.

    Wendy owns Wendy’s Wonders in Powdersville, SC (https://www.etsy.com/shop/WendysWonders127LLC). She has some of the most awesome gradients that I have ever seen & the variegated colorways are always rich with depth! She has some large 600 & 800 yard skeins for the big projects as well as traditional sized skeins. There are always a variety of colorways & bases that are in stock & ready to ship. I have a (very long) ongoing list that I would like to own. A couple of my favorites right now are Garden of Dreams (Gradient) @ https://www.etsy.com/listing/749484391/ & Woodland Wonder (Varigated) @ https://www.etsy.com/listing/741953934/.

    If you see a colorway that you absolutely love from any of the shops, please send an e-mail to see if they have any that are newly dyed that haven’t been added into inventory yet!

    After typing this all out, I’m currently wondering if my husband would notice a yarn delivery next week… #SquishyGoodness #IndyDyers #ThereIsNeverEnoughYarn

    I would be truly afraid to attempt a project as a gift this year! I am so far behind on my current partially started projects that I wonder if I will be done by next Christmas… or maybe the next one after that! It hasn’t stopped me from looking for more yarn & new patterns though. Ravelry is a rabbit hole & all of my indy dyer friends keep creating so many new yarns (plus patterns, project bags & other trinkets/notions) as temptation!

  185. Seacolors Yarnery at Meadowcroft Farm: https://getwool.com/yarn/
    Farm to Textile! They breed and raise the sheep, spin the wool and dye the yarns using an all natural process. They are local to me and sell a lot of their yarn and finished products like sweaters and blankets at craft fairs around the state. Beautiful colors and their Maine Blanket is really soft and warm. Good luck in your Yarn Quest!

  187. Try LoveCrafts.com, and look at their Malabrigo yarns. Gorgeous merino wools and marino blended with silk or linen. The lush colors are to die for. Malabrigo is a high quality yarn, and LoveCrafts frequently has sales.

  189. I really like Black Cat Custom Yarn out of Chilliwack BC. They don’t have their website up to date yet, but there Etsy Shop is great. I buy their yarns from my local wool shop in Victoria.

    Other gift suggestions:

    I love yarn bowls, but prefer the wood ones over the pottery/ceramic. Wood is lighter, and doesn’t break.
    Nice stitch markers – nothing with dangly stuff, that just gets caught in your yarn. Simple, solid, colourful ones like Coco Knits – they make beautiful ones in nylon coated steel and come in multiple colours.
    DPNs – wood, square ones. Knitters Pride Cubics are my favorites, US size six is my favorite
    Yarn rotator thingy – On the Chiagoo website they call them yarn butlers. You place your yarn ball on a spindle and it turns it while you knit. Keeps it from twisting/tangling. I have two (locally made though) I use all the time with colour work or when knitting with two strands.

  191. Since you’re in Austin, go to Gauge Yarns, off 2222 & Balcones Dr. They do beautiful, unique yarns.

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