Sock Summit 2011
It was funny to try and explain this event to my friends and family. I kept sharing with them that I would be attending this year’s “Sock Summit” during the weekend of July 28-31st, that it was my first time, and that I was super excited about it! I was saving as much money as I could and had a list of yarn/fiber vendors I would be visiting. I think somewhere along the way I forgot that those two words “Sock Summit” don’t really mean a lot to anyone, but fiber artists well immersed in the culture of all of it. Just in case you were wondering or maybe my explanation to you was not clear:
Welcome to the greatest (and only) sock knitting show on earth. Sock Summit 2011 continues the tradition we began in 2009: of a one of a kind conference for hand-knitters that explores the humble art form known as the sock.
A conference for sock knitters.
Why socks? People ask us that all the time.
Socks are practical, beautiful, historical, engaging and symbolic. Socks are circular, portable, structural and a perfect tiny canvas for almost any hand knitting technique you’d like to put on them. No matter what you’re interested in when it comes to knitting, there’s a way that it has to do with socks. We’re sure there’s something here for you whether you’re practical, fanciful or inexperienced in the ways of the sock.
Currently my little digital camera is broken, so I do not have any pictures for you from when I was there, but I did have a lot of fun! This was my first year, so I decided to save my money for yarn and fiber and forgo the classes. I will be taking a spinning class next year and probably a design class.
Here is my haul that I still drool over!
Hazel Knits sock, Sanguine Griffin lace, Abstract Fiber sock, Damselfly sock, and Sophie’s Toes sock.
There will be another Sock Summit in 2013. Let’s all go together!
Knitting Socks with Ease
When I first started to venture away from just knitting scarves and the occasional hat I kept hearing about socks. I knew I wanted to eventually learn how to knit socks. I even had DH buy me some double pointed needles, sock yarn, and a book. It was perfect! Except that it sat in my stash for a year…taunting me. I kept hearing about how difficult these little objects were. Everyone had a very strong opinion about them. I managed to hear a couple of people sing their praises and even heard a few encouraging words for me to try. But most of the time it was often hatred toward the dreaded “heel turn.”
I learned how to knit by watching videos online. Even today, 3 years later, if I don’t know how to do a technique I just go to youtube.com and find a video. Most of the time the videos are very well done and easy to follow. Using this thought process I decided I would just watch as many videos on how to construct socks as I could find. It really did take me a year and half, but I bought 3 40″ circular needles (sizes 0, 2, 3), a book on how to do magic loop knitting, and my sister bought me the book “Toe-Up Two at a Time Socks.” I knew that I would get the dreaded second sock syndrome I had heard about (you knit one sock, but can’t seem to get the second one finished or even started…your drawer is now full of 1/2 pairs of socks). I quickly started and finished my first pair of socks!
The yarn was Red Heart – Heart and Sole. It’s self-stripping, so it makes me look like a genius! The heels were not the worst part at all! I just followed the directions and with only a few mistakes figured it out! DH begged me to start his socks next and then there were 2 pairs done!
He loves them!
A friend asked me to test knit her new sock pattern called “Sockie Sock” and of course I agreed. This socks was not two at a time toe-up with a short-row heel. This pattern called for one at a time top-down, with a heel flap. Once more I jumped in with both feet (haha) and found myself successful!
It’s currently sitting in Urban Fiber Arts on display. Exciting! I did find that the dreaded second sock syndrome has hit me. It’s taking me a lot longer to do the second sock then the first, but that’s ok! I’m still having fun.
I am also working on my first mystery sock KAL by my friend Jen Hansen also known as knittinglikecrazy so far, so fun!
Since I took this picture I’ve actually finished the heel-flap and turn.
If you’ve ever wanted to knit socks, please don’t listen to the discouraging nay-sayers. Find your method (whether magic loop, 2 circular needles, or dpns) and just pick a way. Two at a time, top down, toe up. It doesn’t matter as long as you’re having fun and trying something new! Don’t be scared. Find a video and ask for help! If I can do it, so can you!
Adventures in Lace Knitting
When I started knitting I started with your basic garter stitch scarf. I quickly moved onto simple stockinette stitch hats with either a 1×1 (k1, p1) rib or a 2×2 (k2, p2) rib. Then I had to make my husband his very own Jayne Hat! That hat has ear flaps and a pomp-pomp on top. I’m not sure when I moved to it, but shortly after that I started playing around with yarn-overs in patterns for scarves. Then I decided I needed to make the Traveling Woman shawl. I’m not sure how my skill evolved or when I was suddenly able to understand how to construct triangular shawls, but I completed it in 3 days. Compared to some of the other shawls I’ve done since then it has it’s rough spots, but I’d say it’s one of my favorites.
Since then I’ve completed 5 more shawls (or shawlettes if you’d prefer. They are not large sizes, but some people get confused if I call them a shawlette.) I think I’m officially in love with knitting lace! All 6 of my shawls have been constructed out of fingering weight yarn. (If you’re not familiar with the different weights of yarn fingering is 4 ply and near the small end of the scale.) I finished my first full size stole from lace weight yarn this year 
and I’ve found a pattern that I’m going to use the fingering weight yarn my dad bought me in Paris. It looks like this:
Lace knitting can be very scary looking to some people. And it isn’t always easy, but just as everything else you need to start somewhere and it isn’t as difficult as some may say. Be bold, step out and try some!
A fair warning though … when you go into more complicated lace knitting patterns you may soon find that simply knitting a row and purling back again might bore you just a bit.
Happy knitting!!
Knitting, blogging, and real life.
I seem to recall I had this same problem with my personal blog. I also seem to recall a recent post stating that I would be posting every Friday. I don’t think I thought out the process nor did I realize I would falter on my commitment. I understand that in order to gather faithful readers I need to put in the time and effort to post at least once a week. You’d think I would jump on that. I do apologize dear readers (however many of you there are).
I am still knitting. I am also here cheering those of you on that are still beginners! Keep knitting! When all else fails, frog it (rip it all out) and start again. You are allowed to cry as you frog something. You can also put that yarn in time out if need be…I give you permission. But never, ever give up! Try again please. If you need help and you’re local I’d love to help. 
Here are some projects I’ve finished and some I’m currently working on!
First pair of socks!
Red Heart "Heart & Sole" Toe-Up Socks
That’s right I finished my first pair of toe-up two at a time Magic Loop socks! It took me a few weeks and I only had to rip back on one heel. It wasn’t difficult and the pattern in the book I have was relatively easy to follow. I actually prefer videos, but thought that having a book would be the safest route to go. I enjoy that I can knit both socks at the same time, so then they get done at the same time. I also enjoyed trying them on as I knit them! I did make these about 1/8″ too long, but that’s why I used the cheaper yarn for my first pair. The next pair are for my very anxious (read excited) husband. I’m not sure he knows what he is in for. Or maybe that warning is for me. Socks aren’t that scary I promise!
I finished my Ishbel! I’m still in progress on my two sample pieces: the Dancing Cranes Stole and the Kiwassa Shawl.
Here’s to do-overs and continuing to try even if you don’t do it right the first few times! Keep it up I know you can do it!
Where are they now?
Today’s post theme: Write about the fate of a past knitting project. Whether it be something that you crocheted or knitted for yourself or to give to another person. An item that lives with you or something which you sent off to charity.
Ever since I started knitting I haven’t really been one for rushing yarn into projects. I have this theory that most, if not all, of the yarn I currently own has a particular project that it is supposed to be. I do buy yarn with a particular project in mind. For example I bought a skein of Titanium Sock from Stitch Jones in the Angelica color way for a local fair project. I also bought a skein of Fillgran non-repeating lace for my first (of many I’m sure) Citron.
I say all that just to explain that everything I knit is extremely special to me and I hope to the people I give it to. I’m coming to the realization now that I’m way more excited about my hand knitted items then most people I come across. Including my husband. Although, I do have to say that he is fast becoming a fiber snob. (I secretly enjoy it!)
Things that have fallen by the way side with in the last 3 years? A plain garter stitch scarf made from homespun … I only wear it as a very utilitarian “it’s super cold out here and I don’t want to breath into my nice scarfs” scarf. I made my dad a hat that’s about 3 inches too short. He tells me he wears it in the yard … that outta make you laugh! I made a Jayne Cobb hat for my husband 2 years ago. It was my first hat and a surprise Christmas present. He LOVED it so much he wore it non-stop for 3 days. Then a couple months later it disappeared. (insert indignant look here) I did make him another one this last Christmas …. I’m hoping he doesn’t misplace this one as fast! I made my sister a scarf and I plan on making her a hat (next fall/winter), but I’m not sure I’ve found the project for her to fall in love with yet.
Only one project I’ve ever finished and worn and then frogged a few days later. I don’t have a picture even … but it was a lace scarf. And every time I wore it, it felt wrong. It was one of those situations that the yarn wasn’t really for that particular pattern. I definitely pulled the whole thing out and now it’s marinating in my stash.
Tidy Mind, Tidy Stitches
I keep saying I’ll get up to speed with the blogging week and then I get distracted with life. So maybe we’ll just say I’m a day behind?
Day 3: Knitting and Crochet Blog Week’s Theme = How do you keep your yarn wrangling organized?
I’d have to say, over-all, my stash is on the smaller end of things. I just recently started collecting a “stash,” so it’s still a baby. I will also say that organizing my hanks, skeins, balls, cakes, and braids of fiber is something I LOVE doing and do it quite frequently. I think it calms me down to sit and play in my stash…to breath in deeply the wonderous fiber fumes. 
I also find that it gives me time to get reacquainted with some of my different yarn skein/hanks (which ever you prefer … I prefer “lovies”) and then I can continue to get to know them and discover what their project really is. Sometimes it takes a while marinating in my stash to find their true potential. Enough of all this chit chat … it’s time to expose my stash to the world!!
Currently all of my yarn is living here!
One shelf of lovies.
My basket of cotton, drop spindle spun yarn, & my pattern notebook.
Drawer of marinating yarn.
My drawer of favorite lovies!
My drawer of fiber lovies!
Of course I’ll show you what I do with my WIPs (that’s works in progress). I don’t have the best way to organize my WIPs…at least they’re not in cute little bags. But I’d say the way I have them sitting out helps me keep working on them and … frankly … I like the way I do it! I do currently have 4 WIPs. 2 are projects for other people (sample knit and a store sample knit) and then my first pair of socks and my pretty Ishbel.
WIPs, needles, & give-away yarn bag.
Ishbel in progress
My sockies!
WIP
This one is sitting on my couch. I like to sit and knit watching mindless (read useless) bits of tv on hulu.com. Sometimes I listen to podcasts or music.
bits of things that also go along with my hobby
Hope you enjoyed looking at my baby stash!
Skill + 1Up
Day 2 of the 2nd Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week. (It’s actually day 3, but this particular post is day 2.) From the site: “Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year.”
I have probably talked about this before on my blog, but this last year has been the year of massive learning for me in the world of knitting. I’m not even sure where I could start!
When I started knitting I was using Homespun yarn from our local craft store. It’s fine for when you first start, but when I started going to a knitting group every Tuesday night at a local yarn shop and then joined ravelry my world at the local craft store ended. I joined the wonderful ranks for passionate fiber artists!
This last year I have moved on from scarfs to hats to venturing out into the world of other knitted items. In 2010 I finished making my first shawlette and proceeded to make 2 more!
Traveling Woman, 198yrds of Heaven, and Carefree
I’m also almost 1/2 way done with my first Ishbel
wip Ishbel
I also made 2 pairs of fingerless gloves (with only the thumb…I haven’t tried individual fingers yet.), 2 faux cabled hats, 1 basic cabled scarf, and my first sweater!
This year I am venturing into socks, lace weight yarns, and entrelac. Of course it is only March and I’m sure I’ll find myself diving even deeper!
Practice entrelac
First pair of socks!
I have also taken up spinning with a drop spindle and a friend of mine is teaching me how to use her wheel so I can “wheel-sit” for a while!
fiber yummys with my spindle
All in all I’d say my skill has gone up more than just +1 … but that’s not a bad thing at all!
I was reading my blog-friend’s blog, Knitting Like Crazy, yesterday and saw that she was doing a themed knit and crochet week. I admit I only partly paid attention to it yesterday. This morning I actually sat down to see what this Blog Week was all about. It turns out I’m a day late to paying attention, but I’m going to do this anyway! I have a blog about knitting after all.
I will post one post for yesterday and the one that’s “due” today.
Yesterday’s post: A Tale of Two Yarns
Each day there is a theme for what to blog about and yesterday’s theme is about our favorite and not so favorite fibers.
I’m relatively new to the deep creative world of fiber arts. When I taught myself to knit I started by shopping at a local craft store. The yarn there was so overwhelming and gorgeous to me. That was almost 3 years ago. One day I walked into a newly opened local yarn store. That would have to be the day I gladly walked in the “rabbit hole” of this world of fiber.
Fiber I LOVE: Since I’m so new I’m not sure I’ve actually explored or handled all of the fiber there is. For knitting I’ve fallen in love with:
Caper Sock from String Theory
Caper Sock
Malabrigo (in all sorts)
Malabrigo
Blue Moon Socks that Rock
Blue Moon Socks
Knowing all that now I still have a few skeins of yarn that I bought from that local craft store. It’s mostly acrylic and some cotton. It’s not that I hate it … I just really don’t enjoy it. I know there must be people out there that enjoy it, but I find it’s not soft, the colors aren’t rich, and it splits quite easily. It IS, however, a great yarn for learning and practicing on. You can buy a lot of it for relatively little money. I also find it good for baby items! A blend is usually better and a bit softer then just cheap acrylic.
That’s enough talk
Portland Yarn Crawl Haul
I took some pictures of my Crawl Haul (haha that makes me giggle)!
First stop was For Yarn’s Sake I bought String Theory Caper Sock in Brina for my husband’s first pair of hand knitted socks. Then there’s the 2 hanks of Stitch Jones’ Titanium Sock in Royal Plum & Digital Hippie. Fourth in line is Dream in Color Classy from Twisted in Deep Sea Flower color way. The last hank is Manos del Uruguay from The Knitting Bee. There’s a fun pattern by Chrissy Gardiner that I’m looking forward to trying. I also bought some fiber for my drop spindle. It might be fun to do a video or photo journal of my drop spindle adventures. Enjoy the pictures!
Portland Yarn Crawl
This weekend was my first experience with what is affectionately called the Portland Yarn Crawl! I looked up the urban dictionary definition for a yarn crawl and I enjoyed what was posted: “To tour/visit/salivate over a city’s local yarn shops for extreme fiber enthusiasts.” It made me grin, because I really did spend the entire weekend salivating over Portland’s local yarn shops! And I met a lot others who share my enthusiasm.
I “crawled” to: For Yarns Sake, The Knitting Bee, Urban Fiber Arts, and Twisted.
A side note: For those who have not experienced a yarn crawl I would please suggest you set aside a jar and start budgeting for it. It really is the best way to have a lot of fun without guilt.
Every local shop had a raffle basket that was put together by sponsors and when you visited the shop you got to sign in and enter each drawing. I put my name in to all of the stores I visited and I won’t find out until later this week. I’m not going to be silent about the fact that I really do want to win one!
I was given the amazing opportunity to help the owner of Urban Fiber Arts, Cindy, out all day Saturday and Sunday. It’s quite a riot meeting all of these passionate people and help them find exactly what they’re looking for.
I will photograph my haul and do another blog for you. To hold you over here are a couple shots of the trunk shows (local gals that dye their own fiber) at the shop.
Sharon and I with her wonderful yarn!
Abstract Fiber
