The Sock Knitter's Almanach - December 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, December edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

‘Tis the season!! Yarnwise too, guys, yarnwise too. I just want to roll myself up in a cosy blanket of all things Christmas. I long for the energy, the joy, the warmth and the lights. Inside my cosy home, mind you. Outside is… bleak. It’s my first Autumn in Normandie since I was a young adult and I had forgotten two things about this land: 1. rain gets by a ridiculous amount of names depending on the heaviness, size of droplets, wind direction and a gazillion other criteria, 2. I never thought in my entire life I’d miss concrete, but I do as my whole garden is mud covered in squid marks. (Yeah, I now it’s “skid” marks, just googled it just as I thought “why tho?”. Found it funny. Left it. Really thought it was written that way). Boy am I chatty today! Here’s the moodboard. Makes me feel like jumping in and waiting for the roast with a glass of champagne and an amuse-bouche while discussing the bizarre in English semantics. “-Squid marks? Where did that one came from HA HA HA”

“Réveillon” is the name of this month colorway. It’s French for “Christmas Eve” when you add “de Noël”. You can also use the same word for New Year’s Eve, in that case it’s “Réveillon du nouvel an”. It’s a word that immediately conjures up images of wonderful food, good company, an overall feeling of party and special moments. I love that word and wait for those moments all year long. The colorway is a deep and vibrant red, with hints of burgundy. I’m actively searching for a coordinated shade of lipstick and nail polish, btw.

It’s companion colorway is my way of reclaiming Christmas imagery. Where I live, no white Christmas. We seldom get snow around here and when we do, it’s more likely to come around February. So that colorway, which I named '“Matin de Noël”, or Christmas Morning, paints the morning sky when it’s clear of clouds and the sun is rising. Don’t look down. There’s mud everywhere. Mouarf.

Preorders for both colorways will be available in my shop from December 4th, 2023 at 5 pm. Quantities are still limited as it’s officially my last month working alone and I decided to put my food down and slow down for real for the year end. Michèle is joining me at Tricot & Stitch’s in January and we’re gonna DYE!

The pattern suggestion for this month is “WinterBerry Socks” by This Handmade Life. I can totally picture myself doing a Christmas Eve Cast On, it would be so perfect!

Check out December 4th podcast episode to see the month colorway live. You can shop the preorders in my shop by clicking the box below on December 4th. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - October 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, October edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

If you watch the podcast, you might have noticed I have a thing for pumpkins, soooo…. We had it coming! For three years, not a pumkin-themed colorway? This is long overdue, and yes, this month colorway is inspired by all things PUMPKINS. Get your eyes pumpkined here. (yep, that’s not a word, I know).

I decided on “Pumplin Patch” for the name. I’ve been to Rhinebeck once, and had the chance to experience an October on the country side. I even payed a visit to Washington Irving’s grave in Sleepy Hollow. This is my rendition of this beautiful memory. So there is a lot of orange action going on in this colorway, clearly. There are also several other players: warm tones of caramel and mocha, funky neon pink and a touch of cold green.

Because pumkins and witches go hand in hand this month, the companion colorway for October is “Witchy Woman”, created while listening to the Eagles’ song. I make sure to have the right atmosphere in the studio when I’m working, helps inspiration hit just right.

Preorders for both colorways will be available in my shop from October 9th, 2023 until they’re gone. Quantities are limited as my dyeing schedule is still heavy with the remainder of the advent minis. Both colorways will come with me to the Mille et Un Fils festival on October 14th and 15th in Thoiry.

The pattern suggestion this month is so cute! “Pumpkin Feet” by Sheila Bond

Check out October 9th podcast episode to see the month colorway live. You can shop the preorders in my shop by clicking the box below on October 9th. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - September 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, September edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

This month I’ve decided to explore a colour that I had never explored before on its own in the Almanac: brown. Hues of pine cones, acorns and chestnuts… images that give off strong autumn vibes, even if the weather here clearly didn’t get the memo! The moodboard invites you to enjoy seasonal joys such as a hot cup of tea, a pie just out of the oven, warm sunset light shining though vibrant autumn-coloured foliage, roasted chesnuts on a bonfire… Such beautiful feel-good pictures in my head right now!

“Oolong Châtaigne”, named after my favorite Damman tea, starts with a warm rust base, on which I layered ALL the browns, from cold pine cone to warm chestnut. A vibrant coat of speckles gives life to this beautiful colorway. It’s contrasting companion is “Colomba Corsica”, named after yet another one of my favorite teas! It’s a lovely sage green with hints of red, gold and mauve and was inspired by green figs. There was a fig tree in the yard of the house we rented in Ariège last month, and the figs were gorgeous! Huge and soft, warm from the sun and with a heady perfume. Sadly full of worms too. So not all the senses were satisfied but they definitely inspired a colorway!

Preorders for both colorways are available in my shop across all bases and will ship starting early October. Both are coming with me to the Knit.Eat festival in Lyon on September 23rd and 24th.

The pattern suggestion for this month is nothing short of the perfect match! “Acorn Socks by “Amanita" Agata Mackiewicz.

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live. You can shop the preorders in my shop by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - June 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, June edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

Come and join me in a dark and mysterious ambiance with this month colorway, inspired by fairy tales such as Grimm’s, Shadow and Bone, Once Upon A Time… The moodboard is both wonderful and strange.

“Fairy Tale” starts with a grey base on which I layered several shades of gray (not fifty, mind you, just five or six, ah ah). Then I added a strong layer of speckles, with blood red in the lead. Did I mention the inspiration was dark and mysterious? Not your Tinkle Bell kind of Fairy Tale, rather Witcher-type. The companion colorway this month is a gorgeous light gray with subtle beige nuances and strong black speckles. I named it “Moon Child”. I could totally have named it “Geralt’s hair”, now that I think of it.

Preorders for both colorways are open in my Etsy shop across all bases and will ship within the next 4 to 5 weeks. Both are coming with me to Porto to the Knit With Friends festival on June 3rd and 4th.

The pattern suggestion for June will enable to explore an alternative sock construction. The Skew socks by Lana Holden were published in 2009 in Knitty as a free pattern. Quote from the pattern page on Ravelry: “Handpainted or self-striping yarns are particularly suitable for this design, as they will highlight the unusual stitch direction flow.” So let’s give it a try!

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live! You can shop the preorders on Etsy by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - May 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, May edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

This month I wanted an explosion of colour and energy. So I went for a deep dive in street art imagery, famous and anonymous, painted with the utmost care or sprayed in haste. Street art has the incredible power to transform spaces and bring beauty to the darkest places. It’s also a great way to tour big cities and I’ve been told that New York, London, Paris or Porto have amazing frescos. The complete moodboard is here, electric inspiration guaranteed.

So this is “Street Art”. I clearly went out of my comfort zone for this one! I decided I would “clash” colours together. And that colorway is wild: super different depending on the base, quite unpredictable and crazy colour mixes happening in the pots… It takes after the inspo beautifully, from mayhem emerges beauty. Its companion colorway is “Urban Legends”, based on a favorite colorway of mine, “Nebuleuse”, that I revamped and pumped up full of intensity and speckles. Street Art needed at least a colorway as strong- willed as them! There again, Urban Legends doesn’t disappoint. Strong contrast in similar hues, electric purples and neon speckles make vibrant yarn.

Preorders for both colorways are open in my Etsy shop across all bases and will ship within the next 3 to 4 weeks.

The pattern suggestion for May is a “classic” of sock knitting. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry called By The Seine River by Dona Knits. Lovely pattern, beautiful details and it works with all colorways.

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live! You can shop the preorders on Etsy by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - April 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, April edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

This month I had a furious case of wanderlust. US National Parks have been on my bucket list for a while now, and I find the parks located in the south particularly fascinating. Large desertic areas, cactus, canyons, basked in pink-gold late afternoon sunshine.If you wish to join me in this revery, the Pinterest board is here.

“Rose des Sables” is the colorway for April: soft pastel undertones in yellow, pink and peach with a generous layer of multicoloured speckles. The contrasting color is “Fleur de Cactus”, a vibrant and warm yellow with orange speckles.

Preorders for both colorways are open in my Etsy shop across all bases and will ship within the next 4 to 5 weeks.

The pattern suggestion for April is one mof mine! I thought that my “Edelweiss” sock pattern would be perfect to show off the delicate speckles of Rose des Sables, plus it calls for two coordinated colours. And for the occasion, I’m offering 20% off on the pattern with the code “ALMANACHAPR”.

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live! You can shop the preorders on Etsy by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - March 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, March edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

In March, we’re back to the wheel of seasons as we celebrate the spring equinox with a colorway inspired by Eoster, the powerful and benevolent goddess, symbol of renewal and creativity. Halfway between cherished older colorways of mine, Mabon in September and Druidesse in February, the imagery is very inspiring. For the whole Pinterest board as well as the sources of the pictures, click here.

Ostara is the colorway for March: green and earthy tones on a golden base, with lovely speckles to both intensify and balance the nuances. The month contrasting color, Rabbit Moon, is a deep and saturated brown with hints of gold and raspberry.

Preorders for both colorways are open in my Etsy shop across all bases and will ship within the next 4 weeks.

The pattern suggestion for March is “Double Heelix Socks” by Jeny Staiman. I’ve wanted to knit those forever, the construction is so out of the box! But then again, we owe this pattern to the inventor of the “Jeny’s Suprisingly Stretchy Bind Off”, so no real surprise, the woman is a knitting genius.

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live! You can shop the preorders on Etsy by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - February 2023

Hello and welcome to the 2023 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, February edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m creating a new colorway. Three-month subscriptions are now available in the shop!

This month I felt like dyeing a riot of colours that would also have a strong feel good vibe. Yep, that’s close to text book definition of the eighties, right? At least in my personal dictionnary, it is! Also, I’ve been quite impressed & inspired recently by an instragram account, @dreamkid83. If you love synthwave with a strong 80’s vibes, check them out! They’re awesome. The month’s moodboard on Pinterest is here.

I had a lot of fun dyeing this colorway, that I named “1983”. Neons & intense colours on a smoky base, with lots of speckles. The contrasting color this month could not be other that a gorgeous, iconic neon yellow with just a dash of speckles, “Tennis Ball”.

Tennis Ball on Extrafine Fingering, 1983 on Lurex Fingering, Extrafine Fingering and Mohair & Soie

1983 and Tennis Ball preorders are available in the shop on all usual sock bases. Preorders will ship starting week of February 20th, after the Exceptiolaines and Love Yarn Madrid fiber festivals.

1983 on Tweed Funfetti, Lurex Fingering, Extrafine Fingering and Mohair & Soie

No sock pattern suggestion this month? I’ve had this crazy and quite ambitious idea of designing a sock pattern each month this year. I’ll share the process, the ups and the downs in the podcast.

And if you’d like a pattern suggestion for this month’s colorway, I think the Rook Socks by Tanis Lavallee would be perfect!

Check out today’s podcast episode to see the month colorway live! You can shop the preorders on Etsy by clicking the box below. Thanks!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - November 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, November edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The inspiration is a bit different from my previous Almanac colorways: I wondered what my “Dream Knitting Retreat” would look like. A knitting retreat is something I’d definitely like to experience, and because at the time being, I don’t have the time, money or beginning of a clue where to look for such an experience, I decided I would daydream my own. The moodboard of this month theme is something, let me tell you. It’s been living in my head rent free for the past fortnight and I would LOVE to be able to make it happen IRL one day. Here it is.

So the colorway for November is not actually based on the pictures above. It’s more the official colorway of the Dream Knitting Retreat, the one I’d have dyed for every participant and that’d have embodied the perfection of it all: dark polished wood, fireplaces everywhere, wonderful food & wine & overall the definition of cozy. So this is my invitation to you to join me in this daydream, with your own skein of “Dream Knitting Retreat”.

Dream Knitting Retreat on Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie Fingering, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering and Extrafine Fingering

Dream Knitting Retreat is available as a preorder in my Etsy shop across all bases. If a base is not listed, please drop me a mp to request a custom order. The orders will ship from mid-November onwards, after the month’s fiber festivals of Barcelona Knits and Ch’ti Bazar.

Dream Knitting Retreat on Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie Fingering, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering and Extrafine Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Skyp Rib Socks by Adrienne Ku. A simple yet beautiful pattern, perfect for knitting at your favorite knit night. A few years back I knitted this pattern’s second cousin, the Simple Skyp Socks, by the same designer, and it’s one of my favorite pattern ever, perfect for variegated yarns.

Can you picture yourself knitting this colorway in one of these comfy chair? I’ll be in the green armchair in front of the big fireplace with my knitting and a glass of Saint-Emilion, mkay?

I so hope you’ll join me in my daydream and maybe one day, we’ll make this happen for real? How cool would that be? In the meantime, if you feel like hearing me talk about this some more, please join me on Youtube today from 5pm Paris time, for episode 6 of Season 5 of my podcast, Inspirations. Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - October 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, October edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The inspiration for October is the Witch, as in the archetypal character of. Mythical or real, contemporary or historical, I’ve always been fascinated by witch lore. I’ve got a strong encline towards knowledgeable ones, benevolent and close to nature and I dyed the month colorway trying to render my idea of what their surroundings look like: mysterious and cozy. The moodboard is below and as usual, you can have a peak at the complete moodboard on Pinterest.

I named the colorway “Season of the Witch” - I was strongly inspired by Donovan’s song, which is just perfect to get in the mood for Halloween. “Season of the Witch” starts with a pale base, like a page from an old spell book. Then, some jet black on which I layered other colours, to give it “flavours”: old wood, bronze and violet. In the middle, gold and orange, like a cozy fire in the hearth. I ended the colorway with a rain of beautiful speckles, like a final touch of magic.

Season of the Witch on Extrafine Fingering, Yack Sock, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering and Lurex Fingering

Season of the Witch is available as a short preorder in my Etsy shop across all bases. If a base is not listed, please drop me a mp to request a custom order. The orders will ship mid-October.

Season of the Witch on Extrafine Fingering, Yack Sock, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering and Lurex Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Pembroke Socks by Marion Em Knits. Stockinette associated to a simple lacey cuff, perfect to show off the different colours of this month colorway.

Please join me on Youtube today from 5pm Paris time, for the episode 3 of Season 5 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Season of the Witch. Rendez-vous on Etsy to shop the colorway. Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - September 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, September edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The inspiration for September is Autumn and the warm colours of the leaves in the sunshine. The moodboard is below and as usual, you can have a peak at the complete moodboard on Pinterest.

I named the colorway “Mabon” after the pagan name of the Aumtun Equinox. It’s a gorgeous blend of warm hues in ochre, burnt orange, red and brown with a dash of yellow-green.

Mabon on Extrafine Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Tweed Fingering et Lurex Fingering

Mabon is available as a preorder in my Etsy shop across all bases. If a base is not listed, please drop me a mp to request a custom order. The orders will ship w/c Sept 26th at the latest, to take into account the time spent away from the studio due to the fiber festivals I’m attending in September.

Mabon sur Extrafine Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Tweed Fingering et Lurex Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Cozy Autumn Socks by This Handmade Life. Lovely, simple cuff-down socks that fit the theme perfectly!

Please join me on Youtube today from 5pm Paris time, for the first episode of Season 5 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Mabon. Rendez-vous on Etsy to shop the colorway. Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - August 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, August edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The inspiration for August are the beautiful sunsets you can enjoy while being on vacation at the beach: dramatic skies and the sun setting on a beautiful sea. So precious and magical. The moodboard is below and as usual, you can have a peak at the complete moodboard on Pinterest.

This colorway is called “Beach Sunset”. It starts with a beige rosé base on which I “painted” the skies, the sun and the sea, with lots of vibrant speckles. Beach Sunset is a lively and harmonious colorway, that will lend itself beautifully to bigger pieces, especially if knitted together with mohair & silk.

Beach Sunset on Lurex Fingering, Stellina Fingering, MCN Fingering, BFL Fingering, BFL & Soie and Extrafine Fingering

Beach Sunset is available in my Etsy shop as a ready to ship listing on the bases listed above and as a preorder on other bases.

Beach Sunset on Lurex Fingering, Stellina Fingering, MCN Fingering, BFL Fingering, BFL & Soie and Extrafine Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Perle Cottage Socks by Mara Catherine Bryner. Those little anklets are absolute cuties with the loveliest of rolled cuff.

Please join me on Youtube today from 5pm Paris time, for Episode 24 of Season 4 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Beach Sunset. Rendez-vous on Etsy to shop the colorway. Happy knitting and happy Summer!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - July 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, July edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The inspiration for July is the perfect summer day: sun, by the pool or the sea side, strolling aimlessly for the sheer pleasure of it, nowhere to go and no schedule. Chill & fun. July’s colour is both soft and vibrant, with pure-lagoon blue, warm-sand-between-your-toes beige and flamingo-in-the-pool neon pink. The moodboard is below and as usual, you can have a peak at the complete moodboard on Pinterest.

This colorway is simply called “Journée d’été”, French for Summer Day. It starts with a very pale base of yellow and beige, with dashes of vibrant blue and neon pink. A riot of speckles comes last, like fireworks at the end of a perfect day.

Journée d’été on Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie, MCN Fingering, Stellina Fingering et Extrafine Fingering

Journée d’été is available in my Etsy shop as a preorder that will ship starting July 18th. All sock bases will be available as a preorder. For other bases, please send me a dm on Etsy for a custom order.

Journée d’été on Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie, MCN Fingering, Stellina Fingering et Extrafine Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Drunken Geese Socks by Celia Roberts and it’s absolutely gorgeous. My friend Macri knitted that pattern a few years back and it’s been on my list ever since. Look at that heel!!

Drunken Geese Socks by Celia Roberts

Please join me on Youtube today from 5pm Paris time, for Episode 21 of Season 4 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Journée d’été. Rendez-vous on Etsy to shop the colorway. I wish you a lot of perfect Summer Days this month!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - June 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, June edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

The month colorway is inspired by a childhood memory, of the bonfires lighted on St Jean in my hometown in the late 80’s. Nowadays, such giant bonfires on fair gounds located in a densely populated area are rather frowned upon by authorities but at the time, there was less concern towards public safety and huge bonfires with people dancing around were totally ok. Those bonfires made quite an impression on young me and I’ve had this idea of dyeing a colorway inspired by them for quite some time now. So here it is! The moodboard is below and as usual, you can have a peak at the complete moodboard on Pinterest.

This colorway is simply called “Bonfire” and starts with dark colors progressing from black to blue-gray to blues and purple, like a beautiful sky at dusk, with a middle of pure flame and light in bright yellow and warm gold. Then there’s a quite a rich layers of speckles, like sparkles going up in the night sky.

Bonfire on BFL Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie Fingering and MCN Fingering

Bonfire is available in my Etsy shop as a preorder that will ship starting June 20th. I’ll also have this colorway at my booth at my two next festivals: Knit With Friends in Porto on June 4th and 5th and Bigoud’laine in Brittany on June 11th and 12th.

Bonfire on BFL Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Lurex Fingering, BFL & Soie Fingering and MCN Fingering

The pattern suggestion for this month is Brainless by Yarnissima. Apart being exactly what I need these days in terms of knitting, i.e. something I can knit on auto-pilot without any brain power involved, it gives a new take on the gusset that I wish to explore. Moreover, it’s going to be perfect for a colorway so variegated as Bonfire.

Brainless socks by Yarnissima

Please join me on Youtube on Monday, May 30th, for Episode 18 of Season 4 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Bonfire. Rendez-vous on the same day on Etsy to shop the colorway, or in Porto on June 4th and 5th and Theix-Noyalo/Brittany on June 11th and 12th!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - May 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, May edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

Did you know May is one of the months in which fawns are born? For some time I’ve had a mind of creating a colorway inspired by those lovely woodlands dwellers. While researching the imagery, I came across this lovely picture of a fawn asleep in a bed of purple flowers and fell in love with it. The moodboard is below and you can also check the Pinterest board for more cute and fluffy critters.

I called this colorway “Fawns and Flowers”, which rings a bit like Prince’s song '“Elephants and Flowers”. I’ve had this song on my mind ever since I chose the name. It’s a blend of browns and purple, with just a hint of pink acting as a liaison between the two. I tried my hand at a new way of layering colours, in order to find the sweet spot between a beautiful blending effect and clear highlights. Speckles are also in the game and bring beautifully this colorway to life.

Fawns and Flowers sur Lurex Fingering, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering, Extrafine Fingering 3 ply et Extrafine Fingering

Fawns and Flowers will make its debut at Sip & Knit Brussels, where I’m hosting a pop up shop over the last week-end of April. It will then be in the shop on May 9th shop update. It will be available across a wide range of bases, including Extrafine DK, Mohair et Soie and Suri et Soie.

Fawns and Flowers sur Lurex Fingering, Stellina Fingering, BFL Fingering, Extrafine Fingering 3 ply et Extrafine Fingering

The pattern suggestion for the month is again from Knitty, Winter 2011. What can I say except that I think they’ve published incredibly innovative patterns over the years? The Java Socks are one of those, with a beautifully patterned gusset and decreases placed in the most creatives places.

Java Socks by Cailyn Meyer

Please join me on Youtube for Episode 14 of Season 4 of my podcast, Inspirations, in which I’m presenting Fawns and Flowers. Rendez-vous on May 9th on Etsy to shop the colorway, or in Brussels on April 29th, 30th and May 1st!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - April 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, April edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

It’s tea time! Get your most beautiful tea cups, your best English tea, cucumber sandwiches and let’s indulge in a peaceful moment of contemplation. This month theme has been on my mind for quite some time. I was just waiting for the right month to work on it. April is just perfect, with all the little flowers sprouting out everywhere, just like on those gorgeous cups. The moodboard is below and you can also check the Pinterest board for more tea time goodness.

Meet “Tea Cup”, April colorway. It starts with pastel tones in hues of soft blues, greens and salmon. Then comes a generous layer of speckles in rich and vibrant colours. The result is adorable!

Tea Cup on Lurex Fingering, Polwarth Fingering, Extrafine Fingering HT and Extrafine Fingering

Tea Cup on Stellina Fingering, BFL & Soie, BFL Soie & Cachemire, MCN Fingering and BFL Fingering

Tea Cup on BFL & Soie

Tea Cup is in the shop, ready to ship across all usual sock bases. Once the ready to ship listings are sold out, I will open preorders. Tea Cup is also available as custom orders on all the other bases in the shop.

Tea Cup on Extrafine Fingering HT, Stellina Fingering, Extrafine Fingering, BFL Soie & Cachemire and Polwarth Fingering

The pattern suggestion for April is “Cornish Cream Tea”, a lovely sock pattern by Helen Stewart. It couldn’t be more suited to the month theme, could it? I find Helen’s patterns poetic and with a je-ne-sais-quoi that I love. These socks have been in my queue for a while and I’m happy to finally getting around to knitting them!

Cornish Cream Tea Socks by Helen Stewart

Also this month, just like you would associate an excellent wine to a gourmet dish, I’ve selected a few series I want to catch up on or rewatch from the start while knitting my socks. Here’s my selection in case you wish to accompany me. As I said, I’ve been planning this theme for quite some time and had time to fine tune all details!

Head over to Youtube at 5 pm Paris time today to see Tea Cup on moving pictures, I’m telling and showing all about it in episode 11 of season 4 of Inspirations. You can buy your own skein of Tea Cup in the shop.

Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - March 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, March edition.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s monthly colorway creation, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

Come with me for a stroll in a dark and mysterious forest. As we walk on the forest path, amongst the tall tree trunks covered in moss, we spot a tiny door at the base of one of them! The forest doesn’t seem so dark anymore but definitely mysterious… who lives there? A gnome? A Korrigan? A Fairy? One of the Little People? Choose your favorite and it will accompany you in spirit while you knit this month colorway… Here’s the moodboard on Pinterest.

March colorway is named “Brocéliande”, after the most famous enchanted forest in France, located in Bretagne. I don’t know if there are any fairy doors in Brocéliande, but it’s would the most likely place to start looking if one wanted to find some. Do you know of other famous enchanted forest? Please share them in the comments if you do!

“Brocéliande” is different from previous Almanac colorways. Its base colour is much more intense and saturated. The subsequent layers of browns and greens fade into the base colour and gives the colorway depth and vibrance despite being very dark. Speckles add to the vibrance and fluo pink speckles added as a finishing touch provides the little bit of whimsy the theme calls for.

Brocéliande on BFL & Soie, MCN Fingering, Tweed Fingering, Stellina Fingering and Yack Sock

Brocéliande on Yack Sock

I also created “Brocéliande” dark and saturated because I wanted an Almanac colorway that would look gorgeous on Yack Sock. This base has a natural gray-brown color and is a dream to work with. It’s very soft with a slightly dry touch to it, perfect for socks. However my regular Almanac colorways do not work well on that base as their base colour is usually very light and the subsequent layers shine through thanks to the natural off-white colour of the yarn base. Hence “Brocéliande”, a colorway that works across all bases, light or dark.

I’m offering “Brocéliande” as a pre-order on the usual range of sock bases in the shop. DK / Mohair & Silk / Suri & Silk are also available via custom order. The preorders and custom orders will start shipping end of March/ beginning of April. Good news! Lurex Fingering and Polwarth Fingering are back in stock.

Let’s try a new heel this month! Have you ever knitted the “Basic Sock with a Double Gusset Heel” pattern by Cristi H. Payne? It has a special double gusset heel technique developed by Cristi, that hugs the foot and creates arch shaping “for the most comfortable sock you’ll ever make”. Ooooh, sounds exciting! Well, that’s the pattern of the month guys! Let’s try this! And it’s free. Thank you Cristi.

Please join me today on my Youtube channel for Episode 8 of Inspirations - Season 4. I’m having two unplanned guests that will have you smiling. There’s also a close look of “Brocéliande” on all the bases, progress on my beautiful Calla shawl and a bit of chat about this crazy world we live in. Take care my friends.

“Brocéliance” is now in the shop.

Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - February 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach, February edition. This month, we shake things up a bit.

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s informal monthly yarn club, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

This month is a first, as I couldn’t share the theme I had in mind with something so modern as camera pictures. The human mind and artistic talent being infinite, I was able to find lots of beautiful paintings and drawings to illustrate the month theme: the feminine representation of druids in the celtic cultures. This theme is loosely derived from the Imbolc celebration taking place on February 1st. Please make sure to check out the Pinterest board to get all the links to the illustrations I selected, and to see the larger selection of pins. This might be my favorite board yet. It’s so inspirational and empowering, and makes your mind wander in some beautiful fantasy landscapes.

The colorway inspired by this beautiful arrangement is “Druidesse”. Blues, greens, browns and rust hues on a beige base, with a dusting of coordinated speckles. Those are NOT my favorite colors by a long shot but there’s a je-ne-sais-quoi going on here that has me smitten with this colorway. Is it the inspiration? The connection I feel to generations of women before me? Or the way the colors play along together on the wool? I don’t know but I can’t stop knitting with it.

I can only say it feels very good to knit this colorway, shown above on the Stellina Fingering base. It’s peaceful and soothing.

I’m offering this colorway as a pre-order on the usual range of sock bases in the shop. Should you want it on other bases (DK / Mohair & Silk / Suri & Silk…), please drop me a message in my Etsy shop. NB. the preorders will start shipping end of February / beginning of March.

Another new and fun thing this month: let’s have a sock knitting challenge! The sock above is a simple twist on my cuff-down sock recipe available as a free download here (French but I’ll check if I have an English version somewhere). To knit the same sock, just follow this chart for the leg and foot, it’s the “Ostrich Plume” stitch pattern modified so there’s no openwork, just a lovely rippling effect.

The challenge is to either knit this sock or create your own with the stitch pattern of your choice. You can join in on Instagram with #tricotetstitchchallengedruidesse and/or on Ravelry here.

Please join me today on my Youtube channel for Episode 5 of Inspirations - Season 4 - I’m chatting a lot about “Druidesse”, some random family things and my latest knitting projects.

“Druidesse” is now in the shop.

Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - January 2022

Hello and welcome to the 2022 Sock Knitter’s Almanach. The adventure continues in the New Year and we’ll explore new themes, new colours and new patterns!

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s informal monthly yarn club, which started in January 2021. Each month I’m offering a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

While researching the month’s theme, I learned a few things about January that I didn’t know. For example, it’s known in medieval anglo-saxon culture as the month of the wolf. Understandable and very pragmatic as wolves were known to get a bit too close for comfort to villages in harsh winter times, when their natural food supply came up short. Also and interestingly enough, the first full moon of January is called the “Wolf Moon”. There’s definitely something with January and wolves, going back a loooong time.

So wolves it is for January. Please note that my selection of wolves is quite amicable and will have you wishing you could pet them rather than running for your life. But more than a hommage to the carnivorous beast, please see in that choice a reverance for the qualities it embodies: resistance, endurance, tenacity and team spirit (or is it pack spirit?). Those qualities would be very useful, even necessary some would say, to go through January, which is after all and in my humble opinion, to the year what Monday is to the week. The complete moodboard is here and a condensed version is below:

The colorway of the month is “Lune du Loup”, or “Wolf Moon” if you prefer. With dye and yarn, I tried to create an image of snow, furry goodness, bright glacial eyes and the rosy tint of a winter sunrise. The result is usually never, ever, as the image I pictured it in my mind, but I’ll admit it came close.

To me, “Lune du Loup” is the perfect neutral. It’ll work perfectly for all your projects, big or small. It’s beautiful on all bases and will do wonders for project knitted with merinos and mohair & silk.

I’m offering this colorway as a short pre-order on the following bases this month : BFL Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Extrafine Sock 3ply, MCN Fingering, Extrafine Fingering HT, Extrafine Fingering, Tweed Fingering, Mohair & Soie and Extrafine DK.

To go with “Lune du Loup”, I’m suggesting knitting the beautiful “Intersections” pattern by Marceline Smith. The all-over cable pattern will enable us to follow the recommendation of dearest Elizabeth Zimmermann’s “Knitters’ Almanac” to knit an Aran Sweater in January, if not in the letter, at least in the spirit. It could also be a good occasion to reflect on the concept of Intersectionality, a key notion worth your time and headspace. This pattern is, very fittingly, the first in the “52 Weeks of Socks” book by Laine Magazine. It is also available for purchase individually.

Today also marks the airing of Inspirations - Season 4, episode 1. Please join me for a lovely chat about the holidays, the colorway of the month and a very surprising status point of the knitting front. Spoiler alert - I’ve have been a monogamous knitter for the past month and it’s. very. weird.

“Lune du Loup” is a click away via the button below. You’ll find it under “Almanach”.

Happy knitting!

The Sock Knitter's Almanach - November 2021

Hello and welcome to the sixth installment of the the Sock Knitter’s Almanach: November!

For the new kids on the block, the Sock Knitter’s Almanac is Tricot & Stitch’s informal monthly yarn club. Each month you’ll discover a new colorway inspired by the month theme and a suggested sock pattern to knit, to expend your sock knitter’s experience and have fun!

This month, Autumn inspired me. Not a precise theme, more of a feeling associated with the season. Trees changing colours, a hot cup of tea after a walk in the woods, cozying up on the couch with my knitting and Netflix… The Pinterest moodboard will have you grab your needles, your audiobook and nestle in your favorite armchair. Here’s a peak:

The colorway I created based on this inspiration is “Cozy Season”:

“Cozy Season” starts with a beige base on which I layered warm greys, browns, burgundy and copper tones. commence par une base beige sur laquelle j’ai ajouté des tons de gris chauds, du marron, du bordeaux et du cuivre. I then added a generous layer of speckles.

I’m offering this colorway as a pre-order on 10 bases this month : BFL Fingering, Stellina Fingering, Extrafine Sock 3ply, MCN Fingering, Lurex Fingering, Extrafine Fingering HT, Polwarth Fingering, Extrafine Fingering, Mohair & Soie and Extrafine DK.

The pattern I choose to pair with “Cozy Season” is the “Grimoires” pattern by me! It’s a very simple toe up sock pattern with a stitch pattern evocative of books on shelves. The heel is of my own design, the “talon souligné” and comes with a video tutorial. The pattern is available in French on Ravelry. The English version will be uploaded by the end of the month.

In my latest podcast episode, Inspirations S3 Ep8, I’m presenting the '“Cozy Season” colorway as well as the pattern of the month in more details. You can check it here and order your skein in the Etsy shop below, in the '“Almanach” section.

Happy knitting!