Sock Summit 2009
Sock Summit 2009! It all started a couple of years ago when I was visiting Cat (Bordhi) for a little creative R&R. We were brainstorming (or what I like to think of as tilting the world on its little sock knitting axis), playing with her sock patterns and my colors, chatting about the upcoming sock camp, and naming chicken colorways. Having way too much fun and cracking ourselves up in the process. Certainly a creative storm was brewing with ideas flying every which way.
At some point in our musings about camp, Cat paused and got a gleam in her eye. I later realized that this little light was a tip-off that trouble was coming my way. She then suggested that it be great to do kind of a bigger version of sock camp, wouldn’t it? I have to be honest and say this gave me a full body spasm of fear that has yet to fully release itself.
We then went on to dream about what we would like this to embody. A celebration of everything sock knitting, including all the designers, teachers, dyers, bloggers, knitters . . . our visionaries and icons that make us the wonderfully eclectic culture we are. I then ran this by Stephanie and she agreed it was wickedly brilliant . . . and more brain storming and embodying ensued.
Life intervened and moved on the way it does. We had sock camp, I that little Blue Moon thing I do, Steph a book or two and a tour, and Cat her book and teaching schedule. We also all have families that rely on us. But the seed of an idea had been planted and every once in a while it would set off a spark in one of our directions.
For me, it was a bit more than a spark now and then. When my initial terror-inspired spasm had subsided a little, this whole Sock Summit thing possessed me. Truly, I could not let go of the vision. After Camp Crows Feet, with a second sock camp under our wings, I knew we could pull it off.
I am over the moon excited about this and think that we are not only celebrating the history and culture of sock knitting but we are also making it.
As with the socks we knit, we have our basic design and have cast on. As every stitch is important in the construction of a sock for support and durability and beauty, the same is true when planning and implementing an event like this. Besides Cat, Steph and I, we have as our perfectly gauged team Leslie Cumming, Debi Stone, and Claire Scott, also on board are Rachel H, Team Blue Moon and the Sockateers, Hops Studios, and the dynamic grapic designer duo of Tim Bergman and Cassie Caldwell.
Please sign up on the website http://www.socksummit.com if you are interested in receiving info and you will be hearing from us soon. The website will grow as the Summit does and we recommend you check it regularly. (Spam filters sometimes are not our friends.)
I would like to say here that although Blue Moon is a large sponsor and I am indeed at the organizational helm, this does not make the sock summit a Blue Moon event. Many sponsors will help manifest this Summit. As a color-obsessed dyer, it is my dream that this marketplace be filled to the brim with us– wall-to-wall hand painters and dyers. Can you see it? It will be absolutely magnificent!
Until the Contact/Question part of the site is rolling, you can ask your questions here and we will do our best to answer them promptly.
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ooooohhhh la la
Will there be DYEING at the sock summit?????
What an awesome idea!!! I would love to come! Can’t wait to hear more details.
Deep breath, sigh, deep breath. I’m sure you’d love to have me move to Oregon just so I could more easily attend all these Blue Moon inspired events. (Not!) I’m just hoping certain stocks keep paying dividends so I can afford the airfare and lodging to visit the PNW twice a year. I did seem to manage that this year but the second one was supposed to be a one off, see DD married kind of thing. Now I have sock camp and this new sock summit to schedule and pay for. Maybe I should be glad you didn’t get things rolling until 2009 so I will be able to think about pulling the double visit again.
Here’s hoping you get lots of other sock yarn companies to sign on and all those other PNW based knitting suppliers to add their 2¢ worth. Sure would be neat to have a sock gathering the size of any Stitches.
Folks on Ravelry and in Harlot’s comments are wondering if it will be a limited attendance event or a come one come all affair. I’m under the impression that other than a limit to class sizes it will be a fairly open event.
Let us know if there’s anything more we can do to help out besides adding our names to address lists. I don’t feel qualified to teach but I’d be glad to assist if any of your teachers would like that. (yes, I’ll try to keep my voice down and my exuberance reigned in.)
I’m also hoping this means that sock camp will be kept a relatively small affair so we really get the chance to meet and know each other.
Best of luck on this new venture. Looking forward to it.
Happy Knitting and Dyeing, Alice
P.S. say Hi to everyone at the barn and tell them I send them more hugs.
Woooohoooooo!!! I can’t wait!! Enough said.
Congrats!!! With a team like that I just know this is going to be a fabulous event!
I LOVE the Sock Summit logo! What creative genius came up with that graphic design!
: )
Not sure if this will conflict with yearly family camp, personally, which is according to someone else’s schedule, but the idea is so awesome and I know will be a tremendous success.
Finally, a summit worth something. Congratulations on bringing an inspired dream to fruition!
Sounds FABULOUS!! I’m going to start saving now so I can afford to attend sock camp and this, if at all possible. Love the logo.
One idea: Maybe a swap area? – if those attending have some sock yarn they no longer want, they can add it to the swap and get a ticket which would entitle them to can take something they like from the swap area. Any leftover yarn at the swap at the end of the Summit can be donated to a local charity. This area could be staffed/run/monitored by volunteers who are attending the Summit. Just an idea if it can be managed.
great idea Lou!!
hey Cathy-Cate–that would be Tim Bergman and me. Not bad eh??
Great idea!
Holy FREAK this sounds like fun!
I can’t wait to hear the details. My only major stumbling block may be if next year’s DEFCON hackers convention happens the same weekend since DH is hoping to give a talk at next year’s con. Unfortunately I won’t find out until January. Keeping my fingers crossed!
I am *so* excited about this! I haven’t had the means to attend a sock camp yet – couldn’t afford it, couldn’t get the time off of work, but now you’re going to have a Sock Summit right here in Portland, I can’t stand it! I will be there with bells on.
Tina, I knit shawls. Sometimes with sock yarn. The last time I knit socks was a dark charcoal men’s size 13 on size 0 needles, which reinforced my idea that my hands (it’s all their fault) just do not like working with needles that small. I do not knit them big or small, I do not knit those socks at all, not in a house, not with a mouse, not in a box, I will not knit socks.
BUT. I so covet the chance to come that I will actually knit a shawl with matching socks in order to be able to go, if I can in any way make the trip.
I knew reading this blog would get me into trouble!! I am excited to hear more about the sock summit. Socks are my passion!!!
EEEP! OMG! What a concept! You have my head spinning, my heart pounding and me trying to figure out how to make that happen for next year-and camp!!! I can hardly wait to hear more!
Gads, you’re good!
Maybe this could be my graduation present, as I’m finishing college this spring…
So much fun to hang out with you today! The PDX Knit Bloggers are ready and willing to step to the plate for volunteers; the sock yarn swap sounds like a perfect project for them. And how about knitting hang out places for the sock summit. And a spinning for socks class, pretty please????
XO
Bobbie
Wouldn’t be great to setup a time to meet and get a photo of all the BMFA groupies! If it was on a ship the ship would certainly tilt don’t you think?
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Wow! This sounds like a dream. I just started knitting socks and am still struggling but having fun. I have time to practice before the BIG event. Thanks everyone for putting it together!
Hi,
I signed up the very day the Yarn Harlot announced this wonderful venture for info about teaching, vending and sponsoring but have not received any info yet. I see that only a few teaching spaces are now left. Oh my. My spam folder does not have any mail from you. ?????????????
Namaste, Susan
I would so love to teach at this.
OK. I’m totally coming, FYI. My BIL lives in Portland, so it should be an easy sell to my DH…. and everyone can meet baby braun!
Excellent! I’m so excited about this I’ve penciled it in on my 2009 calendar already and pre-registered as a vendor as soon as I heard! Then the terror set in as I have never attended a show outside of Canada…so lots to figure out. I’m so so so excited to be part of this summit right from the beginning (ok I know that I’m not definitely in until we actually get to register but I’m staying very positive about it!) It will be so great to finally meet some of the people I’ve read about over the years….can’t wait…now I guess I better start painting yarn!!!