Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

SSYC's HUGE REGIA SALE!

If you are looking for great prices on Regia, look no further!  Simply Socks Yarn Company got a great deal on Regia and we're passing the savings right onto you!  We're talking 9 dollars  for a 100 gram ball that makes one pair of socks!  That's 40% off! We have 24 different self-patterning yarns on sale to choose from, so you can stock up for holiday or birthday gift... or forget about everyone else and buy for YOURSELF.

You readers of this blog get a day head start on the sale, before I post the sale anywhere else!  So get it while it's hot!  And the sale items qualify for free Priority Mail shipping (within the US) with purchases totalling $50!

New sock!

Well, I can't say I have loved a sock more than this.  Really.

I know, I know, to you it may just be another striped sock, but to me it's.... a jewel.  This Fleece Artist yarn really is beautiful to work with.  The burgundy is just so dynamic!  There's such variation in this one color!  And the gold stripes really set it off.

If you don't know already, this is the Harry Potter inspired sock that I wrote about earlier.  After watching some Potter over the weekend, I felt the need to make a sock modeled after Hermione's scarf in the most recent film.  The stripe on that scarf is different from the two previous films, where the gold and burgundy stripes were of equal width.  I prefer this newer design from the third film.

When I finish the sock, I'll post a pattern.  But the basic stripe pattern is this- **14 rows red, 2 rows gold, 5 rows red, 2 rows gold** then repeat as many times as needed.  I will continue the striping all the way to the toe, but if you wanted to you could stop at the ankle.

Oh, and I hate to tell you that the Fleece Artist Burgundy is already sold out- the store is expecting more in a couple days, along with many other colorways!!  So if your needing to make this sock to wear when the new book comes out in July, just check www.simplysockyarn.com in a couple days.

Birches Socks

Here are my completed Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz socks in the colorway Birches!  I just finished them this morning, they haven't yet been washed or blocked yet.  I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out.  This yarn has a bit of sparkle to it that you can probably see by zooming in.  I wasn't quite sure I would have enough yarn, because half way through the second sock, it looked like I might be in trouble, but I had more than enough in one skein.  These are for my gargantuan sasquatch feet.  I wear size 10 1/2.  I tell myself that those are supermodel size feet.  I wish I had a supermodel sized booty.

It's been crazy hot here the past couple of days, so I have been taking refuge inside.  It's not even July yet and it's in the mid 90's!  That doesn't make for much outdoor fun for me, because I'm a wuss, but it does give me an excuse to keep-a-knitting.  Who am I kidding- I don't need an excuse.

I watched some Harry Potter yesteday and it has inspired me to make some Gryffindor-inspired socks.  I am going to make some burgundy and gold striped socks in a similar pattern as the Prisoner of Azkaban scarf, using Fleece Artist's burgundy and saffron**.  Just a little something to tide me over until the new movie comes out in November.  Yeah, I may be too old for this, but I don't care.

 

**the colors I'm using for my new HP socks.

A Preview for YOU

So you want a sale?  Well then you'll get a sale.  And a great one.
We're getting a great deal on some Regia, and we're going to pass that right along to you!  Here's a taste of the yarn that's soon to arrive, at about 40%!

This is from Regia's Brasil collection.  There are 12 colors to choose from (each skein is 100 grams, so ONE skein makes a pair of socks), all available at a greatly discounted price, soon at www.simplysockyarn.com.  If you are someone who checks this blog on a regular basis, you will learn about the start of the sale, and have your pick, before I send information out to others.  You'll get a day's head start!  So keep checking back at the blog to see when the yarn arrives!

On to sock two!

Ah, the fruits of my labor.  Well, not labor really b/c this pattern was fairly simple.  The only part that really required attention was the lace cuff.  The mohair in this kid merino also took some getting used to.  I used two different colors, CP Kid Merino 4683 Canyon and 4669 Blush to create this sort of salmon color.

This sock will soon (hopefully) have a mate and then will be gifted to Isabelle, who is 6.  Some of you might already know her as the flower girl who pooted loudly during my wedding vows.  Joe says that he hopes someday he can poot at her wedding too.

 

Birds Beware

Hard to believe that birds have yet to build a love nest in this north side bungalow.  As you can see, it's got great bones; two story, wide openings, new paint job.  Oh, you noticed the paint job?  Huh, imagine that.  What?  You have never seen a gourd birdhouse painted like a mullet-sporting, crystal-meth-lab-working 19-year old's Kawasaki motorcycle?  Well, then you have never been to Chez Van Zandt, because this one-of-a-kind piece of, um, workmanship is now adorning MY back porch.  Jealous?  Huh?  Oh, well then forget you!

This is yet another project by Joe.  I thought he was joking when a few weeks ago he was sitting on the couch with a dried out gourd, pencilling in flames and a skull.  Good thing he decided to omit the skull.  I think he's getting a bit lonely, what with his wifey busy with the new business.  Either that or he's going slightly mad, ala the Queen song.  Whatever the reason, I have to say, I'm actually quite proud of the results.  At least proud enough that it won't be engulfed in real flames in the near future.

2 Weeks!!

So Joe's comment about this yarn?  "Wow.  That kinda looks like birch bark."  I don't know if I believe him- he might have just been appeasing my need for contstant reinforcement, but I kinda agree.  What do you think?  The more I look at this yarn all knit up, the more I agree.

The colorway's name is, obviously, Birches, and it's one of Cherry Tree Hill's Super Glitz yarns.  If you click on the picture you will get an up-close shot and you might be able to see the sparkles better- I didn't use a flash, so there's really not much light to catch the glitter.  It is really subtle though, which is why I like it.

Today marks the 2 WEEK anniversary of Simply Socks Yarn Company!  Thanks so much for everyone who has not only shopped at the e-store, but sent encouraging and positive messages!  I'm sure that you all know that opening a business is more work than you could ever plan for.  Seeing the success so far makes me realize that this store really does fill a niche in the knitting community.   

I have to say that there have been several surprises that I didn't count on.  One in particular- almost everyone who has shopped with SSYC has ordered at least one skein of Fleece Artist merino.  So you can all plan on an expanded selection of their colorways in the very near future!  In fact, you might even notice that a couple of the colorways aren't on the website right now b/c they are SOLD OUT!  Don't worry, they will be back up soon!

I won't pay to see that...

There must be some kind of greasy-man show coming to the area, like Thunder from Down Under (that's a REAL show!), or something, because I hear at least one ad every time I get into my car.  Apparently, the people selling ad space think that I want to pay real money to see a naked man, oiled up like a turkey in a fryer, dancing around on a stage.  No thank you!  Know what I want to see?  A real man on stage, providing for his family, taking care of things around the house, and cooking dinner twice week.  Show me that and I will pay to see the show.  I'll also try to hook him up with a single friend!!!  If these marketing geniuses really want to make some dough, give women what they really want- someone who makes them laugh and buys them yarn!

There are certain things I will NOT pay my hard earned money for, and seeing an ooky 35 year old Ah-nold look-alike gyrating at Pierre's Nightclub is one of them.  I think I would just laugh all the way through the show!  I'd probably also bring my knitting...

Speaking of knitting... hey isn't that what this blog is at least partially about.... I have started a new project.  I'm usually one to just do one project at a time, but I think the knitters in the Knitters Review Forums have swayed me.  Seems most of them have several projects on the needles at once, so I'm going to do the same and see if I can get double the satisfaction.   So, while I'm doing the Kid Merino Lace Sock, I'm also doing a simple ribbed sock using Cherry Tree Hill's Super Glitz in Birches.

It's dk weight and knitting up very quickly using US #4s.  I've already turned the heel.   I started using the Cherry Tree Hill Happy Trail Pattern, but thought the colors of this yarn were to varried to make the pattern look good.  So a simple rib is really making it work.

Patterns you say?

Well, you asked for them, and now they have arrived.  About 2 dozen different sock patterns, with a glove and mitten pattern thrown in for good measure. Simply Socks Yarn Company now has patterns from Cherry Tree Hill, Cascade Yarns, and Knitting Pure and Simple.  More will arrive in the coming months.

Another addition to the store- we are now able to ship to New Zealand and Australia!  Simply pick the "Global- Canada & Australia" shipping option when checking out.  The cost for shipping to Australia and New Zealand will automatically enter at $13.00 USD for Global Priority Mail.  SSYC makes no profit on shipping the average 1.5 pound package, we simply pass on the cost of the shipping directly to you!  And if your package weighs more than the average 1.5 pounds, then WE incur the extra cost; you only pay the flat $13.00.

Weekend Schmeekend

Wow.  This weekend seemed ultra short.  Like I sneezed and all of a sudden it's Sunday afternoon.  It probably didn't help that I watched St. Elmo's Fire for the umpteenth time today.  You know, I've never seen that movie all the way through.  I either start watching a half hour into it or stop watching right before Demi goes nuts and holes herself up in her frigid room.  Funny how everything in her apartment was taken by her creditors except those curtains blowing in the breeze of the open windows...  I am going to become more productive soon b/c the store received a about 2 dozen sock patterns and I hope to be able to get them up on the web tonight.

Joe's been uber productive this weekend.  For those of you who know Joe (the hairy legged men's sock model from previous post) you know he can't go a moment without a project.  He's been making art since the school year ended.  Here's a pic of what he worked on yesterday.  I was just so impressed that I had to take a picture.  A 22 inch platter.  I couldn't throw a 2 inch platter, let alone a 22 inch one!  I've never even been at a potters wheel!

But we're all good at different things... I can knit a sock and make a mean key lime pie, Joe can do everything else.

Speaking of knitting a mean sock, here's a pic of how the Lace Kid Merino sock for Isabelle is going.  I was told by Lilly, Isabelle's mom, that Isabelle's foot is not quite nine inches long... does that not seem like a big foot for a 6 year old?!?  I mean, she IS tall for her age, but my foot is only over 10 inches, and I have sasquach feet!  But I don't know much about children, so maybe I'm just talking out my, uh, bum.

I did one less repeat on the lace than the pattern called for, cause it's for a tiny foot- or what I thought would be a tiny foot.  Boy, 9 inches!  Isabelle's going to be one great basketball player at this rate!  Once the socks are both done, I will take a better picture than this one!  But I'm thinking of starting a new project with Cherry Tree Hill's super glitz.  I don't usually do two projects at once, but this CTH yarn is calling my name.

Socks 101: Very worth reading!

While I'm sure many of you read Knitty Magazine, I want to point out this great article titled Sock 101 by Kate Atherly.  It's a very well written article that gives the why's and how's of sock knitting.  If you haven't read this article yet, give it a read and let me know what you think!  If you know of new sock knitters, point them in its direction, because it's a great primer.

Summer Newsletter

The first quarterly newsletter from SSYC is now available here!  Some of you may have received this newsletter yesterday.  If you were part of the group that received this with the e-mail addresses of many recipients showing, I'm very sorry about that!  It was my intention to hide the e-mail addresses of the recipients, not list them.  Rest assured, that won't happen again!
SSYC newsletters are e-mailed 4 times a year, with each season.  In the coming months, look for interviews from designers, special promotions, new products, and the lastest trends in sock knitting!  And if you don't want to receive the newsletters anymore, then simply e-mail promotions@simplysockyarn.com.
And if you didn't get the newsletter delivered directly to your inbox and would like to, again, send a e-mail to promotions@simplysockyarn.com.
Is there something that you think would be an interesting addition to the newsletter?  Let me know!

So on the knitting front, I'm making some headway on my CP Kid Merino Lace Cuff Socks.  I've finished the lace cuff, and am almost to the heal.  If I can make some more time for knitting, then I should be done with the first sock in the next day of so.  I'm making these for Isabelle, daughter of a good friend.  She's only 6 and ADORES pink. 

Joe's on summer break right now... oh, to be a teacher and have summer breaks again.  Though I don't know that I would want to put up with some of the stuff that teachers put up with just for a summer break.  Joe's current project- making window boxes for the front of the house.  They're quite cool- but they are so heavy that instead of attaching them to the house, he's going to build iron stands for them.  That will be prettier anyway!  Right now, I have one up filled with bacopa (cascading white flowers) large marigolds and Wave Petunias in bright red (a new hybrid that just came out this spring!).  The box is looking pretty darn sparse right now, but when things start cascading more, it should look great!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will actually remember to water these new editions to my home.  When it comes to plants, I'm great at letting them die slowly.  Making them live?  Not so great.

Brand Spankin' New Yarn

Crystal Palace Yarns has just come out with a new painted version of their Kid Merino that was previously only available in solid colors.  SSYC just received the shipment TODAY, so you may not find these elsewhere on the internet yet.  Take a look at some of these great new colorways!!!  If you want to see the complete line, visit Simply Socks Yarn Company.

If you have thought about making some fuzzy & soft socks using the free patterns on CP's website, these colorways would be gorgeous!  Of course, I can think of some other things to do with these too, but for this forum, I will stick with socks.  You can get to the two patterns by clicking HERE and HERE.

12 hours later..... Okay, I had to add a link to a pattern that is not *gasp* for socks b/c you can really make some great shawls using this yarn.  These patterns also come directly from Crystal Palace and can be accessed from their list of free patterns.

Like a Moth to a Flame

Wow.  Give away some DP needles, and you people come a-runnin'.  Well, a-typin', really.  I have had quite a laugh at your expense.... no not b/c I'm mean,  Because you are fuh-ney!  Here are some of your witty responses to Questions #5, What would make Simply Socks Yarn Company even better?

• SSYC better?  Only if you were located in my stash closet!?!?
• If you throw away all the other entries and let me win!  (note- them's fightin' words!!)
• Simply Socks Yarn Company would be better only if it were next door to me!
• A picture of me and Chef on the site (from Ashley, whose boyfriend is Chef)

Ashley, nice try.  Though I do have some pictures of you that others might find interesting.  Does the phrase 'glamour shots' mean much?  If Chef has Glamour Shots pics, then I will definitely put them up!

Because of the great comments and suggestions from you all, I moved up the timeline on several things.  First, and to me the most important, is more yarn.  Specifically, the ever elusive Koigu.  It's coming, but it is in such high demand that my order won't arrive until early 2006.  But when it does, oh, when it does, it will be glorious. Because I have ordered gobs and gobs (a unit of measure that literally means Sweet Lord, THAT MUCH???) of KPM, KPPPM, and patterns.  We're talking enough to fill a room or a huge walk-in closet.  OMG, what a great idea.  A walk-in stash closet.  Anyone have one?  I might have to post that question in the Knitter's Review forum.

Anyway, back to the point.  Other things to look for:

• PAYPAL.  I added it today.  So for those of you (and there's a bunch) who use PayPal to fund your fixes, you can use it now!
• Patterns.  I was going to wait a few months, but I ordered some from Cherry Tree Hill on Friday and they already arrived!  Boy, CTH is good at what they do!  The patterns should be up in the next week.  Even more will be arriving in the next few months.

I'm really trying to take your suggestions to heart.  I hope that you will continue to give me feedback.  And for those of you who received your orders and sent the great e-mails, thanks so much.  I really appreciate your kind words.

Day ONE, done!

Thanks to everyone who visited the site yesterday for Opening Day- we had hits galore!  The grand opening contest is a hit; word spreads fast!

While I was very busy yesterday filling orders and responding to questions and comments, I did make time to knit last night.  After finishing Joe's sock, I'm onto something more girlie.  Note:  Joe has worn the socks twice already- no word on whether or not he has washed them.  blech.

I just started the Crystal Palace Kid Merino Socks with Lace Cuff.  I chose two different solid colors to knit together to make a heathered effect.  It's really knitting up nicely.  The melon and pink together create a sort of heathered salmon that I REALLY like.

The pattern is taking some getting used to, especially after just finishing a very simple rib.  The mohair too takes some watching.  Of course, I'm only on the 10th row, so after a bit I'm sure I'll get more used to the texture.  But you know how it is with fuzzier yarns- the stitches are less defined and require more attention.  I'm not EVEN going to try and watch Desperate Housewives tomorrow while doing the lace portion- even if it is a rerun.  This is what the sock looks like so far:

More wrist band, less sock right now, I know.  But a week from now, this thing will be... well.... a sock.  So there.

GRAND OPENING CONTEST

Simply Socks Yarn Company is now open for business at www.simplysockyarn.com !  To celebrate our Grand Opening, we are holding a contest for one lucky knitter to win an assortment of Crystal Palace double point bamboo needles in ELEVEN sizes!   To receive a copy of the rules, click  Download TreasureHuntQuiz.pdf and follow the instructions!  You must have Adobe Reader on your computer to view the rules; if you don't have it, you can download it for free at www.adobe.com .

Grand Opening Coming Soon

The Grand Opening of the new Simply Socks Yarn Company is coming soon-VERY soon!  While I would have liked for it to have been today, the powers that be thought otherwise (read previous blogs).    And with it, is coming the Grand Opening contest to win an 11-size assortment of Crystal Palace DP bamboo needles.  If you want to be entered to win, visit the blog on Friday, June 3 to download the rules.  You will need Adobe Reader to view the rules and can download that software for free from Adobe's website.

The store has so many beautiful yarns, that it just makes me want to knit.... but the time to knit is something that I'm lacking right now.  Below is a picture of the FINISHED Jawoll socks for my husband.  Soon I will start something more girlie.  I definitely need that.

The socks are modeled by Joe, my husband.  He didn't like the idea of showing off his legs, but I didn't give him much of a choice.  How can you show off the cuff of a sock without showing a little leg?!

I have received so many suggestions from readers about their favorite sock yarns.  If you would like to make suggestions, e-mail me or comment below!