Sock Summit 2009
Taking Sock Knitting Almost Too Far!
August 6-9, 2009
Oregon Convention Center
Portland, Oregon
Welcome, one and all, to the greatest sock show on earth. (Okay. We admit it. It may be the only sock show on earth.) Sock Summit 2009 is a one of a kind conference for handknitters, that explores the humble art form known as the human sock.
Why socks? Socks are practical, beautiful, interesting, historical, engaging and symbolic. Socks are circular, portable, structural and a perfect tiny canvas for almost any handknitting technique you’d like to put on them. Check out our list of classes, and you’ll see that our incredible instructors have done just that. No matter what you’re interested in when it comes to knitting, there’s a way that has to do with socks.
Socks are practically unlimited when it comes to personal interpretation, and we can’t imagine that there’s a knitter that can’t find their own personal sock nirvana. Knit ‘em toe up, or top down. Knit ‘em on dpn’s, two circulars, or magic loop. Choose your heel, your toe… how long do you like them? Knee socks, ankle socks, pedicure socks, double knit socks, socks with colourwork, socks with texture.
Knit them in wool, cotton, bamboo, manufactured fibres or your own incredible handspun –we’ll teach you that too. Knit odd socks, historically accurate socks, boot socks, warm socks, lacy socks, elegant stockings – heck, you can crochet socks – we’re sure there’s something here for you, even if you’re just looking to try this most interesting and flexible of mediums for the artistic or practical knitter.
Sock Knitting History in the Making!
When you’re not in class, you can scope out the marketplace, the biggest gathering of sock related stuff we know of, and an absolutely unprecedented gathering of North America’s hand-dying community. More than 150 vendors gathered together in a hall to bring you the best of everything we could think of that relates to socks and sock knitting. (There’s some regular knitting stuff there too. Although we can’t imagine it, you might want to make something other than socks sometime.)
There’s a lot going on there besides shopping. Meet the artists and shop owners that you buy from, watch demonstrations, wind your new wool at a winding station… ship what you’ve bought home. The marketplace is a great place to learn too… and while you’re in there, you can also watch us shower love and affection on our great sponsors, the companies and individuals who thought this whole thing was a great idea, and put their money where their mouths were.
We’re having an old school sock hop, we’re starting a sock museum that not only can you see at the Summit, but will exist online for the whole sock knitting community. We’re asking you all to take part in that, driving an enormous knit-a-long that explores the socks that came before, and socks that are up and coming.
On the last day of the Summit, we’re having the most fabulous closing event that we could think of. Our Panel of knitting luminaries will celebrate the 99th anniversary of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s birth by discussing the changing and emerging role of knitting in the 21st century, and answer the question “What’s happened to knitting in a hundred years?”
This centrepiece of the weekend is something we’re really looking forward to, because we think the odds that this collection of knitters will ever gather again is slim to none. It’s a remarkable opportunity, and one we know that no knitter would want to miss. Also, there will be cake. It is a birthday, after all.
There’s more, much more, and big fun at every turn. We’re hoping that the Sock Summit, and the journey you make to it, will be one of the best things ever.
Come celebrate the diversity of sock knitting. Help us make sock history. We can’t wait to see you.
Marketplace Tickets!
Why not download your tickets now, so you don’t have to wait for even a minute to get into our fabulous marketplace? Download this PDF, print, and bring with you!
