Contest: The Winner Is...

Wow guys!  You are truly amazing!  The response to the contest was just about overwhelming.  Keeping everyone straight very nearly became a full time job.  But it was so, so worth it.  I learned a lot.  A lot, a lot.  I just about get what's going on with variegated yarns and the patterns that pool them. From where I stand, it was all a resounding success!  Cheers!

Without Further Ado

At the stroke of 00:08ish Central European Time (CET), I woke B so he could stick his hand in our wine chiller to draw a name.  It was dark, his glasses were off, and he barely knew what he was doing.  It was a quadruple blind drawing, as fair as can be.

Gladys of Yarn Floozies is the lucky winner!!!
Congratulations, Gladys!

So many of you entered the contest, and I feel bad for only awarding one prize.  So, I went back through the entries and had a peek at my traffic report.  I've decided to give a little somethin' somethin' to The A.D.D. Knitter, at risk of fueling her greed. ;)  More of you found me via her blog than any other.  My contest wouldn't have been the same without her.  Thanks, dude! 

Heather, you once mentioned that you'd be keen for Dutch yarn, so I'll send you some.  Drop me a line to coordinate.

The List

Many of you asked if I was going to post a list of my findings.  Indeed, I did.  Check out my opinionated, yet objective look at the pool-defying powers of some of the 'net's favorite sock patterns. 

There are a couple of things to note about the list.

1. I disagreed with some of your assessments about how well some patterns combat color pooling.  I made my decision based on the overwhelming evidence in Ravelry and Flickr.  That's not to say that they aren't great patterns, they just don't do much to stop pooling.  Please don't hate me.  Understanding what doesn't work is part of understanding what does, so the duds were useful too!  If you submitted one I rejected, you were still entered into the contest.  Don't worry.
2. I left a couple of entries off the list mainly b/c they aren't really available (ie, personal patterns, exclusive patterns for -alongs that happened last year, etc).  Not too worry.  You were still entered in the contest.
3. I managed to keep track of all of you for the purpose of making sure you were entered into the drawing; I added your names as the emails came in.  However, I got a late start at compiling the list.  So, if your pattern isn't there, it doesn't mean you weren't entered.  I promise you were entered.
4. 'cuz it's really bothering me, just know that I'm not happy about the formatting of the list.  It was all good until I put it in Typepad.  blah.

Now What?

Some of you may be wondering what I'm going to do with my offensive yarn.  As I was walking Nigel this morning in 48F (seriously!), I considered making a beret.  I've seen this pattern around in Colinette Jitterbug, and the longer rows should fight the pool. 

However, a bit later this morning I took a closer look at Gigi Silva's Bellatrix, and I think I might knit that (thanks for the suggestion Julie!).  I'm not sure it will combat the pool in my skein, but I think this is one of those times when the yarn (naughty red and black) and the pattern (named for a Harry Potter baddie) will work well together.  It's all very punk rawk. Grrr.  If it pools, I still think it'll work. 

So there ya go.  After all of this, I'm embracing the pool on this one.   I told you I learned something!   

Comments

[Jeannie]

Congrats to the winners! That list of yours will be handy the next time I'm looking for patterns. I haven't looked the rest of the Socktopia patterns, but the Bellatrix pattern looks pretty cool. I hope it works out with your yarn.

[Heather]

I think the beret is a great idea. Also: baby socks. I just saw someone do a pair in a notoriously pooling yarn, and these little beauties didn't pool at all--just a thought.

Jen, what a lot of work you've done compiling and annotating those patterns--we all owe you for that, THANK YOU! And thanks as well for the lil somethin' somethin, you are so kind to spoil me like that;)!

[Heather]

Ok, ja...Bellatrix will be perfect!

[Dave]

Congratulations to the winners! AND congratulations to you, for putting together such an excellent, and well-researched, list of possible patterns. It was very interesting to read through and look at the various suggestions.

[Saralyn]

Just wanted to let you know that your link to The A.D.D. Knitter is broken.

[tiennie]

Congrats to the winners! Bellatrix looks like a cool pattern.

[Tanya]

That list is going to be a handy resource!

Congrats to the ladies who won!!

[Jen]

Thanks everyone for playing along! I hope you like the list too, and that it's not too snarky. ;)

Cheers!

[Tanya]

testing

[Jessica]

Congrats to the winners! I'm off to check out the list.

[Stacey]

Okay...I will say congratulations to the winner and sulk off - no seriously, glad to have found your blog! I think a.d.d knitter got me here too:)

[Jean]

Congrats to the winners! And thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard work on putting together that fan-freakin-tastic list!