Announcement!

Our banner/button contest winner is:

CLAUDINE!

Claudine's blog can be found at Knitting Box.

Our other two entrants were

Amy from Live-Learn-Knit and her entries were Banner Three and Button Two.

Gemma from Generally Gemma was our third entrant. Gemma's entries were, obviously button one and banner one.

A prize is going to be generously provided by Katie from Live2Knit. Claudine, I'll be in touch in the next day or so to confirm arrangements for your prize.

There will also be a little something for our other two entrants. Thank you once again to all three entrants and to everyone who vited. You helped make our blog a little more special.

The buttons that didn't win will be provided soon for you to grab and use on your own blogs.

So, in Australia and New Zealand at least, it's very nearly Monday. Only a couple of hours to go. Personally, I'm getting up early on a public holiday to cast on my first SSS project - Pomotamus socks!

Happy casting on everyone!

I Must Knit Socks!

Hi,

Thanks Rose Red and Bells for hosting this KAL - my first!
I'm a great big wannabe sock knitter and was coerced, I mean encouraged to join in by the lovely Kate who assures me that I WILL be able to knit socks by the end of Summer.
I hope she's right, because I really need to do something with all the sock yarn that I've gathered...not to mention the swag of KnitPicks needles that I've ordered from Miz Donni.
So I guess my challenge is to start, knit and finish a pair of socks. 1 pair would be a good start. I can always revise that figure upwards can't I?
My reward?
I've long lusted to be a part of the Socks That Rock Club.........

Stay Tuned

As you can see, we have a winner for the banner and button comp. Very exciting. We're just putting together details on prizes etc and then all will be revealed and a formal announcement made.

Thanks to all entrants. We loved getting such wonderful work from all three of you.

So stay tuned and have fun planning what to cast on tomorrow, if you're starting something new.

Adding The Button To Your Blog

Hello, Guest Admin Amy here (AKA "The One Who Knows Some HTML"). I'm sure Bells and Rose Red will have an official announcement of Who Won and What She Gets (hmm, I guess they're gonna have to now, huh?), but before I go to bed here on the East Coast of the US, I wanted to help out with adding the new button to your blog. (Congratulations, whoever you are!! I hope you won yummy goodies.)

If you have a blog and want to add the button, you can grab it here. If you blog using Blogger and want to share the copy of the image that's already been loaded onto the Blogger server...you can email me and I'll send you the code (you don't have to, though...you can upload your own copy). However, if you blog using another server, you'll have to right click on the image, save it to your computer, and upload it to your own server. If you want to link the button back to this blog, you need to put the following code before the image code, enclosed in brackets where the asterisks are:

*a href="http://southernsummerofsocks.blogspot.com/"*

At the very end of the image coding, again replacing the asterisks with brackets, type */a*

If that doesn't make sense, email me. (I only know enough HTML to get by, really.)

The banner/button contest entries!

Well, here we are. These are the official entries for the banner and button competition. Aren't they wonderful? RoseRed and I are thrilled with the fact that people wanted to put the time and effort into making these. Thank you so much!

So have a look and cast your vote in the sidebar. Voting closes on 30 September at 12:00am.



BANNER ONE

BANNER TWO


BANNER THREE




BUTTON ONE

BUTTON TWO


BUTTON THREE

Froggy Went a Courting.

Froggy went a courting and found himself some Summer of Lovelace Socks.

At least I can count them in the Southern Summer of Socks.

An issue of numbers

For those not on Ravelry, there's been a discussion about the contest for the number of socks.

I thought I'd bring it up here.

RoseRed and I were discussing this and wondering if weighting the socks might be worthwhile? Let's say someone makes 20 pairs of baby socks and someone else makes ten pairs of men's socks, for example. The 20 pairs of baby socks are really much quicker to make than the 10 pairs of socks for men with big feet. Would it be fair for the baby sock maker to win?

What if we weighted baby socks with a kind of handicap, say making each pair worth .5?

Does that make it more fair? We'd be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments.

phew!

lordy, so many posts i had to subscribe - how fabulous. i too have put my challenges on my blog. nothing too flash, completing, as shazmina says, being the main criteria!
k xx

I'm ready-let's go!

Thanks for organising this knitalong. It should be lots of fun. I've thought about how I would like to challenge myself, and rather than going for quantity, I am going to go for "firsts" or things that are new to me. My first 2 weeks will mostly be spent travelling (can we picture sock pictures through SE of Sth Aust, and Western Vic ?) so I will take the socks I am currently working on. We might even get sock pictures at the Bendigo Woollen Mills. So this is what I've come up with for my personal challenges:



1. Knit a pair of socks using the Magic Loop Method.
2. Knit a pair of toe-up socks.
3. Knit a pair of socks from each of Favorite Socks and Sensational Knitted Socks.


I think that will do for now. Both those methods will be new to me and I would like to try them as I currently am a top down, dpns gal. The reason for challenge no. 3 is that although I have these books and love them, I have not actually knitted anything from them-yet.



As far as rewards go-I am leaving that open at the moment.......

Personal Challenge

This is my first KAL.

I have posted my personal challenge here.
I am so looking forward to the challenge and reading the updates from everyone.

I must spend some time Sunday logging all my stash to see what I have and start thinking of what I can do with it.

Ahh Ravelry - you are making us so aware of what we have and don't have.
I must remember that salivating on the computer is not good for it.

My personal sock challenge

Hello all. I'm really excited to be part of this knit-along (I've never joined one before).

My personal sock challenges:

• Learn to knit socks toe-up
• Learn magic loop and 2 circular needles methods
• Make at least a dent in the enormous list of socks that I want to knit

My sock knitting experience so far consists of completing 3 pairs of plain ribbed socks, and most of the way through one Monkey sock. I'm really looking forward to expanding my sock knitting skills.

SSS

Has anyone else noticed that our KAL has the same initials as something we all intend to avoid this southern summer? LOL

Hello Fellow Sock Stars!

I know you are out there you fabo rockin' sock stars!

Hi my name is Shazmina Bendi and I am putting this out there, up front.

I have completer/finisher issues!

So my personal challenge, for the Southern Summer of Socks is quite simple. I vow/pledge to complete all socks, and I mean pairs, that I start this summer. Whew, Now that I have put that out there I feel a little tingly and alot scared! eeeekkkkkk!

My hit list for this knit along includes:

• A pair of knee high socks, for me. Could be handy next winter ;)


• A pair of socks for my BF. This one could be tricksy as I do not, in fact, have a BF. I would like one, and given my completer/finisher issues, I may in fact complete this pair of socks 6 months after he appears on the scene, whoever HE is. If you have seen him, please send him my way!


• A pair of lace socks for my Mum.


• Learn the toe up method of sock knitting. It just seems like it would be sensible. To me anyway!


• Baby socks, many pairs. I seem to be surrounded by baby making machines at present. Love it!


• A pair of socks for my lunchtime knitting companion who has just moved to the UK. I miss her.


• Design a pair of socks. I have a really cool lace pattern that I am itching to incorporate into a pair of socks.


• And finally, dye some of the 1700 m of undyed 4ply sock yarn I have purchased. See people, I am not exaggerating about the completer/finisher issues!

And as for a reward...... hmmmmmmmmmmmm. Being driven by my future BF to Colinette in Wales in a Mini Cooper S (new model) in April 2008.

Is that too much to ask for???

oh dear, I just might have to go shopping

I know this KAL does not get really started for a few days yet, but I had to decide on my first pair. I also know I said I was challenging myself to do two socks on two circulars, but I'm still working up to that. I don't have circulars in sizes small enough to do socks. I think 3.00 mm. is the smallest I have, so I would need to buy some.

So I poked around to choose a design. I decided upon Pepperknit's Zokni Socks. I think they would be best done in a solid colour and I rather fancied a rich green. So what do I have in my stash? One and a bit balls of a soft green in St Ives sock wool. A lot of Elann's Sock it to me Essential Sock wool which I bought some time ago. Bright red? I think not. Not enough of the dark purple or navy left. Lots of a pumpkin shade which I bought to use as heels, toes, stripes etc, but no green. Opal perhaps? I actually don't like knitting with Opal, particularly the Unisolid. It wears and washes really well, but feels like hard string on my arthritic fingers to knit. There was only pink or blue in the solid colour, bought for small grandchildren. Loads and loads of beautiful variegated yarns from various online Aussie sites.

I've picked out a dark brown from the Elann to get started on Monday which is a public holiday in NSW. But if I want to make more, I'll have to go shopping to get green. What a shame!! not.

Banner/button competition

A quick reminder - the design a banner/button competition ends today (well, today US time, which is clearly tomorrow here in Australia) - we've got a couple of great entries already. Send entries to the SSS email (in the sidebar) and we'll be voting on the winner over the next few days!

Hi There!!

I posted my personal challenge list over on my blog...this is my very first KAL/CAL of any kind, and I am excited to start!

Couldn't get this to work in the comments - not sure why, but this is in response to the "what book or website" question.

I live in the caribbean, so websites are my way to go (free, and no international mail delivery wait time! :D ) plus, I'm kinda picky and I like just getting the sock I like, without maybe a whole book of patterns I'll never try. try out some of these sites.

I have a whole directory on my home computer of pdf's I've downloaded and saved. I print them as I decide to knit them. :)

My pledge

As the Queen of UFOs, I'm now daring to take part in my first ever KAL. My personal Southern Summer of Socks challenge will be to knit socks for my Northern Winter sister and her beautiful family - that's a pair for my sister, a pair for her rather large-footed but very handsome husband, another for the musical teenage wonder-boy, and the last pair for the pretty dancing daughter. Four pairs - not as adventurous as some ... but, can I do it, AND in time to post them off for xmas??!!

My first KAL

Greetings all - I'm a KAL virgin, so it's with some trepidation that I post this (I haven't even posted my joining on my own blog yet).

I don't really have any goals for the KAL - except to actually participate!

Don't know how successful I'll be, having to juggle work, study and knitting, but I'll give it a red-hot go!

My challenge to you!

If you could have only one book of sock patterns or one website, what would it be and why?

I'm asking because I have only one sock book [The Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook] and am considering buying another. The above book has no patterns as such, just the how-to for each of the elements for creating socks but the directions are for worsted weight /10 ply [not sock yarn]. I'm actually not one for following patterns but this might be a good time! LOL

I'm sure we'll all find the answers interesting so look forward to hearing from you all.

More challenges

Hello!

Ive just posted my list of challenges over at my blog.

My first pair of socks tops the list - bring it on!

Hey everyone!

Hello and its been great reading up on what challenges everyone is going to set themselves!

I'm a new spinner and sock knitter....well i am a basic knitter and i have joined up along with some friends to have a go at knitting socks!
So this will be a first for me and little bit daunting i must admit!..and there is SO many beautiful sock yarns out there! So naturally i just have to have a go!
I have set myself some personal challenges and you can view them on my Blog if you like!

I'm really looking forward to seeing how everyone does!
Cheers
Suzi

My pledge

Ok - I 'm with Kris one pair for me one pair for him - and I do believe I will invoke the spinning wheel promise from the sock victim - 10 pairs for him and one wheel for me. I am already up to 6 pairs for him but as I said before 2 don't count - and of the remaining 4 one already has holes in the heel - so darning is on the list. OOO 6 to go!!!

Also on the list is to finish the wedding socks for my sister and brother in law - nearly over a year late.

Monkey, vintage socks and some cable socks are the challenges for me.

I have managed the magic loop - underway with the wedding socks. These will count for me socks - so I can alternate with sock for the vicitm too.

Well will I get the spinning wheel that is the question?

just joined

I saw this KAL this morning and recognised a few names. Well, actually, more than a few. Here I am all set to go. I think summer is a wonderful time for socks, as they are small and not hot to knit.

Challenge? I don't know if it is a challenge, but perhaps it will be when I start. I love my dpns, my rosewood, my Brittany Birch tiny ones, the el cheapy bamboo needles, my vintage steel pointy daggers, the casein dpns which had to be cut down and repointed as they were far too long. I never thought I'd enjoy using circulars, even though I have used them for years for hats etc. But the Knitpick Options set are a different thing altogether. I'm even using them for straight knitting. So, over the last couple of weeks, I've been considering two socks on two circulars. I'll have to get another set of needles to even give them a try, but I'm working up to it. I conveniently forgot them the other day when I was in the city, after being horrified at the price of cotton yarn for a summery jacket I fancied for myself. So that will be sort of a challenge for me. If I don't like it, I can always come back to dpns!

Thanks for the invitation and pleased to meet you all.

Challenges

Challenges

I have set my challenges (on my blog), and as I misread everything (I blame having small children - hey - it's convenient!) and jumped the gun, I am going to frog my feather and fan sock and re-start it on October 1st! (How's that for dedication!)

Socker Goals!

Or, as they used to say on Laugh In, "sock it to me, sock it to me"!

I have only two balls of sock yarn in my stash; but that's okay - I have knitted seven pair of socks from 8ply for charity in the last few months!

My first goal is to knit a pair of toe-up socks for me. Pattern? Probably my usual basic pattern from Lynne Vogel's The Twisted Sister Sock Workbook.

After that, I'm not sure, but I want to try some Cascade Fixation (stretch cotton). I'm also on a lace kick at the moment; lace socks perhaps? Maybe I'll try Lacy or Fancy Feet. Anyone know any other good lace sock patterns?

Sock it to ya!

In the spirit of the personal challenge - mine is very simple: to knit my first pair of socks.

- toe up, knee-hi socks. With an interesting pattern to keep me occupied.

I'll start out with just one pair for now. I don't know how long it will take me, but I'll be happy to just finish a pair and wear them. If I can fit more in... there will be socks. Lots of them. :)

My reward will be some lovely Socks That Rock yarn, and justification to start a sock yarn stash (I have 2 balls of sock yarn in my meagre collection - that is it). :)

Now, anybody know of a good toe-up, knee-hi sock pattern? Cuff down is all very good and well, but toe-up sounds more practical.

And thanks Bells and Rose Red for this little festival of sockage - I think it's going to be fantastic!

Personal Sock Challenge

Hoiye :)

I've just posted my personal sock challenge over on my blog. I'm also just in the process of switching across to my new blog, which will kick off on the same day as this KAL officially starts.

In the meantime, fabulous to see so many people signing up! Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress.

Jude

Hmmmm, sock goals

I have been thinking about this question as for me the ultimate sock goals were Pomatomus and Bayerische Socks. They were really good "stick the tongue out and concentrate" socks.......

And I started with DPN's, moved to 2 circs and use Magic loop already. Hmmmm.

Methinks I am a sock 'ho'. What is my sock challenge.

Ok

1. Finish the 2 pairs of socks that are old WIPS (1 x pair of fixation socks, 1 x leaf and tendril socks) .
2. Knit from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks - probably Estonian Socks
3. Somewhere I spied an EZ pattern for some really cool socks - colourwork ones - when I find the link I will add it.
4. One pair of Mosiac socks too

I think that a good set of challenges.

More Than I Can Chew?

I have posted my list of goals on my blog. I'm told it's "ambitious", which is probably polite-speak for "Are you nuts? You're never going to get all that done, you crazy b*tch!"
I do have a tendency to go overboard.

Personal challenges

My aim this summer is to try amongst other things, the following:

• toe-ups
• short row heels
• cable
• knee-hi

and I'm hoping to complete 6 pairs...

Let's see how that goes, eh?!

Upon completion, I will reward myself with a big indulgence in sock yarn!

Challenge Me This

I just want to get into a sock groove. I start and stop and start and stop...I want to start and keep going. So, let's say one pair a month. (I have to be realistic. I have two small boys I'm supposed to be homeschooling, which is more than "Hey, watch how Mama turns this heel!" I have other projects I'm knitting. And so on.) I don't care to try magic loop; I did, and you know what? I hated it. The DPNs work for me. Not broken, not gonna try to fix it. Maybe I'll try toe-up. I'd like to throw a pair of Monkeys in there.

I am ever so gentle with the goals, am I not?

As incentive? Well, how about some new shoes to show off my socks? I got that idea here, and I thought it such a good idea I immediately borrowed it as my incentive.

Knit on!

My Personal Sock Challenge

HA! I'd been having trouble formulating just the right personal sock challenge, when suddenly it just came to me in a flash: My goal is to match Miss Fee's sock output, pair for pair. Married people can have "socks" too! :)

Thanks

Thanks for letting me play - I am compiling my list of socks as I write.

The sock victim is going to be so happy at this one and thank goodness I have lots of cotton on its way from way up north just itching to be socks.

I have way too many projects going on to be done in time to start fresh October First. I put them all in hibernation on ravlery (and packed away in a box at home). I'll still have to work on some Christmas presents during the KAL, but I'm looking forward to focusing on socks.

My personal challenge is to try toe-up, and magic loop. I'm also going to aim for having a finished pair every week (we'll just see how long that lasts!)

I am so excited to be doing this with you all. I think we're going to have great fun.

Ready to Rock

I am pretty excited about this knitalong. I took part in my first swap earlier this year with Sockapalooza 4, and it was huge fun, so I'm really looking forward to SSS! I've joined the Ravelry group (I'm KissMyFrog there too), and I have twelve (12!) sock patterns in my queue. I've also joined the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry, and am going to simultaneously do the Sockdown Challenge (if you're on Ravelry, you should check it out - it's a year long schedule of designers and techniques intended to stretch us as sock knitters and get us to try new things - and there's prizes!).
Now all I have to do is finish the Baby Surprise Jacket and Charade socks that are currently on the needles, and come Monday, I'm ready to cast on for a Summer's worth of socky fun.
Three cheers for Rose Red and Bells!

What's your personal sock challenge?

To make things interesting for each of us, but not in a competitve way, we thought it would be fun to post a list of your personal sock challenge/s - what you would like to achieve over the Southern Summer of Socks.

Your personal challenge is just that - personal - there's no judgment, no awarding of prizes (except to yourself!) and just a bit of fun!

Personal challenges can be anything from trying new techniques, like toe-up, sideways, top down, cables, lace, fair isle, mosaic, socks on two circs, magic loop, dpns etc. Or it can be to knit a certain number of pairs of socks, or to use up all your sock yarn stash (or half of it, or a quarter...whatever!). Or to not buy any sock yarn during the period. Or to knit a pattern from all of your sock pattern books. Or to finish all those lonely single socks to make a pair (whether a matching or mismatching pair!). It might be to finish your first pair of socks! Whatever form it takes is up to you!

And if you like, you can nominate what you will reward yourself with if you achieve your challenge - whether it be sock yarn, sock pattern book or even something non-sock related (shock horror!).

My personal challenge is posted here. So what's your personal challenge?

Bring on October 1st!

I too am madly trying to finish my current sock project (Jaywalkers) so I can start afresh on Oct 1!

I'm currently flicking through all my sock patterns, trying to decide on what's next. What's everyone else starting on? Lace? Cables? Plain?

Thanks RoseRed and Bells, you're champs for organising this!

;)

K

Thanks for the invitation!

Hi Bells & Rose Red, thanks for inviting me; thanks to my sister Amy for suggesting I sign up. I fervently hope I finish the pair of socks I already have on the needles. Ever. This particular sock yarn was bought at least 7 years ago because I wanted Something from a cool yarn store but couldn't commit to a sweater's worth. (It's Patons Kroy, but the old Kroy, not the new one, it's that old.) I've cast on at least a dozen different things with it and it always went back to string. I'm to the heel on the first sock of the embossed leaves pattern in Interweave Knits' 25 favorite socks book and I think this is it. I hope. But I have next to no knitting time and I bet it takes me all your summer to finish one pair. But it'll be fun to play anyway. Next time I'll try posting a photo.

Hello from a Northerner!

Thank you, Bells and Rose Red, for letting those of us north of the equator play, too. I'm hoping a fun KAL will help me through the New England (USA) winter. I am also hoping all y'all who are heading into summer will post pictures of your socks lounging on the beach, or in the garden, or in other lush, summery settings.

My goal before October 1 is to finish my socks in progress (just turned the heel on the second one) and knit the last three pairs of mittens I'm doing for charity, so that I can focus on socks as my small portable projects beginning in October.

Admin and sign-ups update

So we've invited everyone who has signed up so far, and added your blogs to the sidebar. There's a couple of people who e don't have blog and/or email info for - so if you've registered interest but haven't received an invitation to post to the blog, can you email us at the SSS email (see the sidebar) so we can add you!

We're accepting sign-ups until 1 November, so plenty more time to join, if you haven't yet! Leave a comment with your details (blog and/or email) or email us.

We've got over 30 people signed up already - we're so pleased this idea has taken off! I'm madly trying to finish my current socks on the sticks before next Monday so I can start afresh straight away!

Compulsive Joiner

Since a couple of months ago I signed up the second wave Clapotis KAL, which starts today, Sunday, I have approximately seven days to start and finish the Clap before I start the summer of socks. Luckily its going to be knit from my stash because somewhere along the line I got just a little out of control with the stashing of sock yarn, and its easy to buy, but hard to keep up with the reducing of same. First off Tofutsies I think .... then .... we'll just have to see how it goes.

Ravelry

There's now a Southern Summer of Socks group on Ravelry.

You'll note the lack of a banner, but I'm sure we'll have one soon enough.

So if you're on Ravelry (sorry to those of you who are not), sign up now!

Competition update

Thanks to those who've entered some great banner and button creations already. It's really exciting to see what people can come up with.

We'll be holding a vote on the entries once the competition has closed on Wednesday 26th September.

We'll take into account the northern hemisphere time zones. Entries will close once it's no longer 26 September anywhere in the world! Remember, down here, we're ahead of most of you so just make sure your entry is in by the end of the 26th in your time zone.

Keep them coming!

Let's jazz things up a bit!

As you can see, we've gone with a pretty stock standard blogger template to get this show on the road. But really, we need at least one button and a banner for the blog, don't you think?


Since neither Bells or I have any idea how to make a button or banner, we thought we'd start the fun early by having a little competition - because we know you'll all have nothing to do while you are waiting for 1 October to roll around.


The deal:

Submit your design(s) for a banner and button to southern.summer.of.socks@gmail.com

Ideally the banner will have "Southern Summer of Socks 07/08" on it, and the button should match or tie in to the banner theme, just to make it easier to identify!


You can enter more than once!


Entries should be submitted by Wednesday 26 September. Depending on the number of entries, we will probably have some type of vote between 26 and 30 September, so we can have the banner and button ready for our 1 October start date.



There will be a prize awarded to the winner (above and beyond the glory of winning!). No doubt the prize will involve yarn and/or chocolate!

How It Works

Thanks for the great interest that's been shown already in Southern Summer of Socks! It's sure to be a fun knit along, one with plenty of scope to be involved as little or as much as you want or are able.

So, here are some useful bits of information.

What is it?
Southern Summer of Socks is designed simply as a fun, relaxed way to knit through your sock yarn stash. We aim to keep it as straight forward as possible, with minimal rules and guidelines and plenty of time to knit all the socks you can or want to manage in the time.We had the idea when we realised that between us both we have approximately enough sock yarn to make 50 pairs of socks. That's a conservative estimate. Socks are ideal summer knitting because they're small and easier to deal with in the heat than a huge, heavy jumper. And they make ideal Christmas gifts.

When
Southern Summer of Socks will begin on 1 October 2007 and conclude on 31 March 2008.

We're starting it before the onset of summer to allow for Christmas knitting to be done as part of the knit along.


How to Enter
To enter, leave your details, including email address and blog address in the comments or email to bellsknits@gmail.com or roseredshoes@yahoo.com.au and you'll be sent an invitation to join the blog. If you've done so already, we'll get your link up in the sidebar over the next week or so as time permits.

If you don't have a blog, you can still enter, you'll just need to send photos and text to Bells or RoseRed for posting onto this blog.

Contests
We'll hold a series of contests and announce winners at the end. To enter, you need to nominate yourself by a date we'll announce later in the summer.

Categories will include:

1. Most socks
2. Biggest socks
3. Best original design
4. Most techniques used
5. Most travelled sock
6. Best first sock (beginner category)

Sign ups are open until 1 November and the KAL is open to anyone anywhere, not just those from south of the equator. The more the merrier!

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Bells and RoseRed

Welcome!

Welcome to the Southern Summer of Socks blog.

We're still getting sorted, deciding how we want things, arranging furniture.

Soon we'll be set to go, so bookmark us, subscribe - do whatever you do to keep track of your favourite blogs.

Leave a comment if you'd like to be added to the blog and we'll get in touch.

Thanks for coming by.

Bells and Rosered