Hm. That doesn’t sound quite right somehow. It’s true, though! After many years of avoiding any clothing even remotely brown in color I’ve had a change of heart and decided to again embrace the color.

Why would I avoid brown for many years you ask, when as a brunette it’s one of my best colors? Well. You see. It goes something like this. My entire life my mother has told me in no uncertain terms that I look horrible in black. (She still does.) If I wanted something dark it must be brown. Since she bought all my clothes when I was growing up, and always followed me into the dressing room to boot, and had (almost completely) brainwashed me into believing the black/brown thing I owned not a single article of clothing remotely close to black, and so arrived at my great aunt’s funeral when I was 19 years old in a most unsuitable (to the event) Gunnysax dress in brown. It was the closest I could come. I know. Gunnysax with ribbons and velvet and lots of prints. It was the late 70s. Okay? I didn’t care if I did look horrible in black. I would have preferred it to sticking out like a sore thumb as I felt I did. I felt like a… well, like a turd. That day I decided I’d never wear brown again. I no longer allowed my mother to purchase a single article of brown clothing for me. For many years, I eschewed the color. Nearly 28 years, actually. (I’m amazed that Great Aunt Hilda died that long ago! She was 86.) I do have to admit to a little black creeping into my wardrobe over the intervening years. A lot more black crept in when guys started telling me how good I looked in it, without my asking or prompting in any way. I mean. Really. If the men in my life liked me in black, who was I to say I didn’t? Hm? I ask you. But you know what? There have been some really nice browns in the clothing stores the last year or so. And I have succumbed. I have added brown back into my wardrobe. And you know what? The guys seem to like me in that color, too. Joy!

Since I’m wearing brown once in a while these days, I figured it’s time for some brown socks. Earlier this year I got some lovely Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in a dark brown. This is the very beginning of the Vine Lace pattern in Socks Socks Socks. I got a little farther at lunch today. The lace is easy to do, and is looking quite nice so far.

And then there’s this.

Remember how I teased you, and refused to tell you what color Panda Silk that Susan at Crystal Palace Yarns was sending to me? Well, this is it. It arrived on Saturday. This lovely combination of browns is called Nutmeg Tones. It’s gorgeous. Rich. And, oh my. Is it ever soft. Silky. Smooth. This will need a very special sock pattern. I have to let this one steep for a bit.