Knitting Sutra

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!   

Contest Update: Prize Pr0n

This week has been busier than usual in real life and in blog life, and I have so much to tell you about. But the main order of business today is to let you know that the Wollmeise Yarn has arrived. It took all of about 4 days to email Claudia and receive my beautifully wrapped package. Sure it helps that Germany is just over there (waves to the East), but that's awfully great service for someone who personally handles every order.

The yarn is on the thinner size of fingering weight, suggested needle size is 2-2.5mm (US 1-1.5), and comes in a 150g skein (574 yards!). The colors (I chose the medium intensity) are exceptionally rich, and the yarn itself smells good. Seriously. I really can't wait to cast on.

I ordered three skeins from left to right: Spice Market (B's choice), Granataphel (for step-mother-in-law) and Krauterbeet (for a lucky one of you!).

I've got a few more Wollmeise colorways on my wish list, but I need to control myself a little bit, especially since I've got my eyes on Posh Yarn and Fyberspates.

Let's take a closer look at the Krauterbeet prize skein. It's a combination of purple, blue and lime green - a combo I really love.

Check out this My So-Called Scarf on Flickr or Lorette's Krauterbeet Socks on Ravelry for an idea of what the colorway looks like knitted up.

Here's another shot of the skein with my Mono Amsterdam bag.

The "small casual bag" is big enough to hold a medium-sized project, and is perfect for socks. Remember the lucky contest winner can select the fabric from the Mono Amsterdam Web site.

Contest Administrative Noodleynesses

• Remember to email me at knittingsutra AT gmail DOT com to enter your pattern for the contest. It's the only hope I have of keeping track of all of the entries.
• Don't forget to let me know if you post about the contest on your blog. I am subscribed to quite of lot of them, but it's possible I'm not subscribed to yours.
• The full details of the contest are on this page.

The Not a Fool for the Pool Contest

Updated 22 July to add a link to the prize page.

Back in Normandy, I promised to knit my step-mother-in-law a pair of socks. She chose the pattern and the color: red. I don't know if she'd like variegated yarn or on which side of the pool debate she'd fall, but the red seemed stronger than the bits and pieces of dark colors in this skein.

On the record: I don't care for pooling, but I can tolerate small amounts. However, these pools of really dark blue and green look like bruises. Could you imagine how skeeved you'd be if one of your tomatoes had marks like that? And anyway, the stitch pattern and the variegation no worky.

Not only is it time to buy another yarn for her socks, but it's also time to dip into the Wollmeise. There's a lot of buzz swarming around this yarn, probably because it's the first notable indie yarn in Europe. There are more than 100 skeins of Wollmeise stashed in Ravelry -- pretty amazing since there's no shopping cart on Claudia's Web site. You order via email.

I made first contact this morning, and there's something in it for a lucky one of you.

Contest! Contest! Contest!

Here's the deal. I have been spending way too much time on the interweb (no thanks to the new Ravelry groups), and not enough time cranking through my summer knitting goals. This Tapis Colinette Jitterbug needs a pattern, a pool-defying pattern. I can't possibly go it alone.

Here's where you come in. Send me an email (knittingsutra AT gmail DOT com Subject: Contest) with a link or citation to your favorite pool-defying sock pattern, and I'll put your name in a drawing for a prize. If you mention this contest on your blog (post a link in the comments), I'll add you to the pool a second time. For each participating person who says he or she heard about the contest from your blog, you'll get another chance to win.

Note that you can enter the contest simply by posting about the contest on your blog, you know in case you have no more clue than I do. ;)

Deadline for entries: July 31, 2007, 6:00PM EST (that's midnight my time).

There are only a few of rules:

1. Obviously there's no way to absolutely prevent the pool, but the pattern has to do a pretty good job of it. If possible, your links should include photos so I can verify. For patterns from books, see if you can find a photo in Flickr or Ravelry.
2. You cannot suggest Monkey Socks because its pool-blocking properties are well-known.
3. It's OK if you think the pattern combats the pool of a specific yarn, and it doesn't have to be Jitterbug.

4. Since submissions are anonymous, people can submit the same pattern.

The prize is a skein of 4ply superwash Wollmeise sock yarn and a small casual bag from Mono Amsterdam in your choice of fabric. Mono Amsterdam bags are sold in a teeny shop in the Jordaan, the hippest neighborhood in Amsterdam. The store is so small that they only accept cash. So this is a very exclusive bag, and you'll get the pleasure of knowing that I'm going to slink up to Amsterdam to get it just for you. I will also throw in some surprise Dutch goodies. I'll make it all good, I promise.

Head on over to the prize page for the prize pr0n.