On a whim, I joined the Rockin Sock Club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts for 2007. As a club member, I expect to get six shipments (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec), each with a new, unique pattern and enough yarn in a new, unique colorway to knit a pair of socks. The club is not over yet, but I’m in a crabby mood and I feel the need to share my thoughts on the club.
Overall, it’s been okay, but not great. I have only used one of the patterns so far, and none of the club yarn selections (although I do have great plans for two of them). I find there is a disconnect between the patterns and the colorways. The patterns almost seem to fight with the yarn, rather than blending harmoniously together. This is rather frustrating, as I then have to find other patterns to use with the yarn and other yarn to use with the patterns.
One of my main complains, however, is a really petty one. It’s simple. I always get my package late. Well, it seems late to me – it doesn’t count as late to BMFA, but I always get it at least 3 days after the first domestic member receives their yarn. This company is in Oregon – one state away. It should be simple. I should not be getting my package days after people in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Southern California, and who knows where else. (I’m ignoring the fact that they ship international packages a week earlier than domestics, since I understand mailing internationally can be unpredictable.)
Apparently, their office is in such a small town that it cannot handle the volume if they ship all of the domestic packages in one day, so they do it in batches. OK, that’s great. But maybe it would be nice to vary the order in which things go out with each shipment? Or, maybe they could travel to a few area post offices to spread the burden and get everything shipped on the same day? They ship via priority mail, which is usually 2-3 days anywhere in the US so the distance does not really matter as much.
My other little petty gripe is in regards to the “surprises” that are periodically included. So far, we’ve had a single greeting card with a picture of the colorway on it, a sheet of rub-on tattoos (seriously? Do adults wear those things?) and now my personal favorite (which I have only heard about through the grape vine since I have yet to receive my package) – toy spiders. WTF? I do admit the greeting card was nice, I wish we had just got a greeting card with that month’s colorway on it instead of rub-on tattoos and fake spiders.
I definitely will not be renewing my membership next year. Between the incompatibility of yarn/pattern, the hideous colorways (and I really like most of the regular BMFA colorways), the delay in arrival of the package and the general feeling of distaste I get from the club blog (which I find to be quite catty; it seems that club members are unable to express our personal opinions if they are not pure adoration of Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and the representatives of BMFA do nothing to facilitate), there is really nothing to draw me back to the club.
Ah, well. Perhaps I will find another one for next year!
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26 October 2007 at 5:33 pm
krayolakris
hadn’t visited the STRClub website since month 2 for all the reasons you list. I completely agree with your assessment of the entire experience. It was a big disappointment but I guess I’m glad I tried it. Never thought of the patterns at war with the colorways…very well put! Only 1 of the patterns appeals to me & 2 of the yarns. Plastic spiders – cute – but hardly a “prize”. I recommend etsy.com as the best place to find amazing sock yarn. Try dkKnits…her colorways are indescribable!
26 October 2007 at 9:10 pm
crayolaab
Thanks for the tips, krayolakris! I like the Inside Out pattern although I understand it has some problems, size-wise? I love the Solstice Slip, and I think that Grasshopper will be nice in a yarn with some elastic in it. I don’t care for August’s pattern at all but I can appreciate it. Ah, well.
I do like the body of STR, but I think it is similar to quite a few other yarns out there so I will just have to expand my horizons a bit. My favorite semi-indie dyer is Three Irish Girls, and they have a new sock yarn line that I am dying to try.
27 October 2007 at 9:05 pm
Nancy
I understand your feelings! I’m in a fiber club that I’m not very satisfied with right now for pure customer service reasons. The fiber for the previous month hasn’t even been sent out yet, and I’ve already been charged for the next month. The owner of the club is non-responsive to emails, and despite a promise on the last shipment (which was over a month late) to ship the next shipment (now very very late) on the 17th of October, I have not yet seen a package. This one is charged monthly – so at least I’m not out the full amount, and the stuff (when I get it!) is usually really great, so I haven’t unsubbed yet.
(Oh – and I mapped where BMFA is – they are 15 mins away from another city – they should take the packages there!)
28 October 2007 at 3:48 pm
Abigail
Nancy, is that where you got the orange fiber from? Sorry they are so late :(
I try to be sympathetic to small companies or individual craftsmen (craftspeople)?, but BMFA are certainly trying to be a lot more than that.
I finally got my kit Saturday, with a franking stamp from the 25th (Thursday), so it was mailed out after other US members had already received their package. Lame.
Each shipment comes with dyer’s notes and “footnotes” which are supposed to be interesting information about feet. Some of these are interesting, but one month it was a sheet with some squiggles that are supposed to be dance steps (no key or explanation of how to follow them, even if one wanted to), and this month’s version is a list of websites, with a header proclaiming “Sock Stuff!! (Or Tina is tired and her brain is way too fried to do footnotes this time around.)” Wow, way to do your job there, lady!
At least this month’s yarn is not hideous, and the pattern *almost* works with the yarn.
3 November 2007 at 5:10 am
Shiori
I am in total agreement with you. I, too, found the club to be a huge disappointment. The yarn is very nice, as are the patterns. They simply do not go together. I must admit to liking this shipment the best so far. It must be the latent goth in me. The plastic spiders were annoying, though.
I have switched over to fiber clubs and generally enjoy them much more. Maybe you should think about joining one yourself. It might re-ignite your spinning!
3 November 2007 at 8:43 am
crayolaab
I felt that this month’s yarn/pattern match the best of all of them, I do like the pattern quite a bit. Also I think this pattern is pretty versatile and will look good in lots of different yarns.
I am thinking about a fiber club, I can’t make any decisions until after Christmas though so then it will be too late! One of these days I will figure out how to get the leader back on my … bobbin?… so I can spin again :) I have a bunch of fiber pre drafted ready to go :)
20 November 2007 at 4:41 pm
Denice
Thanks for the honest assessment of the STR club. I’d thought about joining, but it seems expensive for what is sent every 2 months. I just joined the yarn of the month club for Three Irish Girls, and it’s a much better deal. There’s no pattern or ‘extra’ involved, but the yarns are less expensive than on the site, and there is a choice between 2 colorways every month.
24 November 2007 at 4:41 pm
Abigail
Denice, I love the Three Irish Girls club. It’s so much fun to choose colorways and try out different yarn. :)