KNIT LAS VEGAS

Spring in Vegas is great right? We go from 42 degrees one day to 100 the next and then *poof* Spring is over and Summer is in full effect. Well, we're getting there. I'm pretty sure Spring came and went last Thursday afternoon, so we are officially in the Summer of Socks!

The Summer of Socks is a pretty basic principal; it's Summer in Vegas and it's pretty much to hot to knit anything else BUT socks. So we're coming together as a group and knitting as many pairs of socks this summer as we can. We've been blessed with some beautiful new socks yarns in the shop this week (have you seen the Schaefer Nichole and Anne sock yarns!?! Delicious!) and some great new pattern books as well (check out Cookie A.'s Sock Innovation for some truely adventurous socks).

For your part all you have to do is find some sock yarn and a pattern and cast on! You can do this in shop with us or if you don't live in Vegas or don't make it into the shop often you can buy some yarn online and knit along at home. We'll be creating a special photo album in the gallery section of the site for socks that were completed during the Summer of Socks and I'm working out ideas for a button or sticker that you will recieve if you participate that lets the world know that you survived the Knit Las Vegas Summer of Socks.

Every few weeks I will offer up a pattern and yarn combo that you can do if you want, but this isn't a strict knit along in the traditional sense, you don't have to knit the same pattern as everyone else you can knit whatever pattern suits your fancy. We're doing it this way so that knitters of all skill levels can get in on the action and knit what they're comfortable with. There are also some great crochet sock patterns as well and I will be digging those up and asking for Christine's imput on patterns and yarn combo's for those who want to crochet their socks. We would love for this Summer of Socks to be a time to challenge yourself, do a pattern that scares you a little bit or find a new technique or fiber that you've never tried before.

My first recommendation for April Summer of Sock Knitters is the Kai Mei (Ravelry link) pattern from Sock Innovation. Couple this pattern with a great subtle wool/nylon blend tone on tone yarn like Araucania Ranco or Schaefer Nichole.Both of these great yarns, along with many more are available in our shop and for sale online. If they are not currently listed online yet feel free to call the shop or email our webmistress Amy about having some sent to you. The Sock Innovation book is also available through our shop and can be shipped to you if you're not in town.

If you're local to Las Vegas and would like help finding a yarn and pattern to suit your skill level, or if you need help on a specific sock pattern feel free to drop in Monday-Wednesday afternoons between 3-6 p.m. and I will be on hand to help you out.

I have already begun my first (and second!) pair of Summer of Socks socks, I chose the Kai Mei pattern and have already completed the first sock, so if the pattern looks daunting I can assure you it's an excellently written pattern and I had no problems knitting it!

Any questions about the Summer of Socks? Feel free to post a comment here or email me at daniella@danido.com.

Happy knitting!