Sock Museum

Surprise! It’s a Sock Museum!

(ST-1 is just getting so much done that we shock ourselves.)

Another chunk of the Sock Summit fun and games are up and running, and this one is for everybody, whether you’re involved with the Summit or not. The Sock Museum is live (in no small part, thanks to the generous sponsorship of WEBS and Blue Moon Fiber Arts. We love them.) In this section, you (or your local knitting group, and we think this would be a blast to do as a group) can sign up to knit a sock from history (recent or long past) to submit to the Museum. Once submitted, the socks become part of the Museum, which will be present in person at the Summit, as well as on-line for all to see. We’ve included a “starter list” of socks, but are actively seeking the input of knitters worldwide, for additional projects. Read about it here, sign up if it sounds like fun, or submit a sock you’d like to do that you think we’ve missed. The museum is intended as an ongoing work in progress, so feel free to contribute your ideas.

Have fun (and yeah, time is a little short. Thank the server. It’s now not just the fun of submitting a pair of socks, but a race to get them done.) We think it’s going to be a blast.

58 thoughts on “Sock Museum

  1. First?!!! Yippee!
    You are doing a great thing with the sock summit! I speak as one who wishes she could be there, and one who hopes to come another year – I have the hope of heathered yarn!

  2. whoa…..waaay cool! Brava! I’m only 1/4 of the way into only my second sock but I surely appreciate all that is sockness. And all things Steph. Deep bow to you.

  3. What a FANTASTIC idea! Wish I was a faster sock knitter so that I could help out!

  4. I NEVER comment without reading, especially when the manna of double-posts descendeth.
    BUT
    I just wasted all of yesterday playing BejewelledBlitz!
    Addiction seeks affirmation …

  5. I am so amazed at the genius of you and Tina! After the incredible success of this year’s summit, do you think there’s a possibility that, if you do this again next year, folks who could not get into classes could at least come to what sounds like the most awesome marketplace on the planet? I was not able to come to the summit, but I appreciate all of the hard work that you have put into this and am horrified by the negativity that was hurled your way. Rest assured that 98% of the people think you’re awesome!

  6. The Sock Museum is amazing. I’d love to volunteer, but I’m already overcommitted for the rest of the summer.

  7. How COOL is that! I actually have a reproduction world war II kit for making olive drab socks with an old (reproduced) pattern of the time.

  8. YAY! I snagged your plain vanilla socks!
    Now……what yarn, what yarn…….
    Oh, the possibilities. Suggestions?

  9. now you have added to my knitting obsession! Those muggles out there have no idea!

  10. okay – I’m in for the thrumbed socks! I made a pair for my mom a few years back but getting these done in time will be a challenge – I’m driving to Quebec for Junior National Cycling Championships on Monday but while my son is racing I’ll bring my socks to the feed zone with me. After that week, he’ll be off all over the world racing and I’ll head home to NB to finish my socks!!

  11. OMG! You all have put SO MUCH work into this event it is truly amazing. I am sending each of you a virtual beer! Your creativity with this event has been amazing. I’m so sorry that you all keep getting flack about this, that and the other since you can’t please everyone all the time. You all are doing a phenomenal job though! KUDOS!

  12. I can’t make it to the Sock Summit, but signed up to knit socks for the museum. These will be my first socks, but I’ve been wanting to knit the blue and white muslim socks for awhile. Sounds like fun.

  13. Woo hoo! I’m in for Anna Zilboorg’s Hook and Rose Turkish socks. I’d been itching to knit up a pair from Fancy Feet for ages but still hadn’t gotten around to it. Having now committed to contribute to the museum will give me just the little shove that I need. Thanks 😉
    Can’t wait to see all the other socks…

  14. I am in! So excited to be a part of this…Waving Lace Socks will be my effort! Going to shop stash…thanks for letting me be a part of this!

  15. What a wonderful idea! Too bad I’m such a slow knitter *and* I don’t have a lot of knitting time. I’d love to be able to contribute. Oh well…maybe I can knit up a pair of historical socks for myself one of these year…

  16. Stupid question… Do the socks have to be in the post by July 25th, or arrive with you by that date??

  17. Hmmm now to find some suitable yarn for those Wearable Art socks (not to mention my well thumbed copy of Knitting Around).
    Thanks for adding to my to-do list.

  18. Just signed up for the Civil War Union socks! How cool is it that we regular folk (who cannot, for one reason or another, get to SS09) get to be a part of it? One more brilliant notion from the Stephanie/Tina sock team!

  19. HA! Entrelac socks! You should try a pair of those, they’re really fast, and not nearly as “fussy” as you think! I’ve made 5 pair using different (but similar) patterns. ‘Coz you don’t have enough to do, here’s your challenge! LOL

  20. That is such a cool idea! I looked at the list of suggested socks and I have a suggestion. How about the black and white stocking from the Wizard of Oz?!? You could do a section of other iconic socks like that! That is of course the only one I can think of, so I’m not much help, but I thought I would share the idea!

  21. Thanks so much for all the hard work on the sock summit. I know that it is going to be a huge success and can’t wait.

  22. Are you thinking up fabulous SS09 ideas so you don’t have to report on the blanket?

  23. I signed up for the last socks! The poor striped knee socks looked so sad all alone. I think they were waiting for me to love them.

  24. Stephanie, since the Sock Summit is still consuming a lot of your time, I thought I would let you know about an app I found for my iPhone. It’s called Box of Sox! I kid you not, and it’s pretty addictive.

  25. Awesome idea! I was wondering, though, why you excluded naalbound socks as a type of historical sock when you have sewn, cloth socks on the list? Had you not heard of Naalbinding?

  26. Aha! I knew the blanket grounding had sock roots!
    Terrific idea, Stephanie.
    Thank you.

  27. Thanks for keeping us all updated on all of the fun!! This is going to be amazing – I really enjoy reading about all of the history with the socks.

  28. A sock museum – now that IS a truly cool idea!
    Good luck with it! When do we get a Sock Summit here in the U.K.? Pu-leeze!

  29. Ever since I read the words “Sock Museum” I’ve been going around singing (with apologies to Joni Mitchell):
    “They took all the socks, put ’em in a Sock Museum,
    And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see ’em.
    Don’t it always seem to go…”
    For those of us who can’t be there, will there be pics or video of the museum? We wanna see!

  30. I can’t believe you’re still adding stuff to the SS09! This is a wonderful idea; I only wish there were socks other than the “stockings” left to volunteer to knit!
    Good work, and I can’t wait to see the photos online (they will be online, won’t they?).

  31. What a great idea! I don’t think I will formally sign up, but I browsed through and think I will try at least one. I get SSS pretty badly… Will look forward to seeing them all on-line.

  32. Rachel said “Awesome idea! I was wondering, though, why you excluded naalbound socks as a type of historical sock when you have sewn, cloth socks on the list? Had you not heard of Naalbinding?”
    You’ve got sharp eyes! I hasten to say they are NOT excluded — it’s just that we have someone already lined up to do a few pairs for us, so they weren’t on the “available” list. We will be getting replicas of the famous “Coptic socks” with a separate big toe, a striped sock from Antinoë, a slipper-sock from Uppsala and an Anasazi sock from Arizona (Native American)
    If there are other naalbound socks you’d like to see added, or to volunteer to do, by all means use the Museum website’s “Comments and questions” form to suggest them. I was hoping my naalbinder-in-charge would be able to do a repro of the Delsberg stockings from 12th century Switzerland, for instance, but she says she (a) doesn’t have enough time and (b) is not sure we really know exactly what stitch was used.

  33. Any thought of continuing the sock museum project after the summit, for those of us unable to knit quickly enough to participate?

  34. I can’t believe there are no more socks available! Boo hoo.
    Are you interested in any back-up knitters?

  35. i saw that you’re looking for roman socks. i know someone who actually knits t hem for historical events. email me, and i’ll put her in contact with you.

  36. I LOVE this idea! Since knitting is a relatively new craft it’s great to get a bit of history. I cannot wait to see Roman Socks and have never even heard of Naalbound!
    “Oh No! Not another learning experience!”

  37. This is going to be the year, after 7 annual attempts, I finally am successful at turning a heal and competing a pair of socks. This week I will be in Canada (Hello Cabot Trail), home country of the Yarn Harlot deity of knitting and wit. Perhaps being on the same soil where she has tread will help my fingers be nimble and steady my faith in the magic of trusting the process. No doubt her guidance on socks from Knitting Rules will help.
    Thank you for all of your inspiration!

  38. Outta my mind. I registered for the “Horcrux Socks” (hurrah for Rowling and Harry Potter). And am leaving the country this Friday …
    Have I ever knit a pair of socks in 1 week? No. How about 1 month? Perhaps. But I’m past the gusset on sock #1 & in the midst of the “scar” on sock #2. I might have to post them from the UK, but they will get done!
    And Deirdre at 6/29 9:24? Be warned: I turned my first sock heel 13 months ago. With this pair, I’m up to heels #13 & 14. Very addictive.
    Three cheers for hand knit socks, the Sock Museum, and all the crazy-fabulous folk organizing this in addition to some little ol’ gathering (aka Sock Summit 2009).

  39. I feel like the smartest Sock Museum knitter….I snagged the “Los Lobe Hose” assignment. Yes, they’re teeny-tiny and knitted on #0000 needles, but once I get started, I can knock out a couple of pairs in an evening. I’ll probably end up knitting a few sets for the Museum in different yarns. I found my set of #0000 dpns last night….Now I just need to dig out my pattern!
    Of course, I do have to finish a lace shawl (10 rows, more than 1000 stitches per row) before the weekend then block it for entry in my county fair. And I have about 30 ends to weave on a pair of rainbow socks (Tsarina of Tsocks’s “Chakra” socks) for the fair. Plus a baby sweater to sew together for a friend due late Aug-early Sept. And a set of skeleton bride and groom (with Cthulhu officiant) from “Creepy Cute Crochet” to finish for friends getting hitched soon. Oy!

  40. P.S. Did you know that there’s a legend that the “swaddling clothes” in which the Baby Jesus was wrapped were actually made from a pair of Saint Joseph’s old socks?
    Some church somewhere claims to have them. I’ll have to try to track this down.

  41. Regarding your Twitter about the 2-decade PYOP (pi$$es you off person)- perhaps you aren’t a slow learner, but merely an optimist…and you’re hoping that somehow this time they will be different?
    The world needs more optimists – thank you for filling the void.

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