It has been a while since I have contributed to the Needlework Community. That doesn't mean that my needles haven't been busy. As a matter of fact, I have completed (and started) a myriad of projects since I was last here.
Like many makers, I have been so busy making that I was too tired or too uninspired to write about my creations.
Let's just say that since I discovered Ravelry two and a half years ago, I have completed well over 200 projects.
No, I am not going to show them all to you now. That would just be crazy. But I will show you what I have completed for this year's Sock Madness.
Leicht Qualifier
Let me tell you what Sock Madness is all about.
In the US, there is a Basketball competition every March called March Madness. Many people are glued to the TV during that time and talk about nothing but the competition.
17 years ago, there was a group of knitters who probably were knitting while watching TV (or not watching at all). Every one of them loved knitting socks, and they had the idea to see who among them was the fastest knitter of them all.
The idea of Sock Madness was born!
Now, in Year 17, this is how the competition works.
- It is conducted on Ravelry.
- Membership to the Sock Madness group is required.
- A knitter must sign up for the competition during a specific sign up period - usually 2 weeks in February.
- A knitter must complete a qualifying sock during a specific 2 week period.
This year, the qualifying pattern was Leicht. You see the finished sock above on my daughter's feet.
Leicht is the German word for easy - as well as for not much weight, and the German designer had a bit of fun with us.
Because the sock was anything but easy/leicht to knit.
Her word game of course, also referres to the 17 balloons the girl is holding and being lifted by.
Did I mention that Sock Madness is an international competition with participants and designers from all over the world?
And - this is truly amazing - is it completely free to all participants?
Ravelry is a free platform, and the designers are donating the pattern they are designing exclusively for Sock Madness. Not only that, but they are also available for questions and advice during the period their pattern is knitted.
The mods are volunteering their time to facilitate all the fun. It is so awesome!
Valgus Round 1 Pattern
Signups happen via a Google form. The mods have to sort through all of them and ensure they have all the information for each participant (Ravelry name, email, membership status).
The Qualifier pattern is emailed to all registered participants at the beginning of March.
Now the clock starts ticking.
Information about the finished sock must be submitted within two weeks. There are certain photo and submission requirements.
The mods check each pair of socks to make sure that it was knitted exactly according to the requirements (i.e.size, length of foot) and according to the pattern. If there is no mistake, the knitter made it into the competition. If there are one or more mistakes, the knitter is asked to fix them and to resubmit before the deadline.
Now, all that made it into the competition get sorted into teams. This year, we had 26 teams with almost 40 participants in each team.
Celtic Rain Round 2 Pattern
Remember that I was going to tell you something about Leicht? The qualifying sock pattern?
Leicht - the not-so-Leicht sock to make?
Well, that pattern scared a lot of knitters off. They didn't even try. And quite a few started knitting but couldn't finish in the allotted 14 days.
The year before, we also had 26 teams (one for each letter of the Alphabet), and each team had well over 60 participants.
Sock of little Brain Round 3 Pattern
Sock Madness has seven rounds. In each round, a number of the team get eliminated until there is only one knitter of each team competing for the big win.
Right now, round 7 is in progress with a super difficult sock pattern.
Hop on over to Ravelry and check out the discussions in the Sock Madness Group. More than one knitter has already given up.
Squaring Off Round 4 Pattern
Round 4 was the last round for me. My team, Team Watermelon, is a superfast team and I had several appointments scheduled When the pattern was supposed to drop.
I didn't think I had much knitting time.
Based on that, I decided to declare that I wasn't racing anymore and to knit that pair for my husband (big feet - way more than the minimum requirement).
I took my sweet time to start.
As it turned out, all my appointments got canceled, and I could have made it to Round 5. But I am okay with taking my time.
I still received all the patterns and will get the bonus sock patterns after the competition finishes. What a gift that is!
Not only all the free patterns are awesome, but the help with new techniques and the friendships in the teams are worth so much!
I will introduce the different socks and patterns to you in more detail soon. They all are interesting (if you knit, lol) and deserve a bit more attention than I am giving them here now.
Until then, come and join Ravelry and check out the Madness for yourself.
Maybe you want to join us next year.
Your socks are so beautiful! I still haven't gotten past knitting dishcloths! I just learned how to read a basic pattern that involves only knit and purl. But for me, that's big progress.
Knit and purl is what everything else is based on!
I looove those socks😍 ...more of them?! yess, I want to see them all😅
I wouldnt even try to make them, but the designs are awesome! Socks are such a cool piece of clothing actually, even though they do not deserve all the attention they should all the time, I think... and why would you wear black socks anymore if you can have a pair with 17 balloons or a beehive on?
I am impressed😊
Thank you very much.
Why not you start teaching these socks knitting classes here?
Good idea. I will think about that.
do you ever think to sell these online? I think this would be a great business for you if you want it.
To make a living wage in the US - I would have to charge a lot.
Yes, people don't realize how many tiny stitches there are in a good sock!
For sure!!
You knitted a lot of lovely socks in the last and half Year since you discovered Ravelry and that's quite impressive. And they are beautiful too 😍
I literally had no idea, Socks Madness exist... Glad to pick up a few lessons on this post.
Thank you for sharing ma'am. ❣️
I did knit a lot of socks for sure. Last year, I knit 49 pairs
thank you so much
Hello! 🌷 I am so amazed with the sock madness competition!! It is undoubtedly something very interesting and makes me curious. 😊 You are an excellent sock knitter.
Cheers!!🌸
Thank you so much! do you knit? It is a lot of fun :)
Yes, i knit. But I never knitted socks so pretty. It definitely looks fun.
it is! Maybe you join us next year
awww how beautiful!! and i bet they feel real nice and warm
They do
Those sucks are beautiful
Thank you
It takes talent to make the socks. You're really good at that.
Thank you
Those are beautifully knitted socks.
Thank you
That socks actually looks like a night socks
not sure what you mean?
Such beautiful socks and inspiring competition. Thanks so much for sharing... learned a lot.
I am truly in awe of your needlwork - busy you, busy needles, making such beautiful, intricate things!
That balloon bouquet - I cannot imagine - all the threads to cut and tie off and work in.
What a labor of love!
Nice socks. It's a long time ago I knitted socks. I am crocheting now.
Before you know you are joining the 18th sock madness.
Btw I never heard of it. I only know that if men watch soccer women or those not interested could watch detectives. No idea if that's still the case.
🤔