Before I get to the Sock Summit details, I just want to let you sale watchers know that I have some Noro Silk Garden Lite (not a sock yarn, but very very popular for scarves and sweaters) in the last two pages of the Sale Section for 25% off! I have 7 colors available, and right now have plenty for larger projects like the Lizard Ridge blanket (you can easily sub this yarn for the Noro that's called for) or smaller ones like this diagonal scarf. Silk Garden Lite is a super soft combination of silk, mohair and lambswool, and at $9 for a 137 yard skein, it's quite a deal!
So I've been back home for a whole day now, and I would like to personally apologize to all the people I've silently mocked when they complained about "jet lag." I guess I figured it was just a state of mind, and every time I heard someone mention how jetlagged they were, I would think, "try having a baby, and then tell me how tired you get from flying in a plane." I was wrong and I take it back! Changning times, for instance going from Portland to Indiana, and losing three hours (thus waking at what feels like 3am) really, really sucks. So I'm self-medicating with caffine in the forms of both espresso and coffee, in hopes of jolting my system into some sort of productive state.
But Sock Summit was worth it. It was an experience that I wouldn't give up (even for sleep!), as it was unlike anything I've ever done before. I was constantly surrounded by amazing yarn, color, and people, and I'm so proud that my store was there and that I was able to sponsor it. It was oddly wonderful being surrounded by thousands of people who were just as (or even more) passionate about knitting, and everyone there seemed to be in a sort of fiber induced fog. I don't think anyone there has ever been in such a large space that was literally stuffed with yarn.
I got to spend lots of time with my vendors and indie dyers, I found several new dyers that you will be able to enjoy in the coming months, and I met so many amazing "knit-celebs", shop owners, bloggers, knitters, podcasters, and new friends. Several of you gifted me with little socks, skeins of yarn, and well wished for James, and it was WONDERFUL meeting you!
I've already been asked many times "with there be another Sock Summit?" I don't have an answer. And I don't know where it would be, if there is one. But I will definitely let you know if I learn more from the organizers. While all the classes and events were full, I was surprised to see that there weren't more shoppers at the Marketplace, for all the hype it got. I really hope that all the indie dyers there got enough business to make it worth their expense... but I'll be doing my part to support a special few of them by offering their lines in the store in the near future. I figure that since most of my customers didn't get to go to the Summit, I should bring the best (in my opinion) to you!
It was great to meet you -- to finally put a face with words on the screen! And I'm looking forward to knitting with some of your new line.
Posted by: sprite | August 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I am glad that you had such a great time. I hear only positive reviews about the summit and I hope there is another one to be able to go. Did you sell all the new or special yarns that you had in your booth? Can we hope for left overs to be offered on the site? Jet lag is horrible and it takes a few days to recover, so take it easy for a while. What did James do when he saw you?
Posted by: Juana | August 12, 2009 at 05:55 PM
James woke up in the morning very happy to see me and spent the whole day not more than a foot away. I think he had a great time with Daddy, but we all really missed each other.
And yes, I do have special yarn to share that I had at the Summit! More on that next week!
Posted by: Allison | August 12, 2009 at 07:19 PM
It was so nice to meet you! It meant so much to me that you recognized my name - after a day of goggling over "knit-celebs", you made me feel like I was kind of one too! Thanks!
Posted by: janet | August 12, 2009 at 07:38 PM
One hard part of organizing any event is balancing the number of attendees and classes with the number of vendors. If the event is just too good (it can happen), then nobody spends time shopping. If there are too many vendors for the number of buyers, either a few break even and the rest sell nothing, or they all get just a few sales. Since SS09 was a first for everything, obviously there was no way to predict whether everyone would be in classes or hanging out almost the whole time. Proximity matters too - if it's too long a walk to the sales room, people who have a full schedule of classes have no time to shop.
Posted by: =Tamar | August 15, 2009 at 03:23 PM
I and my buddies here in Florida are green with envy! Thanks for sharing. We have a locally famous yarn dyer www.myhedgehogknits.com that we love to buy yarn from, her colors are just incredible! She and her husband (and baby) made it out there so we are waiting for her report as well. Please do keep us informed if you hear whisperings about next year. Thanks so much! Marianne Graves
Posted by: Marianne Graves | August 18, 2009 at 11:09 AM