Unique colour creations exclusively available each month!
Colour of the Month Theme for 2026 - Children's Literature
October 2026 - The Widow's Broom!
The Widow's Broom is a 1992 children's novel written by the American author Chris Van Allsburg and is our tribute to the Halloween season! Chris Van Allsburg is the winner of two Caldecott Medals, for Jumanji and The Polar Express, as well as the recipient of a Caldecott Honor Book for The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. The author and illustrator of numerous picture books for children, he has also been awarded the Regina Medal for lifetime achievement in children's literature.
The story involves a widow named Minna Shaw. One evening, a witch falls from her broom when it suddenly loses the ability to fly, causing the witch to crash-land in the garden near Minna's house. Minna takes her in until she recovers, and when she does, the witch calls a friend to "drive" her home, leaving her own broom behind. Minna Shaw discovers the broom is still in her house and is startled, and more than a little afraid, when it comes to life later that evening. She discovers that the broom is harmless and teaches it how to feed the chickens, chop wood, and play the piano. The neighbor women and children are comfortable with the broom, but the men are worried because it is a former witch's broom. Soon, two boys begin to harass it, which angers the broom and so it beats them and flings their dog over the forest. The boys' parents demand that the broom be burned at the stake, and Mina allows this. The broom's phantom-white ghost begins stalking the Spiveys' house, terrifying them so they leave town. Minna can now listen to the broom play the piano because she'd given the Spiveys her own ordinary household broom to burn and cooked up the plan for the magical broom (which was just painted white), to scare her neighbors away!
Our suggested pairings for October include Lodgepole pine, Le Chat Noir, Chili Pepper Chocolate, and Cinnamon Toast.
Socknado - 80% SW Fine Merino / 20%Nylon
350 meters / 385 yards per 100 gram / 3.5 oz skein
Gauge: 27 - 32 sts / 4 inches (10 cm) US 1.5 - 3 or 2.5 - 3.25 mm
While we make every effort to represent colour accurately, they may vary slightly when viewed on different monitors.