Dark Omen Yarn

In anticipation for Westknits' 2025 Surprise Sock Along, we asked Francesco at Dark Omen Yarn⁠ a few questions about his dying process, inspirations, and how to stay motivated while working on socks! He delivered with all the tips you'll need to work through your next pair of socks, whether it's your first or fiftieth!⁠ 

Team toe-up or cuff-down when it comes to knitting socks? 

I’m definitely team Toe-Up, I like to get to the fun part first, toe set-up, increases, heel, all the fun happens there! ⁠

What’s your strategy for beating the second sock scaries — getting that second sock cast on and finished? ⁠

I think the secret lies all in knitting them toe-up, since it’s a fun exercise to cast them on, using a Turkish cast-on or any technique you don’t find often in other types of knitting. If it was a cuff-down, well… I wouldn’t know how to start the second sock :D

What makes dyeing for sock yarn unique to dyeing yarn for other  garments?⁠

Dyeing for socks is different because almost any color is perfect for sock knitting. For sweaters you have to be very careful that youdon’t go too crazy cause what you make might look way too whacky! But for socks? That’s not an issue, it’s a plus! 

How did you first get into hand-dyeing yarn and what creative direction are you hoping to explore next? ⁠

It just happened, there was nothing planned, it was all a chain of events that started back in 2014 when I first met Stephen West in Paris at L’Oisive The, I didn’t know I would be working there two years later and definitely had no idea I’d open my own dyeing studio in 2020! It’s been a tough but fun adventure! I hope I’ll be able to explore more story driven colorways and kits!⁠

Check out all of Dark Omen's vibrant yarns here.