Balvicar by Stella Ackroyd
Balvicar by Stella Ackroyd
The colours of these pretty socks evoke an easy to wear country feel, while the pretty fairisle band adds a delicate feminine touch. (More importantly, the chequered band at the toe provides real interest when toasting your toes in front of the wood burner!)
Easy to work with no complicated stranding to navigate, the finished result is chic and fuss-free: just right for Autumn evening knitting!
Worked top-down from a ribbed cuff, the written pattern instructions include a reference chart for the fairisle border and are offered in three sizes ranging from UK shoe size 3 to 8. Knitted in the Fibre Company Amble, the finished socks are cosy and comfortable to wear and, with so many gorgeous shade to choose from, I’m definitely going to be making another pair soon!
The recommended yarn for Stella’s Balvicar socks is:
Yarn weight: 4ply / fingering
Skein weight: 100g
Fibre: 70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% Recycled nylon
Length: 325m / 355yards
Tension: 32 stitches per 10cm
Needle: 2.5mm (US 1.5)
Care: Machine wash on wool cycle or hand wash at 30 degrees. Dry flat.
Amble is a fingering-weight yarn made from a blend of eco-friendly washable wool and alpaca for comfort as well as recycled nylon for strength. Although designed especially for sock knitting, this is a soft and durable yarn also great for easy-to-care-for sweaters and accessories.
‘When The Fibre Co. set out to design a sock yarn, we stayed true to our guiding principle of harnessing the beauty that nature provides in a way that is gentle on our planet. We waited until a recycled nylon and an alternative to the standard chlorine processed washable wools became available. The end result is a soft yet durable yarn from Merino wool and alpaca fibres processed with an eco-friendly anti-shrinkage Easy-wash treatment. The recycled nylon adds strength and durability. We named this yarn Amble to reflect the kind of slow relaxed walking we enjoy here in the English Lake District. Some of the shades are borrowed from the successful palette in our Cumbria yarn with the cream and all heathers using a natural ecru Suri alpaca whilst the others use a natural brown Suri alpaca.’
Amble is also available in 25g mini skeins here
Yarn weight: 4ply / fingering
Skein weight: 25g
Fibre: 70% Easy-wash Merino wool, 20% Easy-wash alpaca, 10% Recycled nylon
Length: 81m / 88yards
Tension: 32 stitches per 10cm
Needle: 2.5mm (US 1.5)
Care: Machine wash on wool cycle or hand wash at 30 degrees. Dry flat.
Amble is a fingering-weight yarn made from a blend of eco-friendly washable wool and alpaca for comfort as well as recycled nylon for strength. Although designed especially for sock knitting, this is a soft and durable yarn also great for easy-to-care-for sweaters and accessories.
‘When The Fibre Co. set out to design a sock yarn, we stayed true to our guiding principle of harnessing the beauty that nature provides in a way that is gentle on our planet. We waited until a recycled nylon and an alternative to the standard chlorine processed washable wools became available. The end result is a soft yet durable yarn from Merino wool and alpaca fibres processed with an eco-friendly anti-shrinkage Easy-wash treatment. The recycled nylon adds strength and durability. We named this yarn Amble to reflect the kind of slow relaxed walking we enjoy here in the English Lake District. Some of the shades are borrowed from the successful palette in our Cumbria yarn with the cream and all heathers using a natural ecru Suri alpaca whilst the others use a natural brown Suri alpaca.’
Amble is also available in 100g full skeins here