We may be in the middle of Project Spectrum, but you may very well know that LollyKnitting Around is also the home of another large-scale craft project called Socktoberfest, a celebration of sock and foot-coverings every October…

Well, as it happens, Socktoberfest got some press! Gaby, assistant editor of Quick and Crafty, a UK-based craft magazine, contacted me a few months ago for some information on the social aspects of knitting / blogging, and on Socktoberfest for their April 2007 issue. Her magazine is not available in the US, so she was kind enough to send me a copy! I received it this week.

The article focuses on London-based groups, but Socktoberfest got a special mention in the end, and there are also some fun pictures from Socktoberfest participants (like Leah’s Pomatomus socks - which were, designed by another Socktoberfest participant and interviewee, Cookie A!)

Check it! Click on the pictures below to view a larger (readable) copy of the article.

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This reminds me of all of the socks that I want to knit for Project Spectrum!

If you need some sock-y inspiration, the Socktoberfest Flickr Pool is still going strong!  Beautiful new additions every day!

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Thanks to everyone who participates in these projects with me! It is so exciting to see how far-reaching a little project can be

I got an email early in Socktoberfest from blogless Leslie (who I am hoping to meet in San Francisco in a few days!), about how to work your handcrafted socks into your day-to-day fashion:

I would love to see photos of how people WEAR their socks. That is, I have been making socks in all kinds of beautiful yarns and sometimes bright colors… Once I'm done, I wonder, "What in the world am I going to wear these with?" … I absolutely love these socks but I wonder what in the world I'm going to wear them with. My loafers are black and brown. Could I wear them with white tennis shoes in the cold weather? Anyway, I'd love to see not just photos of people's socks but also photos of people's socks on their feet with the SHOES they wear them with. I love knitting with colors like that but I'd love photos of how people really wear them.

Leslie's question was also echoed in the Socktoberfest Flickr group discussions, so the question, how do you wear your socks?

I wear my handknit socks often, but unfortunately, I do not always photograph how I wear them… of the ones I have captured, here are a few of the ways I actually wear my socks!

1. Opal Magic with Birks, 2. Trekking XXL with sneakers, 3. Koigu socks in the wild, 4. Lace (Not So) Knee Highs, 5. Blue socks!, 6. Trekking XXL #101 with Birks

Sneakers, clogs, and Mary Janes! I also wear my Dublin Bay socks with a small kitten-heel dress shoe for work - they look pretty good that way (I think!)

Now it's your turn! How do you wear your handcrafted socks??

In these waning hours of Socktoberfest, it has become very clear that there is just no way that a mere calendar month - even one with 31 days! - can do these socks any justice. There is just so much to learn, to share, and to use!

With so much sock yarn and so many lovely patterns, we want to make socks all of the time. Unfortunately we don't have 8 arms, but there is a way we can trick the fates a little - by knitting 2 socks at the same time! How now? Thankfully, one Socktoberist has prepared a great tutorial for doing just that!

Sara at Quacking Fiber Addict uses an unconventional method and has great results! See her wonderful tutorial using a mini-circular needle, which she reports as "so much easier than DPNs"!

She has outlined each step of the process with great photos, and has documented it so well. Thank you, Sara, for putting this together! Click on the picture of Sara knitting away to go straight to the tutorial!

Sara notes that a knitter who wants to try 2 socks on 2 circular needles may need a little practice with circular sock knitting in the first place. A great place to help you learn how to knit socks on circular needles (one at a time) is this tutorial.

And another thanks for Mama E for pointing out this great tutorial that she uses for 2 socks on 2 circular needles!

I have not tried 2 socks on 2 circulars before, but I would love to hear from people who have! Does it "trick" your mind into thinking that you are actually knitting faster? I can see the obvious benefit of not having the dreaded "Second Sock Syndrome", and that in itself makes me want to try this method!

The view from here is quite pleasant. The goal I have been working towards for over two years is nearly complete: I finished my Library School comprehensive exams successfully on Saturday afternoon. While I will not officially find out the results until after Thanksgiving, I am not terribly worried as I feel pretty good about what I wrote and what positions I argued in my essays. Most importantly, it is over. If all goes well, and as planned, I will graduate this December with my Masters degree. Things are "coming up roses"!

Life is definitely good.

Exhibit A: Without a weekly study group to attend, I had the whole Sunday free to do whatever I pleased. So, Kris and I made a nice breakfast, I read a book in its entirety, and I knit for most of the afternoon and evening. It was absolutely cathartic. It was still hard to break the thought that I should have been doing something else (namely, studying!)… because that was not the case!

… and this is what I accomplished yesterday afternoon…

This is the Basic Mitten pattern from last fall's Family Circle Easy Knitting magazine. It is such a fast and easy pattern, and I couldn't be happier with the way this one turned out. The yarn has been in my stash for so long - it is the beautiful Ironstone New Wool in colorway 5011. I bought it over two years ago - that is ancient history in my stash - and I was so excited to cast on for a project with it. After using it, I wondered why I waited so long. The colors are magnificent. Now for mitten #2 and then I will have Warm Hands!

My, how Fetching! Yep, I joined the craze - I saw these little darlings popping up all over the blogosphere, so I gave it a whirl. A few hours later, I had an adorable mitt! This pattern is fun and addictive. More in my future, no doubt. I am using a random ball of Karabella Aurora 8 that I picked up a few months back, and wow, what a yarn. I had never worked with this before. I love the "sproing" of the yarn. It is so cushy. Very cozy. Needless to say, I didn't waste any time casting on for its mate.

Yes, I realize they are not socks

Exhibit B: Knitty rewards for hard work. It's good to give yourself a little "pat on the back" after you accomplish something big, right? So, to congratulate myself for completing my grad school work, I treated myself to a pretty Fair Isle knit kit.

When I asked you back in September for some advice on where to start with colorwork, many of you mentioned that a hat was perfect for a first project. So, I listened. After seeing Keri's beautiful Flenten hat last week, I decided a Bea Ellis kit was the way to go. I chose the Kristen hat, as I really liked the snowflake motif. My colors are slightly different than the model, more of a navy and an ecru. I hope I can do it justice! I am very excited to try this!

My other big reward comes this weekend, as I will be going to Stitches East on Saturday and Sunday!

I don't have an exhaustive shopping list or anything - I am really hoping to find some Noro (Norovember, anyone?) for the beautiful Lady Eleanor wrap from Scarf Style, and some laceweight yarns.Of course, if I see something else that stops me "dead in my tracks", I reserve the right to purchase it. Going to Stitches? Let me know! and say hi if you see me, I would love to meet you!

Exhibit C: I leave for vacation in 10 days! Kris and I take one big vacation a year, and this year we are headed to San Francisco and Napa Valley. I am very excited to see this part of the country - I have only been to SF's airport! I am looking forward to exploring the city, checking out some museums, yarn shops, and hopefully meeting some knitters! For the latter part of the trip, we will be staying just outside of the town of Napa. I will celebrate my 26th birthday with some delicious wines and beautiful scenery!

Exhibit D: I think I found my life's calling. I am not saying that lightly! It may require some more schooling… but that is something that I am completely willing to do if I can make my passion my life's work. I am so excited about this opportunity. Yes, I know this is all very vague, but I feel this is the best way at this point so I don't jinx myself! More details as they come in, my friends

Exhibit E: Socktoberfest has been an utterly amazing project: Fun, successful, inspiring, rewarding, and educational. I could not have hoped for anything more. Thank you - strike that -

THANK YOU!!!!!

for the wonderful month. Yes, I know it is not over, but I just couldn't post without saying how grateful I am for your participation and support.

…and finally, one more exciting reason why life is good right now: I am going to see one of my favorite bands tonight! The Decemberists are in DC and you bet your bippy I am picking up their new "Sublime Stiching" limited-edition embroidery kits! I can't wait

*Knit, crochet, and be merry, my friends,
for tomorrow Socktoberfest is over!*

So you have knit some sock patterns here and there, but you want something truly unique, something customized to your own aesthetic and style, whether you choose a whole new pattern, or build off an existing one. Here are some tutorials from Socktoberists that have done just that… and they give you tips on how you can do it too!

Stacey took the well-known DNA cabled scarf pattern and adapted the cables to socks! She did lots of knitty math and came out with a beautiful sock for her sister, who works in the medical field. She kept copious notes and shares them all on a TUTORIAL on her blog! Check it out!

Kristi at Fiber Fool is pretty darn amazing. This girl writes some stellar patterns, and knits and spins up a storm. She recently reposted a tutorial she wrote last year on how to make CLOG SOCKS. She has a thorough write-up, and some very helpful diagrams on her blog. Go over to her site and see the tutorial and her lovely patterns!

Donna prepared a wonderful sock beading tutorial, and she has shared it with us in Socktoberfest! See her lovely work?

Click on the picture to take you to the photo tutorial!

…and Maia has completely out done herself. She has created not only one tutorial - but THREE! - about how to design your own sock pattern. Each of the tutorials have detailed illustrations and photos like the one here, seen in her Part I tutorial:

Part I: How to Design a Sock

Part II: Design a Cable Sock

Part III: Design a Lace Sock

All of these ladies have worked so hard to provide wonderful tutorials, and I want to thank you so much for doing so! You can thank them too by visiting their blog and commenting on their hard work!

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PS–Loving this "future" blogging feature in Wordpress! I can edit the timestamp and make the blog post whever I want! I wrote up this post about tutorials on Wednesday, and I am posting it on Friday! Live blogging will return after my exams are over! (Saturday evening)