Yarntastic Day!

So I mentioned on Friday that a bit of sock yarn had entered my home lately. I splurged a bit since it was my birthday. Yeah, that's the perfect excuse. :) Prepare to drool!

(Pick Up Sticks Club and Rockin' Sock Club are the last photos so as to not spoil the surprise for other members).
Duet Skinny from A Swell Yarn Shop in Sailor Girl. Absolutely love this color combination! This is the new thinner sock weight Duet.

Cascade Fixation in Denim (2608) and Chocolate (7382). Adrienne knit a pair of socks with Fixation and brought it to knitting Group. They were so fabulous I want to knit some for myself!

Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy #812 (Blue and Tan) and #803 (Pinks and Browns). This just looked like great cotton sock yarn. It's 45% cotton, 42% wool, and 13% polyamide.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Undertoe (Mediumweight).
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Socktopus (Mediumweight). Absolutely love this color and the name!

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Foo Foo (Mediumweight).

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock in Footzey-Foo (Mediumweight)


2007 Rockin' Sock Club April kit color, Walking on the Wild Tide, using the new base yarn, Silkie - a silk and wool blend. Absolutely stunning color!

And last, but not least the Pick Up Sticks April Sock Club Kit with Zen Yarn Garden in Spring Garden. The perfect spring colors. :)

So, which is your favorite? ;)

March Pick Up Sticks Club Kit

Hopefully I've waited long enough to not spoil this for any fellow sock club members. I received my kit Tuesday and I just can't wait any longer to share it. March's kit from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club is the super fantastic Yarn Pirate! The color is ozone and the pattern is the perfect modern, but simple stitch pattern to go with it. Yea! I've been petting this yarn a lot. The colors and texture are just lovely. This kit may trump all plans for what sock I was going to knit next. Maybe I can finish up the Desert Flower socks this weekend though I hardly ever get any knitting time when we are away visiting family and that's what we'll be doing starting tomorrow.

I have a little bit of yarn on its way to me. Pictures soon. Some of it is even not sock yarn. Can you believe it? :)

Life moves on

Thank you to everyone for your kind words about Kilby's passing. Knowing so many people are sending good thoughts our way really does help. I took the day off work today and I've spent time just thinking about how much she meant to me and Matt. I will never have another kitty like her, but that's what made her so special.

Over the last few days I have gotten a bit of knitting done. Nothing like the calming nature of knitting.

Conifer Socks
Pattern: Conifer by Meghan Jackson from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club
Yarn: Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden
Needles: Inox size 2.5mm (US 1)
Start Date: February 20, 2007
End Date: March 14, 2007
Comments: Once I figured out I should actually read the pattern, these socks knit very nicely. The pattern designer, Meghan Jackson, has outstanding attention to detail. Not only is the top of leg done in a unique stitch pattern, the leg is in a different stitch and then she carries the ribbing pattern through the heel and the toe. Pretty cool.

The Apple Laine yarn is one I don't think I would have necessarily ordered on my own so I was curious when I received it through the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. Turns out I absolutely loved working with it. It's a wool/silk/mohair/nylon blend with a beautiful fuzz and sheen. The colors are deeply saturated and I had absolutely no pooling. I think there is a very very slight difference in the intensity of the color if you compare the two socks, but nothing too noticeable.

Wednesday night I started my next pair of socks. These are being knit in Yarntini's Project Runway colors, "Carry On!" and "Make it Work!" in fingering weight. I'm knitting toe-up to maximize the yardage and that way I can do my new favorite heel - the peasant heel (you can just see the waste yarn below the top black line). I thought I would do a 2x2 ribbing on the foot and leg, but after looking at it again last night I ripped back to the toe and started the foot over again with just plain stockinette. Much better. For the curious, I'm getting 8 stitches per inch on 0's (2.0mm).

This weekend I'm hoping to spend some good quality time with Thermal. All the socks this week have been distracting me, but I still have hopes of someday finishing Thermal and wearing it. :) Speaking of distractions, here are the new Duet Sock yarns I got earlier this week. The colors are Evening Elegance and Razzleberry. I really just can't get enough of this yarn. Maybe she'll start a sock club...I wouldn't be able to resist a Duet sock club...Are you reading this, Angela? :)

A Finished Sock

Not so long ago I was knitting up 3 or 4 pairs of socks a month. Now I'm excited I finished this one sock after weeks of dawdling. This slowdown is bound to lift soon as nothing motivates sock knitting like the knowledge that your sock yarn stash is now officially out of control! I have a bit more Duet Sock yarn coming in and I joined one more sock club. That's it. I'm done buying for a long long time. I know, I know, you've all heard that before, but really really really. I'm taking a break from sock yarn buying at least until we move. I'll give myself a couple exemptions (like if the Knitting Group does decide to go to The Fold), but my sock yarn boxes just can't take anymore!

The sock to the right is the first Conifer Sock from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. The yarn is Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden. I'm using size 2.5mm (US 1) Inox double points. As you can see, the second sock has begun. The sooner I get it done, the sooner I can start on the Rockin' Sock Club kit!


***Knitting Group has moved! We'll still be meeting on Wednesdays (tonight!), but instead of the Borders we have moved a little west to the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We meet from 6:30 until 8ish and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Progress and the Rockin' Sock Club Kit!

A bit of progress was made on Thermal this weekend. I'm only a few inches away from dividing for the front button placket. Hooray! As it goes on, I'm really falling into a rhythm with this pattern. Something kind of zen about knitting for hours and not always making any visible progress. Well, it's zen if I'm in a good mood otherwise it's just damn frustrating. :) As I knit I sometimes find my self singing in my head the song that Dory sings in Finding Nemo. Except instead of "swimming" I'm thinking, "Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting. Just keep knitting, knitting, knitting. What do we do? We knit, knit."


Last night I picked up the neglected Conifer Sock from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club. I finished up the leg and got past the pretty heel. The pattern designer added a lot of unique detail to it and I actually had to pay attention while knitting! :) Some people were having trouble getting the sock over their heel so I was thrilled to find out it went over mine. It's a bit tight pulling it on, but once it's on it fits perfectly. (Needles: 2.5mm Inox; Yarn: Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden).


Spoiler Alert ****2007 Rockin' Sock Club Kit ****
Don't Scroll if You Don't Want to See


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And here it is. Finally! The absolutely awesome first kit from the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. The color is Monsoon (mediumweight) and it is incredibly appropriate in light of the dismal weather we have been having lately. The pattern, Inside Out, is really different and I look forward to casting on as soon as I finish up the Conifer socks. Along with the yarn and pattern, the kit included the adorable little emergency skein key chain, a sticker, the newsletter, and a very nice custom binder (definitely a step up from last year's). I'm so happy I joined again and I am now already anxiously waiting for the next kit. :)

Yarn! (And A Shameless Plea for Comments)

Matt and I got back last night from 3 days in Carbondale where we were visiting family. My mom had some surgery a couple weeks ago and Matt and I went down to help out for the weekend. As there was no knitting the past few days I'll instead show you a couple recent yarn acquisitions.

Late last week I received a couple of packages in the mail. First up is my February Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kit. This month the yarn is a gorgeous color of Spunky Eclectic Skinny Socks called Romance. The pattern is a classic ripple pattern that will show off the colors in the yarn very nicely. The white yarn is to knit the removable lace cuff detail of the pattern...I'm not so into that. All in all it's another great sock kit!

I also received my first skein of Yarn Pirate in The Loopy Ewe exclusive color, Sweet Jules. This is the 50/50 Merino/Tencel sock yarn and it has the most gorgeous shine. I love the variety of colors in the yarn. I'm going to have to think a bit on what pattern to use with this lovely lovely yarn. Any ideas?

And finally, a request for comments. Connie, the owner of Pick Up Sticks, recently asked everyone who reads her blog to delurk and just say "hi," so I'm going to copy her and do the same. I'm always curious who reads my blog and where you all are. So, whether you comment a lot or never, please leave me a comment just so I know you all are out there. And if you want, let me know where you are or how you came to find my blog or if you have a blog of your own. :)

Waffles and Apple Pie

I've finally made it to the thermal part of Thermal! Please admire the little waffle stitches. It took a while even to get this much done, but I love it. I'm knitting one size smaller than my actual bust measurement as I hoping that I can get back to healthy habits now that my neck is much better. I've started working out again, so with some serious commitment to the gym I should be able to fit Thermal sometime while the weather still calls for it.

I really like knitting with the Knit Picks Gloss (Merino Silk blend). It has a gorgeous stitch definition and the dusk color is just a gorgeous shade of blue. My plan is to work on Thermal at least one hour a day while still knitting other projects. I just want to wear it now!


In other knitting, I cast on for the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Conifer pattern last night, again. I attempted this one a few weeks ago and totally botched it up. This time around I'm taking my time and really focusing on the pattern (perfect American Idol knitting). The yarn, Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden, is just wonderful to knit. It's very silky with just a bit of a mohair halo. The colors are very rich. It was tough getting a good picture of this stitch pattern. Once the sock is done and washed I think it will show a lot better. The pattern has these neat cluster stitches that are really unique, but impossible to photograph!

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Endpaper End

Endpaper Mitts

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Louet Gems Merino in Indigo (dark blue) and Neptune (lighter blue)
Needles: Bamboo dpns sizes US 0 and US 3
Start Date: February 2, 2007
End Date: February 10, 2007
Comments: First of all, these Mitts would have never ever been made in a million years if it hadn't been for the fantastic (and free!) pattern from Eunny Jang. Overall, I have not been that into two-color knitting. The few projects I've done I rushed through because the process was not that pleasant. Well, I'm not rushing so much now. The pattern is so well written and simple and elegant and perfect. Thank you, Eunny!

So, the Gems Merino worked very well though it is a tad on the thinner side. The yarn is very soft and knit up with a nice give. The colors worked really well together and have a terrific contrast (colors are most true in the top picture). I plan on knitting the Anemoi Mittens sometime soon with some more Gems in the stash.

Overall, I am surprised at what I can do. I look at these mitts and I am very proud of them. Hooray for me!

Yesterday I started my first entrelac pattern. I'm using the basic pattern from Danica, but knitting it all in one yarn. The yarn is Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) in Natural Green. I really like how the blocks are all knitting up in different colors. The pattern is simple enough for TV watching, but interesting enough to engage part of the brain. I have some family health stuff going on so I need a project that keeps whirring thoughts out of my head and this scarf works perfectly. This yarn is 70% Wool 30% Soy just like Rowan Tapestry. However, while the Tapestry yarn is DK, this stuff is a nice plump worsted weight so it knits up very quickly. It's a little splitty, like the Tapestry, but the end result is so nice and soft I don't mind.

A Rare Occurrence

Rarely do I drop everything to start knitting something the moment it arrives. However, a couple weeks ago I received my latest Pick Up Sticks Sock Club kit and I actually did just that. I pulled out the swift and winder, wound up the balls, pulled the needles out of another sock, and started knitting. Unfortunately after a couple inches I realized I was knitting part of the pattern incorrectly, but I decided to continue on. Then about an inch later I made a larger mistake. So...I cast on for my Posh Yarns socks and put this new club kit away.

Well, as you know, the Posh Socks are done and now the Duet socks are nearly complete (pictures Friday!), so I will be casting on (again) for the club socks and this time around I know I will be successful. The yarn is Apple Laine Apple Pie in English Garden. It's a wool, silk, mohair blend and it's just lovely to knit. The pattern is another winner from Meghan Jackson. She designs all the patterns for the sock club and honestly they are the some of the best sock patterns I've used. They are all really unique and they go so well with club selection of yarn.

And as usual I have many more yarns waiting in the wings. I recently bought some of the new Crystal Palace Panda Cotton (left: blueberry-grape. right: painted iris). It comes in the cutest little skeins and it feels really soft. I'm going to hold off on knitting this until I actually have a need for warm weather socks, but I expect great things!


In my pursuit for more alternatives to all wool sock yarn I decided to give Regia Bamboo a shot and picked up a couple balls for a good price on ebay (the color is descriptively called Red Dot). The yarn is a bamboo and wool blend. It has a terrific shine to it and I look forward to seeing how it knits up. I'm a little dubious about how well it will wear since it feels so silky, but Regia makes some great yarn, so I'm hoping for the best.

Finally, I came across this gorgeous Lisa Souza color on a couple blogs. I've been wanting to try her yarn and when I saw that she created this color to help someone out with her medical costs associated with potential breast cancer I just couldn't resist. The colorway is named Violet's Pink Ribbon and it is simply one of the most creative and lovely sock colors I've ever seen. Some of you may already know this, but I am a huge fan of splotchy dye spots (that's what I always look for in Koigu). This yarn has both splotches and a solid section. So pretty! I recently purchased the Survivor sock pattern from Wild Horse Farms Designs and I think it will be the perfect pattern to go with this yarn.

***Knitting Group is tonight (Wednesday) at the Borders' Cafe in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Skokie). We meet from 6:30 until 8:00 and any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

Posh Socks

Posh Yarn Toe Up Socks
Pattern: Self-designed from different sources - Magic Cast On Toe, Peasant Heel
Yarn: Posh Yarns Lucia in Passionate (From Pick Up Sticks Sock Club)
Needles: Inox 2.5mm (US 1)
Start:January 25, 2007
End: January 31, 2007
Comments: I really wasn't sure this day would ever come. The day I would post about a successfully completed pair of toe-up socks. But here I am, telling you all that the Posh Toe Up Socks are done! Hooray! First of all, the yarn was lovely to knit. It is a wool/cashmere blend and it is just so soft and spongy. The colors are deeply saturated and it knit up with no pooling. Very pleasant knitting experience.

As for the toe-up success I couldn't be happier. I am definitely going to be doing the peasant heel again and I have a feeling it will replace my default heel flap heel as my favorite. The fit is terrific and I just love how easy it is. Plus it looks great! And I never have to worry about running out of yarn. Can you tell I love this heel? :)

I've already cast on for my next pair. This yarn is the Duet sock yarn I got from A Swell Yarn Shop. (It sells out really quickly, so, if you are interested, I suggest you sign up for their newsletter to get advance notice). The sock is being displayed by Kilby who always takes a strong interest in my knitting activities.

I'm knitting this on my trusty Inox 2.5mm double points and I am getting a gauge of just shy of 7 stitches per inch. It's a very plump yarn and it's knitting up quickly. I started this sock late Wednesday night and I'm already a few inches past where the heel will go. I added a little to the circumference, but other than that I'm following the pattern that was sent with the yarn. I see more of these socks in my future (if I can get my hands on more of this yarn!).

Eureka!

I finally did it! I started and finished a toe-up sock! I cast on with my Posh Yarns Lucia in the color Passionate (from the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club) Friday night using the magic cast-on from Knitty. I decided to try a peasant heel as I haven't been happy with either short-row or reverse heel flap heels. Early Sunday afternoon I finished up the sock and I love it!

I basically googled various sites for the directions so I don't have a specific source to point anyone to, but really all you do is when you are about 2 inches short of the total length of your foot knit across half of your stitches with scrap yarn then purl back with the scrap yarn. Then simply pick up your sock yarn again and carry on knitting.

Whenever you want to, go back and pick up all the stitches that are on the waste yarn. I picked them all up before I took out the waste yarn just to be on the safe side. I picked up all of one side on one needle and all of the other on a second needle. Then start knitting the heel with your sock yarn (or a contrasting colored yarn would be cute), picking up 2 or 3 stitches on the ends between the two needles just to prevent holes (so you'll probably pick up a total of 4 or 6 stitches). You'll want to knit the heel on 3 or 4 needles.

From that point simply treat the heel as you would a cuff down wedge toe, decreasing 4 stitches total one round, knitting plain the next, over and over, until you get down to however wide you would like your heel to be (I decreased down to 12 on each needle, but next time I'll decrease down to 10 or 8 I think). Then just kitchener stitch it shut and voila! You have an incredible nifty looking and nifty fitting heel.

This heel technique opens up a world of toe-up sock possibility. Hooray! I'm already on the leg of the second sock. These knit up in no time.

FYI: The peasant heel is often times mistakenly called an afterthought heel, but there is a difference. A peasant heel uses waste yarn to mark where the heel will be (and that may make it easier to pick up the stitches). An afterthought heel, specifically that found in Elizabeth Zimmerman books, involves just knitting straight through without using any waste yarn and then coming back and snipping the yarn where you want the heel to be. I can see that going horribly horribly wrong for me, so that's why I chose the peasant heel.

One more note...please ignore any laddering you may see in the photo. I was too excited about this sock to wash and block it before I took the photo!

First Socks of 2007

Lichen Socks

Pattern: Lichen by Meghan Jackson from the Pick Up Sticks Sock of the Month Club
Yarn: VvS Painted Yarn in Art Nouveau
Needles: Inox 2.5 mm (gauge of approx. 7 stitches per inch)
Start Date: January 2, 2007
End Date: January 7, 2007
Comments: The moment I unwrapped the VvS Painted Yarn I was taken with its similarity to Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight. Once I started knitting with it I was surprised it knit up the same as well. Nice! As you all may have noticed, I'm a bit of a fan of Socks that Rock (STR), so to find another yarn in lovely colors that has similar properties is a real bonus. I'm so glad I'm in the Pick Up Sticks Sock of the Month Club otherwise I don't know if I would have ever tried this yarn in the first place.

So, if you've knit with STR in the mediumweight you'll know what it's like to knit with VvS Painted. The colors of the VvS yarn are a bit more subtle than STR's tend to be and they have an unusual overlaying of colors. It's difficult to describe, but, for example, in one of the longer cream sections there will be a haze of pink as a top layer. I really can't describe it very well, but I assure you it is very pretty.

The pattern is a club pattern and I really enjoyed knitting it. (I think it's very similar to the Monkey sock pattern in the Winter Knitty). I'm sure I'll knit it again as it will be perfect for some STR I have. Plus, it knits up very quickly and held my interest. I love that the pattern is carried on down the heel flap. A very nice detail.

Saturday I got my third shipment from the Sweet Sheep Sock Club. This month's yarn is an absolutely stunning All Things Heather Sock Yarn in the color Winterberry. I have been keeping this by the computer so that I can pet it off and on all weekend. The depth and variety of colors is so gorgeous. Just the perfect color for winter sock knitting! I'm so sad that there is only one more shipment in the club.

Out With the Old

Monday I was feeling up to knitting finally and as I perused my current works in progress I just didn't really want to work on any of them. Then I did something I've never done before. I intentionally ripped the needles out of a perfectly good nearly finished sock. The Pure Fall socks are now officially off the needles. Someday (maybe next fall?) I'll start them again. I was just getting aggravated with the whole toe-up heel flap nonsense.

As for the Socks that Rock Philosopher's Stone socks for Matt? Well, I'm really not sure I have enough yarn to finish the second sock. So rather than continuing on blindly, I am awaiting delivery of a small kitchen scale which will give me the cold hard facts.

That leaves the Rowan Tapestry scarf all alone in my knitting bag. Once I picked it up, I decided to just knit it for a little while and I ended up making some real progress. I may actually finish it some time soon!

Yesterday was my last day off before heading back to work so I decided to cast on for some unscheduled spontaneously chosen socks. I decided to knit one of the Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kits. This is the VvS Painted Yarn in the color Art Nouveau and the Lichen pattern. I believe it is the 4 ply. The sock is knitting up very quickly due to the larger gauge and great pattern. I do feel like I may have knit a bit too much the last couple days as well as doing other daily things like washing dishes, sorting bills, etc. as my neck is feeling not so good. I just hope being back at work today doesn't make it worse.

Knitting Group is tonight at the Border's in Wilmette (the corner of Skokie and Lake) at 6:30pm. As always, all yarn enthusiasts are welcome. I'm hoping to make it, but it really depends on how I'm feeling by the end of the day. I just hate to miss a meeting with all my knitting buddies!

Happy Holidays!

We leave for our hometown soon (yea!), but I am unsure whether there will be any knitting time at all as our schedule is packed (we have four sets of parents plus other friends to visit). Also, we are cutting this year's visit a little short since Matt just can't be away from the labs for long. Regardless, I am bringing along a full knitting bag with hopes that I'll have some free time here and there. I'm going to take along the Philosopher's Stone Socks that Rock socks and finish them, I hope. I also will take along the long neglected Yarntini Pure Falls Socks and then maybe a little more sock yarn...

Yesterday I received my Pick Up Sticks Sock Club Kit. This month Connie sent out the most stunning sock yarn - Posh Yarns Lucia in the color Passionale! The yarn is 30% cashmere and 70% merino wool - so soft! I can't stop petting it. :)

In stupid neck pain news: First of all, thanks for all the nice comments. It always cheers me up. :) As the week has gone on, I had thought my neck was all better, but then Thursday morning I relapsed. This time I went to the doctor and she prescribed a few different drugs and recommended I get some x-rays and an MRI. Hopefully we can figure out what the heck is going on. It's feeling much better today, but I'm sure the pills are doing most of that. I don't care so long as I feel good for the holidays!

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for the next week or so. I'll try to sneak one or two more posts in before the new year later next week. Until then, I wish everyone a fabulous holiday time whether you celebrate the solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa - oh, you get the point!

Have a fabulous winter celebration!

Kneevember!

Nodding Violet Knee Socks

Pattern: Customizable Knee Sock Pattern
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock lightweight in Nodding Violet - 2 skeins
Needles and Gauge: KnitPicks dpns, size 0 (2.0mm) with a gauge of 8.5 stitches per inch
Start Date: November 12, 2006
End Date: November 19, 2006
Comments: I cannot believe how much I love these socks. I had been admiring the Nodding Violet color for months. I had been looking fondly upon other people's lovely knee socks. I could not be happier with the combination. The Knee Sock Pattern worked out wonderfully. It takes a little math, but even if you are math-phobic I don't think it would be too difficult. These socks fit so well and I can't wait to wear them on Thanksgiving Day. Even though in the picture one sock looks taller, they are the same. I just have very limited photo capability on a Monday morning before work. I also will not be wearing them with my jeans rolled up to my knees. :)

These socks were another quick knit, but it's mainly due to the fact that I was home sick all day on Wednesday and that gave me a lotof knitting time. Also, I just can't put down the needles when I'm knitting with Socks that Rock. This was the first time I used the lightweight and I was incredibly happy. It has the same texture and twist that the mediumweight has and it creates a lovely, slightly thinner, but still very warm fabric.

Regarding yardage - I almost ran out. I was very nervous when I was knitting the toe on the first sock. I really wasn't sure I would have enough. I think I had about 3 or 4 yards left. That's cutting it close! Just to give a rough estimate in case others are interested, my calf circumference is a little less than 16 inches around, it's 13 inches from the narrowest part of my ankle to my knee, and my foot is right around 10 inches long. Each skein has 360 yards and I had maybe 10 yards left in the end.

Moving on to new things, the second Pick Up Sticks Club kit arrived a couple days ago. Another winner. The yarn is VvS Painted Yarns, a small Canadian company, and the color is Art Nouveau. The yarn itself reminds a lot of Socks that Rock mediumweight. It's a very similar look and feel though the colors are more subdued. Very elegant. The pattern is another stunning creation. I am currently reorganizing my sock knitting list so that I can cast on for this one soon.

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Ivy is nearing completion. I've finished the back and two front pieces as well as the first sleeve. I'm halfway through the second sleeve and I am working on the miles of 1x1 ribbed tie. I decided to go ahead and block the first few pieces now in anticipation of finishing Ivy (hopefully) sometime towards the end of this week. Yea!

The Arrival of My First Pick Up Sticks Kit
It took me all of 24 hours to sign up for the sock club at Pick Up Sticks. After a couple quick emails with Connie, the friendly owner, I decided to join. Connie offers such a neat selection of hand painted sock yarns that I thought this was a great way to sample them along with getting a new sock pattern every month. (You know I like to knit socks, right?) I am not disappointed with my first kit. In fact, I'm ecstatic. The yarn is Claudia Hand Painted in Twilight. This is a color that I absolutely love, but I'm not sure I would have picked out on my own. The depth of color is amazing with a variety of blues and pinks. Gorgeous. And look at this pattern! Wow! It has a cabled cuff and heel with a lovely lace panel on either side of the leg. I have been dying to cast on for it, but since I already have a sock on the needles I'm resisting, for now.