Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Malabrigo Yarn's Ultimate Sock

Malabrigo is soon releasing a new sock yarn WITH NYLON! Their original Malabrigo Sock has been their most popular base for years, and about two years ago they sent me a sample of a yarn that they wanted me to test. A super secret skein of sock yarn that had some nylon. I gave it a try, gave some feedback and after another year or so they came back to me with a new base to test and and I'm super duper happy with it and will have it in the shop for you soon. I have another skein that I'll soon cast on to show off on Instagram, Facebook and here, and I'll show you how it's knitting up. But since I've already tasted this base, I'll share that I like it just as much as the non-nylon Sock that we've offered for more than a decade. It's plied the same way, has the same feel, but also has 25% nylon for even greater durability for socks and accessories that get a bit more friction. I know many sock knitters want a bit of nylon, and while I think that if you knit a dense fabric on the foot with a 100% superwash merino yarn it wears just as nicely as one with nylon, it will be nice to have one with nylon too.

I can't wait to share more with you, but til then you can look through the initial 30 colors that they are releasing. And, of course, I'll have it for you as soon as it ships.

Madelinetosh's Mood Ring Colors

I have a special restocks of colors for you from Madelinetosh! Some colors in their lineup are unpredictable and look different enough from dye lot to dye lot that they don't offer them anymore in their collection. 6 of these retired colors are super popular and we all really wanted a comeback, so Madelinetosh has released them again and it coud be just a once a year type thing. These "Mood Ring Colors' are Fog, Opaline, Vintage Sari, Fallen Cloud, Cold Shoulder and Texasbama - all shown below in Tosh Merino Light.

Opaline

Fog

Vintage Sari

Cold Shoulder

TexasBama

Fallen Cloud

I also have these available for you on Tosh Sock, Twist Light Sock, Tosh Vintage Worsted, Tosh DK and Pashmina. At least while supplies last. And if they are offered again, you know I'll get them and add them to our 300+ line up that we offer. Texasbama has long been a fave of mine - I knit a Sockhead Cowl (shown below) awhile back in Twist Light Sock color TexasBama. I love how the wild color looks knit up. And Vintage Sari, Opaline and Fallen Cloud have been faves here for a decade. I'm glad they have brought all these back, even if for a limited time.

Let's hope Madelinetosh brings back some of their other retired colorways again when they are able to get predictable results in the more finicky colorys. Afterall, hand dyeing yarn takes a certain kind of artistry to produce, and since the minerals in the water, minerals in the dye powder, amount of heat and the person dyeing the colors that day can all vary, we can always get a bit of differences. It's part of the charm of hand dyed yarn, afterall. Am I right?

Emma's Yarn Mini Skein Sets

I have something super drool worthy to share with you today! Emma's Yarn is putting together 10-mini-skein packs they are calling Theme Packs, kind of a play on where their studio is located in central Florida. Winter Park is surrounded by Universal Studios, Disney, Legoland and more and I think it's a cool way to use that inspiration in their colorwork. Plus, I just love minis.

Blooming Bougainvillea

They have released just 6 different color sets. which we have all here.

And, of course, I love these so much that I ordered A LOT of single mini skeins so you now have a lot of options for small amounts of yarn that you can use for toes and heels, adding a stripe of color to a basica project and more. Plus these little gems are just addictive to collect and then dream about how your might use. I hope those arrive in 6-8 weeks. Plus another base that I can't wait to share....

There's also a fun pattern to use with the yarn, designed mom-to-Emma-and-Aspen, who also owns the yarn shop the sister dyers grew up in. Do check out Tropical Dilemma if you want to use all 10 mini skeins in one pattern.

It uses the Sailor's Delight pack.

Hue Loco's Somewhere Over the Rainbow Color Collection

I'm so pleased to share that we have the new, limited edition Hue Loco collection, Somewhere Over the Rainbow! Nicole and her crew were inspired by the land of Oz and created this 10 color series to whet all our appetites for fantasy and color. I have them all on Merino Sock and Tweed Sock. Want the see em? 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Tweed Sock

 

Way Up High on Merino Sock

Once in a Lullaby on Merino Sock

Skies Are Blue on Tweed Sock

Dreams That You Dare To Dream on Merino Sock

Do Come True on Tweed Sock

Troubles Melt Like Lemondrops on Tweed Sock

Way Above the Chimney Tops on Merino Sock

Happy Little Bluebirds Fly on Merino Sock

Why Oh Why Can't I on Tweed Sock

They are all super awesome and I have my faves on Tweed Sock and Merino Sock. 

If you like these, they aren't a normal stock type of thing, it's a limited color run. So don't miss out!

Tosh Sport 25% off + Pattern w/ Purchases!

Let's continue celebrating SSYC's 17th Birthday this week with a super deal on Madelinetosh Tosh Sport in the Sale Yarn section plus an awesome pattern that I'm knitting right now. Want the details?

Northeast Kingdom

Madelinetosh is discontinuing their Tosh Sport, so they've dyed up a big ol' batch for us and it's 25% off in our Sale Yarn section right now. I added 175 color to the website last night, so if you haven't seen them yet, I recommend taking a look. They all start on page 2 of the Sale Yarn section and are marked as MT Tosh Sport (color name). There's quite a lovely array of colorways to choose from - tonal solids, speckles, wild variegated hues - all sorts of popular and new hues from Texas hand dyer Madelinetosh. We also have MT Euro Sock in the sale section too, which is a fingering weight yarn NOT sport, so don't confuse the two for the purpose of these pattern suggestions.

Amber Trinket

What might you want to knit with yours? Well, the first option is the Sommelier Shawl by Janina Kallio of Wollenberry. Not only is the pattern a stunner and highly addictive and adaptable to different weights of yarn, but it's also a gift from me to you with your purchases Monday 6/13 through Sunday 6/26. For two weeks I'll be gifting you this pattern with any purchase at SSYC. You don't have to ask for it or add it to your cart in any way. I'll simply e-mail it to you a few days after your online purchase. Or if you shop in person on one of our open days during that time period simply put your e-mail address on the list at the counter and you'll get your pdf within a few days. If you don't get your pdf within 5 business days of your purchase (and you've checked Spam and added service@simplysockyarn.com to your Contacts, just respond to your receipt and ask me to send again. But please do wait the five business days.

Sommelier Shawl photo courtesy of Janina Kallio

I'm knitting the Sommelier Shawl right now in this yarn. Any of the Metamorphosis gradients would be stunning. I used one needle size smaller than the pattern recommends, but other than that I'm not making any adjustments for using a fingering weight yarn and I'm simply going to continue in the pattern until I run out of yarn. If you want to knit the sport weight version like in the pattern, you'd simply choose two skeins of the sale Tosh Sport and have at it! I love the idea of using some of the glazed solids with this pattern, but I think that some of the speckled colors would be fab too. 

Hide and Peak photo courtesy of Maxim Cyr

What else might you like to knit in addition to the Sommelier Shawl? Let's start with sweaters. I do have sweater quantities of the colors right now, but of course that will change as the week goes on. Hide and Peak is a great choice if you want to combine colors. And we are happy to help you with four color combo ideas if you want them. Just e-mail me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com and tell what color or two you'd like to build around and we'll be your personal shoppers from afar and e-mail you back color ideas. Also look at the Aimee Cardigan if you like to combine colors into something fabulous.

Aimee Cardigan photo courtesy of Joji Locatelli

Want single color sweaters? Look at the Winterfell Cardi. How about Aliso Creek Top (in Forestry or Glazed Pecan or Sabine!!), Oak Hill Top (Grasshopper or Danger Will Robinson Solid or Winter Wheat) or Staple Linen Top. No, you don't have to use linen for that tank. Shop helper and super sweater knitter Diana says she's going to knit it in Tosh Sport b/c a non linen would "lay nicely, is soft and has more give. Linen doesn't wick away sweat. I would wear a wool tank any time of the year. Great alone or under a cardigan." She also suggests the Ochoco Tee because it's "size inclusive and could be great for all seasons as well in Tosh Sport."  There's also a cowl to coordinate. So there ya go!

Opus photo courtesy of Maxim Cyr

Perhaps you want accessories? There's Opus, a beautiful shawl by Maxim Cyr. Oh and all his patterns are 25% through June 30 to celebrate Pride Month so this is the perfect time to get it. Details are on his pattern pages. Ooooh. Also look at his Hat and Peak below. Super cool too.

Hat and Peak photo courtesy of Maxim Cyr

Other accessory ideas include the Aeria shawl, Huldras Mittens, Heart of the Forest Mittens, Rhizo, Heathersacpe, Fallen Feathers Hat. And of course, socks. Basic ones like Just Yer Basic Sport Socks would be great.

I hope this starts you down the rabbit hole of yarn+pattern combos like it did me. There's certainly a lot to choose from, so if you need color suggestions or assistance you know where to find me!

Picture Post

Just a picture post to tell you that I'm still around this week and frantically trying to get some gorgeous skeins photographed for you for our next 17th Birthday Special next week. It's been a busy week for me. Can't wait to share more!!!

SSYC's 17th Birthday Goodies & Contest

We have some awesome birthday goodies to share with you! Just take a look at the Kits & Clubs section to see all the SSYC Hat Sets we have for $10 off ($33 instead of $43) and the Summit Summer sock sets we have from Freckled Whimsy in both fingering and dk weight sets. I'm knitting the DK weight set below and I find everything about it addictive- the stripes, how quickly DK knits up, the extra squish that the DK gives.... it's all splendid.

Then, comment here for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate! Just tell me in the comments about how long you've been shopping with us. Has it been all of our 17 years? I know there are quite a few of you! Have you just found us and haven't yet ordered? Then tell us that. We would love to know how long you've been supporting us, if you have an idea. Just leave your comment by noon EST this Friday, June 10 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a $50 gift certificate to the shop. You can also enter on Instagram and Facebook for two more chances to win.

Madelinetosh Euro Sock in When Particles Collide

Want another deal? In addition to the goodies shared above, I'm also offering your 10% off our already discounted Sale Yarn section by using coupon code SaleTen at Check Out. Just another way we're celebrating!

17th Birthday Treats This Week, a Preview

Last week was our week long, in person 17th birthday party and this week we start our summer long online celebration! If you've shopped with us for awhile, you may know that we celebrate our June 2nd birthday all summer long. This gives us an opportunity to really treat you to a myriad of sales, limited edition kits and clubs, gifts and more. And it's just fun to celebrate all summer. Our makers really seem to enjoy creating celebratory colors and treats that aren't focused on a specific holiday color scheme, and I really like making what they come up with. Want to see what I'm working on now?

This is the Summit Summer striping colorway that Karrie of Freckled Whimsy has dyed up for us. I named it Summit Summer because our city, Fort Wayne, is known as Summit City and the color itself reminds me of our urban Promenade Park - skies, water, sun, and flowers but with a bit of an urban edge. This stripe is nine colors and I'm knitting the DK weight myself, 48 stitch around using size US 3 double point needles. As you can see, the striping repeat makes up the entire leg of the sock. I didn't use a pattern, but this one would work really well. If you haven't knit DK weight sock before, I highly recommend it. It's a quick, squishy knit. Very satisfying.

Summit Summer will be available tomorrow at the Kits & Clubs link on both Sock and DK weights, as a Sock Set with a white mini skein. There's plenty of yardage for socks, but you could of course use these for a cowl, mitts, a hat or more. 

What else will be available tomorrow? I have some gorgeous, limited edition SSYC Hat Sets and they will all be $10 off to celebrate our birthday! That's right, instead of $43 for the full sized skein of Madelinetosh and hand made pom pom, these will be just $33! This is just one of the many great sale goodies I'll have for you this summer. 

I'll have 11 different SSYC Hat Sets for you tomorrow, and another 11 sets in July. These feature Madelinetosh's Tosh Merino (the worsted weight, single ply version of Tosh Merino Light), which is 210 yards of hand dyed, worsted weight gorgeousness. Haven't used a worsted weight single before? Just like their fingering weight cousin, they take the dye beautifully and seem to glow with color. They also have wonderful stitch definition.

Here are just a few of the Hat Set's that will be available at our Kits & Clubs link tomorrow, Tuesday June 7.

What else is coming soon? I'll have some really nice sale yarn from Madelinetosh plus a free pattern with purchases. I can't wait to celebrate all summer with you!

SSYC's 17th Anniversary Week - Two Days Left!

Thank you for all who have come out so far to visit the shop in the first three days of our 17th birthday party! It's made me so happy to see so many of you that I haven't seen for a few years (or weeks in some cases- ha!). 

Except for a short bit of a line during one lunch time, we have been busy, but not at all overwhelmed. Maybe one or two people in line at once, which is great. Having our party over five days has allowed us to spread everyone out and even treat you to more goodies and deals. For the rest of the week, here's what's going on in person:

Friday 6/3 10am-2pm - 17% off three imports from three different countries - Cosy Posy of Canada, Olann Mills of Ireland and Qing of London

Saturday 6/4 10am-4pm - Cookies from the Cookie Cottage & free stitch markers.

Do come see us at 1315 E State Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN this week. And if you can't make it for the celebration, check out our hours for the rest of the year.

A couple days ago our 17th Birthday Sock Yarn Club subscriptions went live. And sold out within 48 hours. This is a first for us. Typically, I have enough spaces to last 10-14 days to sign up. But this was such a great deal that it quickly sold out and is our highest enrollment ever in a club. If you missed out, please do check the link here and there throughout the next week because things do happen that make a space open up- someone orders twice and didn't intend to, a charge is declined, etc. Two opened up yesterday and were quickly grabbed. So do check if you missed out. We have other amazing things planned all summer long to continue the 17th birthday celebration, and I can't wait to share those, starting next week.

In other news, we have our first intern and she's been observing the busy week, helping us put together color combos for some very special hat sets that we hope to start offering next week, and working on this Holiday Countdown project, below. More details to come!

SSYC's 17th Birthday Sock Yarn Club

(Me, posed this week in the shop full of balloons and yarn for our week long birthday celebration. Hi!!!)

FYI, the club spaces sold out. But it's definitely worth checking the link below for the next week as we post spaces that others have abandoned or cards are declined, etc. Everyone was very honorable in making this fair for everyone- no one ordered the limit of three clubs, therefore allowing others to participate. Thanks!!

It's time to announce our next club! It's the 17th Birthday, EPIC $100 Sock Yarn Club! This is the 28th subscription club that've we've done and I'm super pleased to see enrollment go up over the years. Over the past 15-ish years of doing clubs, we've seen enrollment triple or quadruple what it once was, which shows me that we're doing something right. We like to change it up, sometimes doing sock sets (with a skein and a mini), sometimes mini Knit Kits with bags and goodies each month, and the one that just ended was all Hat Sets (thicker yarn and pom pom for hats) and that go so much positive feedback that we'll be doing something similar in the fall/winter again this year. THIS club is super special because we've rolled back time to 2005 when we opened and are basically offering you the club for the prices you would expect 17 years ago. For just $100 total, you're getting a three month subscription of TWO skeins of our Small Batch Sock a month for three months. That's six skeins total of lovely, surprise sock yarn. 440 yards/100 each skein x 2 a month.

How do you enroll? Just go here and sign up! You pay today save your place and you'll get a package in the middle of July, August in Sept. Each package will include two full sized skeins of variegated or speckled sock yarn (no solids or tonals). Your $100 also includes your shipping, and you also get a monthly e-mail with pattern suggestions and club exclusive coupon codes.

If you're saving your spot today, please do not add other items on. You can add up to three clubs to one cart (it's a great deal and you might want extras), but please don't add other items to the same order, as you'll get an e-mail from me saying something like "Thanks, but I just refunded your other items so we could enroll you in the club. Please go back and order these items separately."

Have questions? Just e-mail me, Allison, as usual at service@simplysockyarn.com. I'll try and get back to you fast as always, but we are also celebrating our 17th birthday in person all week and so it's busier here than usual. And for those that came to see us yesterday, it was so awesome to see all your faces. People we haven't seen for two years, knitters from all over the country who stopped in on their travels again, even someone with impeccable taste in Malabrigo who was traveling from Scotland. Thank you for coming in and making our day!

And for those that are considering coming in but aren't a fan of crowds, we really aren't a crowded shop. We have a huge 3000+square foot space, we are open for 5 days of "party" instead of packing it into one day (so there might be 7-10 people in the shop at once), we have masks at the front of the shop if you'd like to wear one (and I'll put one on too if you ask, no worries), and we would just LOVE to see you. Here's the details of what treats/deals you can expect each day if you're shopping in person. We'll be treating our online shoppers all summer long as usual! SO MANY cool things planned.

17 Years!

Today is the first day of our week long in-person celebration of Simply Socks Yarn Company's 17th Anniversary! 

And we won't be stopping with just this week, we'll be celebrating online all summer long like we do with contests, sales, gifts, limited edition colors, special SSYC Hat Sets and more. I can't wait to share with you everything that's coming. It's a ridiculous amount of gorgeousness - much more than I've ever offered in an anniversary summer before. We're even doing a 17th Anniversary Sock Yarn Club that will debut quite soon, and new sale yarn and free pattern with purchase starting next week! As always, this blog is the fastest way to find out everything new that we're doing. 

Since we haven't been able to do an in person birthday party since our 14th, we decided to spread it out to a full five days, Tuesday thru Saturday, this week in our shop in Fort Wayne, Indiana. That way, we get to spread out the busy time instead of one big packed party, and we get to treat you in-person shoppers to five days of goodies! 

What's going on each day in addition to daily prize drawings for in-person visitors?

Tuesday, 5/31 10am-2pm - Sale on a Sale! We're giving you an extra 10% off our Sale Section this day.

Wednesday, 6/1 10am-2pm - Gift w/ purchase! Choose between our cute ProcrastiKnit zippered project bag and Yarn Stash bag.

Thursday, 6/2 10am-2pm - 17% off three US made dyers Urth Yarn, Dream in Color & Fiberstory

Friday 6/3 10am-2pm - 17% off three imports from three different countries - Cosy Posy of Canada, Olann Mills of Ireland and Qing of London

Saturday 6/4 10am-4pm - Cookies from the Cookie Cottage & free stitch markers

Do come see us at 1315 E State Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN this week. And if you can't make it for the celebration, check out our hours for the rest of the year.

 

And I wanted the shop to be extra festive this year, so I had local balloon company Pop Pop Balloons come and really deck out the shop. Come and take pictures of yourself and/or your friends in the big balloon arch and marvel at all the color! Check out yesterday's instagram if you want to see a bit of the set up.

I can't wait to share with you all what I have in store for our busy summer. I have worked with some amazing dyers and makers to bring us some super special things to treat you to. In a time when yarn shops are closing and owners just don't want to change to keep up with the ever changing landscape of post-pandemic retail, my team and I are working diligently and creatively to continue to earn your support and loyalty. I hope that my commitment, and that of my team, shows in the service we provide, the selection we offer and the price of our fiber goods. We really like what we do and I am supremely grateful that you are with us in this. That you continue to support my shop, my family and the families of dozens of dyers and makers whose life's work it is to craft goods with integrity and quality.... it means the world. You've supported us all through a pandemic, and a very tumultuous two years, and I hope that we have supported you in ways that matter too. Thank you, THANK YOU.

Wowza, these kids have never seen so many balloons.

I'll try to post to Instagram and Facebook this week as I have moments so that you can party with us virtually.

Freckled Whimsy at SSYC!

I"m super happy to announce that the striping sock yarn of Freckled Whimsy is now at Simply Socks Yarn Company!

Beautiful Soul

You all know I LOVE a good striping sock yarn, and after closing up our own Poste Yarn dye studio a few years ago I've been on the lookout for striping sock yarn colors that were just as inventive. I think you'll really appreciate these like I do.

Experiment 24 - this color is a few bucks more than the others b/c it's a whopping 24 color repeat! That's a LOT of work.

We are selling the Seredipity Sock Sets, which is a fingering weight merino/nylon blend that is a full sized skein of striping yarn with a coordinating mini. Total yardage for the two together is around 550 yards, so plenty for a big pair of socks, that's for sure.

I Carried a Watermelon

Hand dyed stripes are very labor intensive and time consuming, and as such I'll only be able to get a batch every few months. I do expect these to sell out in a few days, so please don't hesitate if you want one or more. It's worth noting that the first picture on our website is the skein and the coordinating mini. The second picture is from Freckled Whimsy to show how the yarn knits up and if you see a mini in the knit up picture, it might not be what you're getting- the first picture (the not knit up one) is representative of your colors.

So. Much. Yarn

We have so much yarn in the shop. I mean, it's just so much that it makes my head spin. I don't think we've ever had this much in the shop at one time, and it's a heady feeling.

I'm sure you've all ready or heard about supply chain issues and the yarn industry isn't immune to the trouble. It's greatly affect when and what I can get in stock, and it just so happens that this month we've not only received the yarn that was due to us, but also over a ton (literally, not figuratively) or yarn that we've been waiting for for 5-8 months from various companies and dyers. Plus it's the slower season for a lot of dyers, so they are sending us orders quickly because they need an influx of cash, so it's like we're seeing triple the amount arrive this month that we typically would.

I'll do my best to post here on the blog as things arrive and are up on the website. Most recently it was all the lovely Qing Fibres of London and the Opal Van Gogh and Herbstmelodie. Also some lovely Cascade Heritage and new colors of Malabrigo Rasta for those that like to have a super bulky hat on the needles for quick gratification.

Today you'll see more of the fast selling Zebra Sock from Irish dyer Life in the Long Grass, shown above in Mint Grove. This stuff went fast a few weeks ago and so they immediately put more in the dye pots to us and thankfully Customs didn't hold it, because it's here already and I immediately photographed it yesterday and put it on the website for you. Some of you are knitting socks, but several of you are making sweaters like the Pavement Sweater in Moonbow in  that my friend Diana just completed. Isn't it perfect?

I also have a restock of Wonderland Yarns in the shop, including their popular Color Burst series. Shown below in An Inkling of Something Brilliant.

What's Color Burst? I blogged a bit about it last week because we received some colors from Stitch Together Studios that used the color burst technique. Basically, the skein is one color with just a short burst of color punctuating an inch or two, and it makes a cool effect that is used in popular patterns like Float, Calico, and Roam by Dawn Barker. Float picture below courtesy of Dawn Barker.

 

And Turn it to the Max by Joanne Bint. Picture below courtesy of Joanne Bint.

The color burst skeins we had last week sold out already, and I'm so grateful that the Wonderland Yarn Colorburst Collection arrived here when it did so we can continue to meet your needs. The nice thing about the colors from Wonderland Yarn are that they are $2 cheaper than the Stitch Together colors AND you get about 15% more. Wonderland Yarns still puts up their skeins in 4 ounces instead of the now typical 100g, so you're getting more yarn for less $. What are the Color Burst colors? Look at A Brush with Fate, A Refreshing Moonlit Swim, An All Night Diner, An Inkling of Something Brilliant, Blue Skies & Rainbows, Cash in the Pocket, Lights on Wet Pavement, Crackling Fire, Dandelion, Rainy Day Rainbow, Splashing Through Puddles, Tranquility of Snow and Wildflowers. All are available on Cheshire Cat Sock (100% superwash merino wool) and Mary Ann Sock (superwash merino wool + nylon).

We also have Blossom Gradients (like Quince shown above) and 5 Mini Skein sets too.

In addition to what I've shared so far this week, I'll soon be sharing a new dyer. Of stripes.

Maybe even tomorrow, should the caffeine I've consumed today do its job.

17th Anniversary Shop Party Week - Come See Us!

If you were hoping for a convenient time to come shop with us in person, we've made it easy for you! We are open to the public every day from May 31 to June 4 from 10am-2pm as a week long, spread out party at Simply Socks Yarn Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana! (Closed Monday the 30th b/c it's Memorial Day.) That way, we don't have a couple hundred people in the shop on one day to celebrate our 17th Yarniversary, but instead space it out to make it safer and just as fun for all. It's also awesome because we get to offer you 5 days of deals and gifts instead of one day, which is super awesome for our in person shoppers. 

What's going on each day in addition to daily prize drawings for in-person visitors?

Tuesday, 5/31 10am-2pm - Sale on a Sale! We're giving you an extra 10% off our Sale Section this day.

Wednesday, 6/1 10am-2pm - Gift w/ purchase! Choose between our cute ProcrastiKnit zippered project bag and Yarn Stash bag.

Thursday, 6/2 10am-2pm - 17% off three US made dyers Urth Yarn, Dream in Color & Fiberstory

Friday 6/3 10am-2pm - 17% off three imports from three different countries - Cosy Posy of Canada, Olann Mills of Ireland and Qing of London

Saturday 6/4 10am-4pm - Cookies from the Cookie Cottage & free hand made stitch markers

Above, the big bag of Cascade 220 Superwash you could win - showing it hung over our models to show you a bit of perspective on how big this bag is!

Since we haven't been able to have a big birthday party in a few years b/c of the pandemic, I'm really doing it up awesome with huge balloon decorations and lots of gift and sale options. That way, you can choose what day you'd like to come in based on what you'd like. Want a free bag? Come in Wednesday! Want a deal on Dream in Color? Thursday it is! And each day you come in you can enter to win these HUGE bags of Cascade Yarn (that's like a $200 prize)- come in one day and you are entered in the contest once. Come in all five days and you're entered five time! Heck, just walk in the door, put your e-mail address in the fish bowl and walk out! Good luck not finding something you need to buy though- we're really good at getting past your "blinders."

Now, we typically aren't open more than one day a week because we ship 6 days a week. So this is a fun, busy week for us (we will still ship your orders too, as fast as usual). We did something similar for Christmas this year, being open a week straight instead of one big Holiday Open House and it worked splendidly. Visitors enjoyed not being in a crowded shop (there were typically under 10 people in our 3500 square foot shop at once), and having a different treat each day. And many of you made a day out of it, traveling with a bunch of friends, or having a great day to yourself. We have a list of great restaurants and if it's nice out, can you visit Lakeside Park or Promenade Park for a beautiful walk. And the shop will totally be photo worthy, as we're having balloon arches and arrangements made by local Pop Pop Balloons (up all week) and cookies (Saturday) by my fave local Cookie Cottage. If visiting SSYC is something on your knitting bucket list, grab your friends and come see us! If you haven't been to the shop before, we're easy to find and have lots of parking. We're located at 1315 E State Blvd in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Are you one of our online supporters? We'll be treating you too, starting the following week! We have all sorts of sales, treats and gifts planned all summer long like we do. We have special edition colorways from several of our fave dyers, gifts and more. I can't wait to share it all with you as the summer progresses. What will we be starting with? A special deal on 100+ colors of Madelinetosh Tosh Sport and a free pattern with purchase! Here's a hint at what to expect for our online shoppers starting the week of June 6.

Sale yarn coming soon (below Tosh Sport in Foxglove, Astrid Grey and Copper Pink) and the Sommelier pattern (above, which I'm knitting myself in this right now)? I think that's a great way to start our online celebration June 6. Details to come!

Cascade Yarns, Heritage Prints

Cascade Yarns has released their newest Prints colors (113-129), and I really like the spray dyed vibe that they are continuing with this batch. Shown below are 125, 129 and 124.

Cascade Heritage Prints is a fingering weight, superwash merino/nylon sock yarn that is not only lovely, but also durable and a great price. It really hits all the marks. Last year they started releasing this spray dyed look shown above, in addition to their stripes, and they are quite fun.

Want something for July 4th? How about 67-Chicago or 88-Boston?

Recently someone asked me on social media why one would even knit 4th of July themed socks since people don't wear socks in the summer. Well, many of us just like to knit with the seasons and holidays. And many of us do wear socks in the summer, right? Plus I just like to have socks that make me smile, no matter the time of year. We sock knitters like what we do and make and we like all sorts of things at all sorts of times!

If you haven't yet tried Heritage Prints, I really do think you should. For the soft texture of it, you wouldn't expect it to hold up as nicely as it does. And the price is significantly less price than many other self patterning and self striping sock yarns. When this yarn was first offered 7-8 years ago, it cost $13 a ball. And now in 2022 it's still the same price. I really expected it to go up in price earlier this year along with everything else in the yarn industry, but for now it's holding at $13. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes up a dollar or two later this year, as everything else that has held steady (like Madelinetosh and Malabrigo) are going up 10-15% as well.

It's also a great option for gift socks, since it's machine wash and can even tolerate a dry. A great gift sock and a super fun knit.