The conference met in Eugene, Oregon in connection with the Black Sheep Festival in June 2000. By-laws were approved and officers elected. Plans were laid to hold a Circular Sock Machine Society of America (CSMSA) conference in the eastern part of the U.S. the following year.
The 2001 Annual Conference for the CSMSA was held in June 2001 in Clearfield, PA. Clearfield, PA holds a place in history for these machines because the Gearhart Knitter was developed and manufactured in that city from 1891 until 1925. A great effort during this meeting was focused toward the cleaning and tuning of these, some times obstinate, machines. At this conference an additional event of "what else can you make (other than socks) on the CSM?" was added to the agenda. The keynote speaker in Clearfield was Mr. George Fricke who once owned the Auto-Knitter manufacturing factory and who has a vast knowledge of wool yarns and their use with these machines.
The 2002 conference was held in the State Historical Building, Des Moines, Iowa in June of 2002. There were sessions on cleaning and assembling, knitting tube material, turning for heels and toes, methods of sock top design, dying yarn and various uses of the machines. In addition to the normal conference, many members brought historical machines that were displayed in the Historical Building's resources during the conference. One session that held a lot of interest was how to preserve the artifacts (published literature) conducted by one of the History Museum's staff member. The keynote speaker was Dr. Richard Candee, Boston University, who is a published authority on the history of early knitting machines in the U.S.A. and abroad.
CSMSA 2003 was held in Troutdale, OR. Lessons, demonstrations, and speakers filled the information packed conference. A new contest of the “Most Unusual” sock provided renewed interest in making that circular machine produce more than the everyday sock. As we have seen in all of our conventions, there is that grand experience of the first successful outcome.
CSMSA 2004 was a two day conference in Laconia, NH. We met in the Historically Registered Belknap Mill Museum - a mill that produced hosiery until the mid 1950s. We were treated to a demonstration of the period sock machines by volunteer members of the museum who had worked at the mill until its closing. We had all of the old favorite activities; Fleece to Feet competition, "What else can be made", and all kinds of sessions from basic cleaning and setting up to knitting argyle socks. Our keynote speaker was Dr. Richard Candee, who presented a portion of his newly published book The Hand Cranked Knitter and Sock Machine: A Social History and Catalogue of 19th and 20th Century Home Knitters of American Invention New this year was a competition for homemade 'gadgets' to support the circular sock machine. We also experienced, for the first time, the company of an unsighted member along with her wonderful seeing-eye, canine friend. What an inspiration they both were to all of the attendees.
The CSMSA 2005 convention was held in Midland, MI. We had grand accommodations at the Best Western Plaza Resort. There were a great number of vendors as compared to previous years. We had our standard array of classes. Each year, more subjects and more advanced classes are added to the agenda. The "What else can you make" contest included many new items. Instead of a keynote speaker, a fashion show of clothing and other items made on the CSM was the attraction at the annual dinner. The winner of the "Fleece to Feet" contest, Tracy Schuh, produced a wonderful pair of socks in 42 minutes. That was the fastest time for the competition since its inception.
The CSMSA 2006 convention was held in Eagle, CO. We gathered at the fairgrounds in Eagle. Newly manufactured circular knitting machines were displayed by two different people. Newzealander Jackie Grant demostrated a very light weight machine called the NZAK, which her company is planning to manufacture. Mark Amlung showed his home made, primarily brass, machine that he calls 'Elias'.
The CSMSA 2007 convention was the nineth annual convention and was held at Frederick, MD. Highlights of the meeting included key note speaker Dr. Richard Candee's multimedial presentation of general discussion of circular knitting machine from the middle 19th century to the middle 20th centrury. Competition among 'what else can be made on the CSM' continued with various categories, such as socks, clothing, toys, house hold items, etc. This year competition included items made from original patterns found in the CSM industry from years past. The 'fleece to feet' contest continued with the pair of socks being produced in one hour and seven minutes. There were 80 participants and 27 guests in attendance.
The CSMSA 2008 convention was the 10th annual convention, held in Brown County Indiana State Park in the Abe Martin Lodge.
The CSMSA 2009 convention held at the Gwinwood Conference Center, in Lacey, WA