news: Sad Day for Sockdom
Some of you might know Momma Monkey, the woman behind Socktopia (formerly a website, then just a group on ravelry), who put out a staggering number of free patterns for sock enthusiasts. (She’s the one who did the Bellatrix and Fawkes patterns, as well. This one is “Gwen”.
It has come to our attention that Ms. Monkey died this weekend, as a result of accute complications arising from a long-term illness.
In an age where everything sometimes seems to be all about me-me-me and how much you can get, Momma Monkey worked very hard on her patterns and community, and gave the majority of it away for free. We did not know her personally, beyond her work, but today, we feel the loss of her spirit of generosity.
Thank you, Momma. Thank you for everything.
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Bon Says:
Boo hoo! Let me be one of the first to say that I will truly mourn the loss of a great pattern writer. We’ll miss you, Momma Monkey!
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am
Sarah Says:
Oh, this is terrible news. My heart goes out to her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 10:19 am
Maura Henn Says:
Only knowing her from her work, I have have to say she was a wonderful designer with inspirational patterns. My thoughts are with her family as well.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 10:28 am
Andrea Says:
Wow. That’s sad. We spoke via e-mail a few times and she was so talented.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 10:43 am
tracy Says:
oh my gosh… I can’t believe it. She was so kind, what a terrible loss. It just doesn’t seem real…
Special thoughts to her family, what a devastating loss.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 10:55 am
Justine Says:
That is so sad. Many condolences to her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Rasch Says:
Oh, such a sad loss. My prayers are with her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 11:46 am
Datagoddess Says:
Oh, my goodness. How sad. Her family is in my thoughts.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 11:47 am
Sandra Says:
Wow. I knew that she was sick but this? My heart goes out to her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Jennifer Says:
Oh no! I knew she was sick, but not this sick. Oh, I’m so sad for her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Beth Says:
She was a great inspiration and wonderful person. She will be missed.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Heather Says:
What a loss for our community…Mommamonkey was creative and kind, not to mention a blossoming talent. (I always kept expecting to hear that she had a book coming out!) My thoughts and prayers go out to her family as well.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Talvi Says:
I’m lost for words, this is so sad.
She will be missed.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Alison Says:
My thoughts go out to her family, they must be having a tough time at the moment. She will be greatly missed.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Amy Says:
Such an incredible loss for the knitting community!
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Natalie Says:
That is so sad. I love her patterns. Such a great loss to the sock world.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 12:51 pm
LizAndrsn Says:
I wondered what happened when her site disappeared completely. I would never have imagined that she would leave us and her family. I can only hope she is at peace now.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
AndreaH Says:
I was saddened to learn this news today. My heart goes out to her family, and especially the Monkey Babies. Momma-Monkey was my downstream secret pal for the Spinning SP on Knitty, and I enjoyed spoiling her. I am glad to have made her happy last year.
She had such great talent and spirit, and most of us didn’t realize how sick she was.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Elizabeth Says:
She was a truly talented and busy lady, she will be missed. I know she was ill but not as ill as she obviously was. Is there anything we can do for her family?
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Britt Says:
holy macaroni i had no idea. I wasn’t too socktopia involved until after things slowed down and no one had an explanation. This is sad, Off to pray.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
RatioAnn Says:
I didn’t know her, just knew of her because of her awesome sock patterns, this really comes as a shock. Even though it’s such a loss, I’m glad she won’t be suffering anymore.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Beverly Says:
Oh wow. How very sad. I was hoping things were getting better for her. I am so sad to hear she’s gone. She will be missed.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
valerie Says:
That is such sad news. I can’t believe it what a sad loss. If there is anything the knitting community can do for her family please let us know.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 3:32 pm
justmewhoelse Says:
Such sad news… My thoughts are definately with her family – lots of thoughts and prayers being sent their way.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Elinor Says:
Oh no! She was the nicest person. This is so sad. Her designs are wonderful, and I hope she lives on through all the socks of hers I knit. So sad.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Isobel Says:
Such sad news, she was a wonderfully generous person. I loved knitting her patterns and will cherish them for years. My deepest sympathies to her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 4:52 pm
AlliCat Says:
Her poor family. They and she are in my prayers.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
kit Says:
Oh gosh, that’s terrible. Does her family need any assistance? Is there a way to contact them?
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 5:17 pm
leesy Says:
Her family has explicitly asked not to be contacted and to be allowed to mourn privately. If you choose to commemorate her, simply make a donation to the charity of your choice or do good works with her in mind.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
kathy Says:
Oh my gosh! How sad. My heart and thoughts go with her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Liz Says:
I will treasure my Monkey Bag even more now…my heart weeps for her family.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Lindsay Says:
A huge condolences to her family from mine
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
farm-witch Says:
Such a generous person – peace.
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Emma in France Says:
Oh No!
I too only knew her from her designs. Such a loss.
All my condolences and sympathy and love to her family and friends.
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 5:05 am
Meribeth Says:
A loss for all. My thoughts and well wishes for her family. I am so sorry.
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 5:08 am
paula Says:
Oh no, she will be missed.
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 7:58 am
Bev Love Says:
Wow, that is devasting. We have lost a truly generous spirit. Bless her and her family.
Bev
aka paletpc
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Megan Says:
I think a pair of socks donated to your local homeless outreach program or women’s shelter would be an awesome tribute. Imagine how many feet we could warm with her patterns!
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 9:35 am
heatherly Says:
as one of her sock testers, i was glad to have had her in my knitting world. she was a wonderful woman. the socks she used for the examples and had others knit, she had planned to use to raise money for charity.
doing something in her name, for some one else, is a lovely idea.
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 11:00 am
Kelly Says:
Wow. I feel honored to be holding that very sock in the picture. She was a sock swap pal off the Knitty board, and I”m sad to hear of her passing.
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 6:14 pm
TNTknits Says:
I’m so sorry to hear about Momma Monkey. I spoken to her several times via email, and she was so sweet. I’ll keep her family in my thoughts.
Posted on February 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 am
Jeanne B. Says:
This is utterly shocking news! I was also a sock tester and I’d been waiting for pattern corrections on one of the designs. The yarn is sitting in my WIP pile. Like the rest of us, I knew she’d been ailing but had no idea she was as ill as she was. Please extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends. She was a talented designer, a warm person, and her spirit lives on. Rest in peace, MommaMonkey.
Posted on February 4th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Kelle Says:
I’m so sad to hear about this, she had such an incredible body of work. My heart goes out to everyone touched by her passing, even those who only knew her via the web.
Posted on February 4th, 2008 at 10:39 pm