Just a quick update on my second Flabella sock. It seems like it's going very slowly but that's only because the first one went so quickly (due to a greater than usual proportion of knitting time). I'm about two rounds from starting the heel and have only three bobblesleft to make. Despite the way this sock is taking longer than the first one, I think my knitting speed on the pattern has picked up now that I'm only looking at the charts half the time. The leg chart feels like it is going much faster than the first time around anyway and I have a feeling that the foot will be similar.

If you are a Notorious Sock Knitter who has not yet received her kit (and doesn't want it to be spoiled) or have a violent aversion to sock related blog content, go no further!

If, however, you need a dose of colour in your day, could not possibly get enough of socks, are a former Notorious Sock Knitter needing a bit of the fun or, you know, just feel like reading something silly instead of whatever you were supposed to be doing right now, read on!

This year I decided to join the ranks of Notorious Sock Knitters world wide and signed up for the Rockin' Sock Club with Blue Moon Fibre Arts. I've considered it before but always chickened out: it's a bit expensive and I've never been sure if a club that picks my yarn and patterns for me was really what I wanted. What changed this year?

1) The Yarn Harlot mentioned the club, and that sign-ups were open, at the precise moment I was trying to come up with strategies to get me through the rest of the winter (the world doesn't start to get colourful around here until nearly June).

2) My friend Liette, who has been a member for past years, has the most beautiful stash I have ever seen (and keeps part of it in an awesome old-timey trunk in the middle of her living room).

3) I had the startling realization that if I didn't want to knit the pattern they gave me with the yarn they gave me .... that was totally okay. I can't believe it took me so long to come up with that but it really made all the difference. I still plan to try out the patterns they send because I think that's part of the fun of the club but I'm not going to feel guilty if it turns out I just don't like one.

I signed up at the beginning of January and then waited to hear when the kits were going out and watch everyone receive them. It's a lot of fun to watch the forums while you're waiting for your kit (though every once in a while someone would slip and mention something that should have been labelled "SPOILER"). It seemed to be taking ages but really I think it was only the two weeks it usually takes for things to arrive from the States.

My parcel arrived Wednesday night (and went unblogged because I couldn't get any really nice pictures until this afternoon). Wednesday was really cold but Abby and I went out for a short walk to the mailbox anyway, just to check. There was nothing exciting in the mailbox but as we were walking back down the street I saw our mail carrier drive past and stop near our driveway. Abby and I did a little jogging  (a tricky thing on an icy road) and caught up with her just as she was getting some packages out of the back of her truck.  I asked if she had anything for me and she said she had two parcels (there was also a box of Murchie's tea we were not expecting until next week). I opened up my sock kit as soon as we were inside and spent the rest of the evening squeezing yarn and reading patterns.

I know, I know ... "get on with the pictures all ready!"  Here you go:


The yarn is "Happy Go Lucky." The inside of my ball band says "Heureux" which the internet tells me is French for "happy, glad, fortunate" (I'm Canadian - I should know that without looking it up - at least I realized it was French). I love the bright cheerful feeling I get from this yarn. I'm really looking forward to knitting with it. The parcel also included some fun extras: there is a tiny skein of yarn (perfect for darning in my opinion) and a "Rockin' Sock Club Member" pin (unfortunately my winter coat is too thick for it to go through and I haven't figured out where best to put it yet).


Next to the bag of yarn and tiny goodies was a cardboard envelope with even more stuff. I think I'll use my bumper sticker to decorate whatever binder I get to store my patterns and things in (I told Rob I'd honour him by not sticking it on our car).


I found the "Dyer's Notes" really interesting and love that Tina spells colour with a U (and wonder why).


This year each kit comes with two patterns: one from an established designer and the other from an up-and-coming designer. For January we have Cascadia by Sylvia Harding and Flabella by Christina Bain. I can't decide which pattern I want to knit first (because, yes, I'm going to get some more of this yarn and knit the other pattern - I like them both). At the moment I think Flabella is prettier with its little fans and bobbles and all over pattern but the bobbles will mean I can't wear these socks until I switch to my spring shoes (note to self: get new spring shoes - old ones have holes) and that's a ways away still. Cascadia is smoother (meaning they'll go under winter boots more comfortably) but I'm not totally sure about the different patterns for the front and back of the leg. Both sock patterns feature elements that are familiar to me but include plenty of new things so both will be nicely challenging. I've still got some time to make up my mind though.

We're going on Vacation for the last week of February and I've decided that this yarn will be vacation knitting. When I signed up I thought the timing would work out nicely for our trip and the hours of airport/airplane time it will involve. Plus, I think they will be a fun souvenir when we get home.

One last yarny picture - just because.

I ended up in my sewing room with the door shut on Saturday morning. I'd intended to do some sewing and the door was shut in order to give Zeke some people-time without Abby. I couldn't decide what I wanted to sew and was thinking of grabbing a book or something when I realized this was a perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with my spinning wheel.

I grabbed the roving I got from Squoosh a while ago and tore off a strip. It felt so good to be drafting out all that pink and orange and white candy floss. Zeke spent a little time watching me and grabbing the occasional mouthful of wool (fortunately it doesn't taste as good as it smells and doesn't feel all that great on your teeth). When my box was full of drafted strips I sat down to my wheel, picked a whorl that seemed appropriate, and started spinning.

I was surprised how quickly I found my rhythm - pinch, pull, release. So natural. So relaxing. I stopped when I got the end of my pre-drafted strips. My yarn makes me think of peppermint candy.

I'll have to spin again this weekend.