There is a 27th category in the Think Outside The SOX contest. Although this contest is intended to encourage amateurs, we couldn’t forget the people in our industry who work very hard and also want to join in on the fun. So addi Turbo© by Skacel—the official knitting needles and crochet hooks for the Think Outside The SOX contest is sponsoring The Pros category.

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. This is the category you must enter. Since professionals are the idea people in our industry, this category is open-ended. We’re looking for socks that build on your skills (techniques that have gone before) but also take the yarn world at least one step further into the 21st century.

Think of the bragging rights you’ll have if you are chosen as the winner of such a prestigious category!

Besides the $500 prize for the winner of this category, Karin Skacel is throwing in a bonus prize. The winner of The Pros category will also receive a complete set of the addi Lace circular needles and the addi crochet hooks. (The retail value of these 40 circular needles and 17 crochet hooks comes to $750.00.)

And, of course, the winning entry will be featured in Knitter’s Magazine in 2009 and a new sock book from XRX Books.

This category is not yarn-specific. Pros can use any yarn that they choose for the socks they enter into this contest. This category will be judged by Cat Bordhi, Lucy Neatby, Sandi Rosner, and the Knitter’s Magazine editorial team.

So while you Pros won’t be eligible to win any of the other categories or any of the grand prizes, we invite you to join us in this category built just for you.