Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

50% off International Shipping!!

Simply Socks Yarn Company is discounting by HALF our regular rate for International shipping until March 10!  Just choose the "Global- outside of US" shipping option at Check Out to automatically receive this deal!

SSYC's global shipping flat rate is based on the USPS 4-6 day rate for shipping a 1.5 pound package, but SSYC is cutting that price in half for the next 10 days.  While we have quite an international following already, I figure this will give more people the chance to try us out and see what they think of our yarn and service.  This shipping deal will last until March 10 and the rates are as follows:

Canada: Regular Rate: $9.50...... Discounted Rate: $4.75

Mexico: Regular Rate: $10.50....... Discounted Rate: $5.25

United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Luxembourg and Finland:
     Regular Rate: $12.75.......  Discounted Rate: $6.37

Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Hong Kong:
     Regular Rate: $13.75........ Discounted Rate $6.87

**Don't see your country listed here?  Just e-mail me, and I'll let you know if Simply Socks Yarn Company can ship to you too.

Finished Socks!

I have finished my Blooming Feet exchange socks!  And only with a few yards of yarn left!  I totally want to ship these suckers to their new feet, but I think we are supposed to hold off on that til March 31, right? You can bet that I was reciting a please-let-me-have-enough-yarn mantra while I finished up the toe. I used Fleece Artist's Merino sock yarn in the Rainforest colorway.  I really hope that my sock buddy likes these socks.  I made them longer than usual, which is why I didn't know if I would have enough yarn.  My exchange pal lives somewhere with similar weather to Indiana, where I am, so I figure she could appreciate longer socks, especially in the winter.

To the right is a pic of the first sock I finished during the Super Bowl.  I haven't taken a pic of the pair yet.

Simply Socks Yarn Co. recently received more Opal Dreamcatcher yarn to replenish the colors we were out of.  And in early March, I expect to get a big shipment of merino from Fleece Artist.

Sugar Maple- a new colorway

Have you seen Cherry Tree Hill's newest colorway?  Sugar Maple was recently added to the popular yarn company's offerings, and to Simply Socks Yarn Company!  CTH is also sponsoring a design competition featuring this new colorway!  Take a look at their website to learn more at http://www.cherryyarn.com/.  The specifics on the contest aren't too clear, so if you are interested and don't want to contact CTH at the phone number they have provided, e-mail me and I will see what else I can learn.

Simply Socks Yarn Co. received a huge response to the CTH Potluck Supersock yarn, so I ordered much more and we are still able to give out free patterns (up to two per purchase) with each skein.  I learned from CTH that Potluck yarn is almost gone, which means that once we sell out, it could be a few months before we could get more from them.

Also, CTH has new labels on their supersock yarn indicating that hand washing is preferred to prolong the life of the socks.  So if skeins you have received recently (from SSYC or other yarn stores), don't indicate that they are machine washable, just know that it's the same yarn it's always been and is machine washable in cold water.  Our most recent yarn shipment from CTH doesn't mention that it's machine washable, but CTH assures me that it still is, they are just deciding on new labels.  COnfusing, I know.  But they will have their final labels on the yarn soon, indicating that the yarn is machine washable in cold, but handwashing is preferred. 

FYI- Several months ago, I gave a pair of Foxy Lady colored socks to my mom-in-law, and she always machine washes them and they look great.  Here she is showing 'em off- and a little leg.

What, no pics??

That's right, a post with no pics!!!!  I know, I know, how BORING.  Such a faux pas.  But I can't help it today.  BUT I have made progress on my Blooming Feet exchange socks.  I'm wondering if I should finish now, or leave it til closer to the deadline.  Regardless, I don't think I'm going to post more pics of the progress b/c I want there to be some mystery to the whole deal.  Since I have already included a pic of one completed sock in a post, I know there's not much mystery, but I can pretend, can't I??  Don't even get me started on my Sockapaloooza socks.  I haven't decided on yarn or pattern yet.

I have also started a pair of socks using the Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck yarn in the Earth color.  I'm using the Thuja pattern from Knitty Magazine.  It's just a very simple rib, but it looks supernice (you'll have to wait for pics, I know, I'm bad).  And all the stockinette stitch makes for a very smooth-feeling sock (on the right side).  I haven't decided whether I'm going to keep these socks or gift them.  Since I was so disappointing with my hand knit gift giving last Christmas, perhaps I should start early?  Anyone else already thinking the same?

The Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck yarns have gone VERY quickly.  More is arriving tomorrow (no post today) and I will try to continue giving out the free patterns while they are still available.

Supersock Potluck Now Available!

Cherry Tree Hill's Handpainted Supersock Potluck colors come in 6 color schemes.  Within each of the 6 color schemes are a multitide of different colors- so if you order Brights, you will get bright, vivid color sock yarn, but it could include any combination of bright colors!  It's a nice way to have a vague idea of what you are getting, but still get a surprise in the mail!  And until we run out of patterns, we are giving out a free Cherry Tree Hill sock pattern ($5 value!) with every purchase of the Potluck yarn, with a limit of two free patterns per person.  If you are interested in the free patterns, I suggest ordering within the next day or two, as they may go quickly.

As usual, I'm posting this first here at the blog, and I won't be sending out info about this promotion for another day.  So you bloggers have a head start on the free patterns.

Below are the color schemes: Brights, Earth, Greens/Blues,(second row) Jewel, Purples/Blues, and Watercolors.

Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Potluck

Simply Socks Yarn Company will soon be carrying Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock Potluck colors!  CTH's Handpainted Potluck colors come in 6 color schemes, including Purples/Blues, Greens/Blues, Brights, Jewel, Earth, and Watercolors.  Within each of the 6 color schemes are a multitide of different colors- so if you order Watercolor, you will get a muted, watercolor-type colorway, but it could be blues, greens, pinks, or a mixture of colors!  It's a nice way to have a vague idea of what you are getting, but still get a surprise in the mail!  And until we run out of patterns, we are giving out a free Cherry Tree Hill sock pattern ($5 value!) with every purchase of the Potluck yarn, with a limit of two free patterns per person. Sorry, kids, we pick the patterns.  I don't expect the free patterns to last more than two days.

This yarn should be available in the next day or so (I'll post again here), and those who check the blog will have a head start of a day, as usual, on ordering before I send out the mass mails.  Oh, and the Potluck yarns will retail at $17.50 each, opposed to the regular CTH Handpainted Supersock, which retails at $21.00 at Simply Socks Yarn Company.

Cherry Tree Hill & Cascade

If you have been waiting for more colors of Cherry Tree Hill's Supersock Merino yarn, more has just arrived at Simply Socks Yarn Company!  We were sold out of several colors, but more has just arrived, including Green Mountain Madness, Spring Frost, Serengeti, Birches, Cabin Fever, Moody Blues and Monet (the newest colorway).

Shown here are Green Mountain Madness, Spring Frost, Serengeti, Cabin Fever and Monet.

Also just arrived- Cascade Sassy Stripes in four self striping colors.  We have been waiting on this thicker-striped yarn for several months, and four of the six colors have finally arrived!  Colors are 761, 763, 766 and 769.

Blooming Feet- One Down, One to Go

Over the weekend, I finished one of my Blooming Feet socks!  I did the majority of the knitting during the BIG GAME, but stopped knitting for the commercials.  I'm one of THOSE people who couldn't really care less about football but will *shush* everyone during the ads.  And some of those ads were fuh-ney.  Especially the one with MacGuyver.  That one was the best, I thought.  So, Joe and I (and the half finished sock) left our comfy couch for someone else's comfy couch.  Joe has this ritual of watching the Superbowl at his own house, but this year decided it was okay to leave since the house we were visiting would be full of Steelers fans and Terrible Towels.  Joe's from western PA, so Pittsburgh's his team. 

So, I finished one sock and have started on the second one.  I hope that I have enough yarn for the second one.  I might have to dip into a second skein, because I made the sock with about a 9" cuff.  I figure my pal is from someplace with similar winter weather as Indiana and she would appreciate longer socks that could keep the lower portion of her calves warm too.

I have started thinking about the yarn I would like to use for my Sockapaloooza sock pal.  She likes pinks and browns- what a coincidence, considering the SSYCs website colors!  Any yarn suggestions for someone who likes pinks and browns?

Take a look at this list of Sockapaloooza knitters!  Over 600 from all over the world- and so many new sock knitters too.

Interlacement Tiny Toes- On its way

Interlacement's new Tiny Toes sock yarn is on its way to Simply Socks Yarn Company, but won't arrive for 8 weeks.... patience is not a virtue that I possess.  I have decided to order this wonderful new sock yarn after knitting up a sample skein and doing a bit of washing.  If you haven't been following along on this tiny journey, you can check out my first entry HERE and second entry HERE.

I finished a 2x2 ribbed sock, using the 50 gram sample skein that Interlacements sent along with our most recent Toasty Toes order.  Toasty Toes is well-loved, so I thought I would consider carrying the new Tiny Toes fingering weight sock yarn as well.  Little did I know I would receive so much positive feedback in comments and especially e-mails!  So, after I finished this sock at left (7.5 inch cuff, size 11 foot- plenty of yarn in a 50 gram/ 185 yard skein), I decided to not only handwash it, as Interlacments indicated, but also machine wash it... just to see.

Following is what I found when I handwashed color 410, Engilsh Garden, in my sink.  See something in the water??  The pink?  I was scared that the bleeding of the dye would cause moddled color.  Less bright yellow, at least.  Interlacements yarn is known for super saturated, vivid color, and they do recommend a rinse before washing with other garments.  This is why:

Obviously, there is some bleeding of color here, as I expected.  But what I didn't expect, was for the sock, once it dried, to display the same bright color as it had before its first wash.

If you click on the picture, you can get a good close up of this sock.  What you'll notice is that the colors are still super vivid, and the bleeding of the dye into the water affected the color very little, if at all.  I was really surprised by this!  When I saw how pink the water was, I was sure the color would be affected.  What I also noted was a slight halo of fuzz to the sock, which is to be expected.  This also made the socks more soft to wear.  And yes, I wore it around the house without a mate!

Once I wore this sock a bit, I threw it into a lingerie bag and put it in a load of hand towels, dark in color- just in case there was more bleeding of the dye.  Other comparable yarn like Artyarns and Koigu (our BIG Koigu order will be arriving in the Spring!) are also hand wash only, but many of us do machine wash them.  After a machine wash and flay dry, I ended up with this sock:

A sock that looks almost exactly the same as the handwash sock.  Which isn't to say that after several machine washes there won't be a difference.  I won't know that until I make a second sock and wash and wear them more. But it's good to know that these CAN be machine washed and not end up felted, torn up, or a less vivid color.

So like I mentioned earlier, I placed a large order with Interlacments in over 20 colors, and may increase that order, once I receieve new colorcards.  I found this yarn to be really nice to knit (see the prevois posts for more about that process).  And while I was worried that the pink water would equal muddled colors once the sock was dry, I was surprised that the sock was quite the same.  I do recommend you wash these before gifting them to someone, as you don't want to cause their white delicates to become PINK!

Down to the (tiny) Toe of Joe

I've almost completed the Tiny Toes sample sock (click to get a closeup).  It's modeled here on Joe, the Reluctant Sock Model.  Joe woke up with a shoulder issue today, and after a full day of teaching, came home and plopped into bed.  He was in too much pain to stop me from putting a "girl sock" on him an hour ago.  While I forced his resistant foot into the sock, he whined, "This is a giiiirl sock. Why do you do this?  Do you haaate me?  Why do you haaate me?"  What can I say?  I needed a model.

A few minutes ago, I wanted to get a better picture than this one, and Joe says, "I'm done with that.  You've had your fun, and now it's over.  I'm READING."  He's reading Atlas Shrugged.  He doesn't mind reading my book, but he minds wearing my socks.  Feh.

The pic to the right shows the foot- and the plain stitches really show off the color, I think.  No ribbing or interesting pattern needed to make this yarn shine, that's for sure.

Tonight I will finish this sock, then do a hand washing.  After that, a few machine washes.  It's such a nice sock so far, I would hate to ruin it with a machine wash.  But I want to see what's really going to happen.  And from all the e-mails I have received, it's about even the number of people who do care vs. don't care if it's able to handle the machine washing.  I do have to agree that for gift giving purposes, it can be hard to expect someone to handwash their gift of socks.  But the people I knit socks for have asked for them and usually REALLY want them.  And if that's the case, I figure for all the work I'm putting into it, they can hand wash it with their other delicates.  There are a few people that I KNOW won't hand wash anything, and I would choose superwash for them, of course.

Oh, and I had a conversation with Clayton Ditmore today (Interlacements) and the colorway is called English Garden #410.  And Interlacements is still waiting on their most recent fiber shipment, so new orders will take 8 weeks....

Tiny Toes Sock Progress

Oh, the tastiness of new yarn.  Not to taunt you at all, but this new Tiny Toes is quite fabulous.  Neener neener.

So last night, I wound up the sample skein of Interlacement's new Tiny Toes.  I wound it by hand, while watching American Idol (don't judge me- the first few weeks of that show provide some good laughs).  I wound it by hand b/c I have heard about the color saturation of some of Interlacements' yarns, and how it can bleed on your hands unless you do a pre-rinse.  And while I haven't had the problem myself yet, I thought that the friction of hand winding the skein into a ball would lend to the bleeding, if it was going to happen.  It didn't.  No bleeding of any color.  And none as I knit.  My hands were as pale and colorless as ever.

So I went about my casting on of 64 stitches and started a 2x2 rib on US # 1 needles (2.25 mm), which you can see above and at the right.  While I only made about 2 inches of progress, I can start to see that this colorway might spiral around the sock as I continue toward the heel.  I haven't yet decided how I feel about this.  I prefer a more random mixture of color.  But I understand this is a lovingly hand painted yarn, so each skein will be unique.  What I also understand is that while this skein's color may spiral beautifully toward the heel, the next skein for the second sock may not, causing fraternal (vs. identical) sock twins.  I don't mind this- in fact, I like that each sock is unique, even in a pair.  But I do know that some sock knitters want IDENTICAL socks, and there's nothing wrong with that.  What are your opinions?

So far, I really like this new yarn.  It's soft- not quite as soft as Artyarns or Koigu, but very close.  And the color saturation is just what you would expect from the studios of Judy Ditmore.  By the weekend, I expect to have finished this sock and will give it a good washing.  After a few of those, I will make my decision about carrying it.  If anyone has strong opinions on this, leave a comment or e-mail me.  All opinions are appreciated!  **Except those from my girls, who call me out on my pudgy digits.  Zip it.**