Best use of sock yarn is knitting socks? You are not thinking enough!

Whether you're a sock maker or not, you might have at least one or two (or, hundreds!) sock yarn balls in your stash just like me. If you remember...  there's time that funky 'self-striping' yarns were so popular in sock knitting world. I do remember. One day I met this mind-blowing yarn ball that makes pattern by itself. Wow, such a life changing moment! It was such a hip thing to use the yarns like that little while but soon the fashion became yesterday's news.

Now, I have a bunch of sock yarn balls in mysterious color ways. No more socks with those loud color ways, I commended myself. Then what? Thought about scarves or hats but again, it is still too hip for me or my hubby. (I guess we are not getting any younger.) But, I wanted to do something unusual and different with these unusual leftovers.

After little bit of research and study I found something worth trying, something that might work. The goal is: saving the funky color ways of yarns yet creating awesome wearable. So I ended up staring this really really really (hundreds times!) simple, easy, and looking fabulous cowl. (The pattern is 4 rows repeats only! Technically, you don't even need to memorize it!) I used two different yarns: both sock yarns, by the way. It is called 'half linen stitch' and I worked in combo of self-striping color and mustard yellow. What do you think? Aren't they unexpectedly charming? Look at the backside. It is pretty reversible, right? Swee~t!

I am pretty sure other textured stitches such as linen stitch, herringbone stitch, moss stitch and etc. would work perfectly. It is surprisingly fun to explore the color development as you knit. You can play with many different combos of the colors as well as shades. I personally think the shade is more critical than colors in this particular stitch definition though.

So, here we are. Do you have some yarns that you feel like not any more your cup of tea? Try this little experiment and see if it still does not turn you on. I am pretty sure you will see the new possibility of your old stash after all. Well, if you feel nothing then it's about time to let the yarn go and grab more of new balls. LOL~ Happy stitching and tell me how you play with your stashes!