Art Socks

I’m so excited about Opal Yarn's new Hundertwasser sock yarn. (Opal's site) I’ve finished one pair and they are just beautiful. Here’s why this yarn is so cool.

Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser (born Friedrich Stowasser December 15, 1928 – February 19, 2000) was an Austrian painter and sculptor. He was very controversial as were most of my favorite artists. He was influenced by Klimt, Schiele, and Anton Gaudi who designed those bizarre buildings in Spain. Hope to see them some day. His work has been used for posters, stamps, even flags. Now it is socks. (Scroll down for some pics.)

The Opal folks have taken a work, analyzed the colors and then reproduced them into a self patterning sock yarn, being careful to keep the same proportion of color as the original work. Thanks to Burgl Pruitt for bringing this yarn to my attention at a Charlotte Knitting Guild meeting.

The yarn is 75% superwash wool and 25% polymid—machine washable and dryable (but I always air dry). It doesn’t feel soft in the ball, but softens considerably in the wash. There are free patterns, one of which knits the sock lengthwise. I just used a K3, P1 cuff and a Pat Moore’s favorite Dutch heel. I was even able to knit them on a size 1 instead of a 0; 64 sts. Steve loves them., especially the heel.

Charlotte Yarn is carrying this yarn, but you had better hurry—I want more!!!