It's hard to believe that a unique idea I had over 4 years ago has turned into what is now Simply Socks Yarn Company. When I came up with the idea of having a store that specialized just in sock yarn, I did so for many reasons: I was tired of buying sock yarn in several sources and paying several shipping costs. There was no online store that had a large selection or that carried more than a handful of lines. I was tired of uncommunicative internet retailers and policies that didn't work for me as a knitter or customer. And I wanted a way to utiltilize the retailing, web and graphic design, and public management tools I had acquired throughout school and my career. And knitting? Well, who wouldn't want to incorporate her obsessive hobby into her livelihood?
I'm so grateful to all of you who have helped make my store a success. If I could, I'd come to your door and thank each of you.... but that's well over ten thousand doors, and I have a hard time finding 20 minutes for the treadmill. So instead you should come visit me at the store's booth at Sock Summit and and I'll give you a big thanks then!
For SSYC's 4th Anniversary, I'm going showing my thanks in ways that have been popular since SSYC's first celebration. Carrying on a fine tradition instituted by dyers like Fleece Artist, Cherry Tree Hill and Lorna's Laces, Schaefer Yarn has created a special edition colorway to commemorate this event, and has dyed only 100 skeins in the Heather (merino/silk/nylon) yarn base. The skein is a lovely combination of bright pink and salmon against a mocha backdrop, and the colors really pop with the sheen that the silk gives the yarn base. I'm even throwing in a free Undulating Waves Scarf pattern (made popular by the Yarn Harlot) for each of you that e-mails me at service@simplysockyarn.com after your purchase. Don't purchase it through the link, just e-mail me.
And, like I have for every anniversary, I'm having a bit of a contest! In the comments below, tell me about one or more of your favorite skeins that you've purchased from Simply Socks in the past 4 years. You can even leave links to projects if you want to show them off. And if you are new to the store, take a look through and tell me what catches your eye. There will be FOUR winners, each getting to choose a skein of Dream in Color's Starry sock yarn. You can only enter in the comments section below ONCE before June 10 at midnight. I'll list the winners here on June 12, so you'll have to check back then to see if you won.
Thank you very, very much to each of you who has made Simply Socks Yarn Company your online sock yarn source for the past 4 years! It's been a blast!
Three favs come immediately to mind. The Seacoast Merino/Tencel in Black Hills Gold colorway which is still in the petting stage because I just love it so much. Then there is the Malabrigo which I purchased in all but about 4 colors. And finally SSYC's custom colorway of Shepherd Sock--Margarita. Wearing those socks always makes me feel just a little bit happier. Thanks, Allison, for your fabulous store and great customer service. Congrats on your 4th anniversary. May SSYC continue to grow!
Posted by: Janet | June 03, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Congratulations SSYC!!! A favorite is hard to name. I'll say the Dream in Color line of yarns.
Posted by: Cyndy | June 03, 2009 at 08:33 AM
Happy 4th Anniversary! Some of my favourite yarns are the 1st Anniversary colourway that Fleece Artist dyed for you (I still haven't used it yet, it's far too pretty!), and Trekking XXL.
Posted by: Adrienne | June 03, 2009 at 09:07 AM
Love the Unique Sheep Gradience yarns. I haven't knitted it yet, but it is definitely on my list to do soon.
Posted by: Angela | June 03, 2009 at 09:12 AM
My favorite yarn I've purchased from SSYC I think would have to be one of the skeins of Handmaiden Casbah. Maybe the Masala colorway? Casbah might be my favorite yarn base ever and I loved seeing everyone's lace ribbon scarves when you did you the knitalong!
Posted by: Bertha | June 03, 2009 at 09:40 AM
Happy Anniversary! So many faves to choose from... I guess I'll go with Opal.
Posted by: Adriana | June 03, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Happy anniversary, Allison! I wish I could clone you. More retailers (online and in person) should take lessons in your customer service skills.
So many favorite yarns to choose from ... I'm going to say it was the yarn I used to knit my first pair of socks: Shelridge Farms, Soft Touch Ultra Heathered (Crocus). It was user-friendly and withstood many frogging sessions. After all this time, the socks are still wearable. It was such a pleasant knitting experience that I was immediately hooked on sock knitting. (You enabler, you.)
Posted by: Susan | June 03, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Might be DIC starry for me, Petal Shower and Beach Fog.
Happy Anniversary Allison!
Posted by: Allise | June 03, 2009 at 10:53 AM
Happy Anniversary! My favorite purchase actually didn't become socks: one upon a time your shop carried Crystal Palace Kid Merino, which I made into a lovely lace cardigan (http://golden-iris.blogspot.com/2007/08/grannie-smith-cardigan.html). My ongoing favorite for socks, though, is still Trekking XXL (and now Maxima).
Posted by: Veronica | June 03, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Happy Anniversary.
I don't think I have knitted any of my purchases yet. (why do things have to marinate in the stash before I feel I can cast on?) I think my favorite for petting is the Cherry Tree Hill Possum Sock. And the best eye candy has been Fleece Artist Nyoni Special, now to find a pattern to show it off.
Posted by: Rachel | June 03, 2009 at 11:09 AM
My favorite was the anniversary yarn done by Cherry Hill one year - it was a white base with speckles of hot pink and brown? I did a feather and fan pattern with it and they were darling. Not many dyers 'speckle' their yarns so it's a little different from the norm.
(Anything by Dream in Color would be a close second. I love all their colorways.)
Posted by: Melanie | June 03, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Happy 4th Anniversary!!
Great choice for this year's yarn!
It would be hard to pick just one but for now (my favorites changed when I'm seduced by a new yarn) I'd pick Malabrigo. It is so soft and wonderful to wear. (of course I still love Sleeping Dragon Wooly Bamboo, Schaefer Heather, Lorna's Laces, and Shibui sock, to name a few)
Posted by: SusanB-knits | June 03, 2009 at 11:25 AM
My favorite purchase was Wendy KnitsSunrise- I'm still drooling over it before starting my socks.
Posted by: Robin | June 03, 2009 at 11:49 AM
My favorite so far has to be the "James Danger" colorway offered in one of the sock clubs. Not only is the base a beautiful yarn that I simply can't get enough of, I kept turning the skein over in my hands wondering what it was about yourself and about your family that was presented in those color choices. What can I say - I'm a bit of a voyeur I suppose. But the colors were so vivid that I couldn't help but this of happy, colorful things. I never would have picked those colors for myself, but they shine like a jewel in my "sock yarn stash" - just waiting for me to be, ahem, daring when I make them.
Posted by: Colleen | June 03, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Congratulations on 4 years! I appreciate your presence here so much and love every skein I've ever bought from you! My favorites, though, have been the Sock the Vote skeins and your anniversary edition skeins. I am also thankful for your support of Sock Madness - vendors like you make giving away prizes so easy!
Posted by: Carole | June 03, 2009 at 12:01 PM
I bought a lovely skein of Fleece Artist merino sock in Hercules that I still think is beautiful. I haven't knit with it yet, although the practical part of me says I should make use of the beautiful thing, but it is still so lovely in the skein.
Congratulations on your anniversary!
Posted by: Janis | June 03, 2009 at 12:56 PM
Happy Anniversary Allison! I've purchased so much yarn from you, it is hard to list my favorite. But, if I had to pick one, it would be Pagewood Farms Alyeska (love the cashmere)! I've made two pairs of socks and kept them both for myself. It is such a wonderfully soft yarn and my socks have been through many, many washings and held up very well. Wish I could make it to the Sock Summit!
Posted by: Debra | June 03, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I stumbled onto your web site about a year ago--and what a find! I have acquired a stash of beautiful yarns, but I must say my favorite so far is Dream in Color's Starry Plum Paisley. I didn't really mean to order the Starry (with silver strands), but it is absolutely gorgeous. I still haven't decided what it will be, but I get a lot of pleasure out of just looking at it. On days that I'm expecting a yarn shipment from you, I can't wait to get home--and it's always a good day!
Posted by: Ann Denney | June 03, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Congratulations on 4 wonderful years! My favorite yarn I've bought from you is the anniversary sock yarn from last year, the Lorna's Laces in Simply Sock. I absolutely love the socks I knit with them.
Here's a link to Ravelry page for them: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Alyssa/ridges-and-ribs-2
See you in August at the Sock Summit!
Posted by: Alyssa | June 03, 2009 at 02:22 PM
Happy anniversary! May you have many more.
My favorite skein of yarn is always the one I'm currently working with (well, with the exception of the skein of Noro I'm using at the moment), so my favorite from your shop is the Dream in Color Starry. I bought a skein of Night Watch to knit the Viper Pilots socks (because that way they twinkle like they're in space!), and it's just a dream to work with. The colors are gorgeous - they give depth without obscuring the intricate cablework. I'd add a picture, but I haven't got one at the moment.
That said, I've also loved the Lorna's Laces, ShiBui and Panda Cotton I've bought too.
Posted by: Sarah | June 03, 2009 at 02:34 PM
My favorite yarn so far is the Schaefer Anne in the colorway Sophia Smith. My daughter will graduate from Smith College in May 2010 with a major in plant sciences, and I am making her a flower-petal shawl (http://www.elann.com/ShowFreePattern.asp?Id=107024) with the yarn as a graduation gift. This is one project that will have layers of meaning!
Posted by: Lynne | June 03, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Happy Anniversary!!! I remember when you first started and thought, what a great idea!!! And then I was worried that you wouldn't last a year. The fact that you've been in business for FOUR is amazing! Esp with the economy the way it is and the fact that you really are a specialty shop. Then again, that's probably your saving grace. Sock yarn is a quick mental fix. Better and cheaper than therapy!!
As far as my favorites, it's hard to say, but I do like the dream in color line. and LOVE the way Lorna's Laces knits up and lasts and lasts.
Posted by: Lynn | June 03, 2009 at 03:56 PM
Wow Congrats on 4 years! I recently discovered Simply Socks Yarn and haven't made a purchase yet, but I do have a list of yarns I will buy. A couple includes the Seacoast Panda Sock and the Farmhouse, Bo Peep. Yay! I'm looking forward to my purchase...plans for the yarn are brewing already! :)
Posted by: Tina | June 03, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Congratulations! I love the Schaefer Anne line and am waiting for the thistle-Shibui yarns are gorgeous too-actually all of the yarns are pretty swanky!
Posted by: chris | June 03, 2009 at 05:45 PM
Happy anniversary! I just placed my first order. I've been meaning to place one, but have been restraining myself from all purchases. I love so much of it. The Zauberball intrigues me, but this time I went for the WendyKnits and the gradience.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 03, 2009 at 05:47 PM