Contest Update and other things

First things first if you’re looking for the post about the Rock My Socks Off contest it’s here. I’ve gotten some really fantastic entries already and we still have almost two weeks left on the contest. I love the variety people are giving me. We’ve got everything from Prince (YES! I totally want to do a Raspberry Beret colorway and pattern.) to Paramour (who I’ve not listened to a whole lot but will be looking up the suggested songs for further review). Narrowing down a single winner in this category is going to be very hard because everyone has given really thoughtful and great suggestions.

I will say that my reasons for doing this contest are not all together altruistic, I am trying to get more people to sign up for the sock club as well. I know money is tight, (believe me I am a college student who knits for a living, money is REALLY tight.) which is why I’m extending the deadline for payment for the club until February 15th. Which is a month away. Also if you know someone who you think would like to participate please let them know about it! I’ve got some ads running on Ravelry but mostly I’m depending on word of mouth. Keep in mind if you mention the sock club and/or contest on your blog and let me know that you did so you can get an extra entry in the random drawing for stitch markers and discount in the shop.

I’ll even add this too: if you refer someone and they sign up for the club (have them put your name/email address in the notes to the seller when they buy the 20 cent listing) I will send you a hank of something special from my stash. I haven’t decided what yet, but I’ve been meaning to do some stash busting anyways and this seems like a good way to do it. Keep in mind my day job is at a yarn shop so anything from my stash won’t be acrylic or dishcloth cotton, I have a lot of Berroco, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Araucania, Noro, etc.

In other news I knit this up last night:

This is the Amandas Squatty Sidekick pattern done up in my kettled dyed semi solid worsted wool. This particular hank did not pass quality control because the dye didn’t saturate sections of the yarn where the ties were holding the hank together. Though it’s kind of a cool effect once it’s knit up, but I didn’t feel right about selling it because of the flaws. This is the bag unfelted, I’ll felt it this evening and post another picture tomorrow showing the fabric felted.

I’m also working on the Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang as a knit-along with bestie Christina Marie. We’re calling them the Mouthy Mitts.

I’m using SWTC Jezebel (great lace weight merino) which is the green yarn, and Universal Yarns Pace Step sock weight wool which is the purple yarn. It’s a nice contrast and this color work chart isn’t as complicated as I thought it was going to be.

Oh and I did a little more hand spinning too:

This is from the baby roving braid I won through Phat Fiber from Vines by Pumpkinmama in the Ice Queen colorway. This was done on the drop spindle as well, but I’ll be experimenting with the wheel tonight when I’m at Knit Las Vegas. I really loved this roving and as soon as I have a little extra scratch I’ll be ordering one of her full sized braids to play with as well. I love her color combinations and I like that she lets a little of the natural fiber color come through instead of totally saturating it. It’s not my usual aesthetic, but I really love how it spun up. The Ice Queen colorway is featured in the Phat Fiber boxes coming out later this month.

Okay and now back to your regularly scheduled contest! Keep the inspiration coming!