Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Unfinished socks

I didn't finish my Christmas socks in time for Christmas.  But James had a good time wearing one around the house on Christmas while I knit on the other.  I'm about half way done with the second one and I know that I will definitely wear these during the rest of the year because I adore them so.  The photo doesn't show the true color, but this is the Christmas Island of Poste Yarn.

If you wanted to stash or knit one of the Poste Yarn holiday colors like Christmas Island, Island of Misfit Toys, Chestnut Hills or Holiday Florida before they are gone (like the red/green Santa Claus, IN already is), please do so as we won't be dyeing these again for months or even next December.  Same for all the sport colors and Wizard Series.  Anything you see right now available in Poste Yarn won't be dyed again for quite awhile, as we have a full dye schedule for the upcoming months, bringing you some really cool striping colorways.

As usual, the days after Christmas are a busy time for us as many of you spend your cash-gifts on sock yarn.  We greatly appreciate that year after year you come back to us to purchase yourself special fibery gifts!

From the Van Zandts

May you have a relaxing and merry day!

Twelfth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 12th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a skein of Opal's new 8 Ply light worsted sock yarn!

To have a chance at this rare treat from Opal, simply answer the following question in the comments below:

Is there a Valentine combo of colors that you'd like to see us dye up in Poste Yarn this year?  Perhaps some pinks with grays?  Or reds with another punch of colors?  Give me a few ideas for two color stripes and three color stripes and you might see us dye of up one or more of them for the Poste line in a month or so!

Every year or so Opal releases a 6-ply DK-ish weight sock yarn, but I've never had an 8-ply version in the store before.  I think that they may have released an 8-ply version ONCE before, but I honestly can't remember.  So if you like the idea of a light worsted weight, self patterning sock yarn, snag one of the six colors before they are no more.

This marks the end of the 12 Days of Sock Yarn for 2012!  Thank you for joining me in this little celebration of sock yarn.  I'll announce the winners here in a week or so, as well as the winners from the Dream in Color contest from two weeks ago.  I hope you all have a wonderful last week of 2012.

Eleventh Day of Sock Yarn

On the 11th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

A skein of Skein Sock in the Equinox colorway.

To have a chance at winning this beautifully kettle dyed skein directly from Australia, answer the following question in the comments below:

What's the top item on the Simply Socks Yarn Company wish list you keep filed away in your noggin?  If you got to choose one (or heck, more than one... who am I kidding) thing that would magically arrive on your doorstep, what would it be?  And if you are new to the shop and haven't yet looked through, take a look and tell us something that catches your eye.

If I had just 10 seconds to decide what I would immediately grab and take home with me, it would be a skein of Handmaiden/Fleece Artist's Swiss Mountain Sea Silk in the Beach House colorway, shown below.  I love everything they dye in the Beach House colorway, and this particular dyelot looks awesome on this base.

 

Tenth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 10th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a ball of Opal's new 6-Ply Romance collection!

To have a chance to win this thick and warm self-patterning sock yarn, simply answer the following question in the comments below:

Tell me about one of your holiday traditions.  For example, what you might eat every Christmas morning, or a parictular concert you attend each year, or a perhaps a particular song you play at a specific time.

One of our Christmas morning traditions is that we have the same special breakfast each year: cinnamon rolls, fruit and bacon.  We open stockings and gifts first and then have that same breakfast each year.  We started having this particular menu before we had kids even, so it's been nearly a decade of the same tasty meal.  It's something that even picky James will eat.

I made these cinnamon rolls the past two years, but before that I believe they all came from a can.  It makes quite a lot, so like the author suggests, you could deliver them to friends.  Or freeze them at any stage.  YUM. You can also make them with chocolate chips, with a cream cheese/orange peel frosting, or a slew of other combos.  Just do it.

Ninth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 9th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

two skeins of Shibui Staccato!

To have a chance to win these two lovely skeins of wool/silk in the Artichoke color, simply answer the following question in the comments below:

Do you belong to or attend a knitting group?  If so, tell us about it.  If not, what would make the perfect knitting group for you?

Until last year, the only people I had knit with were a couple friends and my grandmother.  Knitting was pretty much my own, private meditative hobby.  I didn't think I had the time to attend a group regularly.  Then last year I started attending one and it's the highlight of my week.  I make time for it every week (I think the only time I've missed is for three weeks after having Henry), and there's just something awesome about getting together with people who enjoy the same thing you enjoy and knitting away.   And since it's the only time during the week when I get away from kids or work, it's vastly important to my mental health.

We've also had a handful of knitalong days here in the shop, and I've enjoyed those as well.  It's really nice to compare and contrast what everyone is working on and it makes me feel part of the knitting community.  If you haven't yet had the opportunity to join in with a group of knitters, I highly recommend taking the plunge.  It can be easy to talk yourself out of showing up to a group comprised of people you've never met and might not have anything in common with, other than knitting.  But most yarn shops or libraries have groups that get together once a week or month, and I think you'll find that you are welcomed with open arms and people are excited to have a new knitter join in.  Just do it!

To read the full details/rules of the 12 Days of Sock Yarn, go here.

Eighth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 8th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

two skeins of the new Manos Del Uruguay sock yarn!

To have a chance at these two skeins of the Atlantico colorway of Alegria Sock, simply answer the following question in the comments section below:

Is there a technique or project that you'd like to tackle in 2013?  Perhaps your first pair of cashmere socks?  Or what about your first sweater using sock yarn?

I'm hoping to have time to knit my first sweater from sock yarn.  Not Allison-sized sweaters, but one for 5-year-old James and 5-months old Henry.  That's what I'm excited to accomplish this coming year.

But today my excited nature is ALL ABOUT the new sock yarn from Manos.  I've been waiting years for them to release a fiber meant for socks and now that the wait is over I'm having a hard time deciding which of the 12 colors I'd like to knit up first.  For now, I'll just stash a few, as I'm sure this is going to be one of those sock yarns that will sell out quickly and might not be immediately available.  While my choices would typically be colors like Botanico and Ceibo, shown above, I'm thinking of knitting way outside my box and also stashing skeins of Candombe and Locura Fluo.

Is Manos Del Uruguay new to you?  The name translates to Hands of Uruguay, and it is a non profit organization which assembles women in cooperatives scattered throughout the countryside of Uruguay. The aim of this World Fair Trade Organization is to bring economic and social opportunities to rural women.
Alegria ("joy" in Spanish) is a wonderfully soft sock yarn handpainted to create a celebration of color in every skein. No two skeins are alike, and the picture shown is a representation of how your special skein could look, with more or less of each color.  The tag of skein is signed by the woman who dyed it for you, and if you gift a project out of the yarn you might consider gifting the tag along with it just to show how special each skein really is.

Seventh Day of Sock Yarn

On the 7th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a special Santa's Little Helper set from the 2011 Holiday Kit!

To have a chance at winning this perfectly cheery skein and coordinating toe/heel mini skein dyed exclusively for SSYC by Melanie at Black Trillium Fibre Studio, simply answer the following question in the comments below:

If Santa were to name one of his reindeer after you or someone in your life, what would the name be?  Something sarcastic?  Cutsie?  Too true?

If Santa were to give me a reindeer name, it would likely be Snarky.  Snarky b/c I like to laugh and one of the ways I (and thankfully those I work with) have fun is by mocking either myself, those I'm hanging out with, or dorky ideas.  If you've been the the store, it's likely you've heard us laughing hysterically about something (or each other).  Like our idea for the world's worst use of qiviut- knitting one huge qiviut Snuggie.  Can you imagine how hot, sweaty and expensive that would be?  Or "pulse warmers" being the worst use of wool- I find the idea of wrapping wool around your wrist to be quite hysterical and useless (maybe b/c I'm hot all the time?)  Or like James getting in trouble at preschool for teaching his class a Tupac song.

To read the full details/rules of the 12 Days of Sock Yarn, go here.

Sixth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 6th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a spankin' new Malibu Tote!

To have a chance to win this stylish bag made by Run Run Run from recycled pop bottles, simply andwer the following question in the comments below: 

How many pairs of socks do you estimate you've completed in 2012? One? Twenty one?  Are they hand knit or crocheted?  Or have you taken up machine knitting as well?  If you haven't knit any socks at all this year, why not?

When I give it some quick thought, I think I have completed three pairs so far, though I did also do a few single socks for displays as well.  At least, now that I have a storefront to decorate that's what I tell myself when I get Second Sock Syndrome, "Oh, this one is for display.  At least until I decide to finish the second one."  I finished a pair of Opal Van Gogh socks in th Sunflower colors, a pair for a knitting friend in Pac Man colors of Simply Sock Yarn, and I also completed my Sedona Sunset (Poste Yarn) socks for Halloween.  I think I may have finished a few others that were started in 2011, and I'm half way done with my Christmas Island socks that I hope to have done by Christmas morning.  So that will make four.  Certainly not my most prolific year, but since the store has been so wonderfully busy, and I have a healthy baby boy to care for, I feel really good about getting those completed in addition to the few non-sock projects I took on.

In 2013 I'm looking forward to putting others first and knitting gifts for some of my knitting friends, my sons and husband, and maybe for my sister.  I'm in the giving mood and I feel like I have a lot of people in my life who would truely appreciate my time and effort and I'd like to show them some fiber love. 

Want the read the full details/rules of the contest?  Go here.

Fifth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 5th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

Four skeins of Simply Sock Yarn Solids!

To win your choice of four skeins of our exclusive, hand dyed sock yarn, simply answer the following question in the comments below.

Do you have a favorite Christmas tree ornament?  If so, please tell us about it.  If you don't have one, please tell us about another wintery decoration that you adore.

I don't really have one particular ornament that I like over others.  I have a collection of ornaments that I've been given each year since I was born, I have a few hand blown glass ornaments that Joe and I have purchased, and I also have several that were either made by James in preschool or photo ornaments of him that we like too.  What I don't have, that I'd really like, are some hand knit ornaments like the Berroco pattern shown at left.  They have free version of the star for knit or crochet and they book look equally awesome.

Fourth Day of Sock Yarn

On the 4th Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

two skeins of Shibui's Staccato!

To have a chance at winning these lovely and luxurious merino/silk skeins, please answer the following in the comments below.

Tell me about the view out of your window today.  Is there snow where you are today?  Or is it sunny and lovely?  Do you like the weather you are experiencing, or would you prefer something else? Please tell!

This is a store sample knit in Shibui's Staccato in Chrome.  It's the Holden Shawlette and you can see more info about this shawl here.  You could also use this versatile yarn for special baby clothes or socks.

Today, I'm sitting in my family room looking out the windows at the pond, which is slightly iced over.  It's not a large pond, just enough to take a dip in or kayak for about 10 seconds.  There is a little snow on the ground, in a shady spot of the yard where it could even be held over from a few days ago for all I know.  We have had just a tiny bit of snow here in NE Indiana so far this season, and I'd love to show the boys a white Christmas, but at this rate, that's not going to happen.  Oh well, it's makes for safer driving.

Third Day of Sock Yarn

On the 3rd Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a ball of Zauberball 100!

To have a chance at winning this ball of the newest release of Zauberball (it's a soft 100% merino, and regular Zauberball has nylon as well) in color 1505, simply answer the following question in the comments section below:

Do you find that you are consistenly knitting or crocheting over time?  Or do you have periods when you knit passionately and quickly, and other times when you barely knit at all?  If you quite a lot, do you have a secret for keeping your hands and wrists from incurring pain relating to repetative motion?  Or are you blessed with pain free hands?

For the past decade, I've always had at least one project on the needles.  I knit quite a lot before being pregnant with James 6 years ago, and that was the first time my wrists ever hurt- during my first trimester.  After that, the pain went away.  But once he was born I found I had very little time to knit. Since he has gotten older I found more and more time to tink away, but now that Henry is with us I have lost that spare time.  I do hope that as life continues to normalize and he has a more consistent schedule and starts eating food that I will have more time on my hands to knit again.  I really, really want to knit these sweaters for the boys in Smooshy.  Really, really really.  Did I emphasize that enough?

Second Day of Sock Yarn

On the 2nd Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

a gift bag with a striping Poste Yarn!

To have a chance at this gift bag filled with a skein of Island of Misfit Toys striping, a skein of coordinating Simply Sock Yarn in Cherry Red, and a Soak Heel Cream, simply answer the following question in the comments section below:

What is the first project you ever knit or crocheted?  Do you, or the person who received it, still wear it?  Or was it as ill-fitting as my first pair of socks... which I wear anyway.  Tell us all about it.

My first project was a variegated brown and white headband that I used to hold my hair back when I was 7 or 8 years old.  Which was somewhat useless really, because I had a mullet (REALLY.) at the time. My grandmother, who was a huge influence on my life, taught me how to knit. After college I became more passionate about the craft when a friend introduced me to quality hand dyed yarns and sock knitting.  I'd like to think that my grandmother, Eloise, would be proud to know that the simple craft she taught me at the lake cottage one summer is now helping to support my family and the families of many others.  That it allows me to work odd hours so I can see my family much more than I would a regular job, and that I love what I do everyday.  Sadly, she was afflicted with Alzheimer's during the last years of her life, and she recently passed after a full and love-filled life. And while I told her several times throughout the years how she impacted my life, I don't know what she was able to understand .  But I'd like to think that she did.  She'll always be my favorite knitter!

Want to read the full details/rules of the contest?  Go here.

First Day of Sock Yarn

On the 1st Day of Sock Yarn, Simply Sock Yarn gave to me...

two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock!

To have a chance at these two skeins from the new 50 Skeins of Grey Collection (available in both Sock and Solemate), simply answer the following question in the comments below:

Did you knit or crochet any gifts for others this year?  If so, tell me about your favorite gift knit and if you can, give the link to the pattern so others can be inspired.

I knit only one gift for anyone else this year.  The gift was a pair of Pac Man colored socks that I striped using Simply Sock Yarn in Black, Sunflower, Tangerine, Pink, Orange and Cornflower.  I striped them myself in inch-thick color blocks.  And I don't even think I took a picture before gifting these to a friend in my knitting group for our Secret Santa in July.  Everything else I did for myself... a couple pairs of socks (including striped Poste Yarn ones), and of course my Color Affection shawl.  I'm really proud to have finished that one right before Henry arrived this summer.

While I meant to, I didn't even knit anything for baby Henry, but thankfully many others knit for him when he was born!  I hope to have time to knit for others this coming year, especially my boys and husband.  And since I've already stashed a few skeins from the 50 Skeins of Grey Collection (shown below), perhaps that will get me started.

Want to read the full details/rules of SSYC's 12 Days of Sock Yarn?  Go here.

12 Days of Sock Yarn, 2012

Woo hoo!  It's that time of year!  For the fourth time, we're celebrating the 12 Days of Sock Yarn at Simply Socks Yarn Company!  From Dec. 13 through Dec. 24 you  have a chance to win a special knitterly gift each day.  Could be yarn, could be accessories, and it will definitely be awesome.

How can you join in? Simply visit the SSYC Blog every day from Dec. 13 through the 24th and answer the question in the comments section before the following day's question is post (the comments will be closed on that post once the next day is up). You'll automatically be entered to win the gift shown for that day. If you participate each day, you'll have a dozen chances to win (one chance each day). And yes, you can win more than one day!

You don't have to participate in any particular holiday to win anything- you just have to want some awesome free yarn or goodies. I'll post winners likely in early January, and you'll also get an e-mail if you are a winner.

Are there any questions (knitting or not) you'd like to see asked one of the 12 days? Tell me in the comments below, and try and I'll add them to the list of questions.  The contest starts tomorrow, so make sure to check the blog every day for your chance to win!

James and Henry say GOOD LUCK!

Holiday knits

I want to share with you a couple of the special knits that have been brought by the store recently.  Judy knit this adorable ornament using the Balls Up pattern, and small bits of Simply Sock Yarn in Cherry Red and Natural. It was a one evening project- what an awesome way to spend a few hours, right?  She used such a small amount of the yarn and you could definitely use this pattern to use up all your leftover bits from projects.

Another knitter made this awesome diagonal scarf from one skein of Poste Yarn in the striping Santa Claus, Indiana colorway.  She used one skein and just devised the pattern as she went along.  If you want to do something similar, just search for diagonal stripe scarf patterns on Ravelry, and I'm betting you'll see exactly how to do it- basically casting on one stitch and increasing into it and on the end of the row (or beginning) until you get the width you want.

What do you think of this scarf?  Isn't it fabulous?  It uses Mini Mochi in color 303-Spice Market, which is currently my fave.  For the life of me, I can't recall who brought it in (just a week ago), but I think it was Penny.  I also can't remember the pattern name, so if anyone has any ideas, help me out in the comments.  My mind is failing.

We had a great and busy time on Saturday at the shop's holiday open house, and we have an even busier week ahead getting all your Holly Jolly Sock Kits and Poste Yarn holiday colors out to you.  We will move our super speediest, yet I still to expect orders to take an extra day or two to get out.  I really appreciate you keeping us so busy!

THE Kit

The second and last batch of the Holly Jolly Sock is now available!  The first batch sold out in a couple hours, so if you find that your link is no longer active, that means it has sold out.  You are welcome to e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com to be put on a waitlist for the kit should we have extras.

If you haven't joined in on the Dream in Color contest yet, give it a look!

Today (Dec. 8) is the SSYC Holiday Open House, so it will be a fun and busy day here.  If you happen to be in the area, stop in at 1315 E. State Blvd!

Knit with the season

The holiday season begins for me tomorrow, when Simply Socks Yarn Company kicks off with our Holiday Open House- a day full of Holly Jolly Sock Kits, holiday Poste Yarn colors, treats from Pembroke Bakery & Cafe, contests (don't miss this one), yarny ornament crafting, and general fiber fun!  I look forward to seeing oh-so-many of you in person tomorrow at the store, and if you are driving in to Fort Wayne for our Open House, one of the other nice yarn store's in the area is also having theirs, and they are just a few blocks away from SSYC, Sarah Jane's Yarn Shoppe.  Saturday, December 8 is definitely a great day to visit Fort Wayne for fiber artists!  Come see us from 10-4!

If you are in the holiday knitting mood, here are some awesome goodies that will keep you in the spirit!

Silver Moon Studios Bags

Lorna's Laces Sportmate yarn (shown in Country Christmas) is a perfect winter knit, as it's slightly thicker than it's fingering weight sister, so would make warm and squishy socks that would knit up quickly.  One skein is enough for medium-sized feet, or consider two skeins for large feet or long legs.

If you are up for something more adventurous, check out the Gradiance Sock Sets from The Unique Sheep.  Each set comes with 4 coordinating mini-skeins to use with this pattern to create socks that gradually change in color from top to toe.  I knit one for a store sample awhile back, and it's such an interesting departure from my normal vanilla socks.  Shown here in Christmas and Geranium.

And if you want to knit SSYC's cool holiday Poste Yarn striping yarn into something unique, take a look at the just-released pattern from Kate Gilbert, editor of Twist Collective and designer of addictive patterns like Clapotis.  Sideswipe is a unique play on knitting stiped socks- you should really check it out.  And it features our Poste Yarn!  Woot!

Photo used with permission, Kate Gilbert for Twist Collective

Dream in Color's New Semi-Solids & Contest

I see a lot of color in my job.  Every day I get to open up or ship out boxes and boxes (and boxes) of squishy skeins of artistry.  You'd think that after nearly 8 years of this I would be immune to the effect of color.  Not so.  The most recent shipment from Dream in Color induced a grotesquely gushy "omg, these colors are so amazing and the idea of combining them into a project just puts me in tailspin" kind of call to Veronica, the owner of Dream in Color.  I'm glad she understood and doesn't think I'm at all crazy- at least for that.  In fact, that was the entire idea behind the new release of colors.  Giving knitters like me, who typically choose the safe choice in colors they like, an easy way to combine new-to-them colors and come up with a finished project that is stunning.  You really can't go wrong when combining any of the new 14 colors (colors 34-47 in Smooshy shown here) into a multi-colored project.  And to show you exactly what I mean, below are 10 options for combining three colors from the new color release.  Want some pattern ideas? Veera Valimaki has some great designs for those of use who might be shy about combining colors.  Try the Color Affection shawl (done it!), Gathering Stripes kids' sweater (OMG, just queued this for the boys!), Gathering Stripes adult sweater (I'd still use Smooshy for this,as it's on the thicker side of fingering weight and you could get gauge), Stripe Study Shawl.  Ok, I like stripes.

Want to win your fave combo of three?  Sure you do!  Tell me in the comments below which one is your favorite combination and you could be the lucky one to win it!  Just comment once to be eligible.  I'll close the contest in a week, so mid day on Tuesday, December 11.  I'll randomly choose one winner the following week, so make sure to either leave your e-mail address in the e-mail field of the comments, or check back here on the blog to see who won.  Below are the inspiring combos I put together.  I'll be honest, they really put themselves together.  I don't think you could go wrong here.  If you have a pattern idea in mind, you could tell us that along with your comment!

Option 1: 039 Lost in Plum, 047 Charma Chameleon, 037 Magic Orchid

Option 2: 034 Miami Red, 040 Navy Zeal, 043 Boot Camp

Option 3: 038 Juliette's Blush, 036 Rosalita, 035 Charged Cherry

Option 4: 039 Lost in Plum, 034 Miami Red, 047 Karma Chameleon

Option 5: 041 Prince William, 042 Atomic Blue, 040 Navy Zeal

Option 6: 041 Prince William, 040 Navy Zeal, 036 Rosalita

Option 7:  041 Prince William, 040 Navy Zeal, 045 Amber Glass

Option 8: 039 Lost in Plum, 035 Charged Cherry, 037 Magic Orchid

Option 9.  043 Boot Camp, 045 Amber Glass, 044 Medieval

Option 10. 046 Fern Slipper, 042 Atomic Blue, 044 Medieval

I hope you are as inspired with these colors as I am.  If you want to see them all online, just go here.  Or come see them in person at Simply Socks Yarn Co- if you happen to be in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area (or within a few hour drive) on Saturday, December 8, stop in for our holiday open house from 10-4!  We are having tasty snacks, making a yarny ornament craft, and there's all that sock yarn to wander through.  It does take quite awhile to peruse through 3500 square feet of sock yarn, but I believe in you- you can do it! 

That's just the left half of the store, kids.  Yep, lots of sock yarn.

Lorna's Laces, 50 Skeins of Grey Collection

The staff at Lorna's Laces apparently had a really interesting lunch break a few weeks ago when they decided to design a collection of colors based on the popular 50 Shades of Grey book series.  I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation!

The dyers have rushed the collection of five colors in Sock and Solemate to SSYC.  I am a sucker for grays, so of course I adore them.

Anastasia is pale and borders on a purple/pink tinged gray.  Charlie Tango includes a bit of mauvey-brown.  Christian has a lovely green and slate look.  Mrs Robinson borders on the blue side.  And Red Room is, well you guessed it, a bit red.  All these colors are making their way to my stash.  There just aren't enough interesting grays in this world and these are all definitely ones I'd knit.

The photo above shows them all in Sock.  I also have Solemate available, and it takes the dye differently, giving a more blended and muted edge to the colorways.

Have you read the books yet?  I think at least half of my friends and family have already, and the other half are either considering it or dead set against.  I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and read a book for quite awhile, so I have quite a list of things I would like to read.  Should I put this series on the list?