Contest FAQs
There are a lot of categories and rules in the Think Outside The SOX contest. With than in mind, we’ve posted these Frequently Asked Questions and Answers to help you get started. We’ll be posting new Frequently Asked Questions to this page as new questions arise.
Question: How do I win the Grand Prizes?
Answer: Any non-professional sock entry is eligible for a Grand Prize. In other words, if you enter any of the 26 amateur categories, you are automatically entered for judging for one of the Grand Prizes.
Question: Can I win in more than one category?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. You can enter one of the yarn-specific categories as well as any of the other categories (please make sure that you and your socks actually qualify for those categories before entering). And it is possible to win in multiple categories with one pair of socks. In addition, you are still eligible for a Grand Prize.
Question: Will professionals be eligible to win one of the Grand Prizes?
Answer: No. This contest is intended to encourage amateurs. And while we don't want to discourage anyone from entering the contest we are trying to avoid having those same amateurs competing with professionals. Professionals can only enter The Pros category.
Note: The Pros category is a non-yarn-specific category. So you may enter this category with any yarn that you choose.
Question: Who is considered a professional?
Answer: If you are paid to knit or crochet, teach knitting or crochet, design knit or crochet garments, or sell yarn, you are defined as a professional.
Question: Do I need to know how to write instructions for my socks?
Answer: No, all you need to do is answer a few questions (see the second page of the entry form).
Question: Will I get my socks back?
Answer: Yes... eventually. That’s why there’s an entry fee — so we can send them back. The winning socks (as well as any other socks that XRX highlights for publication) may take a little longer to come home.
Question: Who will judge the contests?
Answer: Each sponsor will judge their own categories (with the exception of The Pros category). Cat Bordhi, Lucy Neatby, Sandi Rosner, and the Knitter’s editorial team will judge the Knitter’s, KnitU, XRX Books, and STITCHES categories; The Pros category; and the Grand Prize winners.
Question: Can I knit or crochet my entry?
Answer: You bet! In fact... feel free to do both if you want.
Question: Can I enter more than one pair?
Answer: Yes, but you can enter no more than five pairs (with an entry fee and application for each pair of socks entered).
Question: Do I really have to knit/crochet a pair of socks?
Answer: Yes you do... with one exception. XRX Books has sponsored a category called XMAS SOX: This is the only category where one sock is fine—no need to make a pair. You decide what would be the ideal stocking for Santa to fill. So if you don’t want to make a pair of socks, this category is for you.
Question: If I enter the XMAS SOX category (with a single sock) am I eligible for any of the other categories?
Answer: No. All of the other sponsored categories require a pair of socks. But you will be eligible and automatically entered for judging for one of the Grand Prizes.
Note: This also means that you can enter this category (with a single XMAS SOCK) with any yarn you choose.
Question: What if I enter the XMAS SOX category with a pair of socks? am I eligible for any of the other categories?
Answer: You bet. If you can match your socks and yourself up to other categories (with a pair of XMAS SOX) you are eligible to enter and win those categories. And of course, you will be eligible and automatically entered for judging for one of the Grand Prizes.
Question: My socks don’t fit into any category. Can I still enter?
Answer: Yes, you can still compete for a Grand Prize without selecting any of the 26 amateur sponsored categories.
Question: Can I view the categories and rules online without downloading the PDF(s) or JPEG(s) on the Rules and Categories page of this website?
Answer: Yes, you can view all of the categories and rules in text format on the Categories text page on this website.
Note: You’ll still need to download and print out the entry form pages (in either PDF or JPEG format) from the Rules and Categories page of this website to accompany our socks entry/entries.
Question: Who is eligible to enter and win prizes in this contest?
Answer: Employees and immediate family members of XRX, Inc., the co-sponsors, and the judges are not eligible to enter the Think Outside The SOX contest. Everyone else is eligible to enter the contest as long as their entries are completed and received by XRX, Inc. by January 1, 2009 (with the entry fee).
