Yes friends it’s that time again! Time to get ready for the Summer of Socks!!
What is the Summer of Socks? Just a little knit along we do around these parts every summer. We knit socks together while sharing patterns, yarns, tips, tricks and a whole lot of fun in the process. And just maybe, we even end the summer with a pair of socks to show for it. 
In the past there have been contests of many sorts and stripes and fabulous prizes from fabulous sponsors. While these things were a great addition to SOS in the past, I wanted to do something very different for this, the 5th anniversary of the knitalong.
And what is it that we’ll be doing instead you ask?
We’ll just be knitting socks.
I know that there are some of you that will be disappointed or confused by this, but I think it’s time to go back to the original spirit of the thing. When I started SOS in 2006 it was because I loved knitting socks and I knew that there were many others like me. I also knew that there was much to learn about this specific area of the craft of knitting and that there were others out there that knew so much more about it than I did and would be willing to share what they knew. Since then I’ve learned a lot and hopefully I’ve also taught a lot and helped out other people on this journey through sock knitting. So being the 5 year anniversary, I hope you’ll go back to find that fantastic spirit of sharing and community with me and just take pleasure in the simple joy of knitting a garment that can make such a difference in the day of the person who wears them.
I’m also sure that others of you are thinking “You’re just doing this because of the wedding” and to some degree, you would be absolutely correct. I’m staring down the barrel of 130 days until the most important celebration of my life to date and I know I’m going to be busy putting the finishing touches on that event. I simply don’t have the time to invest in the coordination of prizes as I have in the past. I’ve had offers from others to do the leg work on that, but I honestly feel that prizes have shifted the focus of the event in a way that is not in keeping with the original spirit of the knitalong. This year we’re going to change that. Next year may be different or it may not. Only time will tell. But you can be sure that there will be some fun and there may even be a surprise or two along the way!
With all that said, are you ready to join up? Then here’s what you need to do:
1. Go join the Summer of Socks 2010 Ravelry group. All activities and discussions will happen there.
2. The knitalong will officially run from June 21st – September 1st, 2010. You’ve got just under a month to make your sock knitting goals and plans!
3. Expect to have some FUN! 
That’s pretty much it!! Hope to see you there for another fun summer of sock knitting!!
And if anyone would like to make us a blog button this year, please let me know! See you on Ravelry!!
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Prizes are overrated. Phah! I’m with you, stick to the spirit of the thing and have fun. That’s the true reward, and you get to keep your sanity as a Bride to Be.
Yay!
Yay! Happy Birthday to ME! Perfect timing for this announcement!
Yay! I really like the idea of just knitting socks. I have a number I’m already planning on doing in the upcoming months, so I’ll be happily knitting along
I love it! Keep it about what its intended to be – knitting, relaxing, learning, having fun with a bunch of like minded folks. Its not about the prizes.
Prizes, you say? Isn’t the prize actually finishing socks for myself?? I thought so. I expect to be winning a few of those this summer
Prizes? I don’t need no stinkin prizes! I’m in
How has it been five years already?!
I’m glad that we’re getting away from the greed and STUFF! nonsense this year, our Jessica. Hopefully, this year will be drama free and fun.
I don’t really have to knit socks, do I? :p
xo
Yay! I love me a good old fashioned KAL.
Looking forward to another great SOS!
DK
I think I, too, prefer the traditional spirit of the KAL… just knit. After all, if the knitting itself isn’t a good enough prize, then hopefully the end result of socks will be. And if neither is “good enough” then people need to find a different hobby.
Ahhh, I love it! No pressure, stress-free knitting!
I don’t need no prizes, I just like to get to knit “on the boat”! lol
I love the back to basics celebration.
Here’s to a stress-free summer & 130 days!
Speaking of barrels, you can always shotgun the wedding like E & I did! lol Just kidding, you better not even girlfriend!!! Although I must say it works really well either way.
Yay Summer of Socks 2010. Looking forward to some sock knitting joy. The prizes are really not the point. It’s all about the socks anyway.
Yay! Now I can finish the ones I started last year and start the ones I never got to!
YAY! xx
Maybe we could just have a theme:
Something old (antique patterns)
Something new (self explantory)
Something borrowed – a major mod to an existing pattern?
something blue (also self explanatory)
Or something old could be WIP
Sounds like a great plan. People can get so silly about prizes and contests.
Hooray, another Summer of Socks! Thanks for doing this, integrity of purpose is fine by me.
Hm….
Something old – UFOs!!! I could spend all summer on this one, but what fun would that be….
Something new – ooh, shiny (or why there are so many UFOs).
Something borrowed – I’ll borrow a sock book from my woefully underfunded public library. Free public libraries rock!
Something blue – in honor of the bride-to-be and SOS organizer extraordinaire. Her favorite color, I believe.
I think prizes are fun – but I think it’s really great to take it back to the original spirit of “Let’s all get together and knit socks”. That’s why I’ve always participated!!! Huzzah for Summer of Socks 2010!!
I love the scaled down version. I was never in it for the prizes anyway. I get a bigger kick out of seeing how many people click the love button when I post a picture.
Yay! And so agree about the prizes. That’s not why we do this! Awesome way of re-aligning the focuse
As you can see from my recent blog posts – I will have no problem with this! I am all socks all the time lately. I love to be involved in the group, but seldom sign up for the prizes. It doesn’t matter to me. Its the fun of the game!
OK. I’ll confess. I’m signing up because you aren’t having prizes or anything. I feel very pressured by the competition and it takes away the joy of knitting for me. So. You got me;-D Thank you so much for doing this.
Wheeeee! I don’t get a lot of socks knit every summer, but I love, love, LOVE seeing everyone else’s and queueing all sorts of socky goodness. Thank you for doing it again!!
Yay!!! It just wouldn’t be summer without SoS!!! Love it!
This was shaping to be the summer of the big black lace shawl, but I just may be able to work in some socks
especially as I already have the yarn and pattern for two pairs.
Yay!!!! I love to knit socks. And prizes or the thought of earning prizes just brings out the “must conquer all” in me and takes the focus away from why I knit socks….because I enjoy it and am trying to keep my blood pressure down.
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I am, personally, glad to see the prizes eliminated and the spirit of sock knitting recharged!! I’m expecting my first grandchild next month, and plan to knit a weeks worth of socks for our new little bundle. I’m planning to finally try knitting from the toe up too, so not competing for prizes takes a bit of the pressure off and adds the fun back in.
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Just started doing toe-up socks and LOVE them. So I’m challenging myself by joining this. A week late but I made a pair of girl’s socks last week – can they count? I’ll post the photo if so.
Am I too late to join the party! I hope not!!!
Just found this tread and would love to join in but not sure if I’m to late and how this works can someone give me a idea on this its my first time doing this.