(photo by Star Athena)

On Sunday afternoon, about an hour before everything closed, I was able sneak away from the Sock Summit Registration desk and grab a not-so delicious Convention Center lunch.

Star (yes, that Star!) was kind enough to sit with me, then walk around the Marketplace. She caught me savoring the memories of french fries past before we sauntered.

Star is a person to whom I wished I lived closer. Ever since we met at the first Sock Summit, I wanted to be her friend. Heck, even before that, simply seeing her designs made me want to know her. I’m glad we had almost an hour together.

Our conversation has stuck with me. Our time together further underlined the topic we discussed. I’d love to sit and knit with her and not be in an artificial situation like teaching across the hall from her, or seeing her at Twisted when I’m in Portland, or randomly catching her in a veggie burger line. In my fantasy world, we’d cook together and talk about our projects and brush each other’s hair. (Not so much on that last one.)

I still haven’t pulled together my thoughts for a big, big recap, so I hope you don’t mind these random thoughts. Until then, my congested head and ravaged throat will offer you these limited typings. (Scotch is helping.)

Of all of the hard work that led up to Sock Summit, I am most proud of the flash mob. Tina, Steph and Debbi love flash mobs, and they trusted me to come up with the moves to show we have the time of our life with yarn.

I had always said that if we had 20 knitters who learned the dance and showed up, I’d be happy. Actually, I told Steph I’d buy her a beer. As you can see, I owe her many, many beers, as we had over 600 people show up and participate.

Here’s Clara’s video (the best quality IMHO… another has almost 10,000 views!):

And if you’re really interested in learning it yourself and putting on your own knitting flash mob, here you go. Just remember to drop me a line and take pictures!

Thank you, everyone, whether you danced, cheered or just watched it online. In the spirit of the Summit, it was truly taking sock knitting almost too far.

Sock Summit 2011 is over. Much to recap at a later time. I welcome the after-glow and afterlife. Until then…

Imagine this, full of yarn and knitters and you have Sock Summit. This will be our Marketplace and a fiber-y Valhalla in Portland, OR.

And, I helped build it.

It’s been the culmination of the past year of work. This event was the driving force behind they timing of my leaving method. It’s all coming to be tomorrow morning.

Late nights, working over weekends, tonight’s paper cuts, and lots of flying up and down the coast. And that’s the calm before the storm. I’ll be stationed at the Registration desk for the entire weekend, when I’m not teaching or leading a flash mob. If you see me in the next few days, would you be a dear and ask me if I’ve eaten, hydrated or had a little walk? I want to be in tip-top shape to make people’s needles needle dreams come true.

I’m honored and humbled to be a part of Knot Hysteria. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be a working knitting professional. The first Sock Summit changed my life, and, my, oh, my how it’s changed even since.

And it changes still, as life does.

Sock Summit is upon us. I flew up to Portland and met these fine Canadians at the airport: Stephanie, Rachel an Natalie.

Tina picked us up and whisked us past the Oregon Convention Center, then to Sock Summit World HQ in Scappoose. We don’t load in until Wednesday, but there’s plenty to do until then.

More to come…

Prep for Sock Summit.

The only rabbit visiting our house today is this snugglebunny, Janie Sparkles.

Finally, some wool up in here. Two balls in, starting the third. Row, row, row your Rowan…

EZ KAL with Sean.

Just published 2011 Sock Summit teachers, classes, vendors, and all that jazz.

While I’m certainly honored to be teaching again, I’m humbled by the other 59 teachers who will be there too. On top of that, I’m truly grateful that Tina and Stephanie have invited me to work with them and help put on this truly magical and fun event.

In other news, thanks for the kind words about my silly temporary coffee quitting. After a shower and light slathering of oil (much like seasoning a wok, it’s called abhyanga, Ayurvedic self-massage), I feel a world of difference. Maybe caffeine is loosening its grip on me. Or I needed a shower.

(Photo: A little leave-behind at Port Ludlow from the November silk spinning retreat.)

I’m headed there again this week for a wacky four days of Rockin’ Sock Club Sock Camp. I love my job. I love that I get to spend this time with my mom even more.

Fast Company just ran an article on yarn-bombing that included a quote from me. Shucks, thanks, but big props and mad respect to the real street artists out there going up every day, in yarn, paint, stencil or wheat paste. Compared to the real deal, I’m just a dilettante.