A few months ago I visited the Four Purls Yarn Truck for the first time. I bought lots of wonderful yarn and learned a little about their store and the family behind it. Both daughters of the owners do their own hand-dying to create some beautiful hanks of yarn. It’s a family run store. I’ve met the husband and wife team, who are helpful and friendly, both times I have visited their truck stopover in New Smyrna Beach.
Outdoor tables full of yarn
My knitting experience with Emma’s Yarn was such a delight that I had to be sure and buy more when the yarn truck came to town.
Located in Winter Haven, in central Florida, the Four Purl’s yarn store takes road trips in their colorful yarn truck to share their wares with those of us who have no local shops. They show up in New Smyrna only a few times a year, but I am grateful that they do. It’s always nice to be able to handle yarn, and see colors in person!
Shawls and sweaters knit from patterns, which are listed on their tags.
Pattern Samples Already Knit
A rack of clothing was displayed at the outer edge of the yarn tables. As I browsed, I realized these were patterns (name of pattern on tag attached to item) already knit up for us to see. This is a clever idea and next time I may do some pattern browsing before I buy my yarn.
As it was, I already needed quite a few skeins for patterns I had in mind. Hand-dyed yarn is gorgeous, but it is not cheap. One must restrain oneself when surrounded by all that pretty yarn. As it was, I still bought a lot of yarn!
My purchase of Emma’s Yarn, hand-dyed in an array of beautiful colors
My Knitting Plans Using The New Yarn
Sun Kissed is a free shawl download which I have been planning to make for a while now. I’ve been waiting to find the right colors. For the time being I am thinking of using “Gatsby” (mostly white yarn with dark speckles) and “Farmer’s Market” (look at those colors!) to knit it.
Emma’s Yarn colors: Gatsby and Farmer’s Market
Even though I recently purchased Stephen West’s “Mohairino Medley”, I didn’t find the right colors at the Yarn Truck. But I do love a couple of WestKnits shawls and was thinking of the Sea Swell Shawl pattern in particular when I bought the three skeins below. Or, I may knit another favorite by Westknits called Slumber Shawl.
L-R color names: Malibu, Turtle Haven, and 10 Questions
I found a skein of “Denim” blue for the border color to finish up my Dewdrops Shawl. I began the triangle shawl with Emma’s Yarn in “Main Squeeze” color which reminds me of pink grapefruit.
Denim blue color ball of yarn to finish my Dewdrops shawl.
And inside the truck I picked up a DK weight skein in “Don’t Call Me Peaches” color (below). This one is part nylon, with merino wool, and I am using it to attempt a pair of socks – again. Emma’s “Simply Spectacular DK” yarn is combined here with some fingering yarn from my stash to make a heavy-weight pair of socks (fingers crossed). For some reason I gravitate toward peachy colors!
Sock Knitting
While I was paying, the husband of the Four Purls team mentioned that they would not be back to New Smyrna until next Fall. They don’t go out in summer, which I can’t blame them for. It’s a really hideous time of year here in Florida and no one wants to be standing around in the Florida sun. So I will have to use up my yarn over the next six months while I wait.
Hanks of yarn purchased from Four Purls
Four Purls sells more than Emma’s Yarn, but it turned out that that was the only brand I bought. I also picked up a gauge counter.
Summer in Florida is a good time to stay inside in the AC… and do some lightweight knitting.
When I first began knitting again last year I was getting serious about using fingering weight yarn, sometimes also called “sock yarn”. I really didn’t know why some fingering weight yarn got that label.
Here’s the difference: Yarn labeled “sock” can also be used to knit other items, but to knit socks you want tougher yarn, usually with a small amount of nylon (or other durable material), so they won’t wear out as quickly. You may also want washable wool (often labeled “superwash”) so the socks can be thrown into the washing machine.
To knit shawls and / or socks you will need to use around 400 yards of yarn, on average.
Yarn stash
To be honest with the reader, I am very new to knitting socks. I have not tried any of this yarn mentioned to knit a pair. After searching online, and making notes for this page, I do have some favorite brands to try soon! My favorite places to buy yarn online are Simply Socks, Wool and Company, Miss Babs, WEBS and Jimmy Beans Wool. Some links on this page take you to these stores. Some of these shops have yarn from England, Ireland, Scotland and other places. It’s exciting to knit with fibers grown on animals living across the ocean!
Finding Beautiful Sock Yarn That Will Hold Up to Wear
Train Case by Mrs. Crosby
Mrs. Crosby Loves to Play, “Train Case” fingering yarn for socks is made of superwash merino wool, Outlast viscose and nylon. The description at Wool & Co. says this, “Outlast viscose, a fiber created by NASA to absorb, store and release heat for optimal comfort.”
In general socks will use 300-400 yards of yarn. It depends on the yarn weight, needle size, and sock length and pattern. Check the yarn calculator at Jimmy Bean’s Wool for a better estimate. I mention this because in some cases you will need more than one skein of the yarns mentioned below.
Madeline Tosh (approx. $26.50 / 420 yds)
Madeline Tosh has “Sock” yarn and Tosh Twist Light. The latter is made up of 75% wool and 25% nylon and has more yardage at 420 compared to Tosh Sock which has 395 yards. The Mad Tosh Sock has no nylon, just 100% Superwash merino wool. I’m thinking I would go with the Tosh Twist Light for a pair of socks. Prices seem to be about the same for both.
Malabrigo Yarn (approx. $20.00 / 420-440 yds)
Some of the first fingering yarn I bought was Malabrigo, but as I look around to write this article, I only see their “sock” yarn as being made up of 100% Superwash Merino. Without any nylon added, I wonder how long it would last. I’m picturing holes in the heels here.
And don’t be confused by the word “superwash”. It means the wool is washable – even in the washing machine – but it may need a gentle cycle, and will probably still need to lay flat to dry. Hand washing is always best to keep garments looking good.
My yarn stash
Manos del Uruguay (approx. $25.50 / 445 yds)
Manos del Uruguay has beautiful yarn and they do have one for socks called Manos Alegria. It contains 75% superwash merino wool and 25% nylon. This yarn is so pretty and it comes in semi-solids, which have slight variations in color, or blocks of color which will create stripes when knitting socks.
I never knew much about Hedgehog Fibres (located in Ireland) and I have never purchased their yarn. But I want to very soon! The online stores mentioned below carry this yarn. I’m sure there are others as well. HHF sock yarn is 90% superwash merino wool, and 10% nylon.
Simply Socks is an awesome yarn website and they do sell Hedgehog Fibres sock yarn in loads of colors, including whites / off-whites that have just a touch of color. Those are hard to find.
Wool and Company also sells Hedgehog Fibres Sock, and for a bit less, and they ship in the US for free, no matter the size of the order. AND they will wind skeins for free! I love this place. The Malabrigo Rios yarn for my Umpqua Sweater came from Wool and Company. In fact I just purchased some new yarn for sock knitting. How could I resist? I will still have to get my “white speckled” from Simply Socks.
HF Skinny Singles (fingering in Merino wool- no nylon in this) at Jimmy Beans Wool are loaded with awesome colors. (400 yards each) These colors would be great for shawls.
Self-striping and Fair Isle Yarn to Try
I have not tried any of this self-striping yarn, but the idea of knitting along and seeing stripes emerge sounds interesting. There are lots more than this, but I thought I’d give you a place to begin. You can always use two (or more) skeins of different colors and make your own stripes! Some companies have dyed their yarn to resemble “fair isle” knitting without having to change yarn colors. This can look very pretty knit up as socks.
Black and red striped socks (photo credit: Pixabay)
Search Online Yarn Stores For Free Shipping and Discounts
It can pay to search for deals when ordering yarn online. I would love to drive to a local yarn shop and give them my business but I don’t have one nearby. On the other hand, I can spend hours browsing yarns on my computer. I can compare prices and even order colors that are out of stock everywhere else (Wool and Company does that by offering “custom orders”).
Some online stores offer free shipping (Wool and Company) and others want you to spend a certain amount to get the free shipping. Some places give discounts for ordering so many skeins (Webs). Some places will wind yarn orders for free (Wool and Company!) and some will do it for a small fee (Miss Babs – this place also gives out little gifts with orders, like stitch markers and small samples of yarn.) Who doesn’t like free stuff?
I’ve never been unhappy with any order placed online. Selling yarn is a competitive business, and it’s important to stand out in some way.
Hot Shot Toes Mini skeins from Miss Babs
Don’t Forget Etsy & Small Yarn Businesses (Local if you have them)
I’m all for helping out entrepreneurs and that includes small yarn shops. Many people like to try their hand at yarn spinning and dying or whatever. Some have farms where they raise their own sheep, alpacas, or whatever and then use their wool to sell. However they do it, I like to give them a try.
Recently I bought some of Emma’s Yarn from a Florida Yarn Shop called Four Purls. They have a yarn truck which they take to places that don’t have local yarn shops and it’s where I bought my yarn. The yarn is beautiful and silky. I am in the middle of making the Dewdrops Shawl with it.
I’ve purchased yarn from shops on Etsy as well and I have never been disappointed when buying from small shops. Now I just need to knit something using all that yarn!
Etsy store: Yarn Cafe Creations
Cheap Sock Yarn and Yarn Without Wool
Sock yarn can also be cheap, like Cascade Heritage Sock, or Borroco Comfort Sock (around $8.00 for 447 yards) and Self-Striping Sox. It is not hand-dyed and sometimes is part acrylic or other manmade fibers. These brands are made in China and Turkey.
People who are allergic to wool will appreciate hand-knit socks without any wool. Alternate choices would be cotton, linen, or man-made fibers. Many of the links to yarn sites I have provided on this page also offer some type of wool-free yarn. Just search the sites.
This type of yarn can probably be machine washed and maybe even thrown into the dryer. Read the labels, but it may work well for anyone who refuses to hand wash items. If your socks are a gift, be sure to add a tag, or tell the person to wash with care.
More Info About Buying Yarn and Suggested Projects
Check out the Love Knitting site page: “What are the Best Yarns for Knitting?” I learned some new things about ply and grams and that silk can replace nylon for strength when it comes to knitting socks!
All I Need Is A Good Sock Pattern!
Just the other day I cast on and began knitting a sock. I used a size 1 US needle – or should I say 4 double-pointed needles. What a pain in the neck! I was following a free pattern that quickly got confusing. Then I made a very big mistake that couldn’t be fixed and I ripped the whole thing out.
I found a pattern called Pedestrian by Veronica Parsons which seems easy enough to understand. Follow the link to Ravelry where you can download the pattern for free. I will try it next.
I followed the pattern for knitting Basic Socks in my Dummies book, and made a pair in worsted weight. I can’t wear them with shoes, so I want to knit socks in fingering. I’d love to be able to convert that pattern to a smaller yarn and needle size. OR, find a pattern like it that I can understand.
Photos of socks on this page came from the Pixabay free images site.
Because there are no good yarn stores near where I live here in Florida, I shop online for my yarn. I’ve had to discover good yarn by reading reviews and discovering what expert knitters are using. And by simply taking a chance and buying unique yarn. (Yarn shown is Miss Babs, Yummy 2-Ply fingering,” Sorcerer”)
As time has passed and I am knitting more, I have found some additions to my list of favorite online shops.
Click on the titles below, which are links the shops.
Four purls is a local yarn store here in Florida, but they sell online. They are located in Winter Haven which is in Central Florida. It’s quite a drive for me, so I have never been to the store. However, I do visit their Yarn Truck when it comes to the East coast. How fabulous is that?
The Four Purls yarn truck visits New Smyrna Beach in April 2019
They don’t travel around in summer because of the heat (they set up outdoors), so I must order online, and that experience has been quite good. Shipping is Free for U.S. orders over $49 (as of this writing). Emma’s Yarn is some of my favorite yarn ever and I have made the Dewdrops shawl and Sun-Kissed shawl with Emma’s Yarn. She offers bright tropical colors, which are perfect for us Florida knitters. Shipping is super fast – I’m just a couple hours away!
I like the fact that I am supporting a local store. One day I would love to visit the Four Purls shop.
I can’t remember how I came across Wool & Company Fine Yarn but they are a favorite place to shop for two BIG reasons: They offer FREE U.S. shipping on any size order, and they will wind the yarn for FREE!
Their shipping is fast and the yarn is packaged in pretty dotted paper, like a gift to open! It’s the little things… and you can see below I got a free little stitch marker as well! (Miss Babs gives gifts like this too.)
Wool & Co. offers a wide selection of great yarn. It’s my favorite place to order Mohair because they will wind it for me! I once asked them to wind 2 of the 7 skeins of Shelter I purchased and discovered they wound all 7 for me! So customer service is above and beyond, IMO.
The link takes you to “Webs” which is a site full of various types of yarn. This site also lists reviews by purchasers which I’ve found to be very helpful, and they have free patterns to try. They offer yarn discounts for certain types of yarn, according to how much you buy. When you see the blue icon and “webs discount” on the yarn page, the discount applies. Depending on how much yarn you buy, get either 20% or 25% off. That is a nice discount!
Shipping can take a while and often color selections are limited.
Thumbs Up: Good discounts, big selections, and sell yarn of all prices, so you can find cheap yarn here.
This site has some very pretty yarn for sale, some of which is their own brand. I’ve bought and used the Worsted Twist to make a scarf and hat. It is beautiful yarn. They offer many wonderful free patterns (this is great for any beginner knitter) and wonderful knitting tutorials. However, often the types of yarn which can also be found on other sites is a dollar or so more expensive at this site. They don’t give regular discounts, that I’ve seen, but do offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money – $110 at the time of this writing. They will wind the yarn for you, but I don’t know if there is a cost.
Thumbs Up: Unique Yarn and Color Choices, Free Patterns & Excellent video and picture tutorials. Allow comments from readers / buyers.
This site offers gorgeous hand-dyed (in Tennessee) yarn. They will wind a skein for you at a cost of $3.00 per skein. I used this service for a 1750 yard skein! This site has named yarns such as “Wild Iris” and “Babette” and I only recently figured out what that means. The “Wild Iris” label means the color is not repeatable and when it’s sold out, it’s gone. “Babette” means more will / can be made.
I love the yarn I’ve purchased, and they have sent little gifts with a couple of my orders – a few stitch markers, and a tiny sample of some yarn. Also they sent a nice thank you card with info on how to reach them if I have questions or need help. I love to feel appreciated, and tiny touches like that do the trick.
This is a fun place to shop for yarn. Their product views are nice on this site, showing 2 or 3 images, with close-up views. In fact, that is how I found this yarn site. The Webs site, mentioned above, often has only one (not very good) image of yarn colors. When I first signed up, I got a discount coupon for a following order – I always appreciate discounts!
Thumbs Up: Great Images of Yarn & Good Sales & Fast Shipping!
Hedgehog Fibres “Beach Bunny” sock yarn from Wool & Company
I’m adding The Woolly Thistle as a favorite shop for online ordering of specialty wool yarn imported from the UK, Scotland, Scandinavia, and other far off places. The shop is located in New Hampshire (which definitely caught my attention) and I recently purchased some wool and a book from them (because it’s about NH crafters). Check out this store (and her podcast) if you like to do stranded colorwork with nice wool. Shipping is free if you spend over $99 and it is F A S T!
New England's Narrow Road 