Lightweight over the knee socks are a great choice for springy weather and they keep rocking when you layer them over coloured tights when the weather cools down.  I’m a big fan of combining lighter-weight tall socks with warm leg warmers in the morning. Then later, when the sun asserts its dominance, the legwarmers can go into my bag and my lightly clad legs can continue being comfy!

The Vertically Inclined Stockings are probably one of the ultimate lightweight sock options, with subtle, almost-openwork that keep your legs from suffocating in warm temperatures.  And probably my current favourite legwarmer are the Harajuku Furry Warmers—mine are getting a little beat up, even, from how much I wear them.

Openwork over the knees are a great layering option for this trick. These three are some of our favourite and most popular:

• Open Crochet Over the Knee •
• Crochet Lover Over the Knee •
• Havana Thigh High •

We offer a wide selection of leg warmer weights, from barely-there to super cozy.  For this layering trick, shorter styles are best, with less bulk.

• Pia Marled Popcorn Stitch Leg Warmer •
• Ribbed Knit Leg Warmer •
• Super Warmer – Long •

If you want a little more coverage that is just as light, a lot of the styles in our Frills & Lace post in February are just as perfect now as earlier in the year, only now you don’t need to layer solid tights under them!

A couple more styles that are great to layer with after the jump!

The soft as a dream Wrinkle Press Knee High are a great transitional layer.  Pair with tights, or leggings—like the Foot Traffic Floral Leggings—for a little bit of peek-a-boo layering.

These ultimate lightweight, semi-openwork knee highs even have an almost perfect arm warmer match in the Ethereal Arm Warmers, which are also great layering options for late spring.  Arm warmers in general are great for any in-between season, adding that extra bit of warm while the weather figures out where it’s going.

• Harajuku Garden Arm Warmers •
• Leopard Texture Arm Warmers •
• Chevron Sleeves •

There are a lot of layering possibilities, do you have a favourite pairing to keep your legs warm in the morning but comfy in the afternoon sunshine?  How are your socks greeting the change in seasons?

Traditionally, you tell the new year who’s boss with something sparkly! I showed off a lot of our sparkle in last year’s post, but we have some new ways to shine the new year in.  The Lurex Leggings are just the right amount of shimmer that can be worn in a fun everyday outfit without being too crazy.  The Furry Lurex Leg Warmers, on the other hand, are pretty intense, but also super-duper warm.  And they swish pretty wonderfully when you walk.

• Lurex Leggings •
• Furry Lurex Leg Warmers •

In the vein of fun to wear but not necessarily something you can sneak into everyday wardrobe, the Rainbow Organza Tutu is amazing, and I think about all of us Dreamers who’ve tried it on have been compelled to skip around happily.  It’s a little blacklight reactive too!

But what about those of us who need some flash and fun for regular, every day wear? We’ve got some more sedate, but still fun options for you after the jump!

One word: layering.  With the new Color Tights, you have 17 fantastic shades to layer under geometric openwork styles.  These three styles would pop gorgeously over any colour.

• Warning Net Pantyhose •
• Open Panel Tights •
• Open Crochet Over the Knee •

If you’re a little bolder, then go for an animal print! Bold or subtle, animal print peeking out from beneath pants or under a skirt and legwarmers will make you feel awesome and look even awesomer!

• Animal Stripe Over the Knee •
• Samara Animal Print Tights •
• Leopard Texture Leggings (on sale right now too!) •

What other fun things do we have to add some pizazz to your wardrobe for the new year?  Well, digging through our Accessories collections, there are definitely some fun options that you might have missed.

The Jeanie Arm Warmers have a wee pocket that isn’t really big enough to be super useful, but is big enough to get your brain cooking with things you could put in it.

The Snappy Star Garters are not only a sparkly, starry new year-appropriate look, they’re useful! (but also: sparkly!)

These are just a few of the fun fancies that we’re filled with.  Get ready for your new year and drop us a line if you want any help figuring out what awesome, new, socky goodness to add to 2012!

• Kabella Wool Cable Trouser Socks •
• Greyson Merino Microplane Midcalf •
• Lucille Wool Crochet Trouser Socks •

It’s also getting to be time for tights and leggings, to add that extra layer of warm when you need it.  Maybe it isn’t quite cold enough for cotton-lined wool, but lighter weight, open-knit cotton tights like the Codori Crochet Tights will help you keep rocking shorts and skirts as the leaves start to fall.  They’re available in two new colours too, Graphite and Espresso! We don’t have images for them yet, but they’re the same as the same colours in the Doris Crochet Trouser Socks.

A couple more transitional options and my favourite OTK trick for when the weather warms up after the jump!

Cozy OTKs that cuff well in wool or cotton are also the perfect thing.  I wear a pair of over the knee socks pulled up when I walk to work and end up cuffing them to knee high by the end of the work day.

• O Woolies •
• Pebble Ribbed Over the Knees •
• NZ Sock Lady Merino Thigh Highs •

Now, I’ve got short legs so to get OTKs to cuff properly on me I have to double-cuff them, unless I want to slouch my socks—which I love, but doesn’t work for all styles.  It’s a super easy trick that makes all the difference. (Ooh, these socks are in our new item queue and I LOVE them, so keep an eye on What’s New this month for sure!)

It’s also time for leg warmers and arm warmers! We’re already seeing people start to stock up—they’re great because you can layer them when it’s cold and take them off and pop ‘em in a pocket or purse if it warms up.

• Foot Traffic Ribbed Knit Leg Warmers •
• Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers •
• Super Warmers Long •

So how do you transition into fall?  Is there a sock or style that you have to stock up on once the leaves start turning?

One summer style that is a big favourite with Dreamers and will always remind me of a box of crayons are the Dream Sneakers.  They hide under high tops and their ankle band of colour just pops over lower shoes. And they come in packs of two pair!

(from top right, going clockwise: Black/Royal, Black/Purple, Black/Fuchsia, Black/Red, Black/Gold, Black/Kelly)

Now, sometimes you need more than little sneaker socks. Lightweight arm warmers and even an OTK after the jump!

We get asked what arm warmer styles are good lightweight summer styles pretty regularly.  Both the Vitamin Arm Warmers and the Chevron Sleeves are good, fuller coverage arm warmers that are still light enough to breathe.  If you’re sensitive to the sun, they’re a great choice.  The Ethereal Arm Warmers are the same long length and are even lighter, but they are also are semi-sheer, so they won’t give you as much protection.  Between all three is one of my favourite rainbows, swinging between summer neons and sunbleached pales:

(from top right, going clockwise: Ethereal in Lilac, Ethereal in Pink, Chevron Sleeves in Dark Red, Vitamin in Neon Orange, Vitamin in Neon Yellow, Chevron Sleeves in Hunter)

Speaking of coverage, sometimes you may want a little more on your legs in the summer, either for the evening or personal style.  When it’s warm, it’s best to stick with open, lacy styles.  The open, cotton blend knit of the Crochet Lover Over the Knees is a perfect option. I love how their colours are dusty but vibrant, like wildflowers and summer grass.

(from top right, going clockwise: Dark Cyan, Brown, Merlot, Rust, Gold, Olive)

We know some of you do go sockless in the summer, especially the summer weather most of the country is having right now (and we forgive you, since you do rock socks in the winter!), but if you do wear socks or armwarmers, do you have a go-to summer colours?  What colours are summer to you?

Ooh! And don’t forget to check out the contest before it ends next Thursday, July 28!

(from top left, going clockwise: Emerald Green, Dark Cyan, Purple, Red, California Orange, Yellow)

Not only do they come in twenty five (!) colours, the Harajuku Arm Warmers are the perfect balance of warm and lightweight.  They’re short enough to stuff in a jacket pocket when it warms up and the open space for fingers means I can easily slip them down to wash my hands.

Lovely as they are, they aren’t the only arm warmers that have their own pretty rainbow.  Two more great spring transitional arm warmer rainbows after the jump!

I’ve written before about the great cozy properties of alpaca and angora, they’re such perfect insulators, keeping you warm without being too hot, exactly what early spring weather needs.  Breaux arm warmers are beautiful alpaca blends and have a cozy rainbow of cabled colour options in the Alpaca Cable Knit Arm Warmers and the Alpaca Cable Hand Warmers.

(from top left, going clockwise: hand warmers in Forest, Steel Blue, Merlot; arm warmers in Red Wine; hand warmers in Rust and arm warmers in Mustard)

What I’ve been relying on all winter and into the spring are the Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers.  I wear them under arm warmers when I need an extra kick of cozy, hidden under long sleeves, pulled up partially on my hand, plus they’re perfect for when a t-shirt isn’t quite warm enough, but arm warmers would be too much. I guess, in short, I’ve been living in them! Their eleven colour options offer a muted rainbow that is as soft a selection as angora itself.

(from top left, going clockwise: Olive, Sapphire, Blackberry, Burgundy, Fawn, Natural)

What’s your favourite springtime arm warmer? Do you have a rainbow of them, or a few favourite shades?

Now, for something far more useful, turning one long sock into two cozy arm warmers. You can do it with two socks (matching or unmatching) too, which means you can keep the cuff, but if you’re using widowed socks or the Crafty Bundles, then you likely have just one sock to work with. But I like these kind of warmers a lot as the weather starts getting warmer and everything doesn’t have to be so snug.

The how-to, with links to more tutorials after the jump!

To limit the sewing you’ll need to worry about, choose a sock that is tightly knit, like a t-shirt.. The coarsest knit you should use is something like the M Stripes. A lot of the DreaM Stocking textured styles, like the O Chevrons and Vertically Inclined also react well to being cut.

You’ll need a sock, a needle and thread and scissors.

First, cut the foot and the cuff off your sock, creating a tube of sock. This is a great point to check and see if you’ll need to hem your finished warmers. Gently stretch the cut-off part of the sock—if it rolls, hiding the cut end and doesn’t shed a bunch, then you’re golden!

Now, cut your tube in half, stretching the ends gently after you cut to roll them and finish of the ends. You can stop here and you’ve got two sleeves, like the Chevron Sleeves. But thumb holes are more fun.

Trying on your sleeves, figure out where you want your thumb hole. Use a pin (careful!) or a pen to mark where you will cut.

And cut!

Now, even though your cuts straight across the sock don’t fray, this cut will. You’ll need to break out a needle and thread to finish up. Carefully roll/fold the thumb hole edge, tucking the raw edge inside. Using a sturdy stitch like the backstitch, sew down the edge of the thumb hole, being careful not to pull the thread too tight, you’ll want to retain some of the stretch.

Do the same on the other half and there you have it, arm warmers!

This is a super simplified option. Searching “sock into arm warmer” will bring up dozens of tutorials. One I like is this one at the Brassy Apple, showing a trick to get more length out of the sock by sewing over the heel. At Craft with Confidence there’s a great way to finish the thumb and finger ends of the warmers.

Before I go, I simply have to share this link from Design Sponge on covering vases with socks. It sounds so weird, but I have to admit I like the effect.

Have any of you picked up a Crafty Bundle? If so, what have you made with it?

It’s too late to suggest socks and accessories for new year parties, but sparkle shouldn’t be confined to just beginnings. The shine of a new year, like a treat still in its wrapper, sort of begs for sparkles and shine. But rocking a little glitz can help keep up the hope a year began with into the following months.

I can think of nothing more appropriate than the sparkle of rhinestones to kick off a new year. Silver sparkles dress up basic leggings and little net gloves—because basics don’t have to be boring.

• Fingerless Fishnet Gloves with Rhinestones •
• Rhinestone Studded Microfiber Leggings •

For leg warmers we have a nice gradient of shimmer, from the delicate stripe of shine, to bold stars, or an all out lurex marl, heavy on the sparkle. You can choose your level of sparkle:

• Wide Stripe and Lurex Leg Warmer •
• Lurex Star Leg Warmer (also available in an awesome pink) •
• Lurex Leg Warmer with Pom Pom Tie Top •

Thigh highs, tights and more after the jump!

The same goes for thigh highs. From all-out sparkle to the saucy stripes, with a more subtle option for those inclined to keep their shimmer down-key.

• Lurex Shimmery Thigh Highs •
• Lurex Sheer Stripe Thigh Highs with Sparkling Bow •
• Lurex Nouveau OTKs •

There are two styles that are in the Zap collection that we won’t be seeing again, but if you’re quick you may grab a last pair before they shimmy their shimmer out our door:

• Glitter Roses Tights (in Black & Silver) •
• Fancy Pants Crochet Knee Highs (in Gold w/Gold Shine) •

I’ll round up this list with one of my favourites, the Lurex Zebra Tights. They’re great on their own, but they look amazing layered over coloured tights too!

Now, about that Vices collection. Both us and our suppliers were happily overwhelmed this holiday season, but we’re stocking back up fast as we can, so even if you’ve given up your particular fancy for the new year you can still indulge in sock form.  And, as always, you can drop us a line and we’ll notify you as soon as the style you’re waiting for is back in stock. We do still have a couple of basics in still available:

• Beer Knee Highs •
• Bottle & Pint Midcalves •
• Whiskey Knee Highs •

How do you spend your new year? With sparkle, with a goodbye to a vice, with fun, friends and family? However you do it, we hope to keep your toes cozy into the new year!

There was some uncertainty as to how we would handle these, nevermind they arrived when we were at our holiday busiest this month… a time when taking pictures of sock-like goodness is hard to accomplish, between being so busy with orders coming in and going out and very limited daylight & presence of mind. But I was able to fit these in and am enjoying their warmth even as I type this.
I idn’t find this particular pair to be very itchy, but some of these wool warmers are until they are washed. I usually just use some shampoo and my favorite smelling condition softens them nicely.
Right after New Years we will be adding even more yummy gloves and warmers…
I can hardly wait to get my mitts on them!!!

If you love face paint, you may want to try rocking the La Calavera Catrina look, a classic Dia de los Muertos costume and image. Some face paint, any sort of outfit, and a pair of the Harajuku Long Bones Arm Warmers and the Kawaii Skeleton Over The Knee.

More costume fun after the jump!

Rainbow Brite is a total Halloween classic, and her look is easy to emulate using our Rainbow Collection. The most popular options are the Foot Traffic Rainbow OTKs and the Cuffed Rainbow Leg Warmers.

The beautiful costuming by Colleen Atwood for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland has inspired many and Sock Dreams knows just what socks and stockings to use for the finishing touch. We’ve even got a whole Wonderland Collection for you to check out!

Alice

There’s a great scene in the film when Alice’s aunt chides her on her stockings and I was thrilled that we got a look at the legwear she was rocking under her petticoats.  I couldn’t find any screencaps, but this great shot from the costume exhibition shows us that Alice wears daintily striped black and white knee highs, like the Sheer Striped Ruched Trouser Sock in Black & White:

Red Queen

Thanks to this great promo shot, we’ve known for a while that the best match for the Red Queen’s legwear are the Poker Suit Printed Thigh Highs.

Mad Hatter

Now he’s trickier.  Showing off his socks with his knickerbockers, the Mad Hatter has at least three different pairs of mis-matched socks that he wears!  In the movie posters and promo images your best bet to match the right foot are the Ozone Stripey Midcalf in Navy or Black. For the left foot you just need a bright orange sock, like the Cotton Slouch Sock in Tangerine.

Then there are the socks he wears in the Red Queen’s palace, as the Dormouse is trying to remove the leg iron. We haven’t found example stills yet, and but this is the only time we see a clear, close look at any of the Hatter’s socks.  It’s doubtful that they’re matching, but the one we do see is simply repeating stripe of red-black-white-black-red.  Similar styles we carry are the Sock Dreams Home Teams in Black & Orange and the Soft & Dreamy Wide & Thin Stripe Knee High in Black Multi.

When the Mad Hatter faces off against the Jabberwocky, he rocks a kilt and two simple (but not matching!) stripes, best approximated by the Over the Knee Rugby Stripes in Navy & Light Blue on the right and the Super Stripe Knee Highs in Charcoal & Grey on the left.

Whew! Lots of socks and lots of costume ideas. I hope this helps in figuring out your costume.
Let us know how they work and we always love to see pictures…
which you can add as a fan photo on Facebook. 

Photo credits! Catrina Masked, originally uploaded by Green Kozi on Flickr.  1980’s Rainbow Brite from Rainbowbrite.net. Alice in Wonderland costume stills and pictures found on the amazing Costumer’s Guide to Movie Costumes. The Alice Hall of Doors scene, originally uploaded by FIDM on Flickr.

Angora rabbits are distinctly fuzzy, a result of the lightness of the fiber that makes up their coats.  Soft and silky, the fiber has a fluffy halo that works with hollow fibers to create the ultimate thermal wool.  Because it doesn’t have much elasticity it is most often mixed in small amounts with other wools, imparting its softness in a beautiful blend.  I also like to think that their natural cuteness gets passed on to the wearer with the wool.

More like hair than wool, Alpaca fleece is strong and lightweight, making it perfect for technical applications.  It’s also lanolin-free, making it hypoallergenic.  Like angora, it has partially hollow fibers that add to its already impressive thermal abilities, even when wet.  I think it’s an added bonus that such a serious, business-like fiber comes from one of the most goofy animals.

Here at Sock Dreams we’ve got some amazing options in both fibers, from sport-ready anklets to crazy cozy legwarmers. After the jump I list a few, and you may be surprised what styles are hiding one of these lovely luxury fibers!

• Orkney Angora Leg Warmers •
• Alpaca Cable Knit Arm Warmers •
• Argyle Baby Booties •

• Ultra Light Trail Anklet •
• Angora Rose Garden Knee Highs •
• Expedition Knee Highs •

Do you have a favourite in one of these fancy fibers?  I love the Orkney Angora Wrist Warmers and the amazing arch support of the Dahlgrens, but I’m wondering how other wool-phobic folks feel about the un-irritating fluffiness of angora and the hypoallergenic aspects of alpaca.

The adorable pictures of the baby angora rabbit and the two inquisitve alpaca were shot by Chronographia Strangehours and used with permission.