Everything you need to know about the Sock Along but were too afraid to ask!

Get ready for the ultimate sock knitting adventure because the Sock Along is back for 2024, and we couldn't be more excited! Here’s the lowdown on everything you need to know to join the fun and knit your way through the summer with us.

How Do I Sign Up? From June 15th, you can purchase the Color Popportunity Socks pattern on Westknits.com or Ravelry. This is the name of this year’s Surprise Sock Along pattern. Don't forget to join the fun chat in our Ravelry group and on Instagram with #SSAL2024 and #WestknitsSurpriseSockAlong2024.

How Do I Get Clues? The clues are released every Tuesday. If you purchase the pattern through Ravelry, you'll receive an email and can update your pattern in your Library. If you buy it through westknits.com, you'll get an email when the update is ready for download.

How Many Clues Are There? There are four clues:

• Clue 1 – July 9
• Clue 2 – July 16
• Clue 3 – July 23
• Clue 4 – July 30

What Skill Level is the SSAL Suited For? The pattern is perfect for adventurous beginners (you should know how to knit, purl, increase, decrease, and read a pattern), and seasoned knitters will enjoy it too. There’s tons of support throughout the KAL, including photo tutorials and video tutorials by Stephen on YouTube. Even if you’ve never knitted socks before, Stephen's clear step-by-step videos will guide you through every technique.

Will There Be Brioche in the Pattern? If there is brioche, don't worry! There will also be a non-brioche option.

Can I Use Yarn from My Stash? Absolutely! The Surprise Sock Along is open to everyone, and it's not necessary to buy a kit to participate. We offer kits at various price points, and our customer service team is always happy to help you match yarn to skeins in your stash.

What Yarn Do I Need to Participate? You will need 100g of fingering weight sock yarn for the main color and three contrast color pops. Mini skeins are perfect for this! You could also use one ball of self-striping sock yarn for all the contrast pops with 100g of your main color. More yarn advice and gauge/needle information is included in the introductory PDF you receive when you sign up.

When Are the Kits on Sale? Kits go on sale Saturday, June 15, at 16:00 CET at www.stephenandpenelope.com. Be sure to check what time this is for you!

Is the Pattern Included in the Kits? The pattern is not included with the yarn kit. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry or Westknits.com. If you purchase it on westknits.com, you can also add it to your Ravelry library via the link in your order confirmation.

What is Sock Yarn? Sock yarn is usually 437yds / 400m per 100g skein. We recommend yarn with 15-25% nylon for durability. Superwash sock yarns without nylon work well too, especially for lounging socks.

Can I Use Self-Striping Yarn? Absolutely! One self-striping yarn can be used instead of the three contrast colours. You'll need about 279yds / 255m total for the contrast colour.

Can I Use Variegated or Speckled Yarn? We recommend solid, semi-solid, and lightly speckled yarns. A solid main colour with a self-striping contrast colour also works great.

How Do I Know If My Main and Contrast Colours Are a Good Combo? The main colour should contrast well with all three contrast colours. Think light grey with bright pops, dark with light accents, or medium tones with bold pops. The main colour will dominate, and the contrasts will be decorative.

We can't wait to embark on this sock knitting journey with you. Get ready for an adventurous summer with the Color Popportunity Socks! Set your alarm for 16:00 (CET) on 15th June to pick up your kit 🎉