Sock Club for One (or Socks, Socks, Always Socks)*

Many on-line yarn stores, indie-yarn dyers, and fiber producers have sock clubs. There are more clubs very day and every single one looks like loads of fun.  So many sock yarns…so little time!  Even a constant sock knitter can't keep up with all the wonderful yarns, colors and patterns.  Yes, it is part of 'collecting', just having and enjoying the yarn as it is, but it's also overload for my mind, my budget and the time I have available.

In an effort to curb my desire to join every sock club that comes along, I've decided to start my own.  A Sock Club for One, as it were. Yes, I The largish sock stash, which is not as big as some, is still more than I can knit in a couple of years.  Lately the additions have been infrequent but, on occasion, they still happen. It takes something special to get me to buy. However, there always seems to be something special!   Sundara’s Cherry Blossom was one, Loopy Ewe's exclusive Claudia's Handpaint in Peppermint Mocha another, and SSYC Exclusive CTH was also irresistible.  Can you see what attracts me (as if you didn't already know)?  Yeah, lately it's pink or red, for the most part. The stash is multi-colored and I should get out of my pink/red rut more often.

A Sock Club for One has been created in order to (try and) change my behavior (like you can do that at my age), to do something about said stash and to abate my desire to acquire. Yes, I do realize you may find this silly and that I'm just trying to delude myself.  I'm rather good at delusions and I'm going to try it anyway. I've picked a few lovely skeins, all different yarns (and colors), and have wrapped them up in pretty paper.  On the first day of every month (I started on June 1st), I'll pick one package at random. What? You think I'll remember what's in each package? You give me too much credit. I have already forgotten!

I'm not saying there will be NO acquisitioning, that would be silly of me (and undoable).  This is just an effort to remind myself of all I have, all that is mine already, and have some fun doing it.  My sock choice for June (this is the only one I chose 'sight seen') is Cassie's Loksins!! and my newly dyed Blue-tiful yarn.  Since I'm rather new to this dyeing thing, I didn't realize how the dye job would knit up. It's seems to be spiraling a bit, but the colors are close and it isn't too distracting for the pattern (at least I think it's OK).  Cassie's pattern is interesting knitting and it's going to make a pretty sock.  I did add a few rows for a tiny rolled cuff, but the jury is out on if I like it or not.

The first Jaywalker knit with Vesper Yarns (Midnight Knitter colorway) has been finished. Smith asked where the batteries fit and I'm not sure he was kidding.  Youza-zouza! It is a bit electric eye catching, eh?

*The title is something my boss said to me the other day when he saw Cassie's sock on my computer monitor. He's a very good guy.

Remember the comment contest I have going on until 30,000 comments has been reached? Well, 28,000 should happen some time this week. Just sayin'.

Comments

[michelle]

Great idea!! Love it! Now you have to stick it too! The blues look wonderful!! Great photo of your Jaywalker too!! Interesting whats the colorway & yarn called

[jackie]

Too funny! sock yarn surprise bags!

[Manise]

What a great way to knit down your sock yarn stash! Love your Blue-tiful yarn. I know Laurie's eyes will twinkle when she claps eyes on them ;-)

[Norma]

That's a terrific idea!

[SigMa]

Your sock club sounds like a lot of fun. Unfortunately (or maybe not), my stash of sock yarns isn't big enough for me to make my own sock club.
It will be interesting watching your sock club progress!

[Laurie]

Great idea! While I never resist sock yarn (much), I have been successful at resisting the sock yarn clubs. Too much pressure, too much inflow. I went shopping in the stash the other night. Judy yarn popped out.

[DebbieB]

Oh, that is an adorable idea - I think I'll follow your lead! Of course, I'll probably only get as far as the stash-fondling, since I already have 5 pair of socks on needles. ;-) But hey, stash-fondling is all good. And I am totally capable of forgetting what's inside each package after I wrap it.

[Carole]

Excellent idea! I've been on a sock yarn buying binge lately and need to slow down a bit.

[Kelly]

I love that idea! I too have so much sock yarn but can't seem to stop buying it lately. Your hand dyed sock is knittin up beautifully.

[Cassie]

That really is a wonderful idea, but I'm not sure I've got the self-control to let chance and surprise rule my sock knitting.

The adapted cuff looks great!

[Cara]

VERY good idea! There are so many special sock yarns out there too.

[Rebecca]

Excellent idea for those with full-grown stashes! When mine gets big enough I'll have to put that into practice. ;)

[Andrea]

Neat idea! Your bluetiful sock yarn sure is gorgeous!

[Brenda]

I love the idea. The only problem for me would be that I would remember where my favorites were stashed and would reach for them first, totally messing the whole surprise thing. I'd have to have my husband choose each time.

[Jenn]

I love it! Perhaps I could have hubbo wrap some up for me....Excellent idea! And your Vesper sock looks great!

[Chris]

Those Jaywalkers will make you smile when you wear them! I love your sock club for one idea. Hmm... Hmm...

[Stacey]

What a wonderful idea! I start a lot and rip a lot and change yarns all the time. Maybe setting up the challange to knit what I pick no matter what would work for me.

[susan]

I had a friend in Germany who just stuck her hand into a Rubbermaid bin and knit with the first sock yarn she pulled out.

[Stitch-n-Snitch]

Hehe--I think your idea is a good one. I may have to try it myself! ;)

[marie in florida]

i, also , could use six months of use what ya got sock club for one.
i'll admit that i haven't the FollowThrough, maybe i could get one of my kids to wrap my stash.

[Laura]

I should do that. My sock yarn stash is SHAMEFUL. And what's really sad is, I was only one click away from ordering some of that Peppermint Mocha. I have a little acquisition problem myself. :)

[Ruth]

That is a fantastic idea. I stirred the sock yarn stash yesterday, and was alarmed to see how much was in there I have no memory of buying.

[Vicki]

I love your Club for One idea. ; ) It's a great way to make your own yarn more appealing -- and like it's a surprise and a gift to yourself (which it is/was/should be).

[Margaret]

Well, this is a great idea and will take me through about the next three years of sock knitting LOL! The Blue-tiful is looking very nice knit up.

[Lolly]

the desire to acquire - yeah, I am trying to curb that too! fun idea! :)

and very cute new sock!

[The Feminist Mafia]

That's such a great idea!

[sprite]

What a fun plan! I'm teaching people to knit first projects these days so my knitting time has been curtailed. I'm only surviving by checking all the great finished objects on the blogs!

[Em]

I love the "sock club for one idea! It's great: no only do you get a surprise every month, you get to knit socks!

[Birdsong]

How clever to treat yourself in such a way! There really CAN be too many temptations out there. Socks are taking a break while my hands steadily improve so I will have to live vicariously through you. Smith is right - that is one electric sock.

[Heather Joins The Round]

How fun, another way to play with your yarn. Clever grrl.

[knittingphilistine]

Great stash-busting idea!

[Meadow]

What a great idea! And how fun that you get to open a new package every month. Even the months where the budget might be a little more tight ;).

[Jennifer]

What a good idea! I keep acquiring sock yarn too, and have enough for years. Hmmmm....

[AmyP]

Good idea to fib to yourself!

[Jennifer]

Great idea. I just posted pictures of my sock stash - which I think has a 3-4 year life span. Ugh! I'm all for the SCF1 idea.

[Michelle]

Love your idea! I need to stop acquiring and start busting my sock yarn stash as well. Your Jaywalker is looking fantastic--I want to make that one next.

[Cheryl]

Wonderful idea! How fun it will be to open your packages and reveal your yarn for the month.

[Chante]

I like that "sock club for one" idea. Maybe I'll give my hubby random skeins and let him wrap them for me. Oh goodie, I already can't wait to open my first package!

[Kim]

Hehe, I definitely do not believe this will keep you from buying a lot more sock yarn. But good luck.

[Julie]

Your sock club for one sounds fun :)

[Beth S.]

Excellent idea! :-) Count me as one who believes it will work. :-)

And I know you're going to do the thing properly and make really beautifully wrapped 'club' packages, too. ;-)

[Marcia Cooke]

Great idea! I'm not that disciplined, unfortunately!

[Wool Winder]

I think you should close your eyes when you make your pick each month...just in case your memory is better than you think. Looking forward to seeing all the lovely socks to come.

Electric colors are perfectly acceptable in socks and just right for the Jaywalker pattern.

[Kim]

Margene...you are TOO funny!! LOL!!! What a fun thing to do!

[nova]

Now that is a way to add some fun and spontaneity to the sock knitting. What a great idea! I am really looking forward to seeing how the Bluetiful socks knit up!

[Tan]

Well at least you'll always have yarn and patterns you love in your sock club. I joined several sock clubs because I like the BMFA one so much, but the first package I got from another club jolted me into reality. I have traded that one for a skein of Yarn Pirate, but who knows what else I will get.

[Alison]

What a great idea. I think maybe I should just dig with eyes closed into one of my sock yarn containers at random and just pull out something and knit. I actually have been pretty disciplined this month about sock yarn though. I realized that I haven't been knitting many socks lately, yet I am still acquiring sock yarn.

[Tonia]

What a great idea. I am loving the blue that you dyed. So very pretty. The jaywalker is so cool. It reminds me of the summer mellons. Trade out the blue for a nice green and it would so be melony.

[Kim]

What a great idea! I might have to join this Sock Club for One! Your June sock is just gorgeous and so it the Blue-tiful yarn!

[Ann]

I love that idea! I should do something similar for myself. Like you, I just can't seem to resist some colors of sock yarn -- am possessed by the need to own them. This way it's like you get to open a present each time!