inky socks

I have had an ongoing love affair with Winsor & Newton inks since I was a teenager. I adore the little boxes, labels and pots which have hardly changed since I first discovered them. I used to save up my fish-and-chip shop earnings to buy one colour at a time for decorating eggs, then I'd line them up with the bottles on top of the boxes and examine the details of the packaging for hours on end.

Of all the fabulous colours, there was one which intrigued me more than any other, and this was viridian. It was so deep and full of itself that I used to think of it as a complete one-off in the spectrum. I tried it out in many patterns and colour schemes on my eggs, but always regarded it as a somewhat stand-offish colour which kept the rest of the rainbow at bay.

So I wasn't surprised when I started knitting these socks for Simon to find that it was the viridian bands that stood out. But gradually it dawned on me that they also managed to look wonderful with all the other inky colours. This quality of inkiness works brilliantly in these socks and, sure enough, when I went to an art shop to check, I found that Winsor & Newton have an ink to match every stripe in Simon's socks.

In fact, after a while it was the viridian stripes that I looked forward to encountering on my spiral travels; the yarn at this point seemed somehow richer and denser and softer. Or maybe it was me just softening my attitude towards an awkward colour?

Only Kaffe Fassett could make viridian seem willing to work with other colours. His colour sense is just amazing; these socks are knitted in his Regia Caribbean sock yarn #4261 on 3.5mm dpns to the same old pattern I use all the time.

Modelled by Simon, with Phoebe's encouragement to turn his toes out properly.

Comments

[Gemma]

Ahhhh only a man very much in love with his wife would be seen with a perfect first position turn out in public!

My imagining of this photo shoot is excellent! :o)

[Amy in Malaysia]

Did a post disappear? I am sure I read a post with beautiful pink flowers on bloglines this morning - along with a funny youtube link my 13 year old son would love - but now it is gone. Did I imagine it all?!

[Lorie]

These are great, and I had wondered if the Fassett yarn was a hit or not. Can't beat him for color sense, in anything..Jane do you paint or write with the inks at all? They seem very saturated colors. Nice.

[hPNY Knits]

I so very relate about Winsor & Newton! when I lived in London, eons ago, I had a collection. I feel Kaffe fasset's genius in these colorways is striking.

[m]

Have you ever done the Winsor and Newton factory tour? (The factory is at Harrow.) I went some years ago and it's truly fascinating, I'm sure you'd love it as you're so interested in colour.

[Ali]

Ah - real ink. The smell of it is so evocative. I was heavily into Sheaffer 'Peacock Blue' as a teenager and I spy it in those socks.

[Jeanette]

So,I'm not the only one who loves windsor and newton inks? Yay for that!
Gorgeous socks.

[coffeechris]

I was wondering the same thing as Amy in Malaysia - did the last post disappear? I was wondering if you could include the two You Tube link's they were so GREAT! Love your ink socks and colors are beautiful.

[AS]

For some reason this reminds me of how much I used to love wandering around office supply stores, testing pens and looking at all the different kinds of paper. I'm not sure what it says about me that when other girls my age were already interested in clothes, I just wanted pens and paper, but there it is.

[martha Bilski]

Just a few days ago I discovered that a few of my Windsor and Newton ink bottles had leaked in their little boxes and had to be pried loose. I like to use them with glass tipped pens. They are an indulgence, like stained glass, or a chinese red door. I did not throw away the boxes. I will use them in a collage one day or in an encaustic painting, embedded in the paint,as though in amber.

[Maz]

I still have the W & N inks I coveted as a teenager, (A long time ago...)in a handmade box my father made me. Struggling to get the lids off some of them now. Note to self... take a photo of the inks in their box to post... I certainly got my pocket money's worth from them! Thanks for reminding me:-)

[Kristen]

I thought I was the only one with a love for inks. I have just a few from my HighSchool/College days. A Vermillion that is W&N is a favorite of mine. Now, what did you do with the inks? I used mine to write calligraphy, paint with, and to fill rapidograph pens.

Before I met my husband, he took a lathe class at a community college. He turned an ink bottle...12" tall out of solid poplar. We still have that...at the top of a bookshelf.

[Julie Rappe]

I have that very same yarn waiting in my basket. I'm thrilled at how it knits up.

About the inks, I'm so intrigued. How did you use it for coloring eggs?

[cherry]

I share your passion. I was only remembering with nostalgia last night, in the insomniac hours, that I used to bleach a section of my (dark brown) hair white, then colour it as was my wont, with W&N inks. Magenta was a favourite. I was wondering wether I could still carry it off at 49?!

[Joanna]

Lovely to see these, as I'm knitting my very first pair of socks in this exact yarn. In fact, it's the first knitting I've done for about 20 years, and I'm loving it. Only I haven't yet got a good method for holding the dpns I'm not using, they seem to get in the way. May I ask how long it takes you to knit a pair of socks?

Joanna

[tutlleymutley]

Wonderful socks and a nicely turned out toe.
And I share your love of inks too.
Have you ever tried dropping or scratching bleach into inks? Fascinating effect.

[Sherry]

Beautiful colors - it remains me of a very intense seascape.

You know, last night, I dreamed that I was wandering in your gardens and a few tulips had started to bloom. It was beautiful, a very lovely dream.

[Vicky B - A]

I adore those socks! That blue is beautiful!
My Mum has two bottles of WINSOR & NEWTON INK - the Crimson and Apple Green. She hasn't used them yet, but got them in Paperchase - they usually have a big selection of colours! Keep posting please Mrs Brocket!

THANKYOU xxxxxxxxxxx

[sarah shepherd]

You're 'same old pattern' is particularly lovely with the ribbing going down to below the ankles ... so what is this 'same old pattern'? Or should I search your achive? I'm hoping this year I will knit my first pair of socks ... so currently researching for the big event!

[leisa]

It is always so a joy to see your juxtaposition of knitted work and other items. Ink and Wool who would have imagined. Lovely photos! They just pop off the screen. I thank you daily for your inspirations!

[Diane]

Beautiful socks, but then all your makings are exquisite. I so admire your eye for colour and the way you portray things. Just lovely.

W&N Violet. Siiiiiiggggghhhh of pleasure.

[Rebecca]

Oh yes, you have stirred my memories too, I remember coveting those bottles of ink, something so mysterious and sophisticated about them. I had a strange obsession with calligraphy as a teenager and used to spend hours carefully scribing terribly deep and meaningful poems (I copied out the occasional pop song too of course). Cobalt was always my special fascination.

[mesclun]

It seems many of us fell in love with the Winsor & Newton Inks when we were teens. The boxes alone, with their lovely and whimsical illustrations, are worth the price of the ink. Thanks for reminding me of how much I love those little bottles of pure color. It makes me want to head out to the art store and get some right now. Or maybe I should head out to the knitting store and get some yarn...
The inky socks rock - and Simon's modeling - well perhaps a there's a second career on the horizon?

[Neuroknitter]

I hadn't thought about ink in years...the mention of Peacock Blue in the comments brings back memories of my days doing calligraphy!

Beautiful socks! What a great presentation!

[carol]

I agree, Mr. F certainly has an extraordinary eye for colour.