This is a warning about the perils of certain blogs… you start reading them, you get sucked into the cosy descriptions of yarn bombing and steeking and then the insidious side of things appears. Descriptions of delicious yarn with pictures and links to fantastic collections of temptation; you find yourself drawn in with the chance of winning a skein of your very own. But, of course, you don’t win.., and by that time it’s too late, you are hooked*.
And so, thanks to The Twisted Yarn, I found myself a member of the Burrow and Soar sock yarn club (15% discount with a code from Twisted’s blog). Every month for six months I will be receiving a skein of hand-dyed yarn to fuel my sock-knitting addiction. The first one arrived yesterday, along with a few extra goodies and I thought that you might like to see the loveliness that is my yarn “prize-winning pumpkin”:
The theme this month was ‘harvest home’ and I think Fran who dyes the wool has captured the colours of winter squashes and pumpkins so well. To be honest, this is well away from my usual selection of palettes but I’m rather pleased to explore something rather different, Next month, however, the theme is ‘behold the sea’, which will probably fit right in with my usual colour choices.
Twisted, you are a bad influence – thank you!
-oOo-
* well, at least you are if you crochet
The Snail of Happiness 
Wild Daffodil
/ August 30, 2015Phew! Thankfully I have so far escaped the knitted sock addiction (I have far too many others!) – I still can’t quite understand why anyone would want to knit socks – long may it elude me! Have fun with your yarn! xx
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 30, 2015Socks are lovely to knit… the thing that confuses me is shawls. The internet is full of lacy shawls – patterns for them, blog posts about them, yarn for them Why? I never see anyone round here wearing a lacy shawl (well, except Jude in the yarn shop in Lampeter and that was to show off a yarn sample). I have one lovely chunky shawl for keeping me warm in winter and that is enough. OK, rant over…
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Wild Daffodil
/ August 30, 2015Ha!Ha! hark at us ranting over knitting! Love it!
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narf77
/ August 30, 2015Scrumptious! I think it is a good thing to get out of your comfort palette every now and then. Shaking up your colours is good for you and you just never know, you might find your new most favourite colour. Either way, that gorgeousness is going to make some seriously spanky new socks :). I keep looking at those small pointy needles with string in the middle and thinking “I could do that…” But as of yet, I haven’t plucked up the courage.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 30, 2015One of the reasons I decided to go for it with this club was that I find myself always buying blue/purple/green colour combinations for my yarn… as brought home to me recently when using up left-overs. I think I shall enjoy having pumpkin-coloured feet for a change!
The small pointy needles are great once you get used to them… but a bit addictive!
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narf77
/ August 30, 2015As a confirmed addict of all things “crafty” I know that once I get those small pointy needles with string in the middle, I will be gone. Just picked up some seriously scrumptious pastel coloured cotton for cheap the other day. NO idea what I am going to use it for but I have an idea. Still working on your birdhouses. Working with that jute is like having a full on fist fight with Mike Tyson. My forearms are developing nicely. Will have “testing notes” for you soon (will send via a FB message). Might even have to crochet a few little birds to place in them as the birds we get around here are too roudy for something as nice as these and the LAST thing I want is for them to move onto the deck. We would never get ANY sleep 😉
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Nice piece of work
/ August 30, 2015It’s a harmless (and productive) addiction. Enjoy 🙂
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nerdinthebrain
/ August 30, 2015I love the idea of themed yarn! I can’t wait to see the socks when you’re finished…I bet they’re gonna be gorgeous. 😀
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 30, 2015It’s sooo soft too!
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Mrs P
/ August 30, 2015OMGoodness, what a beautiful yarn *drool*
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Sian Blake
/ August 30, 2015My weakness is job lots of my favourite yarns from e-bay. I buy the ones with my usual colours and they often have other colours included. It’s amazing what ideas these “unwanted” combinations throw up.
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katechiconi
/ August 30, 2015Knowing what you’re going to use it for is no guarantee when buying yarn, hence your tea cosy, dear Snail. ‘Ooh, pretty, want’ can strike even with something you don’t have the skills to use or any valid use for, as I know only too well. I am resigned to being incompetent with yarn. I will stick to my smaller needles.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ August 30, 2015Did you know sock yarn is often used to knit very pretty shawls with? I am a shawl knitter rather than a sock knitter. My ‘shawls’ become scarves, or if bigger. shrugs – which are very handy additions to the wardrobe, though I have to admit socks would be handier …… I have always been afraid of socks and have a history of starting several pairs and not finishing a one of them. It’s all well and good until I get to the heels. Then it isn’t. That Twisted is a woman to be very afraid of! [It says so on her blog] 🙂 Happy knitting xoxo
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 31, 2015I love sock knitting – I can do it without thinking and without a pattern these days. I love the fact that each project is small enough to carry around with me and that the end-product is so useful… here with our cool damp climate, it feels like you can never have too many pairs of socks!
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nettyg
/ August 30, 2015Beautiful colours, Ms Twisted has captured the feel of harvest very well. Can’t wait to see your socks..or shawl perhaps. I like to knit shawls but you’re right, I don’t wear them very often, and usually drape them around the place..I think it’s the lacey patterns. What fun to receive a surprise parcel of goodness every month:)
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 31, 2015I go love the idea of getting a ‘present’ every month – even if it is form me!
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anne54
/ August 30, 2015Ooooh gorgeous! I love the pumpkin shade. I have been doing tapestries with a beautiful variegated merino wool. The variegation gives lovely effects to the foliage I am trying to recreate and it is so smooth to use.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 31, 2015This yarn is Falklands merino – wonderfully soft. Currently I’m having to restrain myself from starting to knit it immediately, as I have a few other projects that I really need to finish before I have anything new on my needles.
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anne54
/ August 31, 2015I know that feeling. I love to jump into new projects!
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arlingwoman
/ August 31, 2015Pumpkin and green. Nice. But watch out. You may get drafted into Twisted’s band, have to get a tattoo and show up on time for practice. She’s a stickler about that.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 31, 2015It’s ok, I’ve offered the services of Mr Snail for the band… although he faints at the sight of any needle other than a knitting needle, so I don’t think he’ll cope with a tattoo!!
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reocochran
/ August 31, 2015I have enjoyed some crocheted and knitted gifts from handy crafters. I usually stick with pen and ink with watercolors but have enjoyed cross stitch and crewel projects. Things do catch our attention and we get “hooked” on them. 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 31, 2015Still, I can think of many worse vices!!
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thegrangerange.wordpress.com
/ September 1, 2015The yarn looks gorgeous, I have to confess I have yet to be bitten by the sock bug. I find the four needles a pain, I live in hope of mastering the art or finding an alternative pattern that uses normal needles. I will follow your progress with interest.
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Wild Daffodil
/ September 2, 2015I’m with you on the 4 needle thing.
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katythenightowl
/ September 2, 2015I think the only thing that could even attempt to win me back to knitting, would be the making of socks – and you’re to blame, totally!
And now you add even more temptation with glimpses of the gorgeousness that is ‘Prize-winning Pumpkin’.
How could you? Lol
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