Knitters celebrate handmade socks at Alpaca Direct!

There's nothing like the post-holidays for crafters: A time to take a deep breath, shift gears and pick up a project you'll truly and thoroughly enjoy. No more Christmas deadlines, no more second-guessing sweater sizes... It's just you and your yarn! So, in honor of your new-found freedom, we're spotlighting a perennial favorite "process" project: Socks!

Especially for those of us in chilly climates, socks represent instant comfort, for both the wearer and the knitter. Just imagine yourself snuggled under your favorite blanket, smiling warmly as a ribbed cuff becomes a stripy leg, or as a stockinette toe braids itself into a cable motif across the foot. Socks are as simple or as challenging as you want them to be - a rare treasure in the world of fiber crafts.

We're celebrating handmade socks all month long at our store in Hayden, spotlighting the very best of our 12-sock yarn lines (a total of more than 200 color choices!). Treat your feet to luxury with every step: Our Unisono yarn is infused with aloe vera and jojoba to pamper your hands as you work and your feet as you wear the finished sock! Our sneaky self-patterning Austermann Step yarn does the fancy colorwork for you - no cumbersome floats or loose ends to tame. Or, go straight for the good stuff with unbelievably soft Misti Alpaca sock yarn in knockout hand-painted colorways.

Sock Season at Alpaca Direct will culminate in our first Sock Celebration on Feb. 7! Wear your favorite hand-knit pair to dazzle other sock lovers, or start knitting your first pair at our Socks on Circular Needles class from 6-8 p.m. For experienced sock knitters, the festivities will include a tip swap (share your best techniques and advice!) and, for that night only, 25 percent off all designated sock yarn (limit four per customer)!

Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high quality yarn, apparel and jewelry. We stock a full line of fiber art accessories, from handcrafted needles and hooks to spindles and spinning wheels. Our carefully curated boutique selection also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, pima cotton pajamas, cuddly alpaca teddy bears and unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. We are located on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Highway 95 at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Our Alpaca fiber experts are on call 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Visit us at 1016 W. Hayden Ave. or online at www.AlpacaDirect.com - your local destination for luxury yarn, apparel and gifts.