Sock Summit Loot - Before the Event

I bought some swag before the event. That silver thing on top that looks like a little SS Enterprise - It's a little book light that clips on your book or papers, allowing you to knit in the dark!

MK out.

Sock Summit Report - Part 5

Saturday was an early day for me. Our favorite BuffaloGuy, Ron, brought a couple of Voodoo Donuts to the Madelinetosh booth. (Thanks Ron!)



This one turned out to be my breakfast, but I couldn't finish it. It got sweeter with every bite. Voodoo Donuts are famous for their Bacon Maple Bars. I'll have to try those next time.








I left for the airport before lunch and took the MAX to the airport. The flight home was uneventful, too. Yay! No waiting on the tarmac for six hours for me.



I'm going to be out of pocket for a week, but hope to flash the goods I purchased at Sock Summit next time.



MK out.

Sock Summit Report - Part 4

Friday was a busy day at the Sock Summit. After the World Record attempt (and setting) in the morning, there was a booksigning with all the authors in the afternoon.

Barbara Walker's line was the longest. I got my copy of her book signed first. Then, I had Stephanie sign a book for me. While I was waiting in Cat Bordhi's line, I took a picture of Lucy Neatby and Barbara Walker signing books.









Then, onto Friday night with the Sock Hop held at Portland's Art Museum. Some people wore poodle skirts! It was a fun time.

I really need to figure out how to use my camera in low level light.


Here's part of Team Ravelry - Jess and Mary Heather are acting all good girl/bad girl.



















There was dancing.












Amy and I went back to the hotel and I got all packed and organized for the next day. I was kind of sad about having to leave early.

MK out.

Sock Summit Report - Part 3

On June 15, 2009, 256 people gathered at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia to set the Guinness Book of World Records for most people knitting at the same time.

On August 7, 2009, at the Sock Summit held in the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon...




Part of the crowd...
















Stephanie running by as she gets things ready...















Stephanie and Tina explain the rules, as the Guinness officials and other dignitaries watch over the crowd...
















Although it is not official yet, the Australian record has been beaten. I heard that something to the tune of 935 people were knitting simultaneously in that ballroom...

MK out.

Sock Summit Report - Part 2

The next day was a continuation of vendor setup and the beginning of classes. Since class registration just about broke the server - with 30K simultaneous connections trying to fill 4K spots, I was not able to get into but one class. It was a good one - Hooked on Beads with Sivia Harding.

I liked the class. It was fun - and definitely prepared me to start my foray into embellishing my knitting. I think I'm ready to be a big girl and to knit a shawl out of laceweight yarn....I think.



Here's a picture of Sivia and me. She is wearing a pretty beaded shawl that she designed.











After the class, the marketplace opened for students only. You would have thought it contained the very last skeins of yarn and fiber and related goodies in the universe. It was like a yarn grab. There was singing (100 skeins of yarn on the wall...) and cheering when the doors opened.

I was helping Amy in the Madelinetosh informational booth. We were selling only her Limited Edition Dye for Glory entry - the Skinnamarink colorway. It was the runner up in the watercolor division. I didn't take a picture, of course, but it is a pretty colorway. We spent the rest of the time directing people to the vendors who were carrying her yarns and doing a little bit of knitting. It was great fun meeting people - some of whom I have only interacted with online.

Since Amy and I were bushed, we went straight to our hotel, dropped our stuff and went to dinner. I missed the opening ceremonies, but they've been discussed so much on Ravelry and the blogs, that I felt as if I were there.

MK out.

The Sock Summit Report - Part 1

The muggles out there probably won't ever get the Sock Summit thing, but that's okay.

I wasn't able to stay for the whole event, because The Husb needed me to join him at a convention in his industry in The G. I really regret that I was not able to go to the Ravelry party on Saturday night or the Luminary Panel discussion on Sunday afternoon. I did, however, manage to have one of my Barbara Walker Treasury of Knitting Patterns books signed by Barbara Walker herself.

I left for Portland on the morning before the conference started. It was an uneventful flight, thankfully. Portland was sunny and cooler than home I took the MAX - their lightrail system - from the airport to close to the hotel and walked the rest of the way to the hotel. The room wasn't ready; so, I ventured to the waterfront and had lunch to kill a little time. After settling in, I took the MAX to the convention center to volunteer for a couple of hours.

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, unfortunately, but I don't think I could have accurately captured the excitement in the air that radiated from the convention center and outward.

I had so much fun meeting Tina, seeing Stephanie again, helping out Steve and Kathy a little and noticing which vendors would be participating for the weekend of fun. I think I had a grin pasted on my face for the whole time I was in Portland. It was incredible.

Later that night, some of the exhibitors were taken to the Kennedy School for a really nice dinner sponsored by Lantern Moon. It was nice to be amongst my peeps.

MK out.