This almost makes me speechless. And, gentle reader, you know that’s a rare thing. I mean… WTF? I know that this has probably been all around the knitosphere already, but in case there’s someone out there who didn’t get the word…

I signed up for Blue Moon Fiber Arts’ Rockin’ Sock Club this year. Not that I need more sock yarn, but… well… you know how it goes with collectors. Apparently a lot of other people signed up, too. So many that Blue Moon’s bank thought that… drum roll please…

it was a scam.

Because, of course, why would so many people cough up their hard-earned money with the promise that they could knit socks? There can’t be that many sock knitters in the world, can there? So they refunded everyone’s payments.

Yes, dear befuddled, misguided, seriously wrong bank officers, there not only are that many sock knitters — there’s a waiting list! And, yes, we will all get yarns and patterns and be happy and think our money was well spent, and many socks will be knit, and many feet will be warm.

The lovely ladies at Blue Moon have hooked up with a new bank that understands their business model a little better. This is a copy of the email I received:

The sign-up for the Rockin’ Sock Club 2007 has been a resounding success. So much so that our bank thinks we are running some type of elaborate yarn scam and is refusing to accept our members’ money! So, you know what they are doing? You are not going to believe this. They are sending all of that money back! Unbelievable and astounding!

Here are the details. Within the next ten days, all of you who signed up for the Sock Club… will be getting a credit back onto your Mastercard or Visa. It is the Sock Club only, all other yarn orders placed will go through and you will be receiving your yarn soon.

Do not panic!

Everyone affected by this incredible situation is guaranteed their spot through the end of January, including those on the wait list. After you receive your credit, just go to our website and use your same registration number to pay for your Sock Club (yet again). The website is temporarily under construction in order to install the new bank’s (who has guaranteed us they will have no difficulty accepting your money!) system. The site should be back in full swing in the next couple of days. In the meantime, you can view products and place phone orders.

If you have any problems, call or email us and we will gladly help. Keep in mind that there are a lot of you involved! It is going take us some time to sort through the mess the bank has so graciously created for us. Remember, those of you that ordered other products from the Blue Moon website during this period are fine. It does not affect your orders! It is the thought of a Club for knitting socks they cannot get their heads around.

This certainly is NOT how we envisioned starting the New Year, the launch of our website upgrade and the 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club! We cannot apologize enough for any inconvenience this causes you. To honor all of your dedication and patience, we are including a coupon in your first shipment to help compensate for this.

So, knitting comrades, we can choose to look at this in many ways (and believe me we have run the gamut on this one). Disbelief, shock, outrage . . . it has been a surreal experience for us. This is not just about us here at Blue Moon. It is about knitters as a group. We are extraordinary people. We have seen our power when rallied . . . large fundraising for great causes, KAL’s across the planet, and standing room only at knitting-related gatherings. Because of this, the Rockin’ Sock Club 2007 will prevail! We will have a blast and knit awesome socks that will be the envy of all nonbelievers!

We thank you so very much for your support, and community. There will be more (much more) to say about this saga in the first shipment’s dyer’s notes!

Our socks are still rockin’,
Team Blue Moon

email: sockclub@bluemoonfiberarts.com
phone: 1-866-802-9687
web: http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com

I checked and, yes, my payment has been refunded.

There will be a finished object this weekend, as I need to get the socks I’m knitting for T off of the needles so I can start a new pair on Tuesday with the class. And it appears the sun will shine, so I might actually be able to get a decent picture of them. The yarn is very dark, though, and not in colors my camera likes. We’ll see.

I’ve made a semi-resolution that I will knit socks only as knit-alongs with the classes this year until I can get some of those UFOs off the right-hand sidebar.

I may have to teach a lot of classes.