Schaefer Yarn Set to Close

November 30, 2012 by Sarah White 2 Comments

I feel like I have nothing but bad news for you this week (and this is not the end of it, unfortunately) but word on the Web is that Schaefer Yarn Company, based in Interlocken, N.Y., is going to close after 33 years in the business. Owner Cheryl Schaefer is retiring and closing up shop effective the end of this year. She is apparently not interested in selling the business, which has produced lovely handpainted yarns in beautiful colorways named for powerful and influential women (new colors for 2012-13 include Janis Joplin and Josephine Baker, among others).

These yarns are still available from local yarn stores and online, but no more will be produced, so if you want some you better order it now!

I used some of the yarn in my first book and really enjoyed it. I always thought it would be kind of fun to knit a sweater in the funky Nancy, a thick and thin textured yarn. My journalism background tells me I should want the Nellie Bly colorway, but I love the softer look of Elizabeth Zimmermann. But the bright colors of Janis Joplin are pretty great, too. Guess I should make up my mind quick!

I’m so sorry to see this business go and I hope you’ll take a chance to check this yarn out while it is still available.

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Comments

Becky says
December 5, 2012 at 11:09 am
Sad when a business that could carry on isn’t allowed to do so. Wonder why she doesn’t want to sell?
Do share with us when you knit up your sweater!!!
Anonymous says
April 11, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Goodbye and good riddance!
Their yarns looked good on the skein but were nothing special when worked. Rip off.

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Christmas Sock Knitting Patterns

Why should the fireplace get all the fun? Instead of knitting stockings this year, why not whip up a pair of Christmas themed socks? These Christmas sock knitting patterns are lots of fun to make and you can wear them to holiday gatherings for years to come.

For our friends in the southern part of the world, there are the Christmas in July socks from the Kiwi Lodge – Kylie (Ravelry link). These shorty socks are covered in Christmas trees and have bright pink heels and toes for a tropical feel. There’s also an option to make a longer sock if you celebrate somewhere it’s colder.

Twin Stitches Designs (Ravelry) has a fun pattern with mix and match colorwork motifs you can use to build your own cozy Christmas socks. From the sample socks I see Christmas puddings, trucks hauling trees, Santa belts, ornaments and a couple of different borders. There may be more patterns included but the listing doesn’t say. Make a pair that matches or use different motifs on each foot for extra holiday cheer.

If you want to stick to Christmas puddings on your holiday socks, check out this cute pattern from Stone Knits. These lovely socks feature a band of puddings around the leg and a bit of holly by the toes.

These vintage holiday light socks from Grey Owl Knits by Sarah are classic looking and lots of fun at the same time. I love this color combination but of course you can make your lights and stripes whatever colors you like or have on hand. They’re worked using stranded knitting.

And if you’d like even more of a mix of patterns for your socks, try Barbara Ceglédi’s Christmas Chaos socks, a free pattern on Ravelry. The pattern includes 25 little motifs you can choose from, ranging from snowflakes and Christmas trees to elf hats, reindeer and hearts.

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