Tour-de-Sock is a speed knitting contest based loosely on the famous bicycle race with a similar name. It will consist of six stages and points will be awarded based on finishing position for each stage.
At the beginning of each stage, a new pattern will be released on the Tour-de-Sock webpage. This page will be password protected and racers will be given the user name and password prior to the competition beginning. At that point, racers will knit like the wind!
Upon completion of a pair of socks, the racer must email a picture of the socks to the Race Director and post a picture to the discussion thread on Ravelry for that stage. Finishing order will be determined by the time stamp of the email, but both steps must be completed.
At the conclusion of each stage, only the racers who have completed their pair of socks by the official cut-off time will continue on the next round as competitors.
The overall winner will be the racer who accumulates the most points through all six stages.
There will also be a team competition. Teams of five racers can be formed and at the end of the contest, there will also be a prize for the highest finishing team (most cumulative points). Racers can continue earning points for their team, even if they are no longer earnning individual points.
Socks must be a minimum of a women’s size six (US) with a foot length of nine inches.
There will be no modifications of the patterns as written unless specifically announced by the Race Director prior to the beginning of the stage.
Tour de Sock Points System
Individual Competition
Stage Winner – 10 points and a set of stitch markers
Next 5 finishers – 8 points
Next 5 – 6 points
Next 5 – 4 points
Next 5 – 2 points
Everyone else who finished the stage prior to the release of the next pattern will receive 1 point. At the end of each round there will be a vote held and the winner of that vote will receive 3 bonus points and the second place finisher will receive 1 point. In the event of a tie, a run-off vote will be held. Also, a drawing will be held from each stage’s finishers for a skein of sock yarn.
If a racer fails to complete a stage, that racer will no longer be in the running for the grand prize or for the runner up prize. Racers will be able to continue through the other stages to be eligible for the random drawing, but will no longer be accumulating individual points but will be eligible to win the stitch markers.
In the event of a points tie, the total number of stage “wins” will be used as a tie-breaker. Should a tie still exist, there will be a single sock knit off.
Team Competition
After each stage, the total points earned by the individual members will be added to the team score. In addition, the first team to completely finish will be awarded 8 bonus points and the second complete team to finish will be awarded 5 bonus points. Every team to have all members complete a stage before the cutoff will be awarded 2 points. If a team member uses yarn from one of the Event Sponsors, 1 bonus point will be awarded. Should a team member fail to complete a stage, they will no longer be earning individual points for themselves but will still be contributing individual points to the team score or bonus points for using sponsor yarn.
There may be situations during a stage in which a racer or team can earn bonus points by doing “extra” work on a pattern. These opportunities will be presented prior to the beginning of each stage.
All prizes earned will be distributed at the end of competition.
