tour de sock?

[katieintheworld]

Is anyone looking at the Tour de Sock? Registration is a $7.50 donation to a Doctors Without Borders fundraiser, and you get 7 sock patterns out of the deal. The contest is to knit the socks first or best or within the deadline and earn points, but additionally you can do it as a team, and as long as everyone in the team completes one pair of socks out of the seven on time you're (as a team) in for the prize drawing.

I don't know if I'm completely committed to speed knitting as a contest, but it seems like the sponsor discounts (Miss Babs, for one!) might easily make up the registration cost!

Just the same, anyone else interested? I might be convinced to join a Dreamwidth team...

Comments

[ironed_orchid]

I have 3 knitting projects with deadlines at present, so competing isn't really appealing, but 7 patterns for $7.50 and the money going to one of my favourite NGOs is a good incentive to sign up.

[katieintheworld]

That's kind of where I am too. I mean, I sometimes buy books and magazines for 7$.50 when they only have one or two sock patterns in them, honestly. And no charity feel-good aspect.

[storyfan]

I'm in agreement here. I don't knit very much during the warmer months, but that number of patterns at that price + helping where help is needed is very appealing.

[wyomingnot]

I am almost never into speed knitting, but $7.50 for six patterns with the money going to a good cause? I just might have to do that.

...Am I being clumsy in my search? Or are there no dates listed for how long each stage is? Or how long the whole thing itself lasts?

[domtheknight]

I don't see any dates either... it'd be nice to have some sort of estimate! That way people could assess if it's reasonable at all for their usual knitting time.

[katieintheworld]

Well, I had to seriously dig, but on the Ravelry group page, the first stage has a post up, and it begins June 1st, and ends June 10th. So, perhaps, 10 days per pattern?

There's no actual obligation to race, though.

[wyomingnot]

Dang. 9-10 days per pattern. Do-able, and yet.

..and then it finally clicked. Tour de Fleece will be at that time. I know where my priorities lie.

So I think I'll make the donation and get the patterns.... and then not even pretend to participate because I'll be spinning. :)

[strixluna]

I am the slowest knitter in the world. And I'm moving in June. If I wasn't moving I'd probably do it anyway because of the good cause and the patterns. But sadly I don't know if I'll do any real knitting at all next month at this rate.

[katieintheworld]

Oy, yes, I just moved myself three months ago. I don't think the patterns disappear, if that makes a difference? You can come back to them this winter, or whenever you have time and inclination again...

[domtheknight]

I hadn't heard of this before but it's tempting because I have some socks I need to have done by late summer and I haven't started any of them yet, so it might be a good incentive.

[katieintheworld]

It's tempting for me too the same way. Like, what if I could knock out the Christmas knitting early this year? That would be awesome. And knitting the smaller feet for the in-laws might mean I had an outside chance of hitting their speed knitting deadline. Once.

[domtheknight]

Now I'm reconsidering... looks like two of the patterns involve beads. I've never used them in knitting before and I'm not sure I want to learn how in the next couple weeks. I guess I could sign up, accept there's no way I can finish, and skip the beaded socks or make them without beads.

[eruanna]

I'm no speed knitter at the best of times, but I have been planning to knit socks all summer, as soon as I finish up my 2 current WIPs. I love the idea of supporting a good cause as extra incentive, as well.