Edited on 7/17: baby update at end of post
After seven years, SSYC is taking a short break. And if you're one of our loyal knitters and blog readers, you already know why. If you are seeing this message, that means that the Van Zandt family is about to or has just grown by one, and Joe, Allison and James have a new little one in the house!
This means that the SSYC website will be closed for a month or so while Allison takes maternity leave. You are welcome to browse the website and plan projects, but ordering will be disabled and nothing will be shipped until mid-August. If you need to reach Allison or the store with any type of question or concern, it will unfortunately wait until mid-August. I don't recommend phoning and leaving messages as its likely the inbox is full and the messages won't be recorded. Instead, the best way to log a request or question is to e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com and I'll address them in order when I return in August.
The storefront will still be open one day a week for in-person shopping, days listed on the bottom of the homepage, so if you are interested in shopping in person, or keeping Heather and Mary busy, then please stop in! And when we resume the website sales and shipments in August, you'll see awesome fibery goodness- including new colors of striping Poste Yarn.
Thank you so much for your support over the past seven years. Not only has our family grown from two to four, but our store has grown from one room in our home to a 3500 sq ft storefront and studio. I feel lucky to serve you every day, and I look forward to resuming once little Henry is on a schedule and life has returned to a new normal.
Edited 7/17: Meet baby Henry! Shown here at 2 days old, he's doing quite well. Good nurser and sleeper- sleeps only about 45 minutes when not being held, but 5 hours when snuggling. Needless to say, Hank the Tank is rarely without a warm body holding him, day or night. He's being spoiled rotten right now, which is how I want it, and he's completely loved by his older brother who sings him You are My Sunshine and wants him to watch him build towers. Hank was over 8 pounds when he made his arrival, which was nearly 2 pounds larger than his brother was five years ago. Which explains why so many of you who visited the store in person exclaimed "you're all baby!"
I feel great- Hank and his daddy allow me to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night (I know, it's crazy) in two to four hour spurts, which is completely different than I'd experienced before. Though I'm loving these weeks of quiet and family, I have to admit that I'm thinking a lot about yarn! Heather comes out to the house to have me approve or tweek Poste Yarn colors, and I just want to show them all to you! That will come in about three weeks or so, and I'm really looking forward to it. See you again then!
Congratulations Alison....hope you, Henry, Joe and James are all well....and enjoy your time off with your family!
Posted by: Joyce | July 01, 2012 at 09:42 PM
Congratulations and welcome to Henry! May everyone sleep well!
Posted by: deetyblue | July 01, 2012 at 11:09 PM
Oh Welcome! My heart is so full and my throat is choked. Baby, you have the most wonderful parents. The world is yours and we are all you Aunties. Welcome to the world baby boy!
Posted by: KT | July 01, 2012 at 11:27 PM
a much deserved vacay! enjoy your time off with your family and new little one to-be!
Posted by: ritainalaska | July 01, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Congratulations to the whole Van Zandt family! Wishing you all much happiness, health, and some sleep!
Posted by: bonny | July 02, 2012 at 06:40 AM
Congratulations! Take as long as you need to make YOU happy/comfortable, us knitters have patience!
Posted by: Cara | July 02, 2012 at 09:40 AM
So very, very happy for all of you. Welcome to Henry! Enjoy your leave. We'll miss you.
Posted by: mary | July 02, 2012 at 11:06 AM
Congratulations to your wonderful family. Henry is a great name. Can you sneak us a photo at some point when you are feeling up to it. Wishing you well and enjoy the new baby.
Posted by: Kim B. | July 02, 2012 at 11:12 AM
Congratulations!! I am tickled to find this message on the Blog - I had been thinking of you all weekend.
Blessings to you all - I know that James will be a great big brother to Henry. I do hope that Henry learns about sleeping at night and playing during the day quickly.
Allison - take your time and don't rush anything. If we can patiently knit blankets - we can wait for the store to open up. I think I've got enough in my stash that I won't be bored LOL
Posted by: Leslie | July 02, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Congratulations on your recent adventure! I hope all went well with your delivery and you're settling into your nest with your brood. Keep cool!
Posted by: Brenda McCoy | July 02, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Congratulations! Enjoy your family time and we all look forward to your return.
Posted by: Bobbi | July 02, 2012 at 12:18 PM
wonderful! i'm so glad you can take the time off to be with your family. i'm sure you can use the extra rest!!
Posted by: Tracey | July 02, 2012 at 03:01 PM
What a joy to hear that Henry has joined your family. I'm like the poster above, I have enough stash yarn to keep me til next year, let alone August! Enjoy this precious time with your family. I would get cabin fever when my babies were newborns, and my wonderful husband would take us for drives and buy me Slush Puppies (frozen fruit drink at the convenience store) until mama was happy again.
Posted by: Jane | July 02, 2012 at 08:26 PM
Welcome to your new family member, Henry. Hope you all are returning home to a house with electricity. Heard is was bad out your way. Take care and stay cool.
Posted by: Jan | July 03, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Yea Henry!!! Such a clever boy (like older brother James) to choose such a wonderful mom and dad! Allison, Enjoy your time with the family and can't wait for new pictures!
Posted by: April | July 03, 2012 at 06:51 PM
Woohoo!!! Congrats on the arrival of Henry and a well deserved break! I'd say rest, but I have 2 kids as well and there is no such thing. Enjoy!
Posted by: Lynn | July 04, 2012 at 12:58 AM
Drake as long as you need to bond 4 into one family. I'm sure we all have enough stash to tide us over. Besides 100* heat is too hot for even socks. Too hot for anything other than lying in AC & reading. Enjoy some time with your men!
Posted by: Donna | July 06, 2012 at 02:50 PM
I hope all of you get sleep! Lack of it IS temporary!Congratulations!I am so happy for the four of you!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 07, 2012 at 09:36 PM
Beautiful Baby! You can't spoil them at this age by holding them too much. Enjoy these precious times! Congrats!
Posted by: jeanne | July 17, 2012 at 08:59 AM
Congrats! What a beautiful addition to your family.
Posted by: Lisa Viviano | July 17, 2012 at 09:09 AM
He is gorgeous Allison - glad you and Henry are both doing well! Enjoy your family time!
Posted by: Kathy | July 17, 2012 at 09:15 AM
Hank the Tank is just wonderful. Get some rest and dreamof yarn. Best wishes to your little family.
Posted by: Lori Beth | July 17, 2012 at 09:19 AM
Congratulations on your new beautiful baby boy! Big brother is my hero!
Posted by: Janene Reeves | July 17, 2012 at 09:25 AM
Congratulations! He's a cutie all right, as well as his big brother. Enjoy!!
Posted by: Rusty M. | July 17, 2012 at 09:34 AM
Just a cutie. Only two days old in this photo...this fellow came almost full grown! Enjoy your quiet family times. Thanks for the photo and update. Now go back to your break.
Posted by: Kim B. | July 17, 2012 at 09:48 AM
"Hank the Tank"... I love it! He is adorable! Thank-you so much for the picture and update. Enjoy your bonding time and treasure your new memories.
Posted by: Denise Colley | July 17, 2012 at 10:00 AM
Congrats and I love that big brother sings You are my Sunshine to Henry.
Posted by: Joyce | July 17, 2012 at 10:24 AM
What a great update...he looks perfect! My girls too sang You are my Sunshine too!
Posted by: april | July 17, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Congrats! I am so happy for you! He is absolutely adorable.
Posted by: Jennifer Cameron | July 17, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Congratulations to you on the adorable new addition to your family! Enjoy this time with your family! It goes by so fast!
Posted by: Debra | July 17, 2012 at 12:09 PM
So happy you are all well and taking care of the important things in life these next few weeks. I feel confident that all of your regulars have plenty to keep us busy -- and that a bit of "stash reduction" knitting is in ALL of our best interests! Makes room for all the wonderful new stock you'll have for us when you re-open. Happy baby to you all!
Posted by: Jan in Lansing, MI | July 17, 2012 at 02:59 PM
Congratulations! Wonderful news! Enjoy your happy quiet time. And welcome to the world, baby boy!
Posted by: Andy | July 17, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Congratulations! Enjoy these irreplaceable days.
Posted by: Lana in Terre Haute, IN | July 17, 2012 at 03:29 PM
Congratulations to you all!
Posted by: Mel | July 17, 2012 at 03:48 PM
Beautiful, terrific, be blessed. Enough said.
Posted by: alice | July 17, 2012 at 03:49 PM
A big Congrats! He is such a cutie.
Posted by: Jean | July 17, 2012 at 04:23 PM
Congratulations, he's beautiful!
Posted by: Michelle N. McCrillis | July 17, 2012 at 05:33 PM
Congratulations to you all. Thanks for sharing Henry with us.
Posted by: Pat Richardson | July 17, 2012 at 06:27 PM
Thanks for the picture and blogs. Congrats.
Posted by: Allise | July 17, 2012 at 07:25 PM
I am so happy for you and Joe, big brother James! He is beautiful!!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 17, 2012 at 09:31 PM
Congratulations! Henry is beautiful!
Posted by: Marjorie | July 17, 2012 at 11:46 PM
Congratulations!! Enjoy! Enjoy!
Posted by: Vivian | July 18, 2012 at 11:46 AM
So happy for you and your family. Enjoy your time :)
Posted by: Lisa | July 18, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Congratulations Alison and Co.!! I think of you when I pick up the needles and work on my Poste Yarn socks (from the kit) and say little prayers for you and your family!! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Posted by: Terri | July 18, 2012 at 03:42 PM
Congratulations Allison and family! We have never called our Henry Hank, because the kids named our beagle Hank!
Posted by: CyndyC | July 18, 2012 at 03:52 PM
Oh baby Henry. We LOVE you. You are perfect and so very handsome.
Posted by: KT | July 18, 2012 at 09:44 PM
What a handsome addition to your family! Henry is going to be a well-loved child, just like his big brother. Congratulations!
Posted by: Jody Beutler | July 19, 2012 at 07:48 AM
Congratulations!
Posted by: KathyD | July 20, 2012 at 04:25 PM
Congratulations!!!! Enjoy every moment He's precious!!
Posted by: anamaria seda | July 20, 2012 at 06:39 PM
Congrats! Welcome Henry! Awesome big brother!!!
Posted by: Lisa Soderman | July 21, 2012 at 02:14 AM
What a cutie! I am so happy for you and your family.
Posted by: Renee' | July 21, 2012 at 03:09 AM
Congrats! Beautiful baby! Enjoy your boys!
Posted by: Donna | July 21, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Woohoo! Looks like you have two terrific boys on your hands, Allison. Best to you!
Posted by: Dan Lauer | July 24, 2012 at 03:07 PM
Congratulations Allison!! And Welcome Henry!!
(and please ignore the somewhat technical email I sent a few minutes ago describing the fact that your site isn't taking orders!! We can only please ignorance.
Congrats again!!!!
Mike & Tola
Posted by: Mike Irwin | July 27, 2012 at 12:48 AM
or "plead" ignorance. Mike was too excited congratulating you to proofread before posting. Congrats and we will make our order later!
Posted by: Tola | July 27, 2012 at 12:52 AM
Definitely a little cutie (or should I say a not so little one). Glad that things are going well. Can't wait to see you back in the store. Maybe we'll even get to see your two little ones?
Posted by: Debby | July 27, 2012 at 09:30 PM
Congratulations to you all! Babies are such a wonderful, joyous miracle - cherish every moment of your family time.
Posted by: Janice | August 07, 2012 at 06:14 AM
Allison: hope Hank continues to be a happy baby and your exclusive family time has been a joy. Look forward to seeing u again. Congratulations! btw I had a wonderful brother in law we called Hank (for Henry). He was a terrific guy and I hope your Hank grows up to have the same personality!
Posted by: Jana | August 09, 2012 at 11:28 PM