Sock Madness

Carole and I are super busy getting everything organized and ready to go but there are things that you need to do too.  Of course you need to check the stash and make sure that you have all of the supplies that you’ll need.  From what we’ve seen this is one thing that you are all totally on top of. 

You all need to watch the divisions as they are posted and make sure that the information we posted for you is correct.  Remember, there will be 4 divisions so if you don’t see your name yet, wait until all 4 are posted before you panic.

The last thing that you need to do is become a part of the flickr group.  Here is the information on that as we posted it last year.

In order to sign up you need to got to the group page http://www.flickr.com/groups/sockmadness2007/.   Follow the signs to “join this group”. It will tell you that you need to request an invitation.  Request an invite and we’ll be happy to approve it.

Once you’re signed up for flickr is how you need to know how to use the pictures posted there in other places.  On pictures that you post you’ll see “all sizes” listed at the top of the picture or “different sizes” listed to the right of it.  Either option will bring up a spot where you can resize the picture.  Choose thumbnail and below the picture you’ll see 2 options for linking the photo on other websites.  Copy link #1 and send it to us or use it on your blog.

In the competiton, in order to show us that you have completed the round, you will need to send us a picture of the finished socks according to the rules listed here (http://sockmadness.wordpress.com/rules-and-admin-stuff/rules/).  I suggest that everyone go check the rules out.  Newbies need to become familiar with them but the returnees need to become reacquainted too.

There is all kinds of stuff happening behind the scenes.  There has been even more loot added to the stash.  Can you believe it?  There’s a Longaberger basket and enough sock yarn for 2 more pairs of socks.  We’re going to have so much fun giving all this stuff away.  So. Much. Fun!

There’s a lot that will happen before we start giving stuff away and we’re putting all the details together just as fast as we can.  In fact, the first of the 4 divisions has been posted.  You’ll note that the names of the divisions are different this year.  Can any of you guess what the theme is?

Back to the lists themselves.  Go on over and check them out as they get posted.  See if you can find yourself and make sure that the info we have listed is correct.  Send us an email if there are additions or corrections.

I hope to post one division a day until they’re all up.  We really appreciate your patience.

For another teaser shot?

The excitement is building!

Ok, at long last, here is the supply list. It’s presented in no particular order for a few reasons, chief among them is the fact that the pattern order hasn’t been set yet.  Where available, we’ve included information on the yarn used by the designer and the test knitter.

Please note that there are really no specifics as far as colors but there are a few suggestions if you want to achieve a look similar to what the designer had in mind. Sock A includes instructions for using a cool dying method to finish the sock off. If you want to try it you’d want to use a white or light yarn. Sock B was intended for a moodier yarn. Sock E has a bit of lace so a light or semisolid will probably yield the best results. Sock G is wild so go for it! I chose a variegated yarn rather than a solid and it’s working out just fine.

* This is the requirement for an optional round that we hope to slide in there. 

Actual work has gotten in the way today.  Don’t you just hate when that happens? Since  don’t have time for a real post I’ll give you another peek at what I’ve been working on.

So, what do you think?

Do you covet that gorgeous and hard to get Wollmeise? I do, and guess what - I just updated the Buttons and Loot page to show that The Loopy Ewe is offering a skein as a prize for SM2.  Sheri will send one winner a skein of Wollmeise and a Loopy Ewe Knit Notebook. But, as they say - wait, there’s more! Rosalynn, of Yarn Lust is dyeing up 5 skeins of yarn to give away as prizes. Yup, FIVE!

I have to say that this year the prize page is just overflowing with good stuff. There are many skeins of yarn from different sources. I shouldn’t be so surprised because we all know how supportive and generous knitters are but I am.  Go check it all out.  I hope to have more pictures there to illustrate the yarny goodness soon.

Sign ups did close as of midnight last night.  there are a lot of returning players and even more who will be competing for the first time.  We hope that this year’s game lives up to all of your expectations.

Many of you have emailed us to ask if we got your sign up information.  Please know that I believe that there are about 200 people who we’ve heard from and we have not responded directly to most of you.  I know that you are anxious and I totally understand but please be patient.  we are sifting all of the information out and I expect that we’ll post the divisions (with their new names) soon.  We’ll post them with plenty of time before the games begin and at that time you will all be asked to check the lists to make sure that you find yourself and that the information that we have for you is correct.  We’ll be happy to make any necessary corrections or adjustments. 

For now I would ask that everyone please make sure that you have a flickr account because that is where the pictures of finished socks will be posted.  There is a group (the same one as last year) that has been renamed so that it is now simply “Sock Madness“.  It seemed simpler to use what we had so there is no new group.  If you aren’t a part of that group yet then please ask for an invite through the site and we’ll gladly approve the request.

Many of you have asked about where the discussion will be this year.  Last year it was on Flickr but many of you are on Ravelry and that seems to be the venue of choice.  Are there any players who are not on Ravelry yet?  Please let us know in the comments.  Meanwhile, we suggest that those of you on Ravelry sign on to the Sock Madness 2 group. 

More info and sock teases will follow so stay tuned!

We’ve had an overwhelming response to our sign ups.  I haven’t counted actual numbers just yet but I think we’ve got over 125 new players!  Woot!

So, Hillary and I have decided to close sign ups as of midnight tonight.

Carole

Sign ups are now closed.  No more emails will be accepted.  Thanks! 

At long last, the moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived. Signs up are now open for Sock Madness Round 2. Just send an email to sockmadness@gmail.com and put “Sign Up” in the subject line. In the body of the email please include the email address you would like us to use for contacting you, a statement that you agree to respect the copyright of the patterns, and also the name/nickname or whatever you want us to call you throughout the competition. If you want that to be your email address, that’s okay, you just need to let us know.

Just to be clear, you don’t need to have a blog or a Ravelry account but you do need to have a flickr account for posting photos of your finished socks once the competition starts.

Simple, right? Just send us an email. Comments on this post will not be recognized as signing up. Just send us an email.

Let the sign ups begin!

lkjThis site may seem quite but there is so much going on here.  First you should be certain to check the supplier list and the prize list because both of them continue to grow.  I am so excited because just last week we heard from an Etsy seller who wants to donate five skeins of yarn to SM2.  Five skeins! Not only that but, get ready for this, they are going to dye up some special Sock Madness colorways!  Woot!  We gave them color suggestions (yep - suggestions plural) and we’re looking forwatd to seeing how they interpret them.  Meanwhile, you should go see what they have in their Etsy shop.  It’s really drool-worthy.
I’m sure that I don’t need to tell you what this is. It’s another one of the 4 test-socks that I’ve knitted recently. How do you like it?  is it colorful enough for you?  Yeah, it’s a little loud but it’s also spoken for.  My eldest daughter is anxiously awaiting the second sock from this pair and can’t wait to show them off to her friends. 

The pattern itself is very nice and not too difficult but it does use a heel that I’d never tried before and setting things up can be a little fiddly.  (Feel free to talk amongst yourselves and speculate on what that may mean).  Will you see this pattern in your inbox?  Quite likely.

Speaking of discussion - there has been quite a bit of concern over he lace weight so here’s a little more info on that.  The pattern uses US 2/2.75 mm needles and the given gauge is about 35 st/4 inches but bear in mind that there are slipped stitches involved.  By the way, I was wearing this sock around the house last night because I want to see how it holds up and it felt soooo good.  Just sayin’.