Varigated yarns...opinions?

What does everyone think?

I know they are screamingly popular right now, and some of them are pretty, but so many just look messy to me.

There are some, though, they even out when knit into a particular pattern, or look wonderful used in Fair Isle. I like those, and have a few in my stash.

Does anyone here knit with it? (Seems that it's primarily used for socks these days.)

LOATHE them beyond words! (many apologies to fans, but I just can't stand them.) I find them all extremely ugly, and the self-patterning ones used for the supposedly fair isle socks, I think not only end up looking sloppy, but are cheating -- they may result in a pattern, but they're not true fair isle.

It seems SO difficult to find normal, plain-colored, wool sock yarn these days! I've been using Phildar Preface, but you usually have to send away to Canada or Europe for it, and the color selection is somewhat limited.

It also seems like it's becoming increasing difficult to find the very fine yarn used to strengthen the heels and toes lately. It seems like most people don't use it anymore. Arugh.

I've seen a few I like, but overall they aren't too my taste. I'm making a pair of the Monkey socks from Knitty right now, and it's working.

As for reinforcing yarns, I just buy them whenever I see them, in any color! (Makes my husband laugh, but without them, socks DO NOT last!)

Try baby yarns, Honore. They work beautifully. Dale Baby Ull comes in nearly every concievable color, and it's inexpensive.

And again...cone yarns. They're usually used to weave so are finer WPI.

Funny you should mention it -- I just bought my first cone yarn from Webb's...I was looking for a fine yarn to sub for a 1950s yarn for a suit, and I settled for their cones, even though it really wasn't at all like what I wanted, and I'm not at all sure it'll work. (PS: They all were also completely unfamiliar with their cone stock, which was odd. they're usually quite knowledgeable and helpful there.)

It was really weird though -- you'd think at a store like that, they would be used to people searching for slightly off-beat things, but all the sales people gathered around my sample yarn (super-duper fine, mostly wool, with a touch of rayon for strength) and pattern, and kept saying it was weird, and they've never seen/heard of such a thing, and it was hopeless to even try to look. Even a woman who appeared old enough to remember very fine gauge yarns and garments was pretty snooty about it. They all seemed to be turning up their noses at it, even the fibre content! geez, so sorry it's not bamboo or soy or whatever the trend-of-the-month is. (And it's a really cool yarn, actually -- Pauline Denham Frosty) It really put me out of sorts.

Thanks for the tip about baby yarns! My mom told me that when she was a teenager/in college, girls would use dental floss in a pinch! I suppose it works, but yikes! Of course, I suppose the mint and cinnamon varieties would be tres festive for xmas...and nothing like minty-scented socks!

People are spooked by thinking outside the box, that's all.

Steve (one of the owners) was all agog that I'd bought two cones of a gorgeous silk/wool blend in a fingering weight. He couldn't believe I was going to knit with it.
If there's enough it's going to become a 30s suit.

I *did* find that odd, but WEBS was founded as a place for weavers, not knitters, so although it's strange they've not modified their thinking, it's believable, I guess.

They're kinda funny -- first of all, I think there's a big turnover with employees -- it seems you never see the same face twice, which makes a really big difference in the quality of service. Over the years, I've had some really good help, and some really, really bad/rude service. I actually don't think I've ever laid eyes on either of the owners.

That said, have you ever been to Northamton Wools? I hate going there -- getting anyone to wait on you -- or even ring up your purchase -- like pulling teeth, even if you're the only one in the store. grrr. And all they EVER talk about is how the owner made some sweaters they used in The Ciderhouse Rules. Wee bit tiresome.

I like both places, actually.

I've had very good experiences whenever I've been there. Northampton Wools isn't always professional, but they're nice enough people.

If you've been to WEBS on a weekend you've probably seen the owners, if you haven't met them. Steve is usually on a register; I forget his wife's name, as I don't see her so frequently.

Some of their employees are a bit uncertain, I grant you, but not all of them by any means. After all, they're probably mostly part-time, and not necessarily master knitters.

Mind, I spend most of my time in the warehouse; that's where the good prices are. They also tend to stock good gauges. Most LYS don't have anything smaller than 0, but I've seen 00 and I think 000 there.

I can not tell you the brand right now, because I am in the basement, but the sock yarn I bought last year had little tiny cones of the reinforcing tucked in the center of each skein. The yarn is lovely, soft and the socks are knitting up nicely!

If you look at my Ravelry page, it's all detailed on that project. it wasn't horribly expensive, either...from a LYS.

It was probably Jawoll. I love that stuff for socks. It's utterly classic, and it wears like IRON.

YES!!

That's it exactly! So far, so good...but I've had to hand them off to my girlfriend to help me pick up the gusset stitches. I used a pattern for 2 circulars, and it's a pain. She only uses DPNs, so she's a little awkward, but working it out for me.

How'd the socks turn out?

Oh, and the Monkey Socks were a huge hit! (I made them for zootsuitcoot's wife, Theresa.)

I would post a link, but for some reason the site won't allow it right now, or even allow it to be clicked on if I type it in manually.