Episode 2: Sock Options! (featuring Charlene Schurch)
Media Link: Sock Options! (30:01)

There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin.

For many sock knitters, their first book of patterns is Sensational Knitting Socks by Charlene Schurch. In some ways, it's the only sock book you'll ever need, but fortunately, you don't have to settle for just one. There's More Sensational Knitted Socks, Little Box of Socks and the forthcoming Sock Club. And when you tire of socks (heaven forfend!), there are pattern collections devoted to hats and to mittens. This episode I sat down with Charlene Schurch before her Sock Summit class on durability. We talked about Charlene's journey into knitwear design and her strategies for creating durable socks in a variety of configurations.

The following people, places and things were mentioned:

• The ancient art of nalbinding
• BrooklynTweed's Komi Mittens
• Martingale Press
• Richard Rutt's "History of HandKnitting" (sadly out of print)
• New York Public Library Research Sites
• Komi Republic
• Nancy Bush's "Knitting Vintage Socks"
• Barbara Walker's Treasury/Stitch Dictionaries
• Anna Zilboorg's "Simply Socks" (previously "Fancy Feet")
• Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' "Ethnic Socks"

The WINNER of our first Fiber Beat CONTEST is Tamara and she receives the Moccasin Sock pattern along with two skeins of Schoolhouse Press Quebecoise. We also dipped our toes into the world of Twitter and had a promotional contest for the podcast. Our winner for that contest is Tim and he receives 2 wheels of Un-spun Icelandic wool in the denim colorway.

Our next Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 2

I have the Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. All you need to do is tell us what advice you'd like to help face your sock challenges?

To enter, please leave a comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say!

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first two episodes of Fiber Beat. Let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes!

A very special thanks to our Townspeople actors: Seana and Ron!

We used snippets of the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):

• "Dem Socks Dat My Pappy Wore" performed by Coot Grant And Kid Wilson from Vol. 2 (1928-1931) (Document, 1998)
• "We're Russians" performed by Bichevskaya Zhanna from My - Russkie (Familia Entertainment, 2005)
• "Who Kept The Sheep" performed by Johnny Cash from The Christmas Spirit (Columbia, 1964)
• "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others" performed by The Smiths from The Queen is Dead (Sire, 1986)
• "Mexican Hat Dance" performed by Rafael Mendez from The Legendary Trumpet Virtuosity of Rafael Mendez (Summit, 1995)
• "Beth" performed by KISS from Destroyer (Casablanca, 1976)
• "Make It Last Forever" performed by Keith Sweat from Sweat Hotel Live (Shout! Factory, 2008)
• "Red Travellin' Socks" performed by Malcolm Middleton from Waxing Gibbous (Full Time Hobby, 2009)

My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!!