Sock Madness begins today. WTF?? I hear you all cry….go check here for the details but basically it’s a sock knitting contest.

There are four divisions in the competition and the first round is a simple time trial against everyone else in my division, there are 34 in my division and the first 16 to finish in the first round will go through to the next stage. After that it’s a knockout competition competing one on one with another knitter in the division with the winner of each pairing going forward to the next stage…..like a knockout football competition.

The pattern for each stage is released on a set date and then it’s knit, knit, knit to try and finish a pair first. The first pattern for round 1 is released today between 8am and 9am E.S.T which is (I think) 6 hours behind G.M.T so I have till about 2 this afternoon.

We’ve been told that the sock requires a skein of solid and a skein of variegated so I spent yesterday evening searching through my stash looking for good combinations

This is the Sock Yarn Stash – isn’t it pretty? We have, from l-r,

top row – 2 balls of Opal Uni (sans ball band), 2 balls of 4ply Sock Yarn from Angel Yarns, 5 balls of Opal Rodeo in various colours.

2nd row – 2 skeins Artyarns Supermerino colour 139 (swap goodies), then there are four skeins of sock yarn from The Natural Dye Studio – 2xalpaca/merino “liquorice”, 2 x Blue Faced Leicester “Apple Blossom”, 2 x Alpaca Silk (Feb’s sock of the month), 2 x Blue Faced Leicester (Jan sock of the month I think), then 4 skeins of Posh Yarn – Lucia “Pop”, Saskia “Heroine”, Lucia “Passion” (from my wonderful Sockret Pal) and Lucia “Fizz

Last row – Sockret Pal yarn from Scout’s Swag, Cascade Fixation and 2 balls of Italian Sock wool.

After much deliberation and consulting a colour wheel , these are the possibles





This is Opal Uni in pale blue and Natural Dye Studio Alpaca/Silk – this was the February yarn in the Sock Yarn Club. This combination makes me think of summer flowers or sunshine in a blue sky…

Next is more Opal Uni, this time in green and Posh Yarns Saskia in “Heroine”. The picture doesn’t do either of these justice, the green is much brighter and lusher and the Posh yarns positively shines. Not sure if this might be too busy?

Finally,

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/416419707_af44fe4bc4.jpg?v=0

4ply sock yarn from Angel Yarns in “Denim” and this months Sock of the Month from Natural Dye Studio – Alpaca/Merino in a colour Amanda describes as “Liquorice” – it does remind me of liquorice alsorts!

I have to say, this last combination is my favourite – I’ll have to wait to see what the pattern is like, if it’s something I really like then I’ll use the Denim/Liquorice, if not then I’ll save that combination for something else.

In a flurry of joining I have also signed up for International Sock Exchange 4 and expect to receive my swap partner on the 15th March. This is the same day that I will get my swap partner for Secret Pal 10 – this will run from March to June.

I am about to send out my last package for the Sockret Pal swap – the “reveal” package. Getting my last few bits ready for that then I need to write a little note revealing who I am to my pal. I’ve enjoyed this swap which is why I’ve signed up for 2 new ones as this is ending.

I’m now sitting with baited breath awaiting the start of Sock Madness!!!

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