Hello knitters! I have the most jumbled collection of news for you today. It kind of reads like the classified section of a newspaper…
Sock Knitter Seeks Companions. I have found my knitting mojo, and returned to my very first love: semi-solid socks with patterns so complex you need multiple charts. This is Mutiplicity by Amanda Stephens. It is a FEAT of pattern writing, with 4 sizes and multiple different ways to pattern the foot. I’m in awe, and really loved knitting the first sock.
I’m knitting it as part of a relaxed sock knitting game where teams knit a couple of patterns together (Supersock World Championship). I find a group atmosphere to be really motivating, so I’ve started a sock KAL to spread the sock knitting inspiration and encouragement!
The Knit Spin Farm Summer Sock KAL starts now and goes through August 31. This Knit-along focuses on any patterned socks in any yarn. There are multiple ways to participate and earn prize entries. At the end of the summer, I’ll pick a random winner who will receive a three month subscription to a Knit Spin Farm yarn club. All the info is at the bottom of this email or in the Discord Group. (Invite link if you aren’t yet a member)
Bookmark Swap! In addition to knitting socks, we’re mailing handmade art this summer as part of Snail Mail Summer. The warm up swap is underway, and signups for the June installment have opened. In June we will be swapping handmade bookmarks. If you’d like to join us, here’s the signup form. Our swaps are super flexible and open. Paper bookmarks, knit, embroidered, painted, collaged….whatever! Sign up to swap 1 bookmark or 15.
Farm newsletter. Bill and I have been really fulfilled by our ability to focus on growing food for our community this summer. We thoroughly enjoy focusing on the garden and seeing it develop. If you’d like to follow along with our summer work, grab recipes for farm fresh meals, and read about the mini meltdown I had from hearing a nearly-hatched chick peeping inside an egg, join our farm Substack.
Impending Birth of Baby Goats. Ghosty is due to kid on June 2, which is also our first farmers’ market of the year. That should be interesting…
Mysterious Signs Appeared. I was walking back to the house after a bit of hoeing in the corn patch, when I saw this leaf.
My initial thought was “what in the Blair Witch is going on here?” But then I remembered that I lived with a weirdo. That weirdo confirmed that he had been outside with scissors (cutting tape to patch the seat of my bike), and “the leaf asked to be made into a Leaf-flake.” So, there you have it.
I’m going to end our news here, because I’m sure it would just get more bizarre if I were to continue. Please consider joining the Summer Sock KAL! I am here if you’d like any pattern recommendations! Be well and happy knitting!
JoAnna (and Leaf Cutter Bill)
Summer Sock KAL guidelines
Qualifying socks will be:
• Patterned in some way. Lace, cables, texture, colorwork, etc. The pattern can be as little as 1 inch around the cuff, or just a panel down the side. The whole sock can be patterned – or anything in between. Plain vanilla, or socks that are ribbing (no matter how much of the sock is ribbed) will not count.
• Made from fingering or sport weight yarn of any type (solid, tonal, variegated, striped...)
• Full size, adult socks: the leg must be at least 3 inches from the edge of the cuff to the start of the heel. The foot should be at least 7 inches long.
• If you want to make shorter socks (leg less than 3 inches or a shorter foot), two pairs will be required for one entry.
Finished pairs that meet these qualifications will earn entry into a prize drawing.
• Finished WIP (started before May 21, 2026) – 1 entry
• Finished pair started for this KAL (May 21, 2026 or later) – 2 entries
• Knit Spin Farm yarn: 1 bonus entry
• New to you technique: 1 bonus entry per pair (new cast on, new heel, first cabled socks, etc. Only one bonus entry per pair, even if you use multiple new techniques)
• Knitting a pattern with a buddy – 1 bonus entry (even if your buddy doesn’t finish). Knit the same pattern as someone who is also participating in the KAL. Cheer each other on!
How to enter: Finish your qualifying socks, and share a photo with me! Please make sure I confirm your entries and poke me if I don’t respond within 7 days. Here are the best ways to enter. You only have to do one of these things.
• Post in our Discord group
• Email me jsmoskal@gmail.com
• earburn me on Ravelry (JoAnnaSpring) I am not on other social media at this time, and will not see your posts there. You can probably email me a link to your posts, though, and I might be able to see.
There will be at least one prize of a 3 month subscription to a Knit Spin Farm yarn club, when they return in the fall. (If the winner is outside the US, we’ll work out an equivalent single-shipment prize.) Other prizes might pop up too. Lets see those socks!!
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