the third o is for obscenely huge!

 
 

knit & sent : Over the Knee Socks from Handknit Holidays in Koigu #535
received: flip flop socks from Beate in Regia India cotton "Jaipur"
tricolor knee highs in Wolle Rödel yarn and striped knee highs in Regia from pal Kate!

---

Patience is rewarded!

In case you didn't see the "well-worth-the-wait" socks Bev got last week, check them out here!
And this week Anne sent sock savior socks to Lavendersheep.
Dani received sock savior socks from Janine!
Di got her package complete with Sundara sock yarn!
Grumperina finally got her lovely lacy socks!
Jen received socks from her pal.
Jill got sock savior socks from Amber.
Kara received sock savior socks from Kit.
Karen got TWO pairs of socks from her sock savior, Sandy!
Lene received her socks.
Suzanne sent sock savior socks to Alicia.
And I heard that Ariel finished sock savior socks, Ina is working doubletime on a replacement pair for her pal and a sock savior pair, and Lou's finished a sock savior pair as well, so at least four more pals will be rewarded this week.

Thanks to all the awesome sock saviors out there! And a big shout-out to Allison at Simply Sock Yarn for going above and beyond to help a sock savior get started on socks in a hurry. (And she's still waiting on socks herself, folks!)

Phew! (Wipes sweat from brow.) I know it doesn't look like much from here, but I'm still hunting down stray socks and sock saviors behind the scenes. Um, if any of you who reported being done knitting haven't sent out your socks yet, please do so now. I've been chasing down finished but unsent socks all week. They aren't going to walk themselves to the post office! ;0)

We have three more finishers this week: Danielle and Mia are done! And Bev received her socks from Connie, who has no blog, so go see them on Bev's blog later today! And if you hold real still, and listen real close, you can hear the clicking of sock savior needles and the smiles of saved pals (like Dorothee who received these socks from Agnes). Go sock saviors!

Just in case you haven't had enough of sock knitting, check out Angela's Crazy Socks Design Competition. The details are in this post in German, but the idea is to be creative and design your own pair of socks, be they crazy, normal, men's, women's, kids', wool, cotton, whatever. Think up something new, send in your design to Angela and then everyone gets to vote on the best. The winner gets a prize! Leave a note for Angela on the blog if you're interested. I'm sure she'd be happy to post the details in English if there's interest.

Well, maybe pen-penultimate round up.... We have a couple more finishers - "hip! hip!" for Emily and Flan - and "hooray!" for these finished sock saviors:

Allie has finished sock savior socks!
Erin finished sock savior socks (in one of my favorite yarns!).
Sarah sent off a wonderful sock savior package to her second pal.

And on an only tangentially related note, I have bought my last skein of pink sock yarn. I have had a serious pink sock yarn craving the last few months. Pink, pink, pink. I haven't even knit a pair of pink socks yet, but I clearly want to.

Regia, Koigu, Ultramerino, Trekking, Seacoast Handpainted, Shelridge Farms, Lornas, Regia

The most recently purchased skein, bought at the store over the weekend, is Seacoast Handpainted "Cherry Fizz" (it's the red-pink one by the Trekking). I've spent weeks telling people to buy this yarn so I wouldn't have to. They didn't. So I bought it and told myself it has to be my last skein of pink sock yarn. Well, perhaps my pen-penultimate skein....

Well, surprise surprise, our internet provider admitted to having a wee problem in our area on Monday and managed to fix things without coming to our house and accusing us of breaking the internet. Who would have thought? So no need to cancel Tuesday after all!

Sockapaloooza kept me pretty busy this weekend. With the help of my awesome sock sisters, I've identified almost 20 dropouts and have arranged sock saviors for their pals. All of you who offered up finished or almost-finished socks were great. There were enough knitters with socks-in-progress out there to cover all the immediate pals-in-need. And a big thank you to super sock savior, Ann who (due to my not noticing that I'd already called on her once) has been a sock savior twice over! Check out all the folks with sock savior stars on the big list.

We've actually got some finished socks this week too from Ina's group, including Ina herself!

Ina finally finished beaded rib with bead socks.
Molly finished her socks and sent them out via super speedy mail!
Pam-M. finished stripey Metropolis socks.
Paula slogged out of a multi-layer swamp and finished her socks.

Thanks to everyone who checked off that they could be a sock savior. I'm sure we'll be needing a few more, but we're almost done. Can you believe it?! It has been such a relief this time to know that so many of you were willing to help out forgotten pals. Your generosity and concern that everyone have a successful swap is one of the things that makes me continue this. Wishing you all lots of good knitting karma for your good intentions.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

And in a side note, wouldn't you know it, I'm offline for one day and I end up on You Knit What??! Well, it was bound to happen to me one day, but the boys? What about this silly thing? Or these? The pants are even done in Homespun - there have to be bonus points for that.

Attention everyone who signed up to be a sock savior! We're getting to that time where it becomes clear who the dropouts are. Which means that I'll probably be sending out some "desperately seeking sock savior" emails in the next weeks. If you've already got socks on the needles you'd be willing to donate, let me know. That really helps me find a pair quickly for those who are still waiting.

And on to this week's finishers:
Elise sent in a picture of the socks she finished last week.
Jaime sent off her Jaywalkers and received a beautiful pair of socks from her pal too!
Michelle has persevered and finished her socks! She sent Thuja socks knit while spending time with her sons to her pal to wear while spending time with her sons. Isn't that nice?
Nancy donated awesome stripy sock savior socks!
Okay, she's not done yet, but you've got to see the cool socks that Purly Whites is working on for her pal!
Renada knit lovely Cascade socks for her pal.

And a few more beginners have reported in too - hooray!
No pics, but Monique has gotten her socks out to her pal.
Pixie finished her pal's socks. She says there's a problem with them but they look great to me!
Tiffany's cat ate her socks - again! But she's arranged to send her pal some sock yarn instead of having her wait for a pair of socks.

We're at 94% finished, which is amazing! And I know that at least a dozen of the stragglers are still hard at work knitting away for their pals and have informed them and their sock sister. If you are still knitting, do keep your sock pal and sock sister updated. And if you won't be finishing the socks for your pal, please be considerate enough to let me know so I can find a sock savior for them. If neither your pal, nor your sock sister, nor I hear from you, you will be marked down as a dropout and a sock savior will be arranged for your pal.

And a final thank you to the my fabulous sock sisters who are still keeping tabs on stragglers and helping arrange sock saviors where needed. Thanks so much ladies!! Mmmmwah!

We are at 90%! That's an A in school, so I'm calling this round a huge success (a big enough success to keep the sockapaloooza's coming - look for round four in the fall). Well done, everyone! We've still got a little more than 50 socksters who haven't finished. So keep knitting! Your sock pal's feet are waiting patiently. If you've already finished and your name is still in blue on the big list, please update the database and let me or your sock sister know, so we can turn you red!

Your finishers this week:

Ann's done!
Ann-Marie finished gorgeous blue jaywalkers - you gotta see!
Ann-Sophie reports that she finished Regia socks with a horseshoe lace pattern.
Bev knit beautiful sock savior socks in Koigu Kersti.
Colleen finished her sock savior Pomatami and loved the pattern.
Elise is finished!
Erica has sent and received her socks, hopefully her IT guy gets her pics working again. :)
Freddiefan is done!
Gina finished up some really great pink Regia socks.
Gracie is done too!
Check out Julie_C's beautiful yellow, lace socks!
Kathy has pictures of her pal's fabulous Aran Sandal socks.
Laurie has finished her socks!
Lindsey has finished her socks (two pairs!) and will send them out this week.
Minnie finished previously and posted a photo of her Pomatomi last week.
Not only is Pixeldiva done, she also promises the pattern for her picot cuff lace socks.
Rachel reported in and she is finished.
Tara finished gorgeous ribbed socks in Lorna's Laces.
Diane waited until her pal received the lovely Purl Lace socks she knit to post about them. So sneaky!
Jill knit beautiful blue anklets and waited until she finished them before opening her own sockapaloooza package!

Remember to update the database when you're done and have sent your socks. And when you receive your socks, do let the pal who knit for you know by sending them an email or writing a thanks in the comments here!

I can hardly believe it, but we are 87% done! This is incredible! All you pals still knitting, you can do it. Let's get that number over 90%! I'll be sending out an email before the next update to everyone in the database who has NOT checked off that they finished knitting and sent their socks out to their pal. I'm just looking for a status report on where you are and trying to see if there is anyone out there who already needs a sock savior to knit for them. (By the way, anyone heard from Rachel, formerly of joyfulgirl.org? Rachel, where are you? UPDATE: I heard back from Rachel - hooray! That's one more sock pal done!)

Check out the updated list in the sidebar of those pals who received their socks last week!

Finishers reporting in this week:

No pics, but Anita is all done!
Celia finished her hand-dyed, well-travelled socks.
Connie finished her socks--they're on their way across the pond!
Cynthia's socks arrived safely--you can see them on her pal Courtney's blog.
Karlie has pictures of her pal's finished socks - they are soooo
cute! Who wouldn't love socks with a rhyme stitched into them?
Karen has completed a stumming pair of Pomatomi - they're so lovely you simply must look!
Kate's Kraft mac 'n cheese socks are done and on their way to her pal - she swears they're more orange than this photo shows - I think that's a great color choice!
Kathleen has lovely pictures of the socks she knit for her pal and the socks she received in return - I love that the colors are complete opposites of each other, and yet she likes them both!
Kim's lacy socks are red all over, and on their way to her pal - I looove them, and I bet you will too!
Kirsti's socks are finished and off to her pal - hop on over and admire her other sock knitting, and encourage her to post a picture of her finished Sockapaloooza socks!
Louise sent her finished socks out on Monday.
Minnie has finished knitting, photos to come.
Ta-da! Nicole has empathy and "Happy Divorce" socks for her pal.
In order to continue to keep her pal in suspense, Nomad will be posting photos in a few days.
Peggy finished her socks, but has Internet troubles and can't provide photos.
Here are photos of the socks Penny finished two weeks ago, with the clever sheep to yarn mug she sent her pal.
Phyliss finished her Big Mexico socks and included a memento of MDS&W.
Pip_and_Tom learned to graft toes and finished her socks.
Rhonda has finished and mailed off her socks (and her pal already received them).
Robin finished her socks and got them into the mail this weekend.
Spring has finished and mailed her socks.
Timothy is all done too!
Twisted Knitter has finished her pair of Trekking XXL socks.

And I received another little something:

I heart these slippers

Sock sister, Erin, knit and sent me these. They are so awesome! I've been wanting to make myself some of these sock slippers for the longest time, but I never could have done as good a job as Erin did. Look at that super sweet embroidery! And the denim is just genius - they should wear well, be very washable, and best of all, they're blue! Thanks so much, Erin. You rock!

Sockapaloooza socks - at last!

hey, I remember lusting after these socks in an April update
(check out Kate under "Finished Sockers!")

My pal, Kate from Germany, was very good to me. I mentioned in my preferences that I've really been wanting knee-highs (I added that any length sock would be fine of course), and she knit me the most perfect pair of knee-highs I could ever imagine. The best colors ever! I love the yarn too - it's from Wolle Rödel, a really cool yarn chain that I've visited in a couple of different German cities. And as luck would have it, it's still rainy and cold here in Boston, so I can wear them today. Hooray!

But wait, there's more.... Kate made me two pairs of knee-highs. I'll give you a moment to think about how many stitches that is.

Awesome blues! And the yarn is Regia. How did I miss this Regia colorway in all my trips to German yarn stores?! Luckily, my pal found it. Because it's so me.

I couldn't have asked for a better pal or better socks. Thank you so much, Kate!

Look, I got flip flop socks!

When I was doing my sock updates a few weeks ago, I spotted the adorable little bonus socks that Beate made for her sockapaloooza pal with leftover yarn from the real pair. I commented on how cool they were and Beate knit and sent me a pair. What a sweetie! Thanks so much, Beate. I absolutely love them!

Now if only the sun would come out again here so I could wear them. (Seriously, there's no sun in the whole 10-day forecast! See ya in June, little flip flop socks.)

Holy awesome sock knitting, batman - we're at over 80% done! That's a better finished percentage than in the last round and we're only one week past the deadline. AND that means that as many socks have already been knit this time around as in the first two sockapaloozas COMBINED. You people rock!

And hey, check the sidebar for sockers who have recently received their socks. Don't forget to update your info in the database, everyone! It's the official record of who's finished and when you sent your pal's socks and who's received socks. I'll replace the list in the sidebar each week with the names of folks reporting in that they've gotten their socks in the last week, so keep watching it to see when your pal gets yours!

Finishers!

Mary's group:
Jen's socks are done. She's put up a good post about some of the issues she faced as a beginner sock knitter.
Emily's Broadripples are all done.
Jillrachele has finished her socks. Photos should be coming soon.
Johanna has finished her Koigu socks.
Laura's socks are done and in the mail. Well done!
Rebecca has finished her Jaywalkers and is picking up a few things to put in with them before she post them off to her pal.
Songbird has finished her socks, plus we get to see the socks she got from her pal.
Erin wasn't able to photograph he socks but they are done and posted.
Keli has finished and mailed her socks. She's also signed up to be a sock saviour - thank Keli!

Lisa's group:
Teresa finished beautiful blue socks for her pal. (Is it me????)
Tipper's posted the pattern for her gorgeous red/purple "Frequency socks".
No sock pics, but Undiestakr did get a shot of another couple of pairs!

Jenipurr's group:
Regenia has finished her grey gullwing socks and has shipped them out just in time, since she's in the middle of finals at school.
Regina has sent off her socks and hopes they make their new owner happy.
Rocket_Scientist wrote a letter to her finished socks as she readied them to be shipped.
Sarah has finished her socks and they're on their way to their new home
Sarah W had only a little bit left of the second toe at her last report, but she was feeling pretty confident, so we're going to mark her as done.
Sharon finally finished her blue striped socks.
Silke has finished and shipped off her socks. She used a beautiful lace pattern and a deep red yarn.
Sonya has posted pictures of Raindrop Lace socks, which are now winging their way to their new home.
Strangelittlemama got them done at the very last minute (and I think she means literally).

Ina's group:
Meghan "unvented" her own lace sock pattern, see the socks and a detail.
Michelle finished luscious sherbet-colored socks with mirror-image cables and eye of partridge heels. Her pal would seem to be blogless, too, so she's anxious for feedback.
After struggling with a too-small Jaywalker, Mindy finished a pair out of Vintage Socks. No pix, sadly.
Mindy doesn't have photos either, but has sent out her socks.
Miss.Sarah finished on time and gave the socks a bath and a block.
Monica's amazing Black Forest socks are good enough to eat!
Nanc gave her pair of Pomatomi a bath and sent them on their way.
Neysa has sent anklets off to California.
Nic has sent her socks off to the Netherlands! (Sorry, no pix.)
Patty's socks have been on the Continent, but are on their way along with a photo montage of their travels.

Erin's group:
Laura's spice socks went out on Thursday. And she has recieved her socks.
Linda J sent her socks on Friday.
Lori finished her socks, but she was delayed due to a computer problem. The socks were washed and blocked and sent out on Friday.
Lori S finished her socks and sent them out over the weekend.
Luanne finished her blue embossed leaves and they were sent out on Wednesday.
MamaSnooze sent her socks out Wednesday morning.
Marie's socks are done and have made their way to the post office.
Marie R. finished her socks under the wire but they needed to dry before they were sent on Wednesday.
Mary C has finished her socks and sent them out.

Sock sister Donna has finished her first short row heel (and toe) socks in yummy Koigu, and they are off to her pal, complete with a custom-sized set of sock blockers.
Karla's socks are all ready for her pal, and she hopes to heve a picture up by the time you click that link!
Kate's socks fit Becky perfectly, and Kate loves her cabled Koigu swap socks.
Katherine has a picture of the beautiful felted pouch she made for her pal's socks, as well as a picture of her feet jumping for joy in the socks she received!
KC is done and she received her swap socks as part of a great package from her pal.
Keohinani ran out of yarn for the backup socks she was making for her pal when the first socks stopped striking her fancy. Back to the first lime green pair she went, and not only are they done and in the mail, they look great!
Kira's lovely lavender Mata Hari socks are finished - and fabulous!
Kristen's finished socks are on their way, and she got a beauteous pair of Jaywalkers in exchange, all the way from Alaska!
Kristen's socks are in the mail, and they are a blue vision of loveliness - congratulations, Kristen!
Kristy's New England socks are on the way to her pal - hop on over and encourage her to post the photo you know she took before mailing them off!

Cathy's group:
Janine is done! With a beautiful pair of hand-dyed socks for her pal, and an extra pair also!
Jill has finished her gorgeous baby cable rib socks in Beryl Socks that Rock.
Julia has finished her amazing slinky socks!

Carry's group:
Deb
Dene finished her Yarn Over Cables socks.
Designated_Knitter finished her feather and fan socks.
Elspeth as finished and sent off her pal's socks.
Emily has proof of her finished socks.
Faith Fiberflash finished her socks and has included a fun giftee for her pal.
Gina has sent her socks.
Heidi has finished her socks, but hopes her pal has better luck photographing the evidence.

Ashley's group:
Brigid finished and mailed her socks. She forgot to photograph them before they went, but she does have some lovely peonies for you to see!
Carla finished hers last week--but her silly sock sister forgot her in the update! (Sorry, Carla!)
And speaking of forgotten updates, Cass was done by send-off Day too (again, a big mea culpa from sock sister Ashley).
Carola finished her beautiful red Pomatomuses.
Chloe Sparkle finished some really beautiful Walking Away socks in time for send-off Day.
Chymerikaen finished knitting her socks, only to be instantly rewarded with the arrival of her own pair!

Alison's group:
Allena frogged and reknit half of one sock in a day in order to finish up her pal's Pomatomi in time!
Amanda has sent off her beautiful babies to her pal.
No pics yet, but Anastacia reports that she's finished too!
Angela's socks are so fun, they had a final playdate with her before traveling to their new home!
Betsy's finished Bobble Bing socks are way cool!
And finally, Abigail has finally revealed which pair of socks was for her pal. Did you win the prize in her guess-which-pair contest? Go see!

If you're not finished yet, keep on knitting! You're not alone. Contact your pal to let them know that the socks are a little delayed and when you expect to be done. And if you're like me and still waiting for socks, enjoy the anticipation! :)

UPDATE: Oops! There was a bug in the database system. Those of you who attempted to update your info to include that you had sent out your socks should check your info again to be sure that it recorded that change. If not, click the button again. It should work now! Sorry for the inconvenience.

-----------------------------------

This week we got finishers and (almost) nothing but finishers. Cause there are soooo dang many of them! With over 100 new finishers, we're now up to 70% done on the big list - way to go! For the rest of you, a highlight from sock sister Ina: "For those of you 'looozers still knitting along, Pip and Tom's excellent Ode says it all."

By the way, I've already got six sock saviors working on make-up socks: Marti, Colleen, Alison, Ann, Lou, and Bev. They're the greatest!! If you want to be a sock savior, please let me know by accessing your info in the database and checking "sock savior". With this many participants, I know we'll be needing a lot. I can send any "sock savior needed" emails directly to you if you've indicated that you're ready in the database. Thanks!!

Alison's finishers:
Abigail has officially started her "guess which pair" contest. Check it out and make a guess!
Allie finished her socks and packed them up with a note from her 6 yr-old. Awwww!
Allison's Trekking socks are beautiful.
Amanda finished her socks.
Amanda promises that she'll be pushing the "socks knitted" button some time today. Check her blog for an update!
Amy_J kept the first sock she knit for herself, but bought more of the same yarn for her pal and finally finished them!
Amy's done with her cutie-patootie little ankle socks.
Amy says she'll send pics soon of her yummy purple waffle cashsoft socks.
Andrea's brilliant red socks are terminados!
Angel's done!
Anmiryam's all done!
Anne was worried that she'd run out of yarn on her pal's Jaywalkers, but she made it afterall!
Barbara knit her pal a gorgeous pair of embossed leaves.
Bethieee's done. Wheee!

(yeah, there's more! click away...)

Okay, some highlights too...

From Alison:
Allena was almost done with her Pomatami, but has had to do a little surgery. She's still pushing to make the deadline!
Anita is knitting down to the wire!
Ann-Marie has had a knotted mess on her hands for a while and hopes to get the better of it and finish knitting this week.

From Ashley:
Colleen already finished her socks--but is hard at work on a second pair as a Sock Savior! You are a good Sockapaloooza citizen, Colleen!
Brigid has one sock finished, and the second is underway!
Cyndi's got plenty on her plate with the Warming Grace project--but she's still managed to start some pretty green Elfines.

From Carry:
Elspeth hasn't quite finished, but she's working hard!
Emily is nearly finished, but expects to be finished just in time to stick them in the mail.
FaithFiberflash is still working on her socks. Her hand has been having a bit of trouble, but they do look great!

From Donna:
Kira is less than a foot away from being done with her pal's socks - she promises to post a progress picture in time for the update!
Karen's hoping to finish her pal's socks Monday and post a picture - in the meantime, she's got other fab finished socks for you to look at!
Kat finds herself staring Plan C in the face with just a few hours to go before the deadline - she says her socks will be in the mail this week. Good luck, Kat!
Kathy's finished one stunning red sock and is racing to finish the second.

From Erin:
MamaSnooze has had quite an ordeal. During her trip to Japan she attempted her socks. After using 3 different yarns, 4 needle sizes and 5 different patterns,nothing was working. It was ...too wide...too small...too baggy....unpretty... She now has one sock done (it's very pretty) and her dpn's are clicking away to finish the second.
Luanne is having some trouble with her second heelflap. Otherwise, her beautiful embossed leaves are coming along.
Laura has one down and is diligently working on the second.
Laurie has gotten off to a very late start, but knitting is underway now and will for sure have socks by the deadline.
Linda is still working on her socks, but should be finished and have them in the mail by the end of the week.
Louise will definitely finish in time. They are both done down to just before the toe decreases.
Marie has one and a half socks down.
Marie R. is within a couple of inches of finishing the second sock, and will make it!
Mary C. will be finished, and will mail on time.

From Jenipurr:
Rachel is nearly done with the first Pomatomus sock.
Renada finally decided the Pomatomus socks weren't working, so she's started over. She's not sure if she'll be able to finish in time, but she's going to try.
Rebecca is going to be delayed finishing her sock pal's socks (but is still working on them).
Saff ran into some unexpected difficulties so is going to be a little late finishing up her socks - but she's working as fast as she can to catch up.
Strangelittlemama is knitting as fast as she can in hopes of finishing her socks by the May 2nd deadline (wish her luck!).

From Ina:
Miss.Sarah has finished one sock and is on the instep of the second.
Monica is madly dashing through sock 2, although she paused to explain the design elements of her highly original sock.
Pam-M. has been knitting injured, but is determined to finish!

From Mary:
Shelagh underestimated the amout of time she would need to complete the socks, but is knitting on.
Jill has one sock done and is working on the other.
Johanna has turned the heel, much to her relief.
Pixie Purls is nearly done, once she's solved the problem with some dropped stitches.
Jillrachele is halfway there.
Songbird is working on her second sock but isn't sure she'll make the deadline.

my long socks ready for their long trip

What a long strange trip it's been - one leg was too large and had to be ripped, then I changed my mind about the cable and ripped out an entire leg again, then I knit two legs, about 8000 little cables in those heels, and finally some simple feet.

look at how that swrily pooling matches up on the back

So, did you make it?

The first sock is done! And with the foot part, it finally looks like a knee-high sock and not just some sort of funky sleeve. Rather than waste time by celebrating my accomplishment, I pulled out the other sock, turned the heel, and whipped through the gussets.

I am SO almost done!

Now I remember why I wanted to make these socks!

I'm almost done with the gusset decreases and have just finished the first skein of Koigu. Looks like three skeins will do it. Three skeins and seven weeks. It will not be eight weeks though - I am finishing these before the deadline no matter what!

One last week before your socks should go in the mail, so do your best to finish up! Don't make yourself crazy, don't hurt your hands, but give do it your all. If you miss the deadline next week, please give your pal an anonymous heads up that things are delayed a bit (through an anonymous email account, your sock sister, or me). I know that everyone is very excited to receive socks made just for them by someone else and can wait a little longer as long as they know they are in the works.

Everyone should have received the mailing address of their pal by now. If your pal has special characters in their name or address that you couldn't read in your email, let me know. The database seems to have forgotten how to display special characters all of a sudden, but we have backups with them entered properly, so I can resend an address to you if you need it.

And now for all your finishers this week - over 75 of them, bringing us to just over 40% done!

Finished Sockers
(starting from the back with Mary's beginners...)

Stick a fork in me (sock sister Mary), cause I'm done! One pair of socks will be winging their way across the Atlantic later this week.
Nancy has finished a beautiful pair of socks in KnitPicks Sock Memories. She used a 'Knitting Pure & Simple' pattern and I'm sure you'll agree they turned out wonderfully.
Frarochvia is all done and is excited to find out what her socks will be like.
Ingrid is a finisher too - check out the close ups of the heel stitch.
Laura's socks are done. She's promising pictures very soon, so keep an eye on her blog...
Liz finished her socks a while ago but has some pictures up on her Flickr account now.
Maluena has finished her first pair of socks. It was also the first time she used dpns and she says she's found it an interesting challenge.
Norah has finished her pair of socks - in beautiful spring like colours.
Pat's purple pair of socks are all done and looking great.
Rebecca has finished her first ever pair of socks. Well done!
SpaceCase has finished her socks. She's very proud of them and rightly so!
Spinsterbat has finished a great pair of socks for her pal.
Valerie had an early start one morning which helped her get her pal's socks done.

Christine just got her update in under the wire. I was just about to hit the send button to Alison and her email appeared. And it was definitely worth the wait.
Suzanne, who knit some fabulous socks in her pal's favorite color and the exact pattern she requested (0's no less), has already volunteered to be a sock savior…not that we're expecting any one of the 600 participants to fall off the face of the earth.
Tine is fertig! (I'm assuming that means finished?). I'm not sure which pair is for her sock pal…anyone who speaks German, please feel free to clarify. Danke!
Evidently Tuulia's yarn was so special that it actually did knit itself. I can think of no other possible explanation for the lightning speed with which these were knit.
Yahaira's mock cable socks are gorgeous!!
Not even pneumonia or could keep Yarnsticks from finishing way ahead of the deadline. Check out this beautiful Cherry Hill Hill colorway, Green Mountain Madness.
Yea, I Knit is done and her socks are blocking and drying as she types her update to me. She hopes to have some outside pics by Tuesday…If not, click for a close up of her socks hanging to dry and you can see how sparkling clean her bathroom is too. And she even matched the colorway of her socks to the tiles in her bathroom.

Ruth surprised herself by finishing her Madder Ribbed purpley-pink socks with plenty of time to spare.
Sandra has finished her Simply Love Lace socks (the colors are just as pretty as the lace pattern).
Shannon has finished her mistake rib Bearfoot socks.
Sherry has finished her pretty lace socks.
Shonze has finished her pal's socks, for the third (and final) time. Her pal will be getting brightly striped lace-topped socks.

Nannette finished a pair of blue Denmark socks (pictured sans one toe) while dealing with moving, etc by employing an excellent incentive system.
In between studying and writing (but not blogging), Olga has come "close enough" to finishing her socks.

Whew! Laceknitter has finished her socks. She was worried for a while there she wouldn't make it.
Laura has finished her small eyelet diamond socks. They are so pretty.
Leanne is relieved to have finished her Simply Lovely Lace socks. She was having a bit of trouble last week.
Lisa reports that her socks are finished. I cannot wait to see the picuture.
Lisa H. reports that her socks are done.
Linz has finished her purple jaywalkers, and is now eyeing some Lorna's Lace's for a pair for herself. Go see the purple jaywalker goodness.
Lorraine has finished her Jaywalkers. Go check them out.
Lydia has finished her Fleece Artist socks, using Schaefer Yarn's Subtle Stripe sock pattern.
Lynn has finished her socks, and promises pictures.
Malle has finished her socks. I love the poms on the back. So cute.
Marie-France has finished her socks. It seems she's experiencing some last minute panic about her socks, but I think they look great.
Marilynn has finshed her socks for both Sockapaloooza and her Gilli-hook Heritage Knitting Guild Sock Exchange. Check out her beautiful socks.

Kelsey and Karola may be blogless, but they have both finishd their socks - their pals will be super-suprised with their secret knitting!
Karen has finished her beautiful socks in Schaefer Anne, but she teases us with an "almost done" photo - even so, the pretty red will knock your socks off!
Kat has finished her sockpal socks - yay! She should have a picture up by the time you read this - you can also check out this pig in a dress. Yes, really!
Kate doesn't have a picture, but send her congratulations for finishing her socks and take a peek at her almost-finished socks here.
KC finished her super socks, and she hopes to have a picture of them by the time you click that link!
Kelly has finished her beautiful Koigu Pomatomus socks - she thinks that Pomatomus is the new Jaywalker; she may be right, but with socks this pretty, I say the more pairs the better!
Kira's Pomatomi socks are so pretty (and she says the yarn smells great too)! What a lucky sock pal.
Knitty Kat's pink stripey socks are finished - and she wins the "most original modeling of finished socks" contest, hands down!
Kristen has finished her smashing Celtic Braid socks in blue-green Cherry Tree Hill - she's teasing us with a closeup of the braid here, but you can see a yummy progress shot in this post.
Kristi's modified beaded rib socks are awesome toe-up short-row wonders.

Jessica has finished her pastel-y Jaywalkers.
Jenny has finished a lovely pair of blue socks.
Jess has finished her socks.
Janell has finished a pair of gorgeous blue socks with lace up the back.
Holly has decided to give her pal a pair of beautiful socks in Rowan Calmer after a long battle with her other pair.
Jaya has not only finished her socks, but passed her comprehensive exams! Congrats!

Debbie has finished her pal's socks, using the birch leaf sock pattern.
Diana has finished her kool-aid dyed socks!
Donna has finished her pal's purply lace socks.
Dyann is no sockapaloooser! She is finished with her Cascading Leaves socks.
Heather has finished her rainy day socks.

Cara finished her Simply Lovely Lace Socks.
Carla reports that she's finished her Basketweave Ribbing socks in Claudia's Handpainted Yarn.
Chrissie has finished Birch Leaf socks from Meg Swanson's lace knitting book. She hasn't posted any pics, but go look at the lace shawl she knitting and you can imagine how awesome those lace socks are!
Christy #1 finished her purply-pink Pomatomuses--and it seems like the recipient might be someone she knows well! Hmmm....
Christy #2 finisher her Retro Ribs in the STR Fire on the Mountain colorway.
Cindy finished her Tiger Eye socks--and replaced her bathroom floor!
Cori finished her sensational ridged feather socks in no time
Danielle has a lovely photo shoot of her finished socks up....Supermerino Jaywalkers!
Daphne finished her pretty lacy Socks Socks Socks socks.

Alden is REALLY done this time, having fixed the slight sizing problem that bugged her after declaring the socks finished a couple of weeks ago. Way to go back and get it right!
Alexandra finished some awesome stripey socks for her pal.
Amy's red rib and cable socks are done!
Andrea finished her orangey patterned socks. With those great colors, they look soooo warm.
Anna"s psychedelic nation socks are finished. They're whack!
Anne's modified Crusoe socks are done.
Astrid only knits the coolest patterns: she's finished her Jaywalkers and has moved on to Hederas!
Beate knitted fun, stripy, lacy socks for her pal. Plus a bonus pair of those adorable flip-flop socks. Oh, I want me a pair of those!!
Beth finished her lovely socks in the hotel while getting ready for her friend's wedding. (She even got a knitty maid of honor gifty!)
Betty just finished her Elfine's socks in time for the update!

Highlights

From Mary:
Erin L is very nearly done. Have a look at her rather unusual sock model!
Helen has finished one sock and has started on the second. Check out the blanket her mother made her (absolutely gorgeous) baby son too - beautiful work.
Twisted Knitter has finished one sock and has included a list of her favourite sock resources.
Nickerjac has posted a photo of a finished sock, as well as some very cute rabbits she's looking after.
Pamela is making great progress on her socks. She isn't entirely happy with her short row heels but they look perfect to me!

From Lisa:
Desiree does us all a big favor this week by offering a tutorial on the afterthought heel, complete with step by step pictures. I just might give this one a try.
As Tammy ponders in her most recent post, "wouldn't the world be a better place if we all had a pair of cashmere socks"…I emphatically agree. And I personally, would be in a better place if I had either pairs of these socks she's knitting.
Tara has just returned from a month of traveling for work. And while it appears that she did get some knitting in, she is a bit worried about making the deadline. She may or may not have an update on her blog by Tuesday.
All I can say is Wow... Teresa definitely gets my "top pick" this week for the most beautifully photographed sock. She'll make the deadline, no problem.
Timothy just realized that the deadline is upon him and will do his best to finish. Once again, a case of life cutting into your knitting time.

Jenipurr's half-way'ers this week:
Seanna has finished the first sock and is almost to the toe decreases for the second.
Siri has finished her first pink and purple baby cable rib sock and is working her way through the second.
Stephanie has finished the first rib and cable sock.
Stephanie has finished her first purple Pomatomus sock and it looks fantastic. To combat Second-Sock-Syndrome, she has immediately cast on for the second.
Strangelittlemama has the first Baby Cable Rib sock done.

From Ina:
Monica started an intriguing original design.
Mozemen has found that sock knitting literally can save lives. And check out five places where she's been knitting lately.

From Erin:
Lindsey is finishing up her fourth sockapaloooza sock. Yup. she's making two pairs (lucky, lucky sockpal, she's got).
Marie R. has her sock progress up. She's having a rough time with a sick little one. I hope he's doing better.

Sock sister Donna (that's me!) has turned her first two short row heels and will be all about the feet this week as she and her socks go on the road.
Kate is still looking for her camera, but that hasn't kept her from working on some great socks in the Carrot colorway from Lorna's Laces (I've never seen that one, and now I'm burning with curiosity - find your camera, Kate!).
Karen serves up a whopper of a post with pretty Pomatomus progress pictures - go admire her sock, and her fab green toenails!
Kirsti has all kinds of finished socks to show off - and she's even making great progress on her Sockapaloooza pair!

From Cathy:
Helene has finished one amazing Norwegian sock (this is after already finishing one pair!).
Janine is having fun in the kitchen, dying yarn!

From Carry:
Dorothee has started a second pair of socks for her pal in the originally intended yarn.
Emily is past the heel on her first sock and is worried about her pal liking them. Check out her finished Norwegian Stockings!
Erin has been busy with lotsa' socks! She had some issues with a non-matchy skein, but has since resolved the problem and is confident she can finish in time!
No second sock syndrome for Gleek! Check out her gorgeous socks.

From Ashley:
Carola gives us a view of her almost-finished Pomatomi--and demonstrates her trilinual botanical knowledge!
Connie took her socks on the family trip to the Scottish Borders, and thought that the dovecot at Tantallon Castle would make the perfect yarn storage unit! (Why not, if you don't mind a few feathers?)

From me:
Abigail has finished her final pair of socks for the guess-which-pair contest. It's almost time to guess!! Remember to visit her on May 2nd to get your guesses in!
Allena's having a sock crisis: her Pomatamus sock is growing! Please go give her some support and some advice.
Allison's got one silvery Jaywalker finished!
Amber is almost done with Gryffindor socks for her pal.
Anmiryam is on a mission to finish her socks!

(click on more, for... oh heck, you understand...)

Update-a-loooza

Sock sister Mary writes:
We've got a big one this week due to my being on holiday last week. A big thanks to everyone in my group for being so good with keeping me posted on their progress - it's made the weekly updates much easier for me. The beginners' group has really stepped up to the challenge and there are some beautiful finished socks out there.
Reagan has posted a link to the sock pattern she's using.
Emily switched from Jaywalkers to a different pattern which she's finding more do-able.
Jen has finished one sock and is finding the second one much easier. As she says, 'Learning is fun!'.
Jill is up to the toe on her first sock and is confident she's on track to finish on time.
Rachele is dealing with some very difficult things at the moment but at least her Sockapaloooza sock is keeping her busy when she needs it.
Laura's second sock is well underway - despite her getting distracted while watching Buffy.
Laura has finished one sock but a bad case of tendonitis is slowing down progress on the second. Hope it gets better soon Laura!
Monique is knitting both of her socks at the same time and is planning to use a design of her own.
Peacock's suffered a few setbacks and has had to embark on a new pair of socks. She's happy with the progress she's made and is confident they'll be done in time.
Sharon is almost to the heel of sock one and is promising more updates.
Songbird is working on the toe of Sock number 1 and is hoping the remaining time will go slowly!
Janet has switched patterns as she wasn't happy with using a striped yarn with a lace pattern. She's much happier with the new pattern and has almost completed one sock.
Erin is in a sock yarn dilemma, although I'm pretty sure she's all sorted now - right Erin?
Keli has posted an update of her sock progress.

Sock sister Lisa writes:
Cheryl is going gangbusters on her socks!

Sock sister Jenipurr has one more update for us:
Rocket_Scientist is working her way toe up on the second striped sock.

Sock sister Ina reports:
Officially grown-up Nicole has her socks on track, but is nostalgic for an Easy-Bake Oven.
Parikha just realized she must knit faster!
Penny is fighting the not-sures and racing toward the toe of her second sock.

Lots of knittin' still going on in sock sister Erin's group:
Laura is finishing the toe of sock number 1. Go cheer her on to finish on time.
Laurie W. has shows us her progress. She's past the heel on both, go cheer her on too.
Lori is finishing up her second attempt on her first sock and is pleased that the fit is now right. She plans on casting on the second and finishing in time for the deadline.
Lori S. has had some rough goings with her socks. She started with some Lang Jawoll and picked a pattern, and it just didn't work with the yarn. Then, she decided I really liked the "More fun than cables" socks, so she pulled out some solid yarn and had a go at that; only to realize they were FAR too small. She has finally settled on some Lorna's Laces in Flame colorway, and started a Dublin Bay sock . She has finished the first one and plans to be finished on time.
Lucia spent a restless night working on her socks.
Mary A.had a bit of a scare last week when she misplaced her sock -in-progress. It has been found and all is well. She's approaching the toe of her second sock.

Sock sister Donna writes:
Karla's turned the heels and her socks are looking good - see an earlier progress picture here.
Katherine is spicing up her socknitting with a Yarn Shopping EXpedition (get it?), but she's still making good progress on her socks!
Kathleen thinks she'll be knitting to the deadline for her pal's socks, but that yarn is so pretty, it's worth it!
Kim's got one sock done (with a nice pedicure) and a week to go on the other one - she thinks she can make it, and she's got an adorable peanut gallery to watch her do it!
Kristel is halfway through her second lace sock - she doesn't have any pictures up, but I don't think you can resist the urge to visit her blog and see Finland's cutest baby chewing on yarn - I couldn't!

Sock sister Cathy writes:
Jenniferis making progress on her second Crusoe sock.
Jayme has finished one sock and is ready for the heel on the other.
Julia has finished one colorful slinky sock.

Sock Sister Carry is nearing the end of her socks and reports:
Deb is making some progress. She is using Louet "Pearl" yarn. Also, check out this happy news!
Elspeth has finished her first sock, but is feeling the pressure of the looming deadline.
Emily has finished her first sock.
Emily is knitting her Lorna's Laces in Japan.
Erica has changed her mind and will be sending both pairs of socks.
Faith Fiberflash has only a few more rows left on her first sock. She's feeling a bit nervous since she has an international pal.
Femiknit_Mafia is busily working on finishing her pal's socks. Go check out the yarn that Little Man picked out for his socks!
Gill has cast on for her second sock, she's been a bit busy with moving, but is busily working away now!
Heidi started with a design of her own in fair isle, but switched to the Elfine socks. They're looking great!

Sock sister Ashley reports:
Brenda is knitting Fluted Banister socks in a seasonal colorway--Tulip Meadow. She's turned the heels and is heading for the toes!
Looks like Brigid frogged her Garter Socks and went back to the drawing board; check out those spirals on Sock V. 2!
Crisis averted! Brynne's second sock went MIA--but was found safely tucked into her purse.
bySarah started her Odessa-inspired spiral rib socks over again, in bugjuice flavored yarn, and is already almost done!
Cass presents us with this photo, evocatively entitled Socks in a Bush. The photo's a little out of date--these toe-up numbers are actually halfway up the leg already!

Sock momma Alison will have her own update later in the week. But there's plenty of action to report in the rest of my group:
Andrea doesn't have any new pics of her sockapaloooza sock in progress, but she did knit a TON of Harry Potter stuff. Wow!
Angel is nearing the finish line, with just the second foot and toe to do still.
Angela has one ravishing red sock done and is feeling the pressure!
Anita could not decide on a pattern for her sock pal socks. After three other attempts, she's sticking with Simply Lovely Lace Socks from Interweave Knits. Check out her newly finished Knitting Pure and Simple Tee - love it!
Betsy has one stripy green slip-stitch sock done. Crunch time!

Two weeks left - time to finish those socks and get those packages ready to send. Announcing: sockapaloooza sock labels! Right click on the image you like to copy it to your computer or use the pdf link below the image and then print it out on standard sized paper in landscape format. Wrap it around your socks, pop a postcard from your town, state, or country in the package and you're ready to go! Pals sending internationally, watch your inboxes for addresses coming soon.

The finished sock notices have been pouring in! Woo hoo!

Finished Sockers!

Allison's classy ivory Embossed Leaves are done.
Angela's purple stripes socks are to die for!
Anita knit lovely green cabled socks for her pal and sat on her knitting needle. Yikes!
Annette has finished fabulous socks that rock Broadripples for her pal. And you have got to see her other incredible fiber work!
Bekki finished beautiful orangey-red Elfine socks!
Bev finished a comfy looking pair of pink Embossed Leaves.
Abandon all hope, Americans--Carrie's Embossed Leaves are going overseas!
Carolyn did Embossed Leaves too--that is one good-looking sock!--and one of her awesome sock labels.
Sock Sister Cathy has finished her neon swirly Mermaid socks!
Carina challenged herself to finish before Easter--and she did!
Dana finished her gorgeous Wild Cherry Jaywalkers.
Frea has finished her socks, she promises pictures up soon!
HollyJo has finished her Embossed Leaves socks in Koigu!
Jenny has finished a beautiful pair of Jaywalker socks in Lorna's Laces Goldhill. And you HAVE to see her just-finished Eris sweater!
Jessica has finished her socks using a pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Jessica has finished her Wyvern socks in Socks that Rock in Lapis.
Joanne's Friday Harbor socks are done and blocked!
Julie has finished a lovely pair of Embossed Leaves socks for her pal.
Kari finished her pal's Little Shell Socks and they look great in Cherry Tree Hill - yum!
Kate's feet are a wee bit too big for her pal's socks, so she's modeling them as puppets - very cute stripey puppets!
Kim finished her pal's socks - all three of them. Her lucky pal will have lots of options - go see!
Knitterly Things has finished the cutest purple socks. You gotta see!
Laura F. has finished her beaded rib Cherry Tree Hill socks. Also, she tips us off to a treat I was unaware of, but now must try, the "Flaming Peep".
Lelah finished her pretty Nautilus socks.
Lexa has finished her socks. Very Pretty. I love the color.
Lily has finished her socks. They are beautiful, I'd be sorry to let them go too.
Lisa P. has finished her socks. The varigated yarn even matches up on both socks. Very nice.
Liz has finished some lovely yarn over cable socks out of some Socks that Rock in "hotflash". They look great!
Lori B. has finished her socks. We eagerly await the picture.
Lunassa has finished her socks. They have been the envy of her friends.
Meredith finished her Fluted Bannister socks in a dentist's office, then they went outside to bask among the early spring flowers.
Michelle finished socks that the Easter bunny models with flair.
Nathalie finished lovely celadon green Embossed Leaves socks.
Petra has finished luscious raspberry-colored Pomatomus socks.
Polly reports that her socks are done and ready to be mailed.
Pumpkin Mama finished the most awesome Mermaid socks in yarn she dyed herself!
Sabrina has finished a pair of blue Simply Lovely Lace socks for her Sock Pal, as well as a pair of shell-patterned socks in tropical punch red for herself.
Sarah has finished her socks and they're gorgeous. She used yarn with pretty stripes of various pinks, and the Lacy Scallops pattern from Sockbug.
Shannon has finished her lovely purple socks, and shows them off in her blog with pictures of them hanging on her nifty homemade sock blockers.
Sharon has finished her multicolored Japanese Feather Socks.
Trish is done with her "fruited alabaster" socks. One is blocked and the other is photographed beside it for comparison. There really is a difference. Nice...
Yai Ann has finished her socks and they're currently blocking. They are the most amazing shade of something resembling Chianti. The stitch definition is amazing and it's worth the trip over to her blog to read about them.

Highlights:

From my group:
Abigail has finished yet another pair of socks for her guess-which-is-the-sock-pal-pair contest. That's 6 pairs done so far during the sockapaloooza!
Allena's got awesome green Pomatami to see.
Amy's been busy designing all kinds of beautiful things for South West Trading Company, but she still managed to finish her first sock.
Ann-Marie is starting the most stunningly blue jaywalker.

From Ashley:
Christy has one Pomatomus finished, and is successfully overcoming the challenges associated with photographing your own feet.
Dana has one blue sock finished--and a 10-year-old daughter who's going to be all ready to sign up for SockapalFOURza!
It's not another Jaywalker, but it is Grumperina inspired! Sarah has unvented the Odessa hat into socks! (Plus, I know I am always pimping out people's adorable puppies, but come on: Murph!)

From Carry:
One sock down, and one sock to go, Debbie is working on Birch Leaf Socks.
After a couple of starts, Dene is now working on her Pomatomus Socks in Cool Ocean, seems the perfect color, doesn't it?
Di would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for reinforcing sock heels and toes, including any convenient sources.

From Cathy:
Jessica is finishing up her very Easter-y socks (while nibbling on Peeps).
Juliais working on very pretty Slinky Socks, go tell her how nice they look!

From Donna:
Kimberly's sock is totally beautiful and I totally left it out of the last update by accident, so go feast your eyes on some mulberry-colored lace and give her moral support as she tinks back on the second sock. I'm sure all the extra trouble will be totally worth it!
Kristy's paying it forward by knitting her pal a lovely pair of Nancy Bush's New England socks - the same ones she received during the last swap. One down, one to go!

From Erin:
I somehow missed this one last week. I apologize to LavenderSheep who shows us her progress one her "Socks" socks. She now has one sock done and has started on the second.
Laura has dyed some beautiful yarn for her pal, has chosen a pattern, and is off and running.

From Ina:
Mary13 has finished an original sock of cable-y goodness down to the heel.
Peggy has finished one Jaywalker sock and is on to the second... but she's getting awfully fond of them!
Pip_and_Tom has changed yarn and pattern, and now is pondering overdying. What do you think?

Sock sister Jenipurr has finished the first Waterfall Rib sock (and is halfway through the second).
Rocket_Scientist has finished her first blue, orange and red striped sock.
Sara has finished the first turquoise Cable and Moss sock and is working her way through the second.
Scout has finished her first Welt Fantastic sock, in multiple stripes of blue and purple.
Sigga_Sif has finished her first lacy turquoise sock. And it looks like she's got lots more socks in her future, based on her latest additions to her knitting library.

From Lisa:
Tipper needs some "virtual" encouragement. She just finished her first sock with a lovely Claudia's Handpaint Original in a pattern she designed herself. But she doesn't seem too confident about it…I say it's a winner.

Sock sister Mary is vacationing this week, so no highlights or updates from her group this time. I'm sure she'll have a huge update for us next week!

(click on more for the rest!)

Updatealooza!

Sock momma Alison's group has been working hard:
Alden thought she was all done (heck, I've already changed her to red in the big list!), but she's had to frog one toe due to sizing problems. Hang in there!
Allison has turned the heel on her first Jaywalker and is feeling confident.
Allison has her first sock done. That's got to be Trekking yarn - love it!
Angel is getting her second-sock knitting in while she can.
Angela is on that never-ending foot we all know.
Angie writes that she's cast on her first sock with Opal Dreamcatcher and will be doing some car knitting in the next few days.
Barbara has started red, red, red Embossed Leaves.
Beth is working overtime on her socks!
Betty's socks are aaaalllllmost done. Just ends to weave in and a block to open up that lace. We should be seeing finished pics next week!
Beverly has learned how to knit two socks on two circs for her sock pal and is cruising along on green ribbed socks.

Sock sister Ashley writes:
Cass reports that she's knitting both socks at once, toe up, and is past the heels!
Cara's already almost done with her awesome hot-pink Simply Lovely Lace Socks (that Rock).
Chymerikaen's purple Jaywalkers are striping beautifully!
Concateknit won't be a Sockapaloooser--no way! She's trucking on some Simple Ribbed Socks.
The picture doesn't show it, but Daphne is now down to her second toe!

Sock Sister Carry hasn't been knitting, but got a new kitten and reports:
Deb as been AWOL, but has a good excuse. She is now doing 2 socks on 2 needles, way to go!
Donna doesn't have any progress pictures of their socks, but a great picture of her rats enjoying their felted bed!
Dyann has finished one of her pal's sock and is already to the heel flap on the second, they're gorgeous!
Elka has decided she didn't really like her handspun, handpainted sock and is now worried about starting a brand new pair...she is considering her almost finished jaywalkers.
Check out the heels on Emily's pal's socks, they're really looking great!
Erica has one sock down and one to go in Regia Crazy Color in purple, light orange, baby blue, tan and white.
Gleek has finished her first sock and her very first short row heel, it looks great!
Heidi hasn't updated her blog on her progress, but she assures me that she has been busy. She's afraid her pal would know the socks were her's if she saw the pictures!

Sock sister Cathy writes:
Jenny started over but has now finished one sock in Mountain Colors Bearfoot.
Jaya has finished her first Conway sock from Knitting on the Road.
Holly is punishing her second sock for a while to see if it behaves better
JamKnitter has finished her first sock.
Janell has also finished her first sock.
Jess has finished sock #1.

Sock sister Donna:
Erin doesn't update often, but when she does, it's a doozy - check out her cool purple sock!
Karlie's socks are a hairsbreadth away from being finished for her pal - I can't wait to see pictures with the duplicate stitching!
Kat had a spooky nocturnal visitor (Count Sockula?), but it didn't keep her from finishing two repeats on her sock!
Kate has an update (I love how that rhymes), and it was worth the wait; her pal's socks are the very definition of pink, lacy goodness.
Kim has started over, but her pal will be getting the lovely Hedera socks form the latest Knitty - she's making great progress!
Kristi's turned both heels and discovered that she's making her own unique socks (remember, a "mistake" is a "design feature" if you do it more than once!)
Kristin's got what seems like a million socks going on over there - I think her sock pal's getting the best of the bunch!

Sock sister Erin reports:
Laceknitter has finished one sock, and is past the heel of the second.
Oh NO! Leanne has ripped out her socks.
Laurie has been working on her socks, and has an update to share.
Leiselhas one leg done, and has decided two circs is not the way to go for her.
Linda J is working diligently on her socks and plans to finish by next week.
Lindsey L. wasn't enjoying her first plan for her pal socks, and has since frogged them. She has chosen the "Simply Lovely Lace Socks", and is planning to finish by the end of the week.
Linz has one Jaywalker finished and not much to go on the other. she's thankful she and her pal do not share a shoe size, otherwise she may be hard pressed to give up these Jaywalkers.
Lisa H has lost her place in her sock pattern and has ripped out her socks to start them again. Ouch, that hurts.
Lori has enlisted a co worker with the same size feet as her pal to help her get the right fit.
Lynn is almost done with her cycling socks. I cannot wait to see'em.
Manda has one sock done and one to go.

Sock sister Ina discovered that Sockapaloooza socks can launch a thousand friendships.
Mia changed to toe up socks and has almost turned the heel.
After two false starts, Mindy is knitting a sock of her own un-vention.
Minnie has finished one splendid sock and started the second.
Mozemen and socks went to a museum in Mexico City.
Neva has garden pix this week, but is two inches and two toes away from being finished.
Still no pix yet, but Pansar has finished one sock and is knitting the second.
Parikha has finished one sock and started the second, but has the knitting blahs.
Patti did some meditative knitting on her sock gusset.

Sock sister Jenipurr reports:
Rachel started a brand new blog, and has posted pictures of her gorgeous pink Pomatomus socks-in-progress.
Robin reports that she's been busy with school, but her Broadripple socks are well underway.
Ruth turned the heel of the second pink and purple striped sock and she'salmost done!
Sandy_K is almost done with her sock pal's socks.
Siri has started her pink and blue striped socks.
Stephanie is making wonderful progress on her Pomatomus socks (looks like third time really was the charm!).
Strangelittlemama has settled on the Baby Cable Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks, using some pretty autumn colored handspun.

Sock sister Lisa has plenty of knitters in the home stretch and a few who need to get in gear!
Bertha finally has some progress to report on her modified Thuja pattern from Knitty! It was a bit of a tough road while she contemplated whether or not her Lorna's Laces "solids" might be too variegated for her buddy. I hear ya' sister, that yarn is so unpredictable, but we love it so. She finally settled on Gems Pearl by Louet Sales in a nice willow green color. Then she struggled with several different cast-on methods and finally succeeded with the long-tail and assures us she's on track for the deadline.
Dani has finished the gusset decreases and is well into the foot of her 2nd sock. She should have these babies ready for blocking sometime this week. Um, where are the pictures on her blog?
Tracy has just finished the heel on her second lace sock but she didn't send a picture and hasn't updated her blog in a bit... uh oh, you know what that means... a placeholder picture for Dani and Tracy!
Desiree is in the "home stretch" group this week but only because she's knitting two at time, toe up.
Check out Susie's home madesock blocker. She's got one "almost down" and one to go.
Tuulia has just dyed the yarn for her socks in beautiful color palettes she's calling "California". The yarn looks super special - let's hope it can practically knit itself. ;0)
Yarn Geek is just got the hang of this "update your sock sister thing-y". She's been going on her merry way, posting about her Sockapaloooza pal's socks on her blog but realized the other day, while reading updates that she hadn't sent me any updates! She has a lot of ground to cover as she frogged the sock back to the first repeat but she is forsaking all other knitting projects for these Marvelously Mighty Mango Socks.
Diane sent a self-professed "lame-o" update this week. She outed herself as a member of the Sock Yarn Addicts Club but does have progress to report. She's knitting the Vine Lace Socks from Socks, Socks, Socks and dove into her stash and pulled out a lovely Lorna Lace's Shepherd Sock yarn in Lilac. Keep Coming Back!
Chickadeesimone has just picked out her yarn... no worries, she has two weeks to knit these babies. I hope her pal's feet are freakishly small! ;0)

Want a finished sockers tally?

Alison's group = 18
Ashley's group = 20
Carry's group = 15
Cathy's group = 24
Donna's group = 14
Erin's group = 23
Ina's group = 21
Jenipurr's group = 23
Lisa's group = 17
Mary's group = 9 (they're beginners and one week behind in updates, remember)

Come on, let's get those numbers up - waaaaay up - next week! If you're done, remember to update your pal and your info in the database.

This is where I was with my socks before knitting group yesterday. Thanks to the pleasant company of my knitbuddies, an Easter-candy induced sugar rush, and another few hours of Sunday night tv knitting, I made it to my goal for this week. Both legs done. Phew!

And I couldn't wait to see that gorgeous heel flap in all its glory, so I went ahead and did it before taking sock number one off the needles. There's a lot of hours in that heel flap, let me tell you!

So I'm on schedule: two heels and two feet to complete in two weeks. Definitely doable!

First, another warning: only THREE WEEKS left! We've got a huge number of finishers this week, but we're still well under a third done. So get knittin'! Second, for those of you shipping internationally, I'll get the tech guys back on the job and work on having addresses sent out to you next week. So make sure that your address is up to date in the system everyone, because it's going out SOON!

Now for my continuing sockapaloooza saga. I did try out something different on the leg of the second sock - a new cable.

I think it's much neater than the first without all the surrounding purl ridges. And inside the cable diamonds is the same twisted stitch as at the cuff and on the heel. Even though you can't really see it, somehow it makes me feel like this design is more "right" for the sock.

So this means that I have to frog sock number one and restart it. Essentially, I've still only got one leg done and am exactly where I was two weeks ago, but the difference is, I like it!

Luckily, there are lots of sock pals who are more on the ball than me and are making great progress on their socks. Here we go....

Finished sockers!
(wow, finished socks everywhere!)

Sockapaloooza as personal improvement? Check out Allie's finished anklets and new attitude.
Amy finished some super fun Jaywalkers.
Beth finished her afterthought heel socks and is sharing her pattern with us! Now, she realizes that people might not be wild to knit a pattern they've never seen before, but as her camera is broken, we'll have to make do with just the pattern for now.
Four sock attempts later, Ashley's Petticoat Socks are finally finished!
Brenda's Quadra Island Specials are all done. Check out the fraternal heels!
Chawne also had three false starts, but she's all done with her Boiled Lobster socks. Pass the butter!
Chialea's all done, and is doing the obligatory sock-pal-sock try-on.
You've seen how well-travelled Colleen's second sock is getting! But what you haven't seen yet is that she finished it at Knitsmiths!
Cyndi finished some lovely blue Elongated Rib socks—and came up with such a great packaging idea! She knit an I-cord from the sock yarn and tied the socks into a neat little bundle with it.
I'll give it to you in her own words: "Danmakine finished her socks after a long selfstriping-shawl-knitting-induced hiatus." Aww, it wasn't that long! And they're totally worth the wait.
Dooglescout's all done!!
Gwen has finished her Jaywalkers for her pal and has already cast on some great pink fixation.
Heather has finished her Harry Potter dragon socks (Jaywalkers for her sock pal in the colors of the Swedish Short-snout that Cedric had to battle in Goblet of Fire.) Way cool, Heather!
Helen, used Regia Mini Ringel Stripe and, for the first time, did 2 socks on 2 circs, way to go!
Judy has finished gorgeous purple cabled socks - the yarn looks heavenly!
JoShell has finished a lovely pair of Fancy Silk Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.
Jen is done with her beautiful red Friday Harbor socks.
Joyce has finished her River Rapids socks in blue and green Fleece Artist.
Jenn has finished her Dublin Bay socks.
Congratulations to Joyce for finishing her socks!
Julie finished her Lava Flow socks - they're like a pretty breath of spring!
Lori's finished!
Megan has finished Falling Leaves and wants to make more.
Melanie has finished her Easter egg blue lace socks. The pattern, with tutorial on Easter egg dyeing, will follow.
No pics, but a hooray for Naturalfibres finishiing!
Nicole has finished luscious Making Waves.
Rachel has finished her blue striped River Rapids socks. Check out her pictures - in order to keep the stripes consistant she used a band heel.
Rae has finished her pretty turquoise shell lace socks.
Rebekkah is done and has lots of pictures of her gorgeous Mamluke socks.
ReluctantMANGO has finished her pink Lava Flow socks.
Rocketbride has a completed pair of pumpkin striped socks to show off. Her sock model's pretty cute.
Rose has finished her socks. Go check out the pretty lace insert she designed herself.
Ruth finally has pictures of her finished Lava Flow socks.
Spinning_Sue has finished her lacy purple socks.
No finished pictures yet, but a little birdie told me that Yarnsticks is all done with her retro ribs!
Angelle's done with her "crossing state lines" socks (my nickname, not hers). She hit the road with these babies and finished during a long car ride back home. The only casualties werethree pairs of DPNs (don't knit 3 together with plastic needles) so you might see them on the side of the road somewhere between IL and GA.
Krista has finished her socks. As she says, 'it's a good day to be a knitter'.
Libraryliz has finished her socks. She's waiting for pictures to come very soon.

Highlights
(Let's start in the middle of the alphabet this time!)

From Erin:
Laura is back on track with her very lovely diamond lace socks in "seaside". Check out her finished sock and the unusual pooling it's done.
Linz is singing the praises of Wendy's generic toe-up pattern. She is so happy to have a toe up sock with NO GAPS!!!
Lorraine has finished a jaywalker in here own handdyed yarn, and is nearing completion of the second.
Manda has turned the heel on her Dublin Bay socks.

From Ina:
This week marked a tipping point for the Mar-Pix tribe, as the number of finishers and close-to-being-finished jumped up and the number of haven't-yet-started procrastinators declined. 'Way to go, tribesters!
Meanwhile, because every sock deserves a few adventures, Ina took her sock to a Mason-Dixon Knitting book signing.
Melissa is knitting up a storm while on vacation (this week on Maui!), but she's also getting a little lonely and would like to hear from her sock pal and/or any Wyoming knitbloggers.
Look Sockapalooozers, no holes! Parikha substituted a Sherman heel on her Embossed Leaves sock.

From Jenipurr:
Ruth has finished her first sock, in bright purple, pink and blue stripes. She's using the Madder Rib pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks.
Sandra has finished the first sock, which she poses on her blog next to her very fun polka dot rain boots.
Sharon has finished her first Japanese feather sock in green, yellow, and blue.
Spring has finished the first Jaywalker sock (the pattern really brings out the thin stripes of color in the yarn she chose).

From Lisa:
Suegene is finally in the game, with the most amazing self-striping yarn that she dyed herself. She hasn't named the colorway yet, so I'm calling it "swimming with dolphins".
We're hearing from Yasmin for the first time this week... OH MY GOD...forget the socks, would you look at her latest project which is quite possibly the cutest knitted item I have ever seen. I have got to make this…Oh wait, this is a sock update. Yasmin is this week's sufferer of PSS (perfect sock syndrome), having abandoned her first pair which she was knitting from some yarn she dyed herself. However, I am quite a fan of the new yarn she's using (both color and fiber content) and her own design.

From Mary:
We have lots of photos from blogless Sockapalooozers this week. Check out the progress that Lisa, Pamela, Nancy and Jenn have made.
Congratulations to Rebecca on finishing her first ever sock. It looks great!
Twisted Knitter is back on track with her socks. Check out her blog to find out how she did it.

From my group:
Adrienne is making some super nifty swirly eyelet socks based on these socks. Neato!
Amanda has gotten up to turning the heel of her Sheri's Lace socks and asks if anyone else has done this pattern. Should turning the heel really be done in garter stitch?? Anyone. Anyone.
Amysue is beginning to despair that she may never finish her sockapaloooza socks, but despite her trials with knitting (and sitting - ouch!), she's still taking the time to enjoy the craft and the process. Hang in there, Amysue!
Andrea has started Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Yellowstone, the "Little Shell Socks"!
Angel has one beautiful green cable and rib sock done.

From Ashley:
Carina challenged herself to finish by April 14, and as of Monday she only has 4 inches left to go on the second sock. She'll be done way early at this pace!
Daphne has one sock all finished, and is currently pondering the eternal question: how much negative ease is too much negative ease? (Or, in other words, am I gonna have to re-knit that toe?)

From Carry:
After a mid-exchange switch, Emily would like us to weigh in on her new pattern.
Erica is in the swatching stage of her socks. She's not positive her pal will like her choice of Regia Crazy Color in purple, light orange, baby blue and white.

Sock Sister Cathy has finished both heels and is slowly spiraling towards the toes on her Mermaid socks.
Jess is working on Elfin lace socks in beautiful green yarn she dyed herself. Wow.
Holly is very close! Her toes are just barely peeking out of one unfinished sock.

From Donna:
Julia is almost done with her sockpal socks, and they are purty. To see them, you'll have to read all the way through Julia's report on a Stephanie Pearl-McPhee book tour stop - bonus knitting content, also about socks!
Kim's first update is to report that she's almost completely done with a gorgeous pair of Jaywalkers in Koigu - yum! She has lots of other great kitting in her album, so go take a look!

(click on more for, well, more)

Update-a-loooza!
(starting in the middle this week!)

Sock sister Erin reports:
Laura has decided her previous choice for her sockpal was just not right and has gone in a new direction and dyed some yarn in a new colorway for her pal, which is now drying. She tides us over with adorable little socks.
Leisel has chosen some pretty purple yarn for her socks.
Lexa has one sock done and one to go.
Lisa P is happy that her "sewer saga" is over and she's almost done with her socks.
Lucia has turned a heel, but is starting to experience some anxiety about it. "Will her pal like the socks?"
Lynne hasfinished one sock and is plugging away at the second.
Marie has gotten back to her socks, and abandoned trying to knit them both at the same time. She's gotten a bit done at the airport and is planning on working on them some more during her trip.
Mary Alice is nearly done with her first sock.

Sock sister Ina reports:
Meredith expects to be finished this evening – in the meantime, here's a progress photo.
Michelle is on the homestretch of her second sock after hosting a pirate birthday party with 18 five-year-olds.
Monica has taken time from her dyeing experiments and new spinning wheel to select Danette Taylor yarn – now she needs a pattern. Be sure to check out her handpaint.
Munna has begun Conway from Knitting on the Road.
After extensive research (and blog redesign) NanC has selected Cherry Tree Hill and Pomatomus, all under the watchful eye of AnnaBeth.
Nannette has started Denmark from Knitting on the Road in Socks That Rock Spinel.
Nathalie has turned the heel on her second sock!
Nic has finished one Child's First Sock in orange Opal and has started the second.
Olga is fighting Daylight Savings Time blues and the not-sures with a perky cone toe.
After frogging back two inches to meet her pal's high standards,Patti has turned both heels!
Pixeldiva is still deciding on yarn and pattern, but plans to do some sock knitting while on the train between London and Glasglow.

Sock sister Jenipurr has finally started her socks, using yarn that's a mix of pastel blues, and the Waterfall Rib from Sensational Socks.
Purly_Whites is using some lovely yarn in warm autumn colors, with eyelet cuffs.
Rae reports she's down to a toe and a heel left on her socks.
Regina is trying to decide between some lovely pastel Trekking or something a bit brighter for her sock pal.
Renada is making Pomatomus for her lucky pal. Check out the other socks she's been working on as well - especially the Celtic fair isle socks - wow!
Rhonda reports that she has started her socks, but has been too busy to post anything about them yet on her blog.
Saff reports she's working on her socks, but hasn't had time to upload any pictures.
Samantha has picked her yarn but is having a hard time deciding which pattern to use.
Sarah has pictures of her new digs, plus an action shot of her working on her sock pal's socks. She's using the Delarna pattern from Knitting on the Road, in Dale Baby Ull.
Schecki had a few false starts, but has now settled on the Retro Rib socks from Interweave Knits and is nearly done with the first sock.
Scout has turned the heel on her striped purple and blue socks (they look like they are going to be so much fun to wear).
Seanna is also part of the 'knit, frog, reknit' group. She restarted her socks this Monday (pictures will be forthcoming).
Sherry decided the Embossed Leaves socks weren't working out. So now she's making Lavender Lace socks (in a pretty classic grey).
Shonze finished her first pair of Sockpal000za socks, but they turned out to be too small. So she's sent them off to a lucky friend with smaller feet, and has started a new pair. No pictures yet, but she's using Opal Cotton in blues, greys and pinks (sounds pretty!).
Sonya reports she's been working on her socks, but hasn't had time to post anything yet.
Stephanie is hoping third time's the charm, and has started over, making purple Pomatomus socks.
Stephanie is making rib and cable socks in varigated blue Koigu.

Sock sister Lisa sends in this update from her hip hotel room at the Tribeca Grand. She writes, "I had a busy Sunday afternoon, running around NYC to visit Purl, The Point, Knitty City and Seaport Yarns the 5 hours I had to shop. But I desperately missed my fellow Knitsmiths and without their yarn-enabling support, I didn't buy anything. But hey folks, I'm here all week, so there's still a chance." Elsewhere in her group:
Carrie G. posted some pictures of her progress and she is torn between her participation in the Warming Grace project, and making the May 2nd SP3 deadline. You only need to take one look at Grace's eyes and you have your answer.
Teresa checked in this week to update us on her socks. I looked everywhere on her blog for pictures until I realized she hadn't posted any. Here are the details, without any photographic evidence of their existence: Classy "Slip Up" from Knit Socks in Lorna's Laces.

Sock sister Mary has a ton of progress to report on in her group:
Erin has turned the heel of her sock, incorrectly but more intriguingly, she's now too excited to knit. Spill, Erin - what's going on?
Frarochvia has started a pair of ankle socks for her pal.
Jen's socks are sending her on a journey of emotion - from triumph to despair to anger. Jen - we need a photo of these things!
Jill has been having problems with her Jaywalkers but hopes that the Easter break will give her plenty of time for knitting.
Rachele was unhappy with her initial sock so started again using two circulars and is feeling happy with the result.
Laura is almost done with her first sock - one down, one to go.
Norah has finished one sock and is well on the way with her second.
Pat has turned the heel on her second sock.
Peacock has been having some problems with the heel flap of her socks. Luckily she's got a backup pair in reserve...
Rebecca is another person well into her second sock.
Songbird
has started her first sock, using Yarn Harlot's directions from 'Knitting Rules'.
Susan has started her socks, using the tricks she's learnt from knitting her last pair of socks.
Laura is approaching the toe on her first sock.
Ingrid is approaching the heel flap on her second sock and promises pictures very soon.
Emily has her yarn and needles and has chosen her pattern, but is still having a few problems. Any advice will be gratefully received!
Janet has shared a picture of her sock.

Sock momma Alison's group is moving along strong:
Alicia is nearing the finish line with one Mountain Colors Blueberry Waffles sock done (scroll down to April 1) and is working on the foot of the second.
Amy left her first sock at her parent's house and has had to start a new pair. She's making a waffle pattern in purple Cashsoft. Sounds yummy!
Amy has pictures of her first sock: a kool-aid dyed cable and rib sock. It looks delish!
Angela isn't letting a little yarn-shortage ruin her sock pal socks!
Anna swears that her tawdry affair with some Trekking yarn is almost over, allowing her to return to her sockpal socks. As far as sock yarn goes, she seems to have a little problem.
Anne-Marie is just getting started on some blue Jaywalkers for her pal. Check out the pair she just finished for her sister-in-law!
Barbara is working on gorgeous zigzag socks in Gedifra Fashion Trend Sportivo.
Bev's sock got its picture taken with the Harlot!

Sock sister Ashley writes:
Dana got started on her blue Fluted Bannister socks—and you have to go see her (12 year old) puppy—he's got the cutest smile.
Cara started her Simply Lovely Lace Socks in (hold on to your hats, girls) Socks That Rock. Who'da thunk?
Carrie E.'s camera-fixing people are clearly falling down on the job, but she writes in that her first striped Lorna's sock is finished.
Catherine is plowing through her Jaywalkers, and making some yummy-smelling soap (except for the whiskey soap—not too sure about that one ;))
Celia has her hand-dyed socks started. She knit the yarn into a panel, dyed it, and then unraveled it to knit her socks—how cool is that?
Christy started some purple Pomatomi, with little white flecks--pretty!
Dani gave Falling Leaves a whirl, but has switched over to Embossed leaves, which is showing off her own hand-dyed yarn beautifully!
Chrissy has two Twisted Ribs underway at once. Oooh, and she's having a sock pattern published in IK! Go Chrissy!

Sock Sister Carry has gotten past the heels and reports:
Debbie has started on her pal's socks, no pictures yet but is doing a pattern from the meg swansen's a gathering of lace book.
Donna had to frog the progress she had made on her second sock...go over and give her some encouragement!
Elisabeth has decided against doing fair isle and instead has switched to using Lorna's Laces yarn and doing the baby cable rib from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Elspeth has given up on the lace pattern and has moved onto a chevron and is, ever so slightly, lamenting the fact she didn't make the socks her knitting olympics project.
Another mid-exchange switch, Emily would like us to weigh in on her new pattern.
Erin was was inspired by Crafoholic's Mata Hari socks, they are looking totally fabu!
Flan is becoming concerned about having enough yarn, so she started the second sock in an attempt to see where she is!
Gracie has joined the "start over" epidemic amongst this sock-sister's knitters. She was no longer enamored with Wildfoote and has switched to Austermann yarn that has aloe in it.
Grumperina has finished her pals's first sock and is feeling less than motivated to charge ahead on the next. So many socks already this year!
A third mommy-to-be in Carry's list of knitters, Heather B is feeling the pregnancy fatigue, but has finished one of her pal's socks, what a trooper! She promises pictures soon.

Sock sister Cathy writes:
Jennifer has braved the frog pond with her Crusoe socks! Can't wait to see Version 2!
Jaime has started her Koigu (mmmm) Jawalkers.
Jenny is making great progress on her Lorna's Laces Jaywalkers.
Janell has started her Fiber Trends "Walking Away Sock #2.
Jenny is working on her socks on 2 circulars.
Jess is making great progress on her STR Wyvern socks.
Jen also decided to frog her first attempt and is much happier with the new version!

Sock sister Donna reports:
Karen is thisclose to starting her sockpal's socks (the beauteous Falling Leaves pattern); if only her yarn would cooperate!
Karlie has finished her first fabulous red sock with a cute message duplicate-stitched in pink - I'm so impressed!
KC has finished her first lovely, mysterious sock and has started on her second.
Kim is almost halfway done with sock #2, and she's added some of Wendy Johnson's yarn to her sock stash - that has to bring good sock mojo, doesn't it? I bet she finishes this week.
Kristi's working on some beautiful red toe-up beaded rib socks, and getting no help whatsoever from her oh-so-cute dogs.

(Look ma, no new windows! How'd I do Helen?)

This is your ONE MONTH warning! That's right only FOUR MORE WEEKS to get those socks done and ready for shipping. You can do it!

Finished socks!

Abigail has knit yet ANOTHER pair of socks for her 'guess which is the sockpal pair' contest in May. She's knit so many, I think I'll have to make her name red in the big list.
KnittyCath finished her socks! Rock on Cath!
Cindy reports that she finished her Traveling Rib socks. That is, unless she finds yarn she like more on her upcoming trip to Vancouver!
Erin is our first sock sister to finish!! She knit Tuulia's pattern done with Koigu. Now she's trying to decide what to work on next.
Janine has finished a pair of purple Embossed Leaves socks
Jessica has finished her Crooked Cable socks.
Joanna has finished her socks using her own pattern.
Kara has finished her incredible fair-isle socks - they remind me of a garden, complete with a picket fence - so pretty!
Karen is done with her pal's pretty Jaywalkers in Schaefer Anne; the picture is buried under the mountain of new yarn she acquired on sale Sunday - be prepared for envy on both counts!
Katie has finished her sock pal's beautiful red socks, and I think she chose well - that pattern does look More Fun Than Cables.
Kim finished her socks, which are pretty in three shades of pink.
Kristen is done with her pal's socks, yippee! And scroll down for bonus llama pictures - don't miss them!
Lesley did a beautiful job dyeing her yarn and knitting Sockbug's Lacy Scallops socks for her pal.
Lisa C in TN has finished her gullwings!
Lyme has finshed some lovely River Rapids Socks. Along with a finished photo of a lovely blanket.
Margene has finished her beautiful "Child's first socks" in Red. She has now been busy with her Pomatomi.
Michelle finished beautiful pink Embossed Leaves socks. To block or not to block: that is her question.
After a productive bout of sleeplessness, Miss_M has finished a lovely pair – and is off on a well-deserved vacation.
Molly finished stealth socks – Broadripple in Cascade Fixation.
Patty is celebrating Opening Day and finished socks.
PinkHebe shows off finished socks and new hair.
Rosemary has finished her pink Simply Lovely Lace Socks.
Ruth has finished her socks (no pictures yet, but we look forward to seeing how she tamed those heels!).
Stariel used her own design for the pretty purple socks she's finished. They've got lace hearts and ruffles.
Samantha has finished her socks (link only has picture of first sock)!
No pics, but Susanne reports that she's all done. Send pics soon, Susanne, before Lisa picks out a placeholder picture for your socks! ;0)
A sock pal in need is a sock pal indeed. Several weeks ago, tragedy struck a fellow SP3'er Carol, when she suffered a dog bite on her thumb. Just when we thought all was lost, her friend Caroline jumped in and "ghost-knit" a pair for Carol's pal. What a friend!

Highlights:

Embossed leaves from my group:
Allison just received some beautiful socks in the Blooming Feet Sock Swap and started some ivory Embossed Leaves for her sockapaloooza sock pal. I think Allison enjoys sock swaps!
Barbara has finished a terrific test pair of Embossed Leaves socks. She'll be making another pair for her pal in earth tones.

Ashley's got almost-finishers:
Brenda is getting really close to finishing her Quadra Island Waffles!
Cyndi has a brand-new blog, and a finished sock (that totally rocks!).
Dana is SO CLOSE - just one more toe to go! She'll be done by the next update, no doubt!

Sock sister Carry reports that since there were so few updates this week, ALL of them get to be featured updates!
Diana has started some nice purple/pink/red hand dyed socks for her pal.
Dyann has begun some Cascading Leaves in Cherry Tree Hill and is truckin' right along.
Grumperina is past the heel and on the instep for her pal's socks.
Heather has one Swedish Short Snout sock down!

From Cathy:
Jess is well into her Jaywalkers and has a picture of single sock island as well as some amazing stash flash.

Donna's highlights:
Kat has finished her first beautiful lace sock (oh, those colors!) and already cast on for the next - no Second Sock Syndrome at all!
Katherine is finished with her first sock, and she and her cat have a beautiful birthday quilt to show you.

Some of Erin's pals need your help:
Linz has progress shots of both purple jaywalkers to share with us.
Lindsey P. has entered the blogging world and has some sock photos to share, as well as the debut of her cat, Ash.
Lori has finished one pippi kneesock, but is concerned with the fit.
Lucia could use our help in deciding what yarn to use for her pal.

Ina writes that It was hard to select the highlights for the Mar-Pix tribe this past week – there were several birthdays and excellent adventures, and two not-Sockapaloooza-related polls. Some Mar-Pix tribesters were stricken with the not-sures; some persevered, others (gasp) frogged and started again. (So be sure to check out all the rest of the updates in the extended section!):
Wish Melanie a happy birthday and see her original lace sock worked in her own handdyed Knitpicks yarn using Easter egg coloring. She has instructions for doing ssk with a twist, too.
Minnie reincarnated her sock and had a great birthday.

Jenipurr's highlights:
Rebekkah has finished her first Marmluke sock and it's just gorgeous.
You gotta check out Rocket_Scientist's ode to her sockapaloooza sock (a la Dr. Seuss!). She had a hard time picking a pattern at first, but she's finally settled on a twisted rib stitch from Sensational Knitted Socks, in bright stripes.
Sharon has finished her first Japanese feather sock in green, yellow, and blue.
Sherry switched yarns, but is still on track. She's finished the first sock (scroll down in the entry to see her pretty blue-green cabled sock!) and has already started the second.

Lisa's highlights:
Amy is juggling quite a few knitting projects but has made some progress on her pal's socks...some being the operative word. But I won't be too hard on her because her Tubey looks amazing, in Mission Falls 1824 Wool - which, by the way, I hear they are bringing back. They are bringing back the cotton too, which I think they could have skipped....blech!
Perfect Sock Syndrome, or PSS, as it is more commonly referred, is a common affliction among SP3'ers, but Chickybabe seems to have finally overcome the inertia and stress associated with this syndrome and is well on her way with these Metropolis Socks in some unidentified Lorna's Laces colorway.
Christine has reached the half-way mark with one sock down. Remember, she is doing the Pippi Longstockings from Stitch 'n Bitch with Knitpick's Zinnia Sock Garden Yarn.

From Mary:
Norah's sock has been travelling - go and have a look at all the places it's been.
Lisa is knitting some lovely pink socks for her pal. The pattern is from, wait for it, Sensational Knitted Socks - so of course they're lovely!
And you have got to see the amazing fair-isle socks Peacock is knitting! They have little hearts all over them. Awww.

(Click on more for the whole shebang!)

Update-a-loooza!

Sock momma Alison is taking a couple days off from her socks to reconsider the pattern and rest her hand. Elsewhere in the A and B's:
Andrea has started a blog and a sock pal sock. Now, who can read Spanish?
Angel had some heel flap problems, but is now on to turning the heel. Her rib and cable socks are going to be so beautiful.
Bethieee is already into the second sock of her pink pair. She's loving all things Nancy Bush these days!
Betty's hand is all better and she's back in action, completing her first Elfine sock in Rohrspatz und Wollmeise yarn.
Beverly had picked out this yarn in February, but hadn't settled on a pattern. She reports that she'll be starting cabled boot socks for her pal.

Sock sister Ashley received a ton of updates this week. Guess it helped that she sent out the "one month to the deadline" email!
Brenda is working on Lava Flow socks (both at once!) in a lovely blue Cherry Tree Hill colorway. Oooh, and there's violets!
Brigid has started her socks-in a very interesting way! She knit a garter band and is picking up stitches to knit downward from there. That's a new one on this sock sister!
bySarah's sock is lounging around in the spring sunshine.
Carrie reports that she's started some Friday Harbor socks for her pal - pictures when her camera comes home from the camera fixing people's!
Cass reports that she's knitting some pretty rad-sounding socks: stripes made by alternating between two different colorways of Lorna's Laces. She promises pics next week-can't wait to see them!
Carina had some unfortunate gauge issues (she may or may not have referred to her first attempt as "that #")!#"(="#%/# sock"). But she persevered, and now has a gorgeous Regia number underway.
Chawne went back to the drawing board too-but it seems to be working out! She's now cooking up a boiled Kersti lobster!
Dani dyed up some gorgeously springy pink and green yarns for her lucky pal. Can't wait to see how it knits up!
Daniele reports that she is knitting Jaywalkers for her pal, in the African Violets colorway from Cherry Tree Hill.
Danielle has two toe-up Jaywalkers on the needles, and about the longest knitting to-do list I've ever seen!
Danielle reports that she has one finished sock, and has cast on for the second one.
Danielle has one sock finished and another begun - they're Anna's Elfine pattern, knit with All Things Heather's Pumpkin Spice colorway.
Yet another Danielle (I've got 5!) writes in that she's knitting Fixation anklets for a wool-sensitive pal. She thinks she'll be done by the end of the week!
Deesie has tried three different heels - including a Japanese short-row heel that looks like it lost a fight with an octopus! (I'll stick with my wrapped short rows, thanks ;))

Sock sister Cathy reports:
Jessica has finished one lace sock and is well into the second.
Jaime is flashing some serious stash over here!
Jayme has also finished one sock and is on to the next.
Holly had to do some frogging on her second sock but is back on track.
Jen has finished one very rosy Friday Harbor sock, gorgeous!
Judy continues to work on her beautiful vintage Beehive socks.
Jill has finished one Sensational baby cabled rib sock in Socks that Rock in Beryl, yum!
Jennhas finished one sock and already cast on for her second.
Julia has finally started her Pretty Petals socks, looking great so far!
Jen has started her surprise pattern socks in a great deep pink.

Sock sister Donna writes:
Kat's just about done with her pal's first sock - it's lovely!
Kathleen has doubts about her sock, but I say it's beautiful, and she's almost half done. What more could a pal want than that?
Kelly thought she was finished...then she took another look at the second heel flap. Oooh, that hurts, but those socks are swell!
Kim has finished her first fabulous sock, and she wants your opinion; go take her poll and let her know what you think.
Kim's turned the heel (good work!) and hopefully she'll have pictures by the time we all read this.
Kira's Pomatomus is past the heel, and it looks great!
Kristen switched yarn, and took a break to knit an *entire* pair of socks (which also look nice), and now she's back on track with the Celtic Braid socks in some lovely Cherry Tree Hill yarn for her lucky pal.
Skylar's finished Lovely Lace Sock looks great - even her cat thinks so!

Sock sister Erin (who with her finished socks has pulled her group into the lead for the most finished pals with 14!) writes:
Laura was having size issues with her start of her toe up socks. She is planning on starting over with an eyelet diamond pattern and Lorna's Laces, "Seaside".
Laura is back to the drawing board on her socks.
Leanne has finished an awesome Jaywalker and has restarted her sockpal socks.
Lelah has just about finished nautilus sock number one.
Lesley has turned theheel on her second sock and is on the home stretch. Can't wait for pictures.
Lexa is hoping to finish her Fortissima socks so she can move along her her sock pal socks.
Lisa P has finished one sock amidst her city/sewer/neighbor problems.
They aren't sockpal socks, but Malle has some very nice socks to show.
Manda has torn out and resterted her Dublin Bay socks.
Mary A. reports that progress is being made on her socks.

Sock sister Ina reports:
Maureen almost finished one sock, then decided to start over. Notice the title of her post and go call her crazy.
Mozemen's socks searched Athens for a yarn store, then had a good time in Paris while the Spouse-Man had a Big Birthday. (Be sure to vote to see knitwear pix from the Place de la Concorde.)
Neva switched to Old Shale Two Yarn Sock (with clever cuff), plus is starting a new job!

Sock sister Jenipurr has a lot going on in her group:
Rebecca is back from vacation (and what sounds like a fun knitting workshop) and has posted pictures of her Embossed Leaves socks in progress.
Rebecca has finally chosen her yarn and her pattern. Her sock pal will be getting lace socks made with Cherry Tree Hill yarn.
Regenia has made it to the toe shaping for her first green Gull Wing sock.
Ruth is making her pal the most awesome purple pink stripey socks.
Sarah reports she's been working on her socks and is on schedule to having them done in time (no pictures, but she's just moved, so she's been a bit preoccupied with unpacking).
Scout posted a picture of her sock in progress. The colors are fantastic.
Shannon has started her toe up, broken rib socks in Mountain Colors Bearfoot.
Sigga_Sif has run into some difficulties with her short rows (I'll bet some of you sock knitters could help her out!).
Silke is making Pomatomus socks in a lovely shade of blue.
Stephanie is nearly done with her first lacy shell sock (the pattern looks wonderful with the bright color of the yarn).

Sock sister Lisa writes (and writes, and writes):
Sue has settled on the solid red Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, with a toe up pattern from Knitty called Falling Leaves. She avoids SSS by knitting both socks at once on two sets of DPNs. I couldn't get the picture to download to a reasonable size so we'll try again next week with a shot of these beauties.
Tammy is about half way through her first sock (as the crow flies, I mean knits). She's loving this "squishy" yarn. Remember, she's knitting the Simply Lovely Lacy Socks from IK Spring 2006 with some vintage cashmere/lambswool/wool blend from her stash.
Telkwagirl finished her socks this week. They are the Latvian socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. She's using Paton's Kroy in a heathery blue. She's shopping for a digital camera but unfortunately won't have it in time to snap a picture. We'll look for them on her sock pal's blog after the big reveal…
Thistlerain's socks are progressing rather slowly due to a fall on the ice which cracked her left elbow (who knits with their elbows anyway?) so she's a bit behind her self-imposed deadlines, but is confident she will make the May 2nd due date. She's even managed to get over the strange looks she receives during her KIP lunch hour.
YarnSticks, who has self-identified herself as "not a sockapaloser," is now in the home stretch with her Retro Rib's after a month-long bout with pneumonia.

Sock sister Mary reports:
Reagan has finished sock number 1 of her pair.
Emily is having some frustrations with her Jaywalkers - go give her some help!
Erin is in her grove - check out the sock hanging on her line.
Valerie is halfway through her pair of socks - one down, one to go.
Laura has overcome yet more snapping dpns to make progress on her socks.
Ingrid is feeling a little unfaithful to her socks, but is carrying on with them, despite temptation.
Janet is a little unsure about the pattern she's chosen but is carrying on with it.
Our first look at Jennifer's purple Broadripples!
Krista has finished one sock and is feeling happy with it.

Now that no-one's listening, can I just say that Monday is such a fun day for me?! Every couple of hours a new update rolls in from one of the sock sisters. I get it put in the big update and then, next time I check, there's another one. It's like getting presents!

I'm not loving my sockapaloooza sock.

You know, I get emails from pals all the time who get to just this point where they're feeling that the socks aren't really something they themselves would like, or they could imagine that their pal would prefer an entirely different style of sock more, and they start to have second thoughts. And I always tell them not to stress out - this is supposed to be a fun exchange; all the pals are thrilled to get handknitted socks and if you've put any work at all into picking out yarn and pattern according to their preferences, they'll be even more thrilled with the socks. But still, I keep doubting. Will my pal be okay with a long green stockinette sock? Does she mind pooling like me?

So I pulled the needles out of the sock in progress, packed up a new skein of yarn, and set off to the playground with the boys to start a new sock. Luckily, I had forgotten my wrist support and had to stop after a few rows. I took the opportunity to reconsider the old sock the next day, but finally went off to the playground again with new yarn AND wrist support, determined to start something else. Somehow though the needles had been put back in the bag with the old sock and I didn't have them, giving me another day to reconsider.

Last night I sat myself down and forced myself to take my own advice and keep knitting on the old sock. My hope was that that fabulously beautiful heel would convince me that the socks are worth continuing.

I do like the heel. I didn't like some of the heel instructions. I'll probably go back and redo the last several rows again. But it's bringing me back around, I think. All the tiny cables in the heel are dreadfully slow to knit however and it was a little too tight and cramped for my hand after an evening of knitting, so the sock is back off the needles again. I can get started on the long leg of the second sock instead.

I just want to try out a few new ideas first though.

Wow what a week for the sockapaloooza! The theme this week: big.

First, I had to rip out and restart my first sockapaloooza sock, because, you guessed it, it was too big. It fit me and my calves are bigger than the average bear's! Plus, my sock pal is rather on the thin side, so it wasn't going to work. Still, after casting on again, I made my 8 inches for the week.

 
can you see how the calf decreases have changed the variegation?

And now (get ready, it's big!) the most enormous update ever, in reverse order this week...

Finished Sockers!

Pilar has finished her socks! Sorry Pilar, I don't speak Spanish so can't give many more details, but take a look at her blog for the finished objects.
A zebra can't change its stripes but CraftyLily's socks will surely change your mind about trying Cascade Fixation. She shares some insight on her blog about how to conquer this tricky yarn.
Weeza's finished! And she proudly declares that they even match (no small feet, I mean feat). Hey, what's that sock yarn lurking behind the sheep's right elbow?
Wooliedi is done too and she knit some lovely New England Socks from Knitting on the Road. Unfortunately no pics...so you know what that means...this week's placeholder.
Sheryl is done with her lovely ice cream striped socks.
Opportunityknits finished Juani's Braided Cable Sock in Regia Silk.
Patrice switched patterns and in short order conquered the short-row heel and finished Priscilla's Dream Socks!
Margie has finished her socks! She is calling them the rightside-upside down socks. She assures me we'll understand why when she gets a good picture of them.
Marti is patting herself on the back for finishing up her lovely socks so early. No pics yet (perhaps because she's been tending to her poor little sick ones). Go send her a big shout out though, because she's already signed on to knit a make-up pair for a socker who's had to drop out.
Katie's Glad Raggs socks are done - and they're beautiful!
Diane finished her pal's socks on the first day of spring!.
Dragonfly Judy has finished her Boysenberry Pie Socks!
Yay Bliss! Not only did she finish her socks, she had her puppies help model them. Trop mignon, Remy, trop mignon.
Ann has finished her cabled gun-metal Fleece Artist socks. I'm sure her sock pal will be as smitten with them as she is!

Highlights

Mary's beginners are having some fun!
Erin has started her socks. She's learning the Turkish Cast on and Magic Loop and it's her first pair of toe up socks. No wonder she's hyperventilating!
Pat has finished one sock. Check out her blog to see how far that sock has travelled.

And with Lisa as their sock sister, you know this group is having a blast:
Dani has got second sock syndrome (SSS), but her first Trekking sock is a beauty. You can't tell the colorway from this picture as it was taken on a fairly typical dreary, Northeastern March day. Now this is more like it! Want to venture a guess at the colorway?
Check back in a few days and Carrie will have some pictures to post of her sock progress "blogger uploadus interuptus" has struck again. But who the heck cares...the pictures of baby Santa are so stinkin' cute.
Trish has finished her first fluid bandsman, footed bastion, flitted bandied, fluent bagpipes...socks...all kidding aside, this one's a keeper and so Spring-y!

Jenipurr's got some first-sock finishers:
Rachel has finished her first blue striped River Rapids sock.
Rose has finished her first sock, with a lovely lace inset down the side.
Shannon has finished her first deep purple-blue Denmark sock.
Sarah G has finished her first sock (see picture for sneak peek of the colors).

Sock sister Ina is un-venting beaded rib with beads socks in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock.
Miss Sarah has discovered the secret to making socks double in size!
Olga had many adventures in NYC and made progress on her socks.
Parikha took a break from blogging anout her incredible European vacation (be sure to check out her great pix!) to start her Embossed Leaves.

Colorful updates rom Erin:
Lori B.'s elastic arrived last week and she has been knitting on only her sock pal's socks ever since. She is all the way to the foot, hopes to have one sock finished this week and cast-on for the other. She is really enjoying the pattern with all its color changes.
Lisa C has almost finished her sockpal socks. We see them here hangin' with the daffodils.

Donna has one fabulous highlight for everyone this week:
Kara's fabulous Fair Isle socks are almost finished - whee (and wow)!

Sock Sister Cathy has finally started her neon mermaid socks on 2 circulars!
Jenny needs your help. If you have a foot circumference of 9" you can help her with sizing.
Judy is working on an amazing cabley Beehive sock!

Highlights from Carry's group, which has surged ahead with the most number of finishers so far:
Donna has plenty of socks to show off, including her pal's socks.
Heather J has finished her pal's first sock and has done her FIRST EVER after thought heel, way to go!
Heather O has finished the first SUPER COOL Dragon Scale socks and is working her way through all of the HP dragons, anyone like to join her?

After having forced all of you to vote on her old Sockapalooza sock, Sock Sister Ashley refused to listen to the overwhelming majority opinion and cast on for something entirely new! But she's giving away the old yarn, which so many of you inexplicably liked! Hi! Free yarn, people! (Sock Sister Ashley promises not to put herself in the highlights section next week, and to stop talking about herself in the third person ASAP.)
Carrie's got one purple sock all done, and an adorable sleepy schmoo.
Carrie has one blue Embossed Leaf sock finished, and has tastefully coordinated it with some lovely jelly beans.

And from me:
Allena had a capital P problem with her capital P, little o, m, a, oh, you know, the socks from Knitty.
Check out Allison's knee-highs and high heels look. It's hot! Oh and she's making progress on her sock pal socks too.
Beth has FINALLY found the right sock pattern for her pal, Juta's Stocking from Folk Knitting in Estonia. Go read the whole saga and make sure she doesn't talk herself into starting something else!

(click on "more" for the BIG update!)

Update-a-loooza!
(did I mention that it was big?)

Sock sister Mary writes:
Jen has bought the yarn for her socks - Lorna's Laces in Tuscany.
Laura's first sock is almost done. She's promising us pictures tonight...
Peacock has completed the cuff of her stranded colourwork sock.
Rebecca has started her first Jaywalker.
Rebecca number 2 has started her first pair of socks. She's planning to take them to her knitting group if she runs into any problems.
Sharon has started her socks. No pictures yet, but she tells us they will be nice and stripey.
Krista has switched from Lorna's Laces to Regia and is loving her socks.
Kim has finished one sock.

Sock sister Jenipurr reports:
Rebekkah has started the first Mamluke sock from Folk Socks.
Sandra has started on her multicolored Simply Lovely Lace Socks.
Scout has picked some lovely purple handpainted yarn for her sockpal's socks.
Sherry is making great progress on her first sock (as well as lots of other socks too).

Sock sister Ina's group is working hard to regain the lead in finished socks:
Meredith has switched to Jawoll Cotton Superwash and Fluted Bannister socks, working two at once!
Mia is starting Simply Lovely Lace socks from IK Spring 2006.
Mindy has worked about six inches (15 cm) after completely frogging her sock.
After a two-week hiatus, Minnie has resumed knitting on toothpicks and doing the math. Can she finish in the time remaining?
Molly has tried innumerable stitch patterns, perfected her short-row heels and toes, shopped all her LYSs at least twice, and has started Twin Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socksin Koigu.
Nicole has turned the heel and checked the fit on her cable and rib socks.
Pansar has started Fancy Socks in red Marias garn.
Patty has finished one sock, cast on the second and is taking the lucky socks to Italy.
After some extreme knitting, PinkHebe has turned the heel on one sock. She also received a professional award.

Sock sister Erin has a ton of other updates for us but would first off like to thank all of her sock sisters for helping her with her update this week! She really appreciates it. Also, she has to report that she is back to square one with her sock pal's socks. She thought the River Rapids might be too lacy, and thought her pal might like some more color. She found some lovely Koigu and is now using fellow sockapalooozer Tuulia's pattern.
Laura F. is battling broken sock mojo, and has finally reached the halfway point on her first sock, after three attempts. Hang in there, Laura.
Lavendersheep is relieved to find that her newly spun sock yarn is in fact superwash. She had bought a back up though, and now has a decision to make.
Lelah reports that she is very close to finishing sock number one.
It sounds like Lesley seems to also be suffering from some stress-induced bad sock mojo. She is halfway done with the upper part of sock #2 and am expecting to rip it all out, because her gauge is drastically smaller than on first sock. She has decided she either has to wait until stress ceases to complete sock or go up a needle size.
Lexa has decided to make her pal some Yukon Leaves socks.
Lindsey P. has finished one new england sock from knitting on the road in white regia and have started checkered textures from knit socks! in regia cotton. She had planned to send both pairs to her pal, but has come down with a case of serious sock envy.
Linz tells us she is making progress on her Jaywalkers. She has lost her usb cable so no pictures just yet.
Lisa H. is making a feather and fan pattern in the cobalt bloom colorway in Socks that Rock. She has one and a half socks done and is really enjoying the process.
Luanne is taking advantage of her Spring break, by starting her Embossed Leaves.
Lydia Z. has decided on the Montana Wheat sock pattern by Mountain Colors using their Bearfoot yarn in the shade of elderberry. I cannot wait to see those.
Lyme is EXTREMELY close to finishing her socks. Sounds like she'll have a few battle scars to remember them by.
Lynne has been at home with the flu this week, She started her sock pal socks, using the Interweave Knits Easy Lace socks...and ripped out the easy lace three times! She's back on track now and really pleased with ohow they are turning out.
Manda is having issues with her socks. They keep coming out too big!
Margene is zipping along on her second sock., with and without her trusty ipod.
MaryAlice has been working on the gussett of her first sock . She has taken a break to reflect on how the pattern will work with the decreases. She plans to give them her full attention when she finishes her Pi shawl edging.

Sock sister Donna has a lotta updates too:
Julia is rocking the pink for her pal - she's halfway through her first mystery sock.
Karola is halfway through her second sock - she could finish by next week!
Kat is mulling over her short row technique and creating what looks like a beautiful sock in the process.
Kat has started her sockpal socks and it looks like Bogey the dog is keeping her company.
Katherine is feeling the Koigu love with her blue Conwys - they're lovely!
Kate's Lovely Lace Socks are not agreeing with her yarn choice - should she start over? Give her your opinion!
Katieis having More Fun Than Cables knitting her beautiful sockpal socks - nice!
Kelly is almost done with her pair of pink Pomatomi - will she finish this week? (Bonus: check out the awesome bunny hat in that entry).
Kim's pink sock (a Knitting Vintage Socks pattern) is coming along nicely - lucky pal!
Kim finished one pair of splendid socks and has started her sockpal's socks - they're pretty and very cleverly constructed!
Kira's experimenting with different cast-ons and toe-up socks - where will it take her?
Kira might be another Simply Lovely Lace socker, but she's not sure - if you love that pattern, go cheer her on!

Sock sister Cathy reports:
Jen is getting started but needed to visit the frog pond!
jenny has picked out the most gorgeous red colorway of Artyarns Ultramerino for her pal!
has started her pal's Crusoe Jenn is making all sorts of socks and has started a Pomatomus sock for her pal.
Jenny is almost done with her first Jaywalker sock.
Holly is finished with one pretty blue sock.
Janine has one Embossed Leaves sock done and a second started.
Jessica has stopped avoiding her second sock, which is great since the first one is beautiful!
Juliehas finished a "test" pair of Embossed Leaves sock and is casting on for the "real" ones.

Sock Sister Carry is making slow but steady progress on her socks and reports:
Elisabeth has a sock she can "live with", check out the colors.
Elspeth is showing off her WIPs including her sockpal socks (the orangey-yellow yarn on the right).
Erin has her pal's yarn, some Koigu resting in the Seattle sun.
After some challanges and ripping out, Flan is about to turn the heel on her first toe up jaywalker for her pal.
Grumperina has settled on a sock pattern for her pal, a simple but interesting pattern.
Gwen has finished her first Jaywalker sock for her pal.

Sock sister Ashley has moved her blog and has even MORE updates for us!
Brynne started some Conwys in Socks that Rock for her pal—she's down to the heel already!
Carla's making progress on her Badcauls - and whipped out some yummy-looking muffins.
Carola is flying her Pomatomus flag. (And had a seriously weird day yesterday!)
Catherine took a break from educational New England field trips (Hi, coffee milk! Miss you!) to cast on for her Jaywalkers.
Celia cast on in her pajamas!
Chawne is knitting her socks in a very bad-ass colorway: Slayer!
ChiaLea experienced a Yarnukkah Miracle while knitting her sock.
Constance writes in that she'll be going with Cascading Leaves, and will send pictures soon.
CrissyPo has six inches done of her Baby Rib socks; she's planning some very complicated sounding sock choreography!
Danielle has some Jaywalkers underway…or are they alligators? Or, er, something else entirely? (I'll never look at mine the same way again.)
Daphne has some pretty blue-green-purple cotton socks underway. 100% cotton! Take good care of your hands, Daphne!
After trying out a bunch of different patterns, Dawn has some pretty Savannah Socks underway.

Sock momma Alison knows that no one has read this far. I can hear the crickets chirping out there! So I'm keeping it short this week:
Adrienne has started her socks in Socks that Rock Rose Quartz. Ooooooh, pretty.
Allison admits to being a little slow - she's almost decided on a pattern for her pal! Check out her fabby pink anklets though - they rock!
Poor Alynda struggled last week with the heels on her socks, thought she was on the right track, but has now realized that the socks are just too tight. She did some swatching ("crazy talk!" - her words!) and cast on again. She reports that she's now "the proud producer of a pair of tiny toes." Hang in there, Alynda!
Amy (in China!) just started a blog and her rockin sock pal socks.
You gotta see the pink pirate socks that Anmiryam has started!
Bev is getting a jump on second sock syndrome by starting the second sock before the first one is done! She's doing a cool job modifying the Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweave Knits.

Phew! No go do some knitting....

Attention, attention, your sock momma has finally started her socks! St. Patrick's day seemed like the perfect opportunity to start my sock pal's green Koigu knee-highs. Yes, you heard me right, knee-highs. She mentioned knee-highs in her preferences, and since I kinda requested knee-highs from my sock pal, I figured I should just knit knee-highs and get some good sockapaloooza karma going. I went looking for a pattern in Knitting Vintage Socks and other books, but once I saw the stocking that my radio box pal, Emily was making for her sister, I knew I had to make them for my pal.

Over the Knee Stockings from Handknit Holidays

They're so gorgeous! I was particularly pleased by the balance of lots of stockinette (which I really like) and a little something fun (which my pal really likes) in the back. So far, I'm loving the pattern. The little mini-cable ribbing looks so great and the koigu is scrumptuous!

I wasn't sure how my pal would feel about lace in back though (I don't like lace on my socks - brrrrr!), so I'm inserting a cable pattern along the back instead of the lace.

I figure with about 48" of sock to knit and 6 weeks to finish, I've got 8" to knit per week. My hand-saving sockapaloooza regimen: these socks are the only project I'm allowing myself to knit with my right hand for the next 6 weeks; all other projects will have to be knit continental; and no more using the laptop trackpad.

Okay, now that we are all mildly reassured that I will not be a sockapaloooz-er, are you ready for the updates?!

Finished sockers!

Now, I don't know if these are her sockpal socks, but Abigail has just finished another gorgeous pair! She's knit 5 pairs already for her May contest where we get to guess which pair was really for her sock pal. I can't wait to see how many more she makes.
Alden knitted Traveler's Stockings in a stunning purple shade of Fleece Artist merino.
Becci is a flapper! She's finished fun, red, stripey socks for her pal. With heel flaps.
Bfmomma finished her pair of hand-dyed socks. She picked the colors especially for her pal!
Carol finished her purple-and-green stripey Koigu socks. Yay for knitting both at once!
Christine finished her Pomatomi (yay!), despite her little weiners', er, gastrointestinal issues (boo!).
Eliza had a very fruitful weekend that culminated in a finished pair of socks!
Fayme has finished her scrumptious stripey socks. (Actually it was over a week ago, sorry!)
Heather has finished her Embossed Leaves in Lorna's Laces for her pal. She was really impressed working with the Lorna's Laces.
Jodee has finished her socks!
JennyRaye has finished an amazing pair of pink Wyvern socks. Go drool over her stash also...Yum!
Julia has finished her Mata hari socks for her pal. Check out the pic in the sidebar and her Jaywalkers and her new maryjanes!
Kit finished her beautiful pink and orange "Calcifer" socks. And she has a question: what else are you putting in your sock pal's package?
Melissa has finished vivid Lava Flow socks in Knitpicks Flower Power. Check out the close-up!
Miz_Booshay has finished Impressionistic blue socks in Trekking XXL.
Sally has posted a picture of her finished Lacy Mock Cable Socks.
Sheri has finished her Friday Harbor socks in swirls of watermelon. They're absolutely gorgeous!
You guys really rallied for a fellow knitter! All of your encouraging comments on Deirdre's blog were just what she needed to be inspired to finish her socks.
I don't know if I (sock sister, Lisa) believe her - we have no physical proof that these socks actually exist - but Uylond swears that she's finished her bright pink knee socks in a mock islet pattern. Must...Send...Pictures...Must...Find...Friend...Or Family Member...With...Digital...Camera! OK, you asked for it, here is this week's placeholder picture.
It's almost sad to see her finish, but there'll be no more updates from Sabine, the nicest, most enthusiastic and sweetest knitter of SP3. (Really, I love you all the same.) Nancy Bush, the sock pusher lady has got her hooked on socks with her rib and cable design from IK. This is her first completed pair of socks and there's no going back. Would someone please translate her post entitled "SHEEPS AND EMOTIONS". All I can understand is the word Brokeback Mountain and my curiosity is piqued. I just have this image in my head of a man and a sheep sitting in front of a roaring fire, and the man is telling the sheep "I just can't knit you."
(can't you just tell which updates come from Lisa??)
Lararoy has finished her pretty blue stripey socks unscathed. Now she has to knit some for a 3 1/2 year old.

Highlights:

From my crew:
Allie has started up a new knitting blog and has finished her first stripey Thuja sock. She's knitting the socks on size 00 needles at 10 stitches to the inch - really!
Anne writes that she's been busy knitting socks for 3 people at the school where she works. The idea is to raise funds for a school in Africa that her school has 'partnered' up with. She's providing the yarn and the 3 highest bidders are getting made to measure, hand knitted socks! 2 down and 1 pair still to go and then she can begin her sockapaloooza socks. Awesome project, Anne!

After two false starts, Sock Sister Ashley has finally finished a sock - but it might be hideous. Or it might not. Cast your vote!
Caitlyn has some questions about her Pomatomi and needs advice!
Cyndi has turned the heel on her first sock—but thinks it looks too big. Any opinions out there?

Carry's featured updates:
Elspeth has started her socks in her own design in Knit Picks Sock Garden in Zinnia.
Gleek has picked out a very nice brooklyn handspun superwash sock yarn in jungle canopy for her pal...she's still contemplating the pattern.
Grumperina has been putting too much thought into her sock pal's socks, I think her designer nature might just be getting the better of her!

From Cathy:
Julie has finished one lovely green Embossed leaves sock. Also check out her home made sock blockers!
Helene finished a beautiful pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks but is now trying to make a pair of Norwegian socks for her pal!
Holly is making some modifications to add St. Paddy's Day green heels and toes to her socks.

Donna's highlights:
Kate has finished her pal's first striped sock - it's amazing!
Karen is making great progress on her first Gentlemen's Fancy Sock in Schaefer Anne - no pooling for her!

Erin's group:
Lavendarsheep has some great pictures of her sock yarn in process. She has dyed and spun it and it's very pretty.
Marliynn is dealing with some sockapaloooza indecision. She has four pairs started and cannot decide which one to go with.
Mary Cis clipping along on her embossed leaves. She also has a pretty picture of her entrelac scarf.

Ina reports that stormy weather was the theme in the Mar-Pix tribe this past week:
Michelle has dramatic shazaaming on her Uptown Boot Sock.
Mozemen's socks missed a ride to Alonissos on the raging wine-dark sea.
Before evacuating because of Cyclone Larry, Nathalie posted heel and toe detail from her lovely Embossed Leaves sock. It's her birthday, too!

From Jenipurr:
PumpkinMama has finished her first lovely Mermaid Sock and is working on the second. Check out the picture!
ReluctantMANGO has finished the first sock and likes them so much she's looking forward to making a pair out of the same yarn for herself (when she's done with her pal's socks).
Rocketbride has finished her first pumpkiny striped sock and is working on the second.

Lisa's 50%-ers:
Fellow Knitsmith, Shireen sent me over a picture of Dina's FIRST SOCK EVER! Bravo Dina! Send details on the yarn and pattern when you get a chance.
Weeza has one down and one to go (although she might be finished by now since Weeza's update seems to have disappeared from my round-up last week...I coulda' sworn). She says the colorway isn't as "eye-seeringly" bright as it appears in the photo...You say "eye-seering", I say "eye-pleasing". (And speaking of which, did you see Alison's new Alchemy yarn yet? Ooo La La!)

Mary's highlights:
Go and give Laura some encouragement. So far she's had 2 broken dpns, tangling yarn and now a pattern that doesn't seem to work.
Ingrid is motoring along one her socks. As they are green, it was very fitting that she posted an update about them on St Patrick's Day.

(click on "more" for the BIG update!)

Update-alooza!

Sock momma Alison's group is having the usual ups and downs:
Alynda had to rip out the heels of her socks and reknit them five times to get them right. Finally, she's on her way down the foot!
Amy is past the heel on her first sock. She dyed the yarn herself with Kool-Aid and may overdye the finished socks again.
No pics yet, but Anastacia says she's "frogged & restarted & frogged & restarted", and started her pal's socks again.
The third time's a charm for Annette who's just finishing up her first beautiful Broadripple.
Betty is working on the instep of Elfine socks for her pal. And her finger is getting better!

Sock sister Ashley has a few more updates to report:
After going back and forth about what to knit, Bliss has her first sock all finished!
Carolyn started some purple Koigu Embossed Leaves socks--and sadly, they appear not to be for me. Unless she is trying to deliberately mislead me...hmm....
Cath is soldiering through a pair of Jaywalkers - and flashing her sock yarn stash! Yum!
Chawne is having problems settling on a sock she likes too--but she makes a darn good afterthought heel!
ChiaLea has some Crusoes underway in Lorna's Laces - but it's hard to knit when your cat keeps nibbling your needles...

Sock Sister Carry hopes that she was able to get all the updates in, please forgive her if she forgot you this week, it's been a doozy!
Deb has decided on the Jaywalker pattern in the lovely red Mountain Colors yarn.
Debbie Lindsey is working on two pair of fabulous socks, one for her pal.
Dragonfly_Judy has gotten through the first one and got through the heel on the second.
Elisabeth tried a new pattern but ripped out because of sizing issues.
Gwen has been working on her pal's sock, but feels like it's going really slow.

Sock sister Cathy promises a sock update of her own for next week, but until then, sends in these updates:
Jenny has started her socks using Jaeger Matchmaker and the Dublin Bay sock pattern.
Jasmine has started her socks with entrelac cuffs.
Jessica has finished one gorgeous New England sock in very appropriate Spring colors.
Jess has recovered from a broken needle and is now zipping along on a Wyvern sock in Lapis Socks that Rock yarn.
Joanna has finished one sock and started the second.

Sock sister Donna has a slew of updates to fill us in on:
Kari has started on her Little Shell Socks in Cherry Tree Hill yarn - her pal is going to get a lovely surprise!
Karola finished her sockpalooza socks, but needed to make the first one over and has already frogged it.
Kat's pal will be getting Mermaid Socks - look at the tempting choices!
Katie has finished her first pretty Lovely Lace sock, and she has a question for you - do you try your pal's socks on before you send them?
Katie has finished her first Glad Ragg sock, and is in the home stretch on the second - very pretty!
KC's lucky pal is getting the Cherry Tree Hill treatment - yum!
Kim has chosen a pattern and has started a beautiful, lacy pair of Child's First Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks - she's getting help from every knitter's secret weapon, the Post-it Note.
KnitaholicSkylar is making progress on her Lovely Lace socks in hand-dyed yarn - go see!
Kristen has finished a whole bunch of objects and started her sockpal socks; should she frog them, or does the pretty pattern work with the yarn?

There's lots of knitting going on in sock sister Erin's group:
Lelah has started her nautilus socks and a new job!
Lexa has started some orange Wyverns.
Lisa P has started her Falling leaves socks.
Lori E has almost finished one sock, and is anxious to start the other.
No pictures yet, but Lorraine has started some Hot pink Pomatomi for her pal.
Louise is working on some Karen's lace socks for her pal. She also has some progress on a pair of embossed leaves.
Luanne has decided to make her pal some blue embossed leaves, and then plans to make herself some brown ones.
Margene has one red sock done.
Marti has one River Rapids sock done, and looks great. Now she must embark on the second before SSS (second sock syndrome) sets in.

Sock sister Ina has a few less-stormy updates left to share:
Megan has finished one sock and pondering the benefits of blocking lace.
Michelle has finished training and has selected Lorna's Laces Pink Blossom and Embossed Leaves.
Mindy has been in hiding, but managed to work about an inch of ribbing for Sockbug's Not Cable Socks.
Miss_M shows off her new body art; plus has finished one sock.
Patty has sesqui (one-and-a-half) socks finished.

Sock sister Jenipurr's group has been keeping her busy tracking all their great progress:
Rachel is making River Rapids socks in blue stripes (so pretty).
Rebekkah will be making her very lucky pal some Mamluke socks (scroll down in the entry to see a picture of them).
Rose is making great progress on her first sock, done in varigated greens with a lace inset along the side.
Samantha has finished her first sock (no pictures though).
Shannon is making progress on her first sock, using a deep blue Koigu and the Denmark pattern from Knitting on the Road.
Sharon is making progress on her blue stripey socks.
Sheryl only has the toe to finish on her second sock and then she'll be done.
Shireen has picked her yarn - some gorgeous multicolored Socks that Rock.
Spinning_Sue is has a completed foot and is now working her way up the leg of her pretty purple sock with a lacy rib.

Sock sister Lisa updates us on those in her group who are just getting started:
Life certainly does have a way of cutting into your knitting time. But Tammy has finally cast on for her pal’s socks. She's knitting the Simply Lovely Lacy Socks from IK Spring 2006. She’s reaching into her stash for some vintage cashmere/lambswool/wool blend... mmmm, mmmm, good.
Things that make you go 'Huh?' Tuulia confesses that she hasn't started her SP3 socks yet but yet, her blog is ALL SOCKS, ALL THE TIME!
And yet another case of..."Is there such as thing as a too stiff sock?" First fellow knitsmither Shannon asked, and now after seeing Zina's sock, I have to ask it as well...tee hee!!!
Trish scrapped her Nancy Bush Vintage socks (too scratchy) and now she's flying on her floozy barista, or is it flirting barrister socks. (Where to they get these names?)
Yahaira as a contrite heart for her selfish knitting as of late and writes her sock pal a letter of apology for her late start. But she sure makes up for it with this fabulous yarn…I love ya' baby! That's who!

Sock sister Mary says things have been a little quiet in her group this week, but there were a few knitters making progress:
Erin has some lovely Koigu ready to be knitted up for her pal.
Peacock has posted about some of the socks she's knitted before Sockapaloooza.
Procrastiknitter is working on some Feather and Fan socks that may end up being for her pal - she's not sure yet.
Spinsterbat has started her socks.
Liz has finished one sock of her Broadripples. She feels she's falling over the edge into sock obsession...

And if you made it all the way through this whole update, you have gone way over the edge into sock obsession. See ya there!

Starting this week, a new format for the weekly sockapaloooza updates: first, there'll be all the most recently finished sockers; then some highlights from each sock sister; and finally, in the extended section of the post, all the sockapal-news-za that's fit to print. I hope this makes the updates more readable and enjoyable!

Finished sockers!

Agnes knit Fancy Silk Socks with short-row heels (they look awesome!)
Angela finished her springy Jaywalkers.
Angela's bright red slip-stitch sockpal socks are done! She's even posted her pattern. (And you HAVE to see her recently finished circle bolero from the cover of Vogue Knitting - wow!)
Ann has finished beautiful lilac Elfine socks.
No pictures posted yet, but Anne reports that she finished her socks this weekend, somewhere in New Mexico on the Sunset Limited (Amtrak). She'll be able to post pics when she's back home.
Not only did Carmelle finish a pair of Cascading Leaves socks for her pal, she knit another pair for herself! Naturally, she rewarded herself with a pile of new sock yarn.
Caroline finished her socks - and that's all the details Ashley has! Very mysterious....
Debi has finished her pal's Lacy Scallops and they are beautiful!
Fickleknitter has finished her very lovely socks.
Frith has finished her bright, spring inspired socks.
JJ has finished her socks, and has started a pair of child socks too.
Julie has finished her pink and white socks. The twisted rib looks gorgeous.
Jen has finished her Yukon leaves socks.
Kitty has finished her pal's terrific pink Jaywalkers - they're great!
Leslie T has finished her socks. They have been washed, blocked, and set aside for their big orange debut in May.
Mac has finished her lacy socks. I believe they are her own design.
Mai has finished her gorgeous fair isle socks. Aren't they beautiful?
Maria has finished her Cherry Tree Hill socks. Take a look.
Pam's well-travelled socks have gone to Miami, Las Vegas, and New York City, but only have been photographed while still in progress.
Roberto has finished his Sockpalooza Speckled Socks.
Sally reports that her Sockpalooza Socks are done (pictures will be forthcoming, I assume).
Sarah has also finished her socks. Go look at her pictures - the colors are terrific!
Tracy's pal is waaaaaay lucky. Not only does she get amazing autumn leaves Socks, Socks, Socks (you also need to read about how special the yarn is too), Tracy is going to make her a needle case.
Not to be outdone, Wendy completed beautiful socks in hand-dyed in Gleam colourway by Melissa at Two Loops. (Although I'm not sure if we will be seeing any hand-dyed yarns from her anytime soon - uh oh, look what she just got.)
Beginner Leigha has finished her socks. Now all she wants to do is knit more socks. Leigha - welcome to the club!

Highlights!
(How 'bout we do reverse order this time, so you can check out the blogs of those at the end of the alphabet while you're still fresh? That puts Mary's beginners first...)

Sensational Knitted Socks has worked its magic again. Norah had a 2am revelation about dpns, successfully completed the class sock and has now cast on for her pal's sock.
Peacock has done some more amazing swatches for her sock. Just look at that colourwork!

Help a sista' out. What would Bush do? (Nancy Bush, that is.) Anyone who has knit this pattern, feel free to offer Trish some advice or encouragement before she abandons this sock pattern.
And when you're done, go give Deidre some assurance that her socks are worthy of SP3.

Highlighted sock knitters in Jenipurr's group are those who have reached the halfway point (one sock down) and are avoiding Second Sockitis to get those sock pairs finished for their pals!
Sheri has finished the first sock (scroll down in the entry for pictures). I love how the watermelon colors spiral around the sock through the lace pattern!
Sheryl has finished her first sock, in colors that remind me of neopolitan ice cream (yum).

Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist (not to be confused with Pinkle Mon) is launching a Yahoo! group with fabby free patterns.
Nathalie has discovered new knitting mojo by giving Vine Lace the heave-ho in favor of re-starting on Embossed Leaves. Maybe it's that clever toe or the new dpns.
Michelle had a highly succesful trip to Stitches West, where she got peachy perfect yarn.

Sock sister Erin has some pictures of her River Rapids sock progress up, along with some retro ribs for her hubby.
After debating which pattern to use, Lisa has opted for the tipsy knitter socks. She's got one down, and a good start on the second.

Sock sister Donna finally has an update - she's happily stranded on a socknitting island with Crusoe socks for her pal in Koigu.
Kirsty has turned the heel on her second lovely Lozenge sock - will she cross the finish line next week?

Helene is knitting an absolutely scrumptious pair of Blueberry Waffle socks, help her decide if these should be her pal's socks.
Jayme needs help! She has put up a poll on whether or not to use her own handspun or one of her other beautiful choices.

Di has been working on some socks in Eki Riva baby alpaca, but is feeling tempted to keep them for herself, they DO look lovely and soft.
Dragonfly_Judy is zipping right along on the Boysenberry Pie socks, already finished with the first and to the heel on the second one.
Elka has started on her GORGEOUS sock pal socks in her own pattern, and is using a beautiful handspun yarn!

Colleen just kitchenered up the toe of her first sock. We've been watching it grow all week: the leg, the heel, and the foot. Go Colleen! That kind of dedication deserves a new iPod.
Courtney is looking for advice from anyone who's knitted the Fancy Silk Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks - can it be done on two circs?
Bliss Needs your help: go vote on which sock she should make! And OMG, have you seen her puppies? Go look at them RIGHT NOW.

Amysue's Sensational Knitted Socks aren't knitted yet, but you've got to see the pics of the sweater she finished for her daughter's birthday, the cake, and the son wearing the pink felted bag she knit for her niece!
Anna swore to remain faithful to her Sockpal, but after finishing the first sock, she is now having "a brief, cheap, and meaningless affair with some Trekking". I can see the appeal, Anna!
Ann is working on two pairs of socks, both exquisite, and may give both of them to her pal. Lucky!

(Click on "more" below for all the rest!)

Update-a-loooza!

Sock sister Mary (that's me!) has finally started her socks! I'm using Fleece Artist Merino and one of Anna's sock patterns.
Susan has some cakes of yarn on her blog. Some of them will become her pal's socks, but which ones, we just don't know...
Reagan has had some gauge problems and has had to rip back her sock. Don't give up Reagan, they will be lovely when they're done.
Jill has started on her Jaywalkers. They're looking great Jill!
Laura's had a few problems - broken dpns anyone? She's regrouped and has now decided on some ankle socks for her pal. Who knows, she may even do two pairs.
Krista has finished her first ever sock and it is fab! I think these are for her husband, is that right Krista? Now she's preparing to cast on for her sock pal.
Laura has decided to use this pattern for her pal's socks. Thanks for the link Laura - I may have to try a pair of those myself.
Pat is on the heel flap of her sock. She's even made up a variation of the pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks.
Tiffany has finished one Jaywalker. She promises to model them when the other one is done.
Valerie has started her socks. She's doing the Diagonal Rib Socks by Ann Budd.

Sock sister Jenipurr reports:
ReluctantMango is back from vacation and has started some Lava Flow socks for her pal.
Renata is starting over with Badcaul Socks in Socks that Rock.
Rosemary is making Simply Lovely Lace Socks in a pale pink Opal.
Sharon has started some blue stripey Jaywalkers for her sock pal.
Sherry is almost done with her first Embossed Leaves sock.
Spinning_Sue has started some lovely purple socks which will have a lacy rib pattern on the legs.
Stariel has a progress picture of her socks online. Looks like her sock pal's getting purple socks with ruffles!
Stephanie has given up on the Chalet Socks and is redoing them with a lacy shell pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks.

Sock sister Ina writes:
Mia is test-knitting (and frogging) Falling Leaves.
Miss.Sarah is trying out this pattern and this pattern, courtesy of her generous SP.
Miss_M has finished one long evil sock.
Opportunityknits is re-discovering the joy of sock knitting with the perfect sock yarn and pattern.
Pansar has almost decided what to make her sock pal.
Patti has half a sock done.
Patty has achieved sock-knitting satori via Dani yarn, with the sock itself mystically represented by an African violet.
Penny has been knitting and tinking Vine Lace all the way to the heel.
Phoebe has become addicted to the Walking Away pattern.

Sock sister Erin reports:
Laurie W has ordered some beautiful handpainted yarn for her pal.
Lavendarsheep has reconsidered her sock choice and is opting for Harry's socks from the Socks, socks, socks book.
Lexa has bought some beautiful handpainted merino. Now she cannot decide what to chose for her pal. She is opting to make socks from both colorways and then decide which will go to her pal. (Good thing she and her pal are the same size!)
I don't know who the jaywalkers on Linz's site are for, but they are pretty in purple.
They aren't sockpal socks, but Lisa P. has finished her long socks.
Maia has a pair of socks up and a pair in progress. Help her name the orange ones.
Also not sockpal socks, but Marie R. is working on some pretty pink lacy socks for her daughter.
Mary A has reached the heel of her sock and is really enjoying the Sensational Knitted Socks patterns.

Sock sister Donna reports:
Kat's testing out the Crusoe pattern for her pal - I say "go for it!"
Kate's lace socks are indeed "simply lovely."
Kathleen has started "Baby's First Sock in Shell Pattern" for her lucky pal - so pretty!
Katie had to frog her Glad Raggs sock - it was too tight. Too bad!
Katie learns a gauge lesson with her Simply Lovely Lace Socks, and ends up with not one but two pretty socks to show for it!
Kim has her yarn, but she's still considering her pattern options - go admire her finished "Nacho" socks and give her your input!

Sock sister Cathy bought some yarn, thought she decided on Mermaid socks but has now gone out and bought another sock pattern book!
Jess started her toe and one of her ebony DPNs broke, go leave a sympathetic comment!
Jaya has selected yarn and a pattern, go wish her luck on her comprehensive exams too!
Jen is combining multiple patterns, the Not Cable Socks, but doing them toes up as per the free KnitPicks pattern.
Jen H has pretty pink yarn!
Jodee has decided on the Crusoe pattern from Knitty in Koigu! Lucky pal!
Jenn is working on the Pomotamus socks from Knitty in Lorna's Laces in the Aslan colorway.
Holly is not sure she's happy with her toe, but the closeup of the heel looks great!
Joanne has chosen some great looking yarn.
Jaime has an enviable pile of sock yarn to choose from.
Jessica is making great progress on her socks.
JennyRaye has finished her first Wyvern sock.
Judy is turning cables on her Beehive socks
Jessie has started her socks in Claudia Hand Painted yarn in Plumlicious! What a great name for a color!

Sock sister Carry has finally just started her pal's socks in Bearfoot and writes in:
Debbie has started on the heel on her Flamingo Jaywalkers, looking good!
Debra will knit pink "Moc Crocs" from KnitPicks with Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock in Old Rose.
Diane has been working on her socks, no pictures yet but check out the pictures she took at the cathedral!
Elisabeth will be knitting her pal some fair isle socks in Lorna's Laces!
Eliza has nearly finished her pal's socks. She's being sneaky though, the only pic is in a ziplock!
Emily has been trying to decide between the Dublin Lace, or some mosaic pattern.
Gwen is hoping that we might weigh in on her sockpal choices. While there check her latest pair of socks!

Sock sister Ashley reports:
Brie is almost done with one of her Rib & Cable socks, in a lovely muted colorway, and has also found time to make herself some Koigu anklets! A woman after my own heart...
Catherine started some Lorna's Laces Jaywalkers for her pal. Can't wait to see pics!
Christine is done with one beautiful blue Pomatomus and is flying through the second.
It's all Grumperina, all the time over at Chymerikaen's--she just finished an Odessa hat and has some Jaywalkers underway for her pal!

Sock momma Alison has still not started her socks (well, I would have but I couldn't take the needles out of my Brazil socks, owing to my having knit the toe wrong in the dark!), but has finally gotten around to catching up on all her sock-ees:
Adrienne will be making plain, top-down, stockinette socks for her pal in green Jawoll Jacquard. Looking for more excitement, check out the Pomatomas socks she's working on - wild!
Alden has posted a pic of her and Jayme's beautiful socks in progress.
Alexandra has started socks with lovely pastel stripes.
Alicia has just started her sockpal socks, but has made the cutest Harry Potter hat! (I LOVE it!)
Allison answers her sock pal's questions - she is so funny!
Alynda is knitting both socks at the same time and is already turning the heels. I hope we see some pics when she's all done!
Amanda will be making Sheri's Lace socks in Lorna's Laces Iris Garden yarn.
Amy is working on beautiful Rib and Cable socks from IK.
Amy is thinking ahead to summer and will make short sport socks in Cascade Fixation to wear with sneakers and shorts. The socks will be a mix of denim
blue, dark blue and yellow. Pictures to come...
No pictures yet, but Angel is knitting Rib and Cable socks in dark green Knitpics yarn.
Angela is working on her own pattern in red Jawoll - oooh, it looks pretty (and complicated). Good luck, Angela!
Check out the gorgeous cable-y socks Anie is knitting!
Ann ordered yarn Jade Saphire 2-ply Cashmere from Make 1 Yarns to make Leaf Lace Socks for her pal and reports that their service was great servicel.
Ann-Marie is letting herself be inspired by the awesome socks she got in the last sockapalooza swap. She's planning on making Jaywalkers for her pal this time.
Beate is going to use some of that fabulous self-striping Regia yarn that I love so much - it's the cotton version, called India Color (check out the link on her blog!).
Bekki has started all -British socks: Elfine socks in Fyberpaytes yarn.
Poor Betty has been unable to start her sockapaloooza socks since she hurt her finger. She's just had the cast removed and is exercising it by finishing up her Olympic knitting project. Once she's fully recovered, she's planning on knitting Yarrow Ribbed Socks from Vintage Socks or After Bertha socks from Socks Socks Socks. Get well soon, Betty!

Olympics over, vacation over, now it's time for full-on sockapaloooza! You can tell things are heating up - we've got almost 15 pairs of finished socks this week.

Danielle finished (yay! First finisher in Ashley's group! [that I know of]) her lovely green lacy socks, but is considering starting some knee-highs.
Dorothee has finished up her pal's fun blue lace socks. You have to check out the red hot socks she's making now. Love them!
Grauwal has finished a luscious pair of red, ribbed Regia socks but is contemplating making a new pair.
Illanna has finished her socks! Look at those awesome colors - it's Kool-Aid, of course.
Jenny has finished her RED Falling Leaves ankle socks and a little something extra for her pal!
Julie is done with a very springy pair of socks.
Katherine has finished her sock pal's socks, and they do indeed rock - I predict a serious case of envy for all visitors. Congratulations!
Look at Leandra's finished socks! They are beautiful. And let's not forget to give credit to the giggling sock model.
Lori E has finished her socks. She hopes her pal likes fraternal socks. Same yarn, same dyleot, different socks. Go figure.
Mama E has finished her embossed leaves. THEY ARE SO PRETTY.
MommyknitsJen has finished an exquisite pair of pale blue lace Koigu. She hasn't been able to post finished pix, but see her progress pix.
Sharon has finished her lacy beaded socks, and just in time (they were here Knitting Olympics project). Go check out the finished picture!
Jen has finished her first pair of socks! She used Trekking XXL and has also been doing some fairly serious sock surgery to a rather fine looking knee length sock.
Micha has finished her socks in Regia Multi-Ringels. Lovely bright stripes - she is having a hard time not keeping them for herself!

Oh, and a reminder from me: when you finish your socks, be sure to let your sock sister know, then click on the link in the sidebar here to update your info, and once you've accessed your info click on the "socks knitted" box so we'll have a record that you are done knitting.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And now... get ready.... it's your UPDATE-A-LOOZA... Got an hour or two - read 'em all! Or check out a couple, then come back later. They'll still be here.

Sock momma Alison still has not started her socks yet. They're only supposed to be knee-highs in Koigu - what's the rush? (Heh, heh.)
Abigail will be running a fun contest to see who can pick out her sockapaloooza socks amongst all the socks she'll knit in the next couple of months. She'll be giving away a KnitPicks gift certificate, so watch her knit and then post your guesses in May!
Alexandra has found the perfect yarn for her pal. Isn't that a great feeling?
Alice C hasn't started knitting yet, but is planning on using two different yarns to make a stained glass effect. Sounds cool! Can't wait to see them.
Allena's getting everything ready to start knitting, but would like some advice about knitting top-down vs. toe-up.
Allie has finished one soft cashmere and kid merino sock, but it won't fit!
Angela thought she was done with her second Jaywalker sock, but has had to take it apart twice. Let's hope the third time's a charm, Angela!
Angela has finished the cuffs of her super fun Old Shale two yarn socks.
Anie hasn't posted them on her blog yet, but she reports that she's working on River Rapid socks in two-strands of Crystal Palace Kid Merino. Sounds heavenly!
Ann has almost finished her first beautiful lilac Elfine sock. (And check out the yarn swap she participated in. Mmmmmmm, yaaaaaarn.)
Annette is making the most gorgeous Broadripples in Socks that Rock.
Annie's gray cabled sock is looking so lovely, it sounds like the pair will be hard to part with.
Becky has also found just the right yarn for her pal in pretty shades of pink and orange. Hey, check out her next crochet project - cool!
Bethieee has knit two socks, but they aren't a pair. Is it possible to knit two left socks?!

Sock Sister Ashley started Pomatomuses but failed completely and started some Wyverns instead. Also, she's having a little vacay this week, and apologizes if she missed anyone's update!
Bfmomma is making progress on both socks at once, AND she dyed the yarn herself!
Brenda picked up some Lorna's Laces in a special Vancouver Island-inspired colorway for her pal. What a nifty idea! Knit local, swap global!
bySarah is putting her Best Foot Forward with some lovely Fortissima Cotton.
Caitlyn has started some beautiful blue Pomatomuses in Artyarns Ulatramerino. (Is Pomatomus the new Jaywalker?)
Carol has sent in a photo update—almost done!
Carla started some blue, blue, blue Badcauls, and they were simply gorgeous—but they didn't work out. Neither did her Retro Ribs. Sniff.
Carmelle's made two Cascading Leaves socks—but they're not a pair!
The purple ribbing continues to grow over at Carrie's.
Chrissie is knitting the Birch Leaf socks from A Gathering of Lace in a wool/alpaca blend, and might dye them pink!
Christy has some half-finished Retro Ribs and a super-cute dog.
Cori is knitting up two Sensational Knitted Socks at once, in a cool self-striping chevron pattern.
Dana is making awesome progress on her gorgeous pinky-(or reddish-)purple Jaywalkers.
Danielle has decided to make some Fixation anklets for a pal who doesn't want wool.
Danmakine reports that she has one HOT HOT HOT pink sock nearly finished, and should have the second one well underway before this update goes out; will she be our second group finisher??

Sock Sister Carry reports:
Diana has been in a sock knitting frenzy, are any of these sock pal socks?
Diane has finished her first sock.
Donna has her yarn and pattern, she is considering trying the magic loop method.
Dyann has picked out yarn and a pattern.
Elise has finished her first sock.
Erica has finished her fabulous Oregon socks! She will be doing another pair in another color for her pal.
Fayme has nearly finished her pal's socks.
Fickleknitter started her socks with a pattern based on "The Sacred Text".
Flan is attempting the toe-up variation on the Jaywalker pattern.
Frith has finished one pink sock, second one on its way!
Heather B has yarn and a pattern!
Heather is using the "Rainy Day" pattern in Aegean Maine Bear Zox yarn for her pal.
Heather is starting on sock number two. Check out her beautiful Embossed Leaves Sock!
Helen finished up with the Olympics and is really rockin' on her socks, she's past the heel and doing both at once!

Sock sister Cathy writes:
Judy has chosen a pattern and will be starting soon.
Julia has finished one beautiful Mata Hari sock and has started Number 2!
Jenny has started her socks now that the Olympic frenzy has passed.
Jen has started her socks, 2 at a a time on 2 circs!
Jess has received her Socks that Rock yarn in the Lapis Colourway, oooooo.
Jessica has progress shots of her socks on 2 circs!
Jessimuhka is working on a gorgeous pair of falling leaves socks, wow!
Janine has received her beautiful pink/red yarn and is looking at patterns.
Jenni is knitting the Uptown Boot Socks from Interweave Knits Winter 2003 in juicy red Koigu.
Jenny Raye has made progress on a very cool sock in Lorna's Laces in Poppy using the Wyvern pattern.
Jenn is making great progress on a pair of socks with lace detail. Her puppy approves!
JJ changed her mind on her pattern but has still gotten Sock 1completed and Sock 2 well on its way.
Jenn has chosen a yarn and is experimenting with patterns. She needs your help, go give her some ideas!
Julie has started her socks in a pretty green using the Embossed Leaves pattern.
Jessica has finished a leg in a pretty lace pattern.
JoShell has started a pair of Fancy Silk Socks in purple!

Sock sister Donna reports:
Kara had to rip out her beautiful Tulip sock - it was too tight! See the lovely "before" picture (it's still impressive).
Karlie is halfway through the leg of her "Mermaid Pearl" socks!
Kat's past the heel on some lovely candy-colored lace socks - say "Hello, Spring!"
Kate's Pomatomous sock for her pal features yarn she dyed herself, in colors her pal would like. It's incredible - go see.
Kate and her Jeep had a disagreement last week about whether you should drive with the hood open or closed(!) I have a feeling she'll soothe her frazzled nerves by starting her sockpal socks!
Katie will be making the Six Sox knitalong's "Glad Raggs" beaded socks for her pal - how cool (plus, two knitalongs at once is multi-tasking).
KC has a great start on some groovy red and purple socks!
Keohinani is almost halfway done with a beautiful pair of spring green ribbed socks!
Kim sees some Falling Leaves socks in her pal's future!
Kim is using Dale Baby Ull for her pal's Gentleman's Fancy Socks, baby! She says the first attempt was ugly, but I don't think so!
Kirsti's pal will be getting leafy, lacey socks in Mountain Colors' Bearfoot - yum!
Kit has a case of Second Sock Syndrome, but that means her first sock is done (check out the homemade sock blocker)!
Kitty's Jaywalkers look awesome - and she's almost finished, just one toe to go!
Kristel is designing lacy socks - if they work out, her sock pal will be the lucky recipient of the first pair! In the meantime, check out her steeking pics - I don't need to read Finnish to understand "after the steeking comes the Champagne!"
Kristen has finished her pal's first sock, a beautiful cabled number in teal Wildfoote - so pretty!
Kristen is getting in touch with her inner Celt knitting some tremendous Celtic Braid socks for her pal - who I hope is me. :)

Sock sister Erin writes:
Laura left to the decsion of her sockpal yarn to the masses. The people have spoken, and she now has sockpal yarn.
Leslie T and her little boy and a blast koolaid dying dome merino for her sock pal. She's already finished one sock and has cast on the other.
Lesley C has one sock done, and one to go, although the second sock has gone "wonky" and will be started over.
Lily has started her elfin socks. She has an updated post here that shows one done, and one to go.
Linda has chosen Waving lace socks from IK Spring '04. She just has to decide on a color.
Linz is doing both her socks at the same time, to avoid Second Sock Syndrome.
There has been a change in plans for Lisa C. She has cast aside her jaywalkers and decided to work on her sockpals socks, which she has now decided will be Gullwings.
Lori is not only making the Pippi KneeStockings from Stitch n Bitch for her pal, but she is also contemplating a little project for her pal, "for fun". Now she's anxiously awaiting some elastic to arrive at her LYS.
Lori has passed the halfway mark on her socks.
Lyme has almost finished one river rapid sock. Check it out!
Mac has her yarn dyed and spun, and is comtemplating socks of her own design. Although the first trial has not gone so well.
Mai has some pregress on her beautiful fair isle socks.
Maggii has chosen her yarn and is going to crochet her socks.
Greetings from Hawaii! Malle is knitting socks while celebrating her birthday on the beach.
Maria is getting close to finishing her socks, and is planning to send of few extras along in the package. Go help her cope with sending her daughter to science camp!
Mary A not only has a sock update, but go take a look at her pi shawl.
Mary C has started some very pretty embossed leaves for her pal.

Sock sister Ina says:
Maureen hasn't been knitting much - she's seeking suggestions on how to deal with skunk juice!
Meghan has started Mermaid socks in blue Opal Dreamcatcher.
Melanie has strep throat, but also an amazing Knitting Olympics Closing Ceremonies parade of socks (with pattern) on her blog.
Melissa read the pattern chart for Falling Leaves upside down and backwards, so is going to (gasp) frog in public.
Meredith started Embossed Leaves in purple Koigu and has finished one sock.
Michelle has finished her training pair of Jaywalkers.
Michelle has been test knitting with self-striping yarn and with two variegated yarns; another experiment is in the wings.
Mindy has worked about four inches on her first sock.
Minnie is recovering from flu and Olympic knitting and Pomatomus.
Miss_M is knitting an "alarmingly" long leg from her handdyed handspun.
Nicole is cabling along on socks in between working on The Project That Shall Not Be Named.
Olga has beautiful Hill Country yarn and is knitting Rib and Cable socks from IK Fall 2005, also sewing up a storm!
Opportunityknits is using Regia Silk to make Juani's Braided Socks.
Pam (sadly blogless and camera-less) has been knitting on planes and has finished one sock. Her pal will be getting a stack of postcards along with the well-travelled socks!
Patrice has knit one leg and is experimenting with different heels.
Patti is recovering from flu and learning the 2s2c technique by making Retro-Rib socks. (Don't say I didn't warn you.)
Patty has almost finished one sock.
Patty is back from a vacation that included a lucky visit to Red Sox spring training, knitting one Jaywalker, and starting a shy sock for her sock pal.
Peggy has other socks on the needles, but will be starting Jaywalker in Opal Handpainted soon because she knows it's no fun to receive socks late.
No knitting, but a naughty question from PinkHebe in the U.K. on the prevalence of a certain, er, intimate grooming practice in the U.S.
Pip_and_Tom has cast on Dalarna.

Sock sister Jenipurr reports:
Rae is almost finished with her first sock - a gorgeous shell lace pattern in turqouise.
Roberto decided that the yarn just didn't work with the pattern he'd selected, so he's starting over.
Rocketbride has started over, but is nearly done with the first sock (again).
Ruth is working her way through the first sock and doing a great job so far.
Sally has posted pictures of her first Lacy Mock Cable sock.
Sarah is making Tiptoe socks from Knitty, and her first one looks fabulous so far!
Sarah has finished her first sock, using some gorgeous pastel yarn from Knit Picks, and the gentleman's fancy sock pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks.
Sarah G has decided to start over, with a new lace pattern.
Sarah W has picked out some brightly colored Koigu for her sockpal's socks.
Sheri is making Harbor Socks, and has made it past the first cuff. Check out the colors she's picked - these are going to be some amazing socks!
Sherry has changed her mind and is now making Celtic Braid socks in yarn she dyed herself (the cables look terrific so far).
Sheryl is making progress on sock #1, using a Slip Rib pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Stephanie has started her Chalet Socks in bright turquoise Lorna's Laces (check out her progress pics of the design).
Strangelittlemama has picked some gorgeous yarn for her sockpal's socks.

Sock sister Lisa writes:
Hey, if you haven’t done so already, head over to Blue Moon Fiber to join the sock club. Did you click? Psych, you’re too late and what the heck do you need more sock yarn for anyway? For god’s sake, it’s an illness for some of us. And Anna signed up anyway. Go over to her blog and tell her she should be ashamed. ;0)
Hey, wanna see what you get when you google “weird socks”? Zaam, do you recognize any of these socks? Um, check out the third listing…I’m just sayin’.
Carrie just bought her yarn from Melissa who is offering discounts to sockapaloooza participants. She pulled a “Bodie” and didn’t quite get her Olympic socks finished in time. Gee, I wonder who is cutting into her knitting time?
Holy Pippi Longstocking, Christine is making these! Check out the cool calf shaping…which can only mean…yes, another pair of knee socks (yes, I’m bitter).
Dani spent her Sunday at Flying Fingers--I am very jealous…did you take the Yarn Bus? After winning a gold medal for completing her Olympic Afghan (whew!), she says she’s ready for for Sockapalooza. Here is her progress. What? That’s what you get when you send updates without pics.
Head on over to Diane’s blog to help her pick out which Socks That Rock colourway she should use to showcase the Dublin Bay Socks Pattern. And if you are so inspired, support her other very worthy cause.
Jennifer just cast on her for socks using Cascade Fixation and wants a little help understanding how to read the ball band. So, here you go Jennifer…IGNORE IT—NOONE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS AND IT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT KNITTING GROUPS AROUND THE WORLD…I’ve knit quite a few pairs of socks with Fixation. I wouldn’t go any larger than #4s and try to keep just a little bit of tension on the yarn but do not stretch it too much when knitting. And god help you if you drop a stitch…just forget about it, don’t even look for it in the elastic abyss.
Rachel finally got around to sending pictures this week which means that I won’t have to use my placeholder, but rather, you can see the real deal. Of course, this may be the closest her sock pal will get to the socks as her mother in law threatens to steal them.
Ich finde diese Muster einfach grandios! Durch viele der wunderbaren Färbungen der Wollmeise werden sie hervorragend ergänzt. Oops…sorry, I forgot you don’t all speak German. Well, I also forgot that I don’t speak German either. But for the sake of Sockapaloooza, each week I plug away with my German-English dictionary tirelessly translating Sabine’s blog postings. What? She posts in English too? Well, where’s the fun of that?
So last update, I confused Susanne with Suzanne and so I’m going to do my best to get this right this week…
So I’d like to introduce you to Susanne. Grammy Sue, what to do? Working on two pairs of socks, and looking for populi vox (I know, but vox populi didn’t rhyme). Which to give, which to keep…I know, let’s play spin the sheep (now, that’s just wrong).
And this is Suzanne, I think. But wait, they are both knitting with Opal so I’ll probably confuse them again. She’s waiting to hear back from her pal who claims to have a 10 inch foot circumference to make sure that the sizing will be right. Hey, if it’s too big, your sock pal can always wear the sock over their shoe. I say, Knit On!!!
Tonia knit a fabulous fair-isle sampler hat for the Knitting Olympics and is now swatching some Lorna's Laces for her sockapaloooza socks.
Stashbuster Alert!! Trish is soaking up the sun in the Caribbean, and she had better come back with two knitted socks or a really darn good excuse.
Uylond dropped me a line to let me know she finished the first knee sock for her pal (knee sock!!! I still can’t get over that). Take a look.
And for me, I present, my boomerang cozy.

Sock sister Mary reports:
Jennifer-Lynn is onto the second sock of her pair.
Jillrachele is halfway through her second sock. There's no picture yet, but hopefully we'll see one soon.
Lararoy has finished her first sock! She's taking a little break before starting on the second - I think we all know how that feels!
Laura's sock yarn has arrived, now she just has to find a pattern that will show it off.
Leigha has finished her first sock. She's using Lorna's Laces and the Dublin Bay pattern from Knitting on the Road.
Lisa has been practising intarsia in the round in preparation for her Skull Socks of Fury. Aren't they cool?
Pat is giving us a sneak peek at her sock yarn. She says we won't see any more for a while, but will tell us that she'll be doing Openwork Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks - great book Pat!
Take a look at Peacock's swatching for her socks. They are going to be fabulous!
TwistedKnitter's sock yarn has arrived. She's not sure if she'll stick with that choice, but she's been learning lots of things about the way she likes to knit socks. She's another one of us who loves the book Sensational Knitted Socks!
Pilar has finished one of her socks, although she's not completely happy with the toe.
And look! Ingrid is using Sensational Knitted Socks as well, plus she's using Socks That Rock yarn. I'm sure her pal will be very happy with their socks!
Janet has had to rip her sock as it was turning out too big. Janet, we feel your pain!
Krista has picked out her pal's sock yarn - Lorna's Laces in Gold Hill.
Doris has started her socks. She was thinking about 'super-plain' socks but now she's planning on doing some Jaywalkers.
Emily is about to embark on the adventure of her first ever pair of socks. She's using Lorna's Laces and doing Jaywalkers.
Libraryliz is using Cascade Fixation for her pal's socks. She's loving the colourway but is nervous her pal won't like them. Go tell her not to worry - I'm sure they'll be great!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One last note! Amy who we all know from IndiGirl Knits has contacted me to let me know about some special sockapaloooza offers. First, her store Make1Yarns has a boatload of sock yarn available (Regia Tip & Top Cotton, Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Art Yarns Handpaint Stripes and Ultramerino 4, Schaefer Anne, Diakeito Diamusee Fine, 2ply Jade Sapphire Cashmere, etc). They offer free shipping and for sockapalooza participants only, will also include upgraded shipping (i.e., express or air instead of ground). Second - and I'm so excited about this! - she'll be running a drawing at the end of the sockapaloooza for all participants. The prize will be sock yarn of your choice from their current stock, plus a GoKnit pouch from KnowKnits (which is perfect for sock knitting). Isn't that cool?! Thanks, Amy!

So much for German punctuality! I stayed up a little too late last night preparing this update and overslept this morning. I just needed to add updates from one sock sister and a few links to pictures this morning, but the German train system waits for no-one, so I had to postpone it until now. Ich bitte um Entschuldigung.

Here it is, week three and we've got a total of four finished pairs of socks so far! (Two of them from Ina's group. I don't know what she has promised her knitters if they finish early, but they are just a bunch of over-achievers aren't they? Tee hee.)

Ina reports that after frogging a few times, Morgan has finished her fraternal Jaywalkers!
And Donna says Kerrie has finished her socks filled with stripey goodness! Huzzah!

And here's your update-a-looza...

Sock momma Alison hasn't knit a stitch on her sock pal's sock while on vacation.
Abigail has finished another pair of lacy socks and again she won't tell us if they are for her pal or not. She's sly, that one!
Agnes has one red cabled sock finished and will now concentrate on socks for hubby for a while.
Alynda found some gorgeous Fleece Artist sock yarn for her pal and has cast on for toe-up, two at a time, Wyvern socks (from Marnie McLean).
Amy has turned the heel on her first sock and is working her way up the leg.
Anastacia hasn't made any knitting progress, but she did open an etsy store - check it out!
Andrea will be using Bearfoot Yellowstone yarn and making Bob's Meadowlark Socks (MC pattern).
Angel is thinking of Rib & Cable socks in KnitPicks yarn, but needs to do some swatching first.
Angela has finished her first Jaywalker.
Anna has also turned a heel and is ready to start the foot of her first bright rainbow sock. She's also just raving over some new sock yarn she's just received from this seller. You gotta see the colors Anna got!
Astrid has chosen Opal sock yarn and will make Jaywalkers. She's half-way done with her Olympic Jaywalkers already!
Betty is also working on Olympic projects right now, but she did receive yarn for her sock pal's socks. Look at the gorgeous close-up!
Beverly found a very pretty yarn called "Chlorophyll" from this etsy store for her sock pal's socks.

Sock sister Ashley writes in:
Brenda is making some Sockbug Lava Flow socks, and just has to decide which Cherry Tree Hill colorway to use.
Brigid just got her yarn: Lorna's Laces in Forest.
Carina just got a whole whack of sock yarn in the mail, in gorgeous colors! She's thinking orange for her pal—but which pattern should she use?
Carla has started some Stitches of Violet Basketweave Ribbing socks, using Claudia's Handpainted.
Carola has started her socks—Pomatomi, no less!
Chawne's pal requested anklets—she's got some underway, but is already planning a second pair for her lucky pal!
Christine picked up some yummy olive-green Koigu KPM for her pal.
Crissy picked out some blue yarn, and is pondering patterns.

Sock sister Carry reports:
Debbie is up to the foot decreases on the rainbow ripple sock she's started for her sock pal in lorna's laces purple iris.
Dene has answered her sockpal's questions and has picked out yarn for her pal's socks.
Dorothee has gotten a shipment of yarn, will her pal be lucky enough to receive 2 pairs of socks???
Elise started over with a new pattern, Waving Lace. What a great color/pattern match!
Elise is waiting to hear back from Sunshine Yarns about her pal's yarn.
Elspeth has picked up some nice KnitPicks sock yarn and will be doing the Pomatomus pattern.
Erica has gotten about 6" away from the tip of the toe, she is using a beautiful green color in Dale of Norway.
Fayme is working hard on figuring out the heel for the larger size. Check out the picture of her progress here.
Flan has found some Trekking XXL and is thinking of using the Jaywalker pattern.
Grauwal's pal's yarn has arrived, she's just waiting for the needles to be freed.

Sock sister Cathy reports:
Jenny has picked some yummy alpaca and is looking at patterns.
Jen has picked out yarn and is planning to use the Yukon Leaves pattern.
Holly Jo has done a totally tubular cast on to start her socks!
Julie is halfway through her second sock using Lorna's Laces in Yellowstone and the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer pattern. And check out the beautiful desert sky on her blog!
Joyce has been distracted by the Knitting Olympics (me too!) but has picked up some Fleece Artist sock yarn for her pal.
Jessica has started a lacy pair of socks in some very springy colored Lorna's Laces yarn.
Jess has bought 3 (!) different yarns for her sock pal, she's still mulling over patterns.
Judy has finished the leg of the first sock. Check out the beautiful ribs and cables.
Jessimuhka is still deciding on a pattern for her Sockapaloooza pal, but go be inspired by her green retro rib socks!

Sock sister Donna writes:
Karen's showing off one finished Jaywalker - it's beautiful in Schaefer Anne yarn.
Kat has three inches of pretty, pretty sock on the needles.
Kat's lucky sockpal is getting pink yarn that's verrry cute!
Katherine has finished her first Sock That Rocks with purple needles that match!
Kathy's got a great start on some bright red Aran socks - she'll have a lot of people hoping she's their pal!
Kim found the perfect inspiration for her socks when she took a class with Lucy Neatby (who looks so cool in Kim's pics!).
Kirsty has a lovely start on the Gentleman's Sock in Lozenge Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks.

Sock sister Erin writes:
Laura would appreciate some suggestions for her sockpal.
Laura has just finished dyeing yarn for her pal's socks and is now swatching in pattern. In the meantime, check out her Jaywalkers.
Lelah has chosen some Koigu (yum) and Anna's Nautilus socks.
Lesley has had a bit of a setback, but is now back on track.
Lindsey has chosen Lorna's Laces in Purple Iris for her pal. Now she just needs to decide between 3 patterns in the meantime: Mirabella, Elfine's socks, or Leaf Lace Socks.
They aren't sockpal socks, but check out Lisa's "long" socks.
Lisa C in TN has chose her yarn and pattern, (Embossed Leaves in Regia 4 ply denim) and hopes to start those next month.
Tragedy has struck Lorraine. Her socks were coming out too small, and has decided to rethink things.
Mai is knitting some very pretty fair-isle socks for her pal.
Malle is moving along on some very cute footlets.
Maria has chosen her yarn, Cherry Tree Hill Superwash, and pattern, Angel's Rest from Fiber Trends.

Sock sister Ina reports:
Melanie is going for a personal best in Olympic sock knitting and is pondering adapting Fair Isle Jazz from Scarf Style.
Melissa has cast on Falling Leaves in red Koigu in her copious spare time (not) and wants to learn Magic Loop.
Melissa visisted Chicago during a spell of -20 F (-29 C) weather and knitted with her daughter in the hotel.
After starting and frogging, Meredith is knitting Embossed Leaves in purple Koigu.
Mia got her re-certification (woo-hoo!) and is going to test drive Falling Leaves.
Michelle is off to Stitches West for some inspiration.
Mindy has some blue Koigu and is pondering the pattern short list.
MommyknitsJen is working the lace repeats on her Olympic Sockapaloooza socks.
Mozemen has yarn and big travel plans, pix to follow.
Nannette has selected Socks That Rock Spinel.
Nathalie is making an Olympic effort and knitting through the pain.
Opportunityknits posted some guidance for her sock pal.
Pam is starting socks in Magic Stripes and is preparing to be the mother of the bride.
Pam-M. has some periwinkle wool and Tencel yarn and is pondering wonderful patterns, including Metropolis and Italian Diamond Rib.
Patrice is using Opal Petticoat and Jaywalker.
Patti has done lots of blogging, also knitting and frogging in Cherry Tree Hill.
Patty has some gorgeous blue Dani yarn, a new digicam, an Olympics project, and a vacation coming up.
Pip_and_Tom has selected lovely green Nature's Palette yarn and Whitby from Knitting on the Road.

Sock sister Jenipurr reports:
Polly has picked her yarn and pattern and is getting ready to start.
Rachel has finished the first of her Canada socks (from Knitting on the Road).
Renata will be making Pomatomus socks out of some Socks that Rock in Cobalt Bloom.
Roberto will be making Pomatomus socks with some lovely aquamarine Sockotta yarn.
Rocketbride has made it halfway up the foot of the first sock.
Ruth is making Sockbug's Lava Flow socks.
Samantha is starting over, this time making ribbed socks.
Sandra will be using some lovely hand-dyed yarn in shades of purple and blue.
Sara has a picture of her socks in progress and they're turning out gorgeous.
Sarah is making Lacy Scallops socks in Regia Cotton Surf, and has already finished the first one.
Sarah G received her yarn and has started knitting the socks.
Sarah has picked her yarn and pattern
Sharon is making lacy beaded socks.
Spring is still trying to make up her mind on yarn and pattern.

Sock sister Lisa (are you reading Lisa's updates? They're hilarious!) writes:
OK, my turn. So I’m knitting along on Embossed Leaves, which is eating yarn faster than a swarm of moths at a Weird Al Yankovic concert. Lo and behold, I find myself at the end of the first of two—Yes, only TWO balls of yarn, just shy of the toe decreases…Criminy! No worries, I should be able to retrace my steps to figure out where I bought the yarn. I mean, in the past month, I’ve only been to: A Good Yarn, Circles, Black Sheep Knitting, Wild and Wooly in Lexington, Knitting Central, Yarn Barn, Yarn LLC, Knotty Girl in Fairfield, Ewe’ll Love it, Grace Robinson, and Halcyon. Nope, none of them carry this yarn. Hey, there’s a price tag on the yarn. I don’t go to yarn stores that have price tags on their yarn…and then it hits me….Freakin’ Fabric Place. What the hell was I doing there? So I headed out to Fabric Place in Framingham to get the other ball I asked them to hold for me. And as I’m driving past the court house, guess who is being ushered in, flanked by his attorney’s and security no doubt? Neil Entwistle…Enough said!
Susanne is knitting a pair of Opal Feather & Fan socks. No pictures of her socks yet, though she professes she’s past the heel.
Suzanne has emailed her sock pal a few times to nail down what she wants (no variegation!) and has picked a pattern (cables) but no yarn yet. Check out her “skank” of yarn from the “unloved sock yarn swap” though.
Teresa’s Lorna’s Laces is in the mail and she’s leaning towards the Sock Bugs Lava Flow pattern. Holy color-work Batman, check out her Olympic project.
Thistlerain is trying to find just the right color yarn for her pal. She started a pair in a lovely yarn and then decided it was too pale. So this week she will be looking for something a little brighter and keep working on the other pair for herself. She’s trying to decide whether to do a lace pattern or clocks or both? What the heck are clocks?
Tracy admits that she cannot knit while watching scary movies—she’s already broken her third Brittany needles finishing the first sock. (Editorial Sidebar from Lisa: OK, can we all agree that while we love Brittany needles, you cannot use their size 0, 1, or 2’s without breaking them?) She’s using a yarn called Love Hearts from a small English company that uses only historical plant dyes. Wow, check out her Kidsilk Stole as well as the fabulous fair isle object she’s using as the back drop for her socks.
Trina received her Knit Picks Sock Garden yarn and cast-on for the Embossed Leaves. I warned her too about watching her gauge. Don’t want to start a panic but let’s just say that my pair will be perfect for those days when you’re retaining water.
Hmm…seems like we have a lot of Embossed Leaves and Sock Bugs this Sockapaloooza.
Trish has decided on a tweedy purple Fortissima but is still up in the air on which pattern to use. It’s no wonder, with the Olympic dreams swirling around in her head. Entrelac, it’s the new…yeah, I’ve got nothing—it’s a lot of ends to weave in.
Ulond’s daughter Meghan emailed me with an update on her mom’s socks. She's got a lovely bubble-gum pink superwash Norwegian wool all picked out to start on her pal's knee-socks. KNEE SOCKS…I DIDN’T KNOW WE COULD REQUEST KNEE SOCKS, HELL, I’D HAVE ASKED FOR THIGH HIGHS! She'll be using a version of the "Mock Islelet" pattern from an old issue of Spin Off. She'll be casting on this week.
Weeza has narrowed it down to two patterns: Sockbug’s Lava Flow (right) and a mistake rib (left) both toe-up with Mary Lycan’s mitred toe and heel. She told me she was having trouble with her encroachments (which she was treating with ointment) and I had to google it because the only definition I knew of did not seem like it could be related to the human condition or anatomy. Help me out Weeza! Are you suffering from an invasion of tourists? Can you treat that with ointment?
1. invasion: any entry into an area not previously occupied; "an invasion of tourists"; "an invasion of locusts"
2. trespass: entry to another's property without right or permission
3. impingement: influencing strongly; "they resented the impingement of American values on European culture"
4. A property improvement or obstruction that physically intrudes upon the property of another.
5. A building or some portion of it, or a wall or fence that extends beyond the land of the owner and illegally intrudes upon land of an adjoining owner, a street or an alley.
Wooliedi’s on the road (“Knitting on the Road” that is) and has chosen The New England Socks in a dark red, to please her sock pal.
Zina’s chosen Sisu sock yarn in a lime green and she’s decideing between Sock Bug's Crooked Cable or Embossed Leaves from Winter 2005 Interweave Knits. I told her I was using the same yarn for my pal with the Embossed Leaves and that there is a gauge challenge because that pattern really was written for Koigu. Let’s wait and see what she decides.
Yarnsticks just posted an update on her blog. She’s defending her position with friends on why she is even knitting socks at all, much less knitting socks for someone she doesn’t even know…We’re a crazy bunch! I love the pooling…is that Retro Rib?
Andamay reports that she’s had a false start and had to begin again…she got so bored with the first pattern (in a faux fair isle) that she found herself sleepwalking over the jaywalker pattern on Grumperina’s site. So far so good with Trekking XXL and 1.5 needles.
Carol checked in this week from “slow-poke mountain” and asked for some help with metric conversions. I helped her make the conversions…poor thing, her sock pal’s foot is 3’ 6” long….wait, do you think I made a mistake?
Deidre has switched from the two circular method to dpns and is thanking her lucky stars that her pal has small feet. If you remember from last week, she kept knitting with the needle she was supposed to drop, or something like that…I swear it’s harder than the magic loop…and you have to buy twice as many needles (go figure). She also went to a beadmaking class at Snow Farm, which I have never heard of but I expect I will be visiting soon (thanks for clueing us in on another expensive hobby). I have a vague recollection that Julia from Moth Heaven had a bead problem about a year ago. Wonder how that is going?

Sock sister Mary writes:
Nic has picked some gorgeous Lorna's Laces for her socks and has made a start.
Helen has started a great pair of Jaywalkers for her pal.
Jen has finished one sock in Trekking XXL and is starting to see why sock knitters love handknitted socks so much!
Jill has chosen some 'Hot Socks' yarn for her pal and now has to pick a pattern.
Johanna has finished her first sock - luckily she can use her little brother as a foot model!
Lara is down to the heel of her first sock. She had a few problems but is following Ann Budd's sock pattern and all seems OK for now.
Lisa saw a pair of lace socks in the new IK that will be perfect for her pal but now she's thinking about another very cool pattern.
Peacock has found her yarn and now has to do some gauge swatches and pattern planning.
Melissa has settled on a pattern for her socks and has got started.
Laura is using some Lorna's Laces in Motherlode, although she'd really rather be using Opal self striping!
Krista's yarn has arrived. She loves it and hopes her sock pal does too.

Way to go everyone (sock sisters, sockapaloooza knitters, anyone who made it this far down the page!)! I'll be traveling back next Tuesday and will probably be jetlagged for a few days, so rather than keep you all in suspense while I try to catch up on my sleep, how 'bout we skip the update next week? Those of you working on Olympic projects should have plenty of time to attend medal ceremonies, rest up a bit and still be able to cast on for your sock pal socks in time for the next update. Maybe I'll have even cast on by then too! Maybe.

Our first finished socks!

Michelle finished her Bonkers Handpaints socks last week. Check them out and congratulate our first finisher!
And just last night, TrevorKane finished her socks! Here was the progress as of Monday morning. Pattern: Knitty's Broadripple, Yarn: Socks that Rock in Mesa. She loves these so much, she’s making a second pair for herself.

I thought the knitting olympics would slow things down a bit, but there's a ton of updates this week! I hope you can take the time to follow some of the links and say hi to a few of your fellow sockapalooozers. Even if you don't get to visit everyone's page, you should be able to get some good ideas about great sock yarns and sock patterns by reading through. Enjoy!

Sock momma Alison will be bringing her sock pal yarn with her to Germany.
Abigail finished some lovely lacy "Cotton Candy" socks, but she's not saying if they're her sock pal socks or not! She's working on another lacy pair now in red.
Agnes will be making Fancy Silk Socks by Nancy Bush for her pal.
Alliesw wants to make Old Shale Two Yarn socks for her pal in Baby Cashmere and Kid Merino. Wow, those are going to be soooo soft!
Alynda is considering Marnie McLean's Wyvern pattern for her pal.
Amy keeps her sock by the bed for a few minutes of bedtime knitting each night. Check out her progress!
Amysue has chosen Gryfindor variegated yarn from Sunshine Yarns for her pal. Can't wait to see how that knits up!
Amy plans to dye her sock pal's yarn herself and knit Nancy Bush's Rib and Cable socks.
Angela has chosen to make Old Shale Two Yarn socks for her pal. Look at the beautiful blue socks she just finished for her sister!
Angela is browsing through Barbara Walkers Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns for the perfect cable pattern for her pal's socks.
You have got to see the unique red patterned socks that Angela has started for her pal. (Scroll down to February 12 - it's worth it!).
and another Angela (the last one in this update, I promise!) is making the prettiest Jaywalkers I've ever seen in Lorna's Laces "Happy Valley" color 24.
Ann's first cable and lace sock is coming out beautifully!
Annette has ordered some gorgeous Socks that Rock yarn (Fire on the Mountain colorway - love that colorway!) and is planning to knit Broadripple socks from Knitty.com.
After a false start, Bethieee is knitting Nancy Bush's Fancy Silk Socks in Mountain Colors Bearfoot "Wildflower".
Beth has been knitting through the East Coast snowstorm and has the leg of her first feather and fan sock finished already.
Bethro would like to know what sort of heel might be easier for a first timer, a short-row heel or an afterthought heel? Any suggestions for her?

Sock sister Ashley writes:
Brie has her yarn; now she'd love input on the right pattern.
Carrie has some scrummy-looking purple yarn picked out for her pal.
Carol S. is "swatching" for her pal's Koigu socks by making a pair for herself!
Chloe has some gorgeous pink and brown yarn, and is also taking pattern suggestions.
Despite some intensive Olympic prep, Christine has actually started knitting her Vintage Socks! (She's the first starter in the Bf-Da group!)
Dana found some lovely blue Dalegaarn for her pal, and is trying to decide between two patterns.
Dana W. is going with Jaywalkers—but is still waiting for her yarn to arrive.
The mailman just brought Danielle some green Dalegaarn for her pal.
Danielle found some definitively non-pastel yarn for her pal during a trip to Webs.

Sock sister Carry, has yarn and pattern, will be waiting until after the Olympics to get started.
Debi found some Twinkeltoes sock yarn in the perfect color for her pal in her stash!
Designated_Knitter has started on the toes.
For Diane, peacock blue and December 15 are the perfect combination.
Donna is going with Lang Jawoll sock yarn for her pal.
Emily ordered some custom yarn from TwoWaters.
Erica has the toe of the first sock completed!
Gracie has started Embossed Leaves socks in a lovely purple shade of Wildfoote.
Grauwal picked out a pretty pink/red Regia yarn and is leaning toward something from Nancy Bush.
Looks like we can expect another new pattern from Jaywalker designer, Grumperina! She's chosen yarn for her pal and is still contemplating a pattern, which will most likely be something new, but simple.
Heather will also be making up her own pattern. She started a baby-sized sock to test drive her idea – so far so good!

Sock sister Cathy reports:
JamKnitter has chosen Mountain Colors sock yarn for some great cabled socks.
Jayme is working on a pair of fancy silk socks (Knitting Vintage socks) with yummy blue Fleece Artist yarn
Jenn has purchased some rainbowy Ellyn Cooper's Yarn Sonnets yarn.
Jennifer has chosen the Not Cable Socks from Sock bug
Jennifer has started her Pomotamus socks from Knitty, in Lorna's Laces sock in Aslan which is NOT purple!
Jenny has red Wildfoote from Brown Sheep at the ready for her pal's socks.
JennyRaye is busy competing in the Knitting Olympics but has picked out yarn and a pattern for her sock pal.
Jessica is working on a very springy looking pair of Jaywalker socks, go tell her they're not too pastel-y at all!
Jessica is making good progress on two socks at once on two circulars!
Jill has ordered Socks that Rock in Beryl! Pretty greens!
JoShell has ordered yarn from Hand Jive and is pretty much decided on making the child's French Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks
Judy has chosen some very soft and cozy yarn for her pal's socks.
Julie reports that thanks to the blizzard, she was able to complete the first sock and cast on the second this weekend! She is using a twisted rib pattern in Cotton Candy Twinkletoes for a sock pal who likes pink.
Julia is making good progress on her Mata Hari socks.

Sock sister Donna reports:
Katherine's lucky sock pal is getting Yukon Leaves socks in Socks That Rock - it does indeed look yummy!
New blogger Kelly is working on some fabulous Pomatomous socks in lovely purple Koigu.
Kerrie has finished her first sock! The crowd goes wild for the stripes!
Kit's working on some gorgeous Lace Scallop Socks in Lorna's Lace's Shepherd Sock Bittersweet - they're lacey and lovely!
Kitty's lucky pal will be Jaywalking through a sock garden - she's up to heel flap number 1!
Kristen's knitting beautiful socks with Wildfoote and playing with "wild" cats and dogs - wish her luck on her interview for veterinary school today!

Sock sister Erin has decided to make Sockbug's River Rapid socks.
Laura has chosen some Cherry Tree Hill yarn in Wild Cherry for her pal. Now she just needs to decide on the pattern.
Lavendarsheep is opting for "Spring Fever" socks from the Socks Socks Socks book.
Lily has chosen yarn and a sock pattern. Go check her progress.
Lindsey has decided to try to make her pal two pairs of socks. What a lucky Sockpal!
Lisa P. has decided on some Knitpicks Sock Memories yarn, and she is going with the falling leaves pattern from Knitty.
Liz has chosen her sockpal's yarn. Isn't it pretty?
Lori has started a blog and has chosen the Pippi Kneestockings from the first S n B book for her pal. Although she is going to have to order the yarn for them.
Lorraine has dyed her sockpal's yarn. Go read of the sock's latest adventure.
They aren't sockpal socks, but check out the socks Lucia has made.
Lyme has picked a pattern and ordered some yarn off ebay.
Lynn is thinking about making "Ribbed Cycling or Golf Stockings with Fancy Cuff in Trellis Pattern" from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks for her sock pal.
Mai is making gorgeous fair-isle socks for her pal. You gotta see them!
Malle has chosen some bright Regia for her sockpal, and wonders (since the yarn line is called Nation Color) what countries flag colors would be represented in this yarn. Also check out her Jaywalker progress!
Mama-E has decided on falling leaves for her pattern and has been caught red-handed, (sorry, I just couldn't resist) dyeing some sock yarn for it.
MamaSnooze has painted, skeined, wound, and swatched her sockpal socks. She has chosen a twisted cable pattern from Hello Yarn. Aren't they going to be beautiful?
Margene has chosen some very pretty red yarn to make "Child's first sock" from Nancy Bush's book, Knitting Vintage Socks.
Maria Isabel is debating between a few yarns and patterns, but appears to be leaning towards some Cherry Tree Hill yarn, now she just needs to decide on her pattern. She is looking at a few here.
Mariehas chosen her pattern and yarn, and plans to start them after the Olympics. (Mmm...koigu...)
Marie has been struggling with her shapely tank, but has since worked things out and has some serious sock yarn bootie to show. Her sockpal yarn is in there somewhere...
Mary Alice drops a hint about her socks. Pink, Cashmere, and Lace.
Mary C. has chosen some Artyarns Ultramerino4 (Color 122) and has chosen to make embossed leaves for her pal.

Sock sister Ina reports:
Megan has selected Falling Leaves and is waiting for payday to order yarn.
Melissa has selected Knit Picks Flower Power and Sock Bug's Lava Flow pattern.
Meredith has selected purple Koigu and New England from Knitting on the Road.
Mia is studying for professional re-certification and pondering colors of Socks That Rock.
Miss.Sarah has selected Fleece Artist yarn.
MommyknitsJen is combining Sockapaloooza and Knitting Olympics, and is avoiding Second Sock Syndrome.
Morgan has two great Lorna's Laces colorways for Jaywalkers.
Nathalie is test-swatching Vine Lace and has received beauteous cabled Sockapaltwoza socks.
Neva has ordered two Valentine's Day pretty colorways of Lorna's Laces and has a two-color pattern to show them off.
Olga is seeking opinions on which colorway of Hill Country Yarn to use and also has a fabby FO.
Parikha has selected Embossed Leaves and Jaeger Matchmaker and is perfecting a "ragtop".
Patty has selected Koigu and Anklet Coronets, without beads.
Penny has selected yellow Rowan 4 Ply Soft but is completing a baby blanket first.
PinkHebe has selected purple Opal and Falling Leaves.

Like most everyone else, sock sister Jenipurr is too distracted with the Knitting Olympics right now to make sock decisions.
PumpkinMamma is knitting Mermaid Socks out of her very own hand dyed self-striping sock yarn.
Rachel reports that she has started her socks.
Regenia is making the Peony Garden Socks for her sock pal.
Rocketbride will be making Falling Leaves socks, in a colourway of DGB Confetti that reminds her of pumpkin soup.
Ruth has chosenTrampoline Stretch yarn and is trying to pick a pattern.
Sally has been working on the first Lacy Mock Cable socks in KnitPick's Essentials sock yarn, in Grass.
Sara is making Socks with a Cable and Moss Stitch pattern, in turquoise Wildefoote, and has decided to make them her Olympic Knitting challenge.
Sarah is making a pair of Pretty Comfy socks in pastel varigated Cascade Fixation.
Sarah has started her socks and is almost through the leg on the first one.
Scout is done polling and has decided to make Web Socks for her pal.
Sheri has selected Watermelon Patch Sunshine Yarn and is trying to decide between Friday Harbor socks or Traveler's Socks from Knitting on the Road.
Sherry is making Embossed Leaves Socks in a deep red yarn.
Sheryl has selected some lovely brown self-patterning Trekking XXL and will be making Chevron socks, from Sensational Knitted Socks.
Sigga_Sif has started her first sock for her sock pal, using the Japanese Feather pattern in a gorgeous aquamarine color.
Stephanie is ordering several different sock yarns to pick which one she likes the best.
Strangelittlemamma has decided to make Peak Experience socks to try to give her sock pal a feel of the beautiful landscape where she lives.

Sock sister Lisa writes:
Sabine is having a hard time getting started as she’s mesmerized by the Berlin Film Festival and admits that only movies can stop her from knitting. She has posted pictures of her yarn and the pattern. Look closely, she blogs in English.
Sue has purchased Cherry Tree Hill “Wild Cherry” and has ordered another colourway to see which one she likes best (for herself or her pal? Hmmm). She’s planning on lace but hasn’t settled on a pattern yet.
Theresa (who I was lucky enough to meet a couple of weeks ago at Knitsmiths) has picked the yarn for her sock pal. Check out the Feb 10 post. For now, it appears that she will be concentrating on her Olympic dreams.
Thistlerain has started planning her socks. Patterns and yarns are being reviewed and investigated.
This is Tuullia’s first time in an international KAL but she is no stranger to socks (she made 8 pairs in January). She’s a Finnish expat now living in sunny San Diego. She’s narrowing down the pattern choices but the yarn will be 100 % Finnish lamb wool she is going to dye herself in her sock pal’s favorite colors—WoW. She’s finnish-ing up a couple of other KALs, and exchanges as well as the Olympics so she’ll be starting in a couple of weeks.
Weeza has found the yarn for her sock pal…Lorna’s Laces in the “Get Knitted!” exclusive colourway you can only get in the UK. She’s still mulling over patterns worthy of this exquisite yarn. Check out the pic.
Wendy sent a link to the beyooootiful yarn she’s using for her sock pal. She’s already cast on and has about 3 inches knit.
Trina ordered knitpicks merino sock yarn over the weekend and is browsing sock patterns. She’s hoping to have a pattern picked out by the time the yarn lands on her doorstep.
Angelle just started a new job so not much knitting to report. Her sock pal requested something lightweight, so she was going to use the pattern for Alison's ankle socks, but is having a little trouble with the short heel backward yarnover. She loves the pattern but if she can’t get the hang of it, she’s going to change patterns.
Amy dropped me a line to let me know that she’s picked out her yarn…those are my colors!!
Bertha’s going to use the Magic Loop. Her sock pal doesn’t like variegated yarns, so she’s using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in a solid sage green color. She hasn’t quite decided on a pattern yet, but is pretty sure it will be from "Sensational knitted socks”. She’s participating in the Knitting Olympics and is knitting her first pair of socks. Her sockpal will be the lucky recipient of her 2nd pair of socks which she will begin right after the closing ceremonies.
Carrie now has a blog! She won’t be starting until after the Olympics but she’s pretty sure she’s going to use Socks That Rock. (provided that January One hasn’t bought up all the yarn like she did at Rhinebeck. ;0) )
No stranger to socks, it seems, Christine has bought her yarn and posted a pic. It’s Knit Picks Sock Garden in Zinnia. Now for a pattern.... hmmmmmm....
Deidre is using the two circular method, and while she had to rip out twice (she kept knitting with the needle she was supposed to drop), patience prevailed.
Desirée won't be starting until after the Olympics but she’s taking this very seriously and carefully considering her yarn and pattern options.

Sock sister Mary reports:
Jill has been having fun choosing her sock yarn.
Lara has bought her yarn but has been having some problems with her cast on.
Leigha has started her socks. She's doing them for her Knitting Olympics project.
Keli is knitting lace knee highs for her pal. Go and give her some encouragement as she's having a few problems with the chart!
Johanna has been having fun getting to grips with short rows for her pal's sock.

And remember, the sockapalOOOza is a marathon, not a sprint, so no worries if you're doing the knitting olympics. Knit for the gold and then start those sock pal socks in March! If you do make progress, though, remember to let your sock sister know. I'll be posting while I'm in Germany, so keep those updates coming!

Finally, the big list of all 606 sockapalooozers is up! Everyone is listed with their sock sister (so there's no forgetting who to send your updates to).

Speaking of updates. We've got a few for you. Nope, no finished socks yet. But...

Sock momma, Alison (hey, that's me!) has picked yarn for her - er, my - pal. Pattern is still to be determined.

beautiful greens with a hint of pale blue and golden yellow

Agnes is considering some bold red Lorna's Laces for her pal.
Alicia has started blueberry waffle socks.
Amanda is halfway done with her pal's first sock! She's trying to finish before Lent, so she can concentrate on charity knitting then.
Amy has started Falling Leaves socks. (You have got to check out the super bowl cake her husband made!)
No idea what kind of socks Angela is making, but look at the cake on her blog!
Anna has started some socks that are CRAZY cool. Seriously, you gotta see them!
Anne will not be outdone in the cake department: check out the rocket ship cake her son had for his birthday!
Annie wants to make some Sensational Knitted Socks with Fleece Artist merino.
Ann-Marie will be using Koigu for the first time for her pal.
Beth started some gorgeous socks during the Super Bowl (in Scout's Super Bowl Challenge).
Betsy made a Boston sockapalOOOza map.

Sock sister, Ashley, is using Mountain Colors Bearfoot in. . . Betta-root Rainbow?
Bfmomma is looking for advice on yarn and needles. Stop by and let her know what works for you!
Carrie's got the (pretty blue) yarn, but needs pattern suggestions!
Carol S got some Koigu for her lucky pal, but is still pondering pattern options.
ChiaLea ran to the LYS to pick up some Lorna's Laces in Mixed Berries.
Christy needs help deciding which Socks that Rock colorway to use.
Colleen's socks are all Boston, all the time!
Cori has picked out a self-patterning Regia.
Cyndi is looking for suggestions for a heavier-than-sock-weight yarn that will make nice socks.
Cynthia will be knitting Elfine socks, as soon as she decides which yarn to use.
Dana has ordered some yummy Cherry Tree Hill.

Sock sister, Cathy, reports:
Jessica has started her socks in beautiful blue Brown Sheep Wildefoot yarn, using Sockbug's Crooked Cable pattern.
JJ started her socks and finished a whole foot already(!), then frogged after discovering that it was too big for her pal's foot!
Illanna has started her pal's socks from her own amazing hand-dyed yarn.

Sock sister, Donna, reports:
Kat has Lorna's Laces ready to go - help her choose between two beautiful patterns!
Katherine is ready to cast on one of two mystery patterns in luscious Socks That Rock!
KC has already frogged the leg of sock #1 - the colors were beautiful, but not quite perfect.
Kerrie is getting an early start for big sockpal feet with hand-dyed self-striping yarn (which she dyed herself!).

Sock sister, Erin, has ordered yarn for her pal, which has arrived. Now she just needs to choose a pattern.
Leandra has started a pair of Falling leaves for her sockpal.
Lesley cannot wait to start dyeing her pal's sock yarn, but she has not decided on a color. She has set up a poll. Go help her out.
Linz has picked out some beautiful Koigufor a pair of Jaywalkers.
Lori has decided on a stretchy one by one rib out of some pretty Trekking XXL for her sockpal.
Mai has not announced plans, but has an entry about refootable socks.
Malle has not announced sockpal plans yet, but take a look at her very cool Jaywalkers!
MamaSnooze has picked out some sportweight superwash merino that she intends to hand paint for her sockpal.
Manda is contemplating some Jaywalkers for her pal.

Sock sister, Ina reports:
Melissa has red Koigu and a sock monkey and is considering either Falling Leaves or Jaywalker
Michelle is knitting a "practice" pair of Jaywalkers in red Koigu
Michelle has one sock blocking and has started the second using Knit Picks Landscape
Mindy Allen is Jaywalking with Lorna's Laces Black Purl
Miss_M has selected Socka Color and beaded rib
Nathalie has selected Jocelyn's Fiber Farms mohair and wool and Vine Lace socks
Nicole has selected Socks That Rock Beryl
Nomad has bought sock yarn and taken up oil painting
Petra is considering Sock Bug's Crooked Cable

Sock sister, Jenipurr, reports that:
Sherry has selected yarn and pattern.
Sally picked her yarn.
Samantha picked her yarn (Fortissima) and her pattern (Straight Laced socks from Knitty)

Sock sister, Lisa, has cast on her for her pal’s socks with some bright green superwash fingering weight yarn. Looks like it might be something from the last issue of Interweave knits but can’t be sure yet…let’s stay tuned.
Dani has narrowed down her choices to 2 or 3 possible patterns for her sock pal who asked for something simple but sporty. She’ll be making her final pattern choice by Sunday night so she can buy her yarn and get started. She can’t wait!
Kristina dropped me a line this week to let me know she started her socks. She had narrowed her choices down to two IK faves—Retro Rib or Diagonal Rib (free pattern online) but after swatching, went with the RR. She’s using some very yummy Cherry Tree Hill in the “Green Mountain Madness” coulourway (a gift from her husband). Check out the pics!

Sock sister, Mary, reports on the beginners:
Kim sent in the picture of the start of her sock. She's using an organic cotton.
Spinsterbat has been buying up some very nice sock yarns, although we don't know yet which one is for Sockapaloooza.

---------------------------

A huge shout-out to my sock sisters who are doing an amazing job. Thank you so much! Don't forget to send in those updates when you have them to your sock sister by the weekend, so you can appear in the weekly wrap-up.

Now that the sock pal matches have been made, hubby's plotted out the paths that all the socks will take in three months when we're all done knitting. How awesome is that?!

click for the BIG map

Everyone should have received their sock pal email by now. (Check your spam filters too!) Just to clarify, you were sent the name, email, blog, and preferences of the person you will be knitting for. You will be sent their full mailing address shortly before the May 2nd deadline. This gives those folks who are moving a chance to update their addresses and everyone else a chance to double and triple check their addresses in the system. In addition to your sock pal's info, you have also been sent the name, email, and blog of your sock sister. The (fabulous!) sock sisters are gals who offered to help me keep tabs on everyone's progress. (Because there is just no way I can watch 600 blogs!!) Please send updates of your progress to your sock sister. They will compile a list of updates every week and send them to me and I'll add them to the Tuesday update post.

The final list of participants will be posted in the next couple of days. Be patient, the tech guys are tired! Speaking of the tech guys, aren't they awesome?! Well deserving of their now finally finished techguy socks. (Psst.... you can get the pattern at Magknits.com.)

hubby likes retro video games

master webmaster, Jason, is an Apple guy

and who doen't like the happy mac?

I had so much fun making these socks. Although I still don't think that they are enough to repay all the hard work they have put into making the sockapaloozas run smoothly. Thanks guys!

PS - The tech guys have even managed to get that Google map from Tuesday's post to stop crashing in Internet Explorer. Go check it out IE'ers!

We've got 606 participants this time around in 21 different countries! That's 497 in the US, 40 from Canada, 22 in the UK, 13 from Germany, 4 from Spain, 4 from Sweden...we've even got 4 in Japan! This is soooo cool!

Hubby's been having fun plotting out all the palooozer-cities in Google Earth.

sockapalooza takes over the world!

And the tech guys have worked up a Google map so we see where everyone is.* Click here (you might need to wait a minute for the location dots to load), then zoom in and find yourself!* Use the mouse to scroll your way around the map. Can you find the 3 people in Singapore, the 1 in Israel, or the 1 in Hawaii? Look for the person in the Northern Territories and say hi to all the Australians and New Zealanders too!

where will your sock pal be?

Sock pal matches will be sent out sometime tomorrow, February 1st. If you need to make any corrections to your foot measurements or sock preferences, do it today! (Remember, the link is in the knit-along sidebar.) Some of you have only entered a shoe size - it would be VERY helpful if you went back and entered the length of your foot from heel to toe. Shoe sizes vary from country to country and the measurement is really the best way to judge the size.

After you receive your sock pal info, you will not be able to change your preferences. You will still be able to edit your mailing address and blog address info, however, and there will also be boxes to check off when you've finished knitting, sent your socks (don't send them until May!), and receive socks from your pal.

I'm looking forward to a great sock sock swap!

(* - To maintain privacy, the map does not contain any identifying information. Only zip codes or cities are represented. The dot for you will be somewhere in your county or town and could stand for multiple people in that same postal code. Therefore, the map is just for fun and is NOT a way to check if you are in the system. If you received the screen saying that your info had been added to the database after entering your info last week, then you are in the system. Don't worry!)

UPDATE: I know the map was having problems loading in Internet Explorer. My master webmaster has fixed the problem, so IE'ers, take a look!

- - - - - - - - - - -

Since we're looking ahead to the knitting, let's get some sock pattern and yarn suggestions. Leave your suggestions in the comments and I'll add the best ones to the list in the sidebar again.

And hey, good news, there are a few folks who sell hand-dyed and hand-painted yarns offering discounts to sockapaloooza participants!

My pal Dani is offering $2 off each skein of her gorgeous yarns - contact her before buying through the etsy site to arrange the discount
Lorraine is offering a 10% discount off her lovely sock yarns to sockapaloooza participants, including custom jobs
Roxanne is giving sockapalooozers a 10% discount on her beautiful yarns
and Melissa is also offering $2 off as well!

Thanks so much, ladies!

Okay, before you go sign-up, let me just remind you one last time that by signing up you are making a commitment to do three things: make socks for your sock pal on time, keep me updated with your progress, and let the pal that knits for you know when you receive your socks.

Alright, GO!

(Sign-ups are now closed. You can use the link in the sidebar to correct the info you have already submitted.)

Remember, you must sign-up through the above link. DO NOT SEND ME YOUR INFO THROUGH EMAIL. For details on the information that you need in order to sign-up, see this post. Please also note the following:

-- The first name you enter in the NAME box will be the name that appears on the participant list on my blog. If you use a web alias, this is the place to put it.

-- The ADDRESS box should contain your full name and address.

-- All the information in the PREFERENCES box will be sent to the pal knitting for you. That is the spot to include everything they need to know.

-- The COMMENTS box is for comments you have that are just for me. Don't put any stuff in here that's for your pal - they won't get it!

After you have submitted your info, you should get a new screen telling you that your information has been added to the database. Once you get that screen, you're all set! (If you realize later that you made an error when you entered your info - did you forget you're moving? measured your feet wrong? -, you can correct your information without contacting me. Follow the original link again and click on "Change your information". An email will be sent to the email address you used when you signed up initially with a link for you to click on to change your info. Click on the link in that email and it will take you to a screen where you can edit your information.)

I will close sign-ups at midnight (EST) Tuesday night. I hope to send out sock pal matches on February 1st, so we can all start knitting as soon as possible! The date for sending out socks will be May 2nd.

Let's get this party started!

THIS IS YOUR 36-HOUR WARNING! Sockapaloooza sign-ups will be open all day this Tuesday, that's 12:01am - 11:59pm US Eastern Time. So stay up a bit later Monday night, or sign-up before work on Tuesday morning, or if you're in Europe, get up a little earlier on Tuesday.

I WILL POST A LINK TO THE SIGN-UP PAGE in a new post and in the sidebar just like last year. Click on the link, click to sign-up, and then fill in all your information in the spaces provided. Please read the instructions clearly and do your best to enter your info properly. Click Submit and a final screeen will appear telling you that your info was put into the database. Just to be clear, DO NOT SEND YOUR INFO TO ME IN AN EMAIL. YOU MUST SIGN-UP THROUGH THE SIGN-UP PAGE.

Again, for those new to the Sockapalooza, here's how it goes. I'll collect names, addresses, and sock preferences from lots of people. Then, I'll assign each person another person to knit a pair of socks for. So someone will be given your info and will knit a pair of socks for you and you'll be given someone else's info and be knitting socks for them. And the person you're knitting for will be knitting socks for another person, and so on, and so on..... We'll all start knitting around February 1 and will send our socks out on May 2, that way everyone should receive their socks around the same time. And remember, it's a secret swap! Don't tell your sock pal you are knitting for them until you send off their socks to them. It'll be much more fun if it remains a surprise. (More details can be found here).

A few more clarifications:

- You do not need a blog to participate. I'm happy to post progress pictures for those who don't have a blog.
- You decide if you are a beginner or not. If you've knit perfectly good socks before, there's no need to put yourself in the beginners group. If you're just getting started with sock knitting, then you probably should be in that group. You'll be exchanging with other beginners, so keep that in mind as well.
- When you are sent your pal's info, you will also be sent the name and email of the sock sister who'll be in charge of keeping up with your progress. Keep in touch with the her! Send updates of your progress, links to pictures or blog posts, and inform her of any delays or problems you might have. And be sure to let her or me know if your email address changes!

Finally, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN-UP IF YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE KNITALONG. When you sign up, you are making a commitment to knit the socks on time, keep your sock sister updated on your progress, and send some sort of thanks to the pal who sends you socks, so they know that they have arrived. Remember, your pal is sending in their preferences, so please try your best to make socks they will enjoy. You may need to buy some new sock yarn or try out a new pattern. Try to plan the knitting so you will be done within three months, so we can all send out socks at the same time. Send in updates your sock sister so you can appear in the weekly wrap-up posts. And if you have any problems, contact us, don't just disappear!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Again, here's a list of all the info you'll need to sign-up.

- BASIC INFO: name, email address, blog address, mailing address (don't worry, I won't be sharing your email or mailing addresses with anyone but your sock pal)
- GROUP INFO: do you want to be in the beginner group? are you willing to ship overseas?
- FOOT AND SOCK INFO: foot measurement from heel to tip of big toe AND foot circumference measured at the ball of the foot, plus any other measurements or info that your pal needs to make socks fit your feet
- PREFERENCES: Also include any of the following sock details that are important to you:
fiber preferences - got allergies? prefer wool socks?
color preferences - solids/variegated colors? specific colors you hate?
design preferences - do you like crazy socks? lacy socks? stripes or solids? prefer calf length/ankle length?
Include whatever you think your pal should know. If you're up for anything, just say that and your pal can have fun with your socks!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

See you Tuesday!

Sockapaltwoza sock saviors are still hard at work:

Jamie knit make-up socks
Christina received make-up socks from Bev
Karen received make-up socks from Kate
Tiffany knit "solid savior" socks
Tracy made Whitby's

And my make-up socks are half-way finished, with one down to toe grafting and one more to knit.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sockapaloooza, anyone? Next Tuesday sign-ups go live. I haven't decided on the exact time yet, or the exact number of participants. And I haven't chosen the official sock sisters yet. (Check Sunday's post for all those final details.) But there's no reason you all can't get ready while I make the final decisions.

First, for those new to the Sockapalooza, here's how it goes. I'll collect names, addresses, and sock preferences from lots of people. Then, I'll assign each person another person to knit a pair of socks for. So someone will be given your info and will knit a pair of socks for you and you'll be given someone else's info and be knitting socks for them. And the person you're knitting for will be knitting socks for another person, and so on, and so on..... There are two groups: a beginners group and a non-beginners group. If you've successfully made socks before, you're not a beginner. Beginners are those who really haven't made socks before and they will swap their "first try" socks with each other. I think most of the beginners in the last rounds enjoyed learning how to knit socks and receiving a pair from a pal who had also just learned. So if sock knitting is new to you but you really want to give it a try, join us!

We'll all start knitting around February 1 and will send our socks out in May, that way everyone should receive their socks around the same time. And remember, it's a secret swap! Don't tell your sock pal you are knitting for them until you send off their socks to them. It'll be much more fun if it remains a surprise.

And here's a preview of all the info you'll need to sign-up.

- BASIC INFO: name, email address, blog address, mailing address (don't worry, I won't be sharing your email or mailing addresses with anyone but your sock pal)
- GROUP INFO: do you want to be in the beginner group? are you willing to ship overseas?
- FOOT AND SOCK INFO: foot measurement from heel to tip of big toe AND foot circumference measured at the ball of the foot, plus any other measurements or info that your pal needs to make socks fit your feet

Also include any of the following sock details that are important to you:
fiber preferences - got allergies? prefer wool socks?
color preferences - solids/variegated colors? specific colors you hate?
design preferences - do you like crazy socks? lacy socks? stripes or solids? prefer calf length/ankle length?
Include whatever you think your pal should know. If you're up for anything, just say that and your pal can have fun with your socks!

See you next Tuesday then!

And the holiday gift knitalong gifties go to:

Calmer to Stephanie
Atacama to Liesel
Woolarina handpainted to Karen
stitch markers to Emily
KidSilk Haze to Ruth

(Winners were chosen using an online random number generator. Winners, please contact me by email with your address, so I can send you your prezzie!)

Thanks to everyone for making the knitalong such an enjoyable experience! It was a real pleasure to check in each day and see so many wonderful gifts being knit.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sockapaloooza sock sisters needed!

In order to keep up with the updates this time, I'm asking for four or five VERY RELIABLE gals to "watch" a certain number of blogs, take update emails, and send me a weekly round-up for my tuesday post.

Meanwhile, my sock savior socks are finally underway:

And the tech guys are brainstorming about sign-ups. More info next week!

- - - - - - - - - -

And I am so ready to kick it! I got my yarn for my boots picked out and am excited to start drilling! Look, Johanna even loaned me some goggles.

Let the fun begin!