Thanks to Luann, Cyndy, Melissa and Rachel, I have four of my 7 knitters lined up. I still have one infant size (wouldn’t take long to knit up and then you’d have my pattern from which to knit other sizes later), one child’s size (10-11 US, foot circumference 6.75″) and Ladies’ Large (10-11 US foot, measuring 9.25″ circumference).

Remember, it’s a footie and it’s in fat/DK yarn. Therefore, even one large footie (56 stitches around) shouldn’t take too long. The rolled cuff (leg) is only 9 rounds!

Thanks to those who already offered, you really made my day! And even if you can’t help out this time (or would rather not), I appreciate all of you who come by and visit.

Hello, friends. (OK, I lied, I am actually posting fibery text on a day I swore I would not. Please tune in to see why I broke my vow…)

I am preparing for Bloomiefest and printing out patterns both for that event and my yarn shops. I have had three different shops request to purchase my Mom’s Fast Florida Footies Pattern, which they know is already available free on the Internet.

Since the one on the Internet is only in an extra small ladies’ size (My Mom has little feet), I figure if I make up the pattern with specific stitch counts for several sizes, and purchasers get a nice, printed out copy with a page protector, then it would be a value-added situation to purchase a pattern that can also be found for free. My yarn shops seem to think so, at any rate.

So…. I am wishing for seven test knitters (I am working up 8 sizes but one has already been tested). I would love to have one tester for each size.

Mind you, I need you to REALLY test, check every single number I put in there and make sure it’s right. For this sort of thing, I can not have folks who can figure things out easily, and therefore don’t check the text. You only have to knit one sock, and you don’t have to make it in Cascade Fixation, but you do have to use the number of stitches I assign to you. I have sizes from infant size 0/1 to Ladies’ size L. You get to keep the test sock, but I need a good, clear digital photo or scan of it (blocked). If you don’t have a way to get me a digital image, you can send me your sock and I’ll return it with your reward.

Not only that, I am imposing a deadline. OK, I can knit a pair of the footies in size XS, in one day of focused knitting. But I know most of you have real lives besides knitting for me. Nevertheless, I need to have a photograph/scan from you by a week from today, Tuesday, March 15.

What I am offering in exchange is a skein of LynnH ColorSport handpainted yarn, in your choice of whatever colorways I should have left after I return from Bloomiefest… plus one LynnH Pattern of your choice. I know this is not much, considering how long it takes to knit by hand. However, it’s what I’ve got to offer, today.

If you like, I’ll put up a photo of your sample sock (with or without your face in the photo) and tell the world who you are, thanking you publicly for your work. Maybe you can consider 15 minutes of fame as part of your payment?

I’m not sure how much email I’ll be checking on Fri/Sat/Sun this week because of my road trip, but I’ll get back to folks as fast as I can, until I have all sizes spoken for. I’m hoping I can have folks assigned before I go to Bloomington/Normal, Illinois on Friday morning, but that may be over-optimistic.

I know this is pretty bold. After all, I’ve been writing this blog for over 2 years and I have always averaged not even one comment per day, even when I had comments turned on. However, my stats say that my LynnH.com/ColorJoy.com site gets 1,400 unique page views a day, on average. So there must be seven folks out there reading this, who would like 15 minutes of fame, some yarn and a pattern, in exchange for knitting a single footie sock with extra-vigilant eyes??? I sure hope so.

Write me at Lynn AT ColorJoy DOT com, if you are interested.

I have a lot of work to do today, and the computer is very distracting. I’ll be turning off the computer as much as humanly possible Tuesday so I can do hands-on fiber stuff, preparing for Bloomiefest.

Send good vibes my way, I’m already pretty tired and do not “feel like” doing what must be done. Thank goodness I am fairly good at pushing forward when I’m not in the mood to do so. I probably don’t go at my full speed in that situation, but I do keep on pushing forward.

I already have a lot of yarn made up into skeins to soak and then dye, and so that will start first thing in the morning. While the first batch soaks, I’ll make up my ColorJoy Stole Kits into pretty packages, and print patterns until I run out of toner (probably literally, since we’re low on turquoise).

While I’m gone, here’s a photo from Africa. I took it at the resort in Mombasa, Kenya (just south of the equator on the Indian Ocean). This is the view from the outdoor seating area of the restaurant, looking up toward the second story piano bar. In Kenya, every plant/flower seems to grow like a weed, and these flowers were no exception. Plants seem totally happy in that environment. Isn’t it artful?