There was a bit of a blogging hiatus, so I have some catching up to do! Here’s another peek at the 2011 Sock Club. For the second shipment, club members received a sneak preview skein of Lorna’s Laces Solemate yarn which features a phase change material that helps regulate temperature. It’s totally space age techno stuff that’s used by NASA! The color inspiration was jam, and I think Beth got it just right. The exclusive colorway is Boysenberry Jam, and it is delicious.

The two accompanying patterns went with the jammy inspiration.

Above we have the Boysenberry Yo sock in front and the PB&J sock in the background. Every shipment includes a simple pattern for when times are rough and another pattern. The simple pattern in this case is definitely Boysenberry Yo.

A closer look at the PB&J socks from the side show the two twisted stitch panels criss-crossing over themselves. My favorite detail on the PB&J socks is at the toe.

I love how many club members are knitting the socks, chatting away in the Ravelry group, and posting photos of finished projects. Josiane (who lives in Switzerland!) knit the Boysenberry Yo socks in the club yarn:

And enjoyed them enough to knit a second pair in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. She’s got some Lorna’s Laces love going on here.

And here’s a look at Boysenberry Yo in even more yarns. Sarah knit them using String Theory Caper Sock yarn. I forgot to ask her if she fell in love with the yarn after the first shipment or if she already had some lying around.

And there have been some striped versions in the works. Gretchen‘s Morning Glory Yos show off the striping and the patterning beautifully.

If you didn’t get in on the fun this year, these patterns will be released in April 2012. Or you can sign up for 2012 Club announcements.

I’ll admit I’ve read enough about yarn clubs gone wrong that I was a bit nervous before starting the my own sock club. Well, there was no good reason for that. I’m only half way through the shipments, and I am having a BLAST! Here’s a look at the first club patterns which featured the fantastically cashmere-enhanced, utterly squishable String Theory Fiber Arts Caper Sock yarn in the exclusive Solas colorway.

The Haleakala pattern has two versions, a straight one that takes the lace panel straight down the foot and an angled one that shifts the gusset decreases, creating a V-shape across the top of the foot. Alice Yu aka Socktopus modeled these back in January, and I’ll be seeing her shortly in London for Knit Nation! And here’s a look at both shipment patterns, Haleakala (angled version) and Ripple Leaf.

One thing I love about the club is that there are two patterns for every shipment and one skein of yarn. Some members are using the extra pattern to work on stash yarn, so I get to see the patterns in non-club yarns too. Francoise knit these hot pink Ripple Leaf socks using Malabrigo yarn:

And Saccade knitted these Milkweed Ripple Leafs:

Both patterns will be available to non-club-members in February 2012. Want to know when sign-ups open for next year’s club? Fill out this form.