Everyone loves variegated yarn

I can't get over how bright this skein is. I absolutely love it. And I think this skein has initiated my interest in yarn dyeing. Although this is hand painted with three different colors, Everyone loves variegated yarn. It's bright, it's colorful and it's eye catching. However, it can be a pain to knit with, especially if you encounter pooling issues. Also, variegated doesn't work well with patterns with certain stitch patterns, like cables.

Trying to find solid or tonal sock yarn is a pain. Locally, it is hard to get. And if you do find some the colorways are limited. Since learning the basics of yarn dyeing, I've come to the conclusion that I'm quite capable of dyeing my own yarn to match my projects goals.

But there is a problem. Again, variegated yarn is bright, colorful and eye catching. This is why I have so many of variegated skeins in my stash. Yesterday I was practicing with Easter Egg dyes and ended up hand painting three skeins. I couldn't help myself as I love variegated yarn.

Photo Fridays

Check out my dyed beauties dyed with acid dyes. (Note the bright skein on the end. Can't wait to cast on that colorway). The green skeins were dyed in the oven in a turkey pan; the periwinkle skein was dyed in the crock pot; and the mult-colored skein was handpainted. Thanks to my friend L, who gave me a tutorial.

I've lost my sock mojo

Like a sock that has gone missing in the dyer, my sock mojo is nowhere to be found.

I'm an avid sock knitter. Well, I used to be. If you are knitter, you will be well aware of the existence of Ravelry, the highly addicting social networking site for knitters and crocheters. On this amazing site exists an amazing group called Sock Knitters Anonymous. Like the name says, members knit socks. And most members have an addiction to sock knitting and stashing copious amounts of sock yarn.

From September to July, the group holds monthly challenges. I've successfully cast on and completed socks for every challenge, except for April. Now, it isn't from a lack of trying. I've tried three times. And three times I've had to rip out my work. Damn you slip stitches! (Insert ragey fist here).

And since April is now in its dying days, it looks like I will completely miss this challenge. I'm kind of sad, but at the same time it cannot be helped. It is hard to knit socks when you don't have sock mojo.

Right now I'm trying to decide to hold off for May's challenge (it's lace) or continue with the socks I've cast on this afternoon. I'm only eight rounds in, so it won't be a total loss if I decide to rip them out and recast stitches so I qualify for the May challenge.

Not even this lovely yarn could get my mojo back. Sob! Sock mojo, I miss you. Please come back. So dear readers, I'll leave you with this photo of the lovely yarn my lovely friend dyed just for me. Hopefully it will inspire you to pick up a pair of knitting sticks and get knitting.