HRYC

Based in Dunedin, Morag McKenzie not only dyes majestic colours as Vintage Purls, she also organises the excellent Unwind retreat each March. An excellent teacher, we're chuffed to have her in-store this weekend (Friday 13th - Saturday 14th November) to host a couple of classes and hang out for knitting. 

You can book online or in-store for the Crescent Shawl Wrap-Up and the Knitting Socks Upside Down class. We'd love to have you join us!

When you aren't busy dyeing yarn, what do you do?

What is your number one favourite part of being an indie dyer?

How did you get into knitting? Are you a process or a product knitter?

 

Do you have a particular fibre or fibre blend you love to dye more than any other?

I can’t say any one is a stand-out favourite. Every fibre-blend dyes a bit differently and you have to alter your approach to get your desired effect and I enjoy that. I do like dyeing my Lace yarn, possibly because I do so much of my Sock and Max (which are the same fibre blend, just different weights), that it feel like a bit of a treat to work with Lace sometimes. 

 

We all have colour tendencies - what's yours? Do you find this comes through in your dyeing?

I guess we all gravitate to colours we like to wear. I love a jewel tone. Super-saturated blue, red, purple, green, or pink are all “my thing”. I do dye colours I love, but it’s not my driving force, I’m afraid I’m quite mercenary - if it sells well, I dye lots of it. :)

 

If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?

That’s a super tough question, the world is full of beautiful and inspiring places. Ever since I was a child, perusing the pages of National Geographic, I have wanted to see the Rose City at Petra. I have never made an effort to go though because I know the reality cannot live up to my fantasy. I think many of the iconic travel destinations we dream of are a bit like that. For a true holiday (where very little is achieved and relaxation is the name of the game), I have always desired to visit the Maldives. A wonderful place to relax and dream every day away but also a place that is disappearing due to rising water-levels and so may well not be able to be enjoyed for much longer.

Thanks so much Morag! You can find Vintage Purls yarns on the Indie Shelf until the end of November, hooray!

Here's the very brief run-down:

If i'm being honest, I wrote this pattern two whole years ago. Oops! 

Sockettes is a riff on the Super Simple Sock pattern - except shorter. Skipping the leg makes for great warm weather socks, and also much faster knitting. Use up your scraps and go crazy with stripes like I did, or stick to a single fun colour. 

Yarn: Knitsch Sock 4ply (or other sock-appropriate 4ply yarn)

I used 28g per sock, and my feet are a size EU40. So you'll need 50g - 60g of yarn depending on the size of your feet. 

Needles: 2.50mm 80cm circular or double pointed needles

Gauge: 30 sts x 44 rows = 10cm

Sizes: Small (medium, large, X-large)

Abbreviations:

CO - cast on
K – knit
p – purl
ssk – slip, slip, knit
k2tog – knit two stitches together
p2tog – purl two stitches together
sl – slip the stitch from the left hand needle to the right needle without knitting

Pattern:

CO 60 (64, 68, 72) stitches
Set up row: k2, p2, repeat until end
next row: k2, p2, repeat until end. Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place a marker to mark the beginning of the round. Split the number or stitches evenly across 2 needles (the magic loop using the circular needle) or 4 needles (if using double pointed needles).

Next round: k2, p2, repeat until end
repeat rib pattern until cuff measures 2.5cm

Heel flap:
This section is worked flat over 30 (32, 34, 36) stiches. The other half of the stitches are held on the cable of your circular needle or on two dpns and are not knit at all until the heel section is completed. You will be turning your work as this part is knit flat rather than in the round.

Next row starting from marker:

*sl1, k1, repeat from * 14 (15, 16, 17) more times. 30 (32, 34, 36) stitches have been worked.

Next row: turn work, *sl1, p to end

Next row: sl1, k2, *sl1, k1, repeat from * to end

Next row: sl1, p to end

Repeat these four rows 6 (7, 8, 9) more times, or until heel flap is length required. End on a purl row.

Heel turn:
The heel turn is the bit that gets most people unstuck. As long as you follow the instructions word for word, and don’t worry about the stitches you aren’t knitting, it’ll make sense in the end.

Row 1: (right side of work) sl1, k16 (18, 18, 20), ssk, k1, turn work
row 2: (wrong side of work) sl1, p5 (7, 5, 7), p2tog, p1, turn
row 3: sl1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk (1 st from each side of gap), k1, turn work
row 4: sl1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog (1 st from each side of gap), p1, turn

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all stitches have been worked. 18 (20, 20, 22) sts remain. Finish by knitting across these sts on the right side row.

Gusset:
In this section the stitches along the side of the heel flap are picked up and knit, the top of the foot is now knit, the stitches down the other side of the heel flap are picked up and knit, and the sole of the foot is also worked.

Next row: Pick up and knit 14 (15, 17, 19) stitches along the heel flap, knit 30 (32, 34, 36) across the top of the foot, pick up and knit 14 (15, 17, 19) stitches along the heel flap, k9 (10, 10, 11), place new beginning of round marker.

Row 1: 23 (25, 27, 30) sts, k2tog, k30 (32, 34, 36), ssk, k to end of round
Row 2: knit all sts

Repeat these two rows, knitting 1 less stitch before each k2tog on each repeat of row 1.
Continue until 60 (64, 68, 72) stitches remain.

Knit in the round until the foot section reaches where your toes start (what I fondly refer to as ‘toe cleavage’).

Toe decreases:
Making a space for your toes!

Row 1: k12 (13, 14, 15), k2tog, k1, place marker, k1, ssk, k24 (26, 28. 30) k2tog, k1, place marker, k1, ssk, k to end
Row 2: knit
Row 3: k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, k to 3 sts before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 four more times.

Repeat row 3 until 30 (32, 34, 36) stitches remain. The beginning of round marker should be in the centre of the sole stitches. Break yarn and seam live stitches together using kitchener stitch.

If you like, you can wash and block your socks by laying them flat to dry. I’m usually much too impatient for this and put them on immediately.

Hip hip hooray for new colour ways in two lovely lovely yarns! So lovely, in fact, we're almost out of a couple already. 

Sparrow sees Fundi, Maize, Moon, Venice and Penny added for some nice deep moodiness: 

And Piper has some depth added to the range with Lone Oak, Coldspring, Laredo, Austin and Pampa joining the club.

Need some pattern ideas? 

Sparrow: 

Strathcona by Jane Richmond

Saco Stripes by Pam Allen (this is on my list to make)

Linum Tee by Bristol Ivy

Piper:

Love and Lemons by Melanie Berg

Eddy by Elizabeth Doherty

Fleurette Cowl by Sarah Solomon (on my list, too!)

Happy knitting! xx

The month has whizzed by and suddenly we find ourselves on the cusp of shifting everything from Petone in to the Grand Arcade store. 

We can't possibly close the door without a bit of a celebration, so we'd love to have you join us for a last hoorah! 

Join us for treats, discounts, and help farewell the space we have enjoyed so much over the last 4 and a half years. We'd absolutely love to see you!