Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

New Yarn and a Contest

Well, it was a nice, long holiday weekend for me and my family.  I spent much of it sleeping- and I would have liked to do a lot more eating than I did!  The queasiness that I feel from pregnancy just doesn't allow me to pack it in like I used to.... *sigh*.  I spent much of my weekend eating french bread and butter.

Joe and I had a great time with my family.  My brother (and his family) and my sister were in town, and we spent lots of time playing Scrabble and Boggle.  Joe's family is coming here to visit next week, and we'll have our Christmas then.  And on the 8th I'll have my last birthday in my 20's.  The big two-nine.  Again, *sigh*.

So I have all the new Opal Uni-Solid colors up on the website- 10 new ones (all indicated as being new next to the picture).  All quite nice, though I'm partial to the new browns and the purple shown below: 1411-Mocha, 1416-Medium Mocha, 1414-Deep Purple

This time of year, many of us think about New Years Resolutions, or things-that-we-want-to-change-about-ourselves-that-really-only-last-the-month-of-January.  This year I'm going to try to spend my money more wisely.  While I think that may only last until I see the most perfect little crib sheet set or extravagant baby stroller that I might never use, I'm still going to try.  So here's a little contest for you blog readers... 

Tell me what you are resolving to do in 2007- get a more toned tummy, buy yarn only when you have a project in mind, feed your spider monkey only organic fruits and veggies... whatever.  Heck, make something up if you like, or if you have no changes planned, just say "I think resolutions are crap" or "I'm perfect the way I am".... again, whatever!  Leave your comment below before midnight on January 3, and you could win a special prize package including yarn and goodies!  I'll post the (randomly chosen) winner after the 3rd, so be sure to check back and see if you have won.

Good luck!

Have a good one!

Since I don't think I will be posting again for the next several days (most likely until the middle of next week), I just want to wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend, whatever you are celebrating.  And if you don't celebrate anything in particular, then have a nice, relaxing long weekend, b/c it's likely that you get Monday off!

Here at Chez Van Zandt I will be finishing wrapping presents, finish the socks that I haven't worked on, and eating copious amounts of tasty food at various events.  My sister is coming in from Philly to celebrate the holidays, so we will all be camped out at Mom's for much of the time.  And yesterday, Mom got great news- she's still in remission and her blood counts look awesome.  No leukemia there, as far as the doc can tell.  She's a fricken superhero!

Tomorrow, Friday, I enter my fourth month of pregnancy!  YIKES.  I'm staring to feel less queasy, but still quite tired.  This nice long weekend will help me recharge those batteries, I'm sure.

**If you are placing an order, please keep in mind that orders placed from Dec. 24th-27th will be shipped starting the 28th.  Well, I might actually ship them starting the 27th.... but shhhh!

Yarn Harlot's Cause

Have you seen the post on the Yarn Harlots blog?  Take a look- and it's raised $80,000 just over the weekend.  Wow, knitters are great.  I'm not even going to try to sum it up- just pop right over there to her website and see what I mean, if you haven't seen it already.  True spirit of the season, if you ask me.

After reading the Yarn Harlot's post, I realized that I could be doing a lot more.  I could be donating more, I could be using what I have to make small changes in others lives.  So I've decided to make a greater effort in 2007 to make the money I spend really count.  I think Joe and I do that pretty well anyway, but I think we could be more consistent about it.  We don't shop the big box stores if we can avoid it, we buy our daily coffee or tea fix (though now decaf) at the local roaster or shops instead of The 'Bucks, and when I shop on the internet (which I do alot) I look for small, family owned stores.  It just seems that every year, wallets get a little thinner, and I hate to think of a family business not doing well this time of year, while the big guys with thousands of stores are raking it in. It takes extra effort, but I just feel better buying my produce at the farmers market and drinking coffee that is roasted by my neighbor to support his family.  But I think I can do better. I don't have much money to spend, but I hope I spend it in ways that help people and not just fund the big ol' corporate machine.  Ack, I'm getting off my little soapbox now.  But I really think I can do better.  Just something for me to think about in preparing for the new year.  Anyone else tweaking your lifestyle a bit for 2007?

On another note....
I've extended the Interlacements sale by a week.  The reason?  Honestly?  I don't want to spend the first day of the new year updating the website and making changes to reflect the sale ending.  I want to spend the day eating and relaxing. Several colors have already sold out, so don't wait til the 5th if there's something you're really eying.

ACK- Christmas is a week away!

Somehow, for the past week, I have deluded myself into thinking that Christmas is two weeks away.  Boy, did I feel like a dumbass when Joe says last night, "Uh, NO, Christmas is in a week."  I really thought it was two weeks away.  I don't know why, but somehow Dec 17 + 14 days = Dec 25 to me.  Gawd.

So I feel even more rushed to get cards sent out (today, surely), and packages wrapped.  And the sock I showed last week?  Still at the same point.  What have I been doing?  Well, packing up yarn (Interlacements is flying) and sleeping.  I'm finding that I'm not sleeping well at night- any noise is waking me, and Joe's snoring/heavy breathing doesn't help (last night at 2am I forced him to the spare room!).  So I end up taking long naps during the day.  Anyone else get such poor sleep at night while pregnant?  Does it just last a few months?  Or will this go on until July?

I spent the weekend avoiding holiday duties and instead watching Netflix.  Big Love (shut it!), Lakehouse (ok), and Superman Returns (Joe's choice, but actually better than I expected).

Sorry, no pics!  I guess I could show you a pic of me with me looking frazzled and tired, but what fun is that??

Interlacements Yarn 20% off

All Interlacements yarn, Tiny Toes and Toasty Toes, is 20% off until the end of the year!  Take a look at the vivid hand dyed colors that Judy Ditmore dyes in her Colorado studio.  All are inspired by her love of nature and her travels- she tours around on her bike, people.  And I don't mean a pink Huffy with streamers on the handlebars. Can you imagine going to your LYS for a sock class taught by the Judy Ditmore only to have her roll in on a big Harley?  How cool is that?!

I received several large shipments of Interlacements over the past few days and now that it's all arrived, you can take advantage of some great prices- only $9.60 a skein for Tiny Toes (fingering weight)- you need two skeins for a pair of socks.  And only $30.40 for a skein of Toasty Toes (dk weight)- remember that the Toasty Toes is a 1/2 pound skein which makes two pairs of socks!  It's a huge skein of yarn.

Tiny Toes and Toasty Toes each come with a basic sock pattern, but if you're looking for something to really show off the beauty of the yarn, check out some of these patterns that would look great with Tiny Toes yarn: Monkey from Knitty, Pomatomus from Knitty, Jaywalker from Magknits, Spanish Dancer from Knitty.  And recently I used this scarf pattern with Toasty Toes for my International Scarf Exchange pal, and I had plenty left over for mittens or a hat. And since I'm a big fan of the Thuja pattern (it's simple, but not boring), I'm considering that for Toasty Toes too- when I knit it before, I used a fingering weight yarn and just cast on more stitches.  But it's perfect as is for using with Toasty Toes.

Below are some of the recent arrivals of Tiny Toes: 401-African Violets , 403-Irish Heather , 202-Carbon Dioxide

And some in Toasty Toes: 217-Chairman of the Board, 410-English Garden, 406-Fireplace Embers

Cutting it Close

Yeah, I think I'm going to be cutting it somewhat close with holiday knitting (and shopping) this year.  I started a sock last week, with hopes of getting it finished in time for Christmas, but I'm only about half way done with the first one!  Is anyone else struggling to get that last project done?  With all the holiday shopping, baking and parties, I'm not knitting much this month.  Especially since I find myself wanting to take 3 hour naps.  I don't know what's up this week, but there hasn't been a day without a nap.  I haven't been this tired yet, but there must be some big growth happening with the 1.5" peanut this week...it's making me SLEEPY.

I'm knitting this using Meilenweit Mega Boot Stretch in color 711 with a simple rib pattern of my own, and this is yet another sock that I wouldn't mind keeping for myself!  Of course, I don't think that there are many socks that I knit that I wouldn't like to see in my own sock drawer.  Oh well!

So last night I finally got around to tying up my Christmas shopping.  This year has just been a whirlwind of craziness, and so everything seems to be more last minute than ever.  And my holiday cards?  Not done.  I usually make my own, and really enjoy it.  But this year?  Target.  Oh, how I adore Target.  I adore Target almost as much as I despise Best Buy.  What?  Have you been there recently?  You can't even get in the parking lot this time of year!  I find myself devising intricate driving patterns just to avoid the entire shopping center that houses the Best Buy.  Just seeing that BIG YELLOW SIGN turns me into Insta-Grinch.

So, anyway, last night I got shopping done- mostly b/c Kohl's rocks.  I can't say I'm in Kohl's more than once a year, but when I am I am always surprised at how everything is always on sale.  So I found some great gifts for a good price.  I also stopped at the Cookie Cottage for an iced sugar cookie.  As I'm sure most of you have never made it here to the cultural mecca that is Fort Wayne, Indiana, you just haven't tasted the heaven that is a Cookie Cottage iced sugar cookie.  They ship, if you think you can handle it.  Maybe I'll send my secret pal some cookies with her Christmas socks...

 

Hand Maiden Silk/Cashmere Yarn

Ooooh, the new Hand Maiden (by Fleece Artist) Silk/Cashmere yarn has arrived, and WOW is it gorgeous.  The colors, the texture, it's all so sumptuous and luxurious.  So if you would like to make one special pair of socks for yourself or that special someone, this is for you.  It takes two skeins to make a regular pair of socks, but you can make a pair of footies (no leg) with one skein if you like.  The skeins are pretty generous in size.  I would call this a sport weight yarn and most likely use US 3 on it.

Of course, you don't have to knit socks with this- it would be just stunning for a special scarf (maybe the Clapotis?) or other lace work.  Take a look at 3 of the 10 colors we now have in, each hand dyed: Parrot, Rainforest, Melon

I haven't had too much time to knit this week, what with the Koigu and all the holiday orders going through.  But I did have time to start a new sock for someone for Christmas.  It is a simple rib pattern; Row 1, Knit; Row 2 K2, P2 repeat; then repeat the two rows for the entire leg.  A tad more interesting than the K2P2 rib I do for many gift socks.  I'm knitting with Meilenweit Mega Boot Stretch color 711 .  After finishing Joe's dads socks using Meilenweit, I just had to start another pair.  I really like how the color changes knit up, and since it's machine wash, it's great for gifts.  I'll post a pic when I have more than two inches done- right now, that's all I've got!

Oh, and did you see the lovely shawl in the new Knitty (came up two days ago)?  It's called Spanish Dancer and it uses Claudia Hand Painted fingering weight yarn.  It really, really shows off the yarn nicely, don't you think?  The difficulty level indicates that it's "tangy" but I think it looks fairly simple- just lots of simple knitting and some increases and decreases- that's nothing to a bunch of sock knitters!!

108 Pounds of Lorna's Laces

Seriously.  That's what arrived yesterday.  108 POUNDS of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn.  In ONE box.  That's heavier than most "supermodels."  Needless to say, I wasn't the one moving that thing around.

So if you've been waiting on some colors to arrive, we now have back in stock the following (plus the stock of the other colors of LL have been replenished):

Multicolors: Camouflage, Bittersweet, Childs Play, Lakeview, Rainbow, River, Sherbet

Nearly Solids: Blackberry, Carol Green, Grapevine, Lilac, Natural, Old Rose, Pewter, Sage

Striping: Bee Stripe,  Jungle Stripe - you might notice that we are also out of the Simply Sock Yarn Stripe, which is the special edition chocolate and hot pink stripe yarn.  That is specially dyed only for us, so it will be on its way a little later.

Thank you so much for all the kind comments and e-mails yesterday!  Joe and I are super excited about starting a family, and I look forward to sharing things about the process on the blog.  It's going to be an interesting time, this winter and spring, that's for sure!

So I need some help finding maternity clothes.  I've heard that Old Navy, Gap and Target have some that are reasonably priced, but do you have other suggestions?  And will I need different sizes throughout my pregnancy?  I don't need them quite yet, but I think in couple weeks my fat-pants aren't going to fit over the belly anymore, and I'll have to buy some things.  So should I buy things now and will they fit me still in a few months?  Will I gain weight everywhere, or just in my belly and boobs? (I'm 10 weeks and have gained 3 pounds, but it feels like 15.)  Are there certain pieces that you wore almost everyday? 

Yarn and... something else.

So the Koigu is flying outta here!  Which kind of makes me sad b/c I would like to keep much of it for myself.  But that wouldn't make for a very successful business, would it?!  As much as I'd like to make SSYC my own personal stash enhancement program, it doesn't really work that way!  But at least I get to see it all.

Things are so busy around here that I've decided to hold off on the last newsletter of the year, and instead just publish one in January.  But I have a great interview with a writer and knitter to include.  More on that when it gets closer to the time....

So, yeah, yarn has been flying out of here at record speed, and there's something new that's kind of hindering my ability to pack yarn.  And that thing is.... my growing belly.  No, I didn't over-indulge this Thanksgiving.  OK, I did, but that's not the reason.  Joe and I are having a baby!  I'm about 10 weeks, due around July 6.  I feel pretty good- a bit more tired than usual and I have a bit of nausea, but nothing too bad.  So, while this won't turn into a Mommy Blog, I most likely will have lots of questions and freak outs that lots of you can help me with, I hope.

We have gotten around to telling all the family, and everyone was super happy.  I've found that when we tell people, they all have ten thousand questions, and I don't have any answers.  Joe and I are just still so shocked that we are actually going to be PARENTS, that we can't really get past that.  It's something that we have wanted awhile, but then when it actually happens, well, there's just shock.  Like "What have we DONE?!  We still watch South Park!  How can we be PARENTS!?"

*Edited to ad- 20 minutes later.....

I was so excited to tell my news, that I forgot to mention that Lantern Moon DP needles are now available.  Three different hard woods are available in the store.  You asked for 'em, so here they are!

New colorway from Cherry Tree Hill

Cherry Tree Hill has added a new colorway to their Supersock line up!  Misty Moor is inspired by the moors of Scotland, where Cherry Tree Hill's UK distributor recently honeymooned (wouldn't THAT be nice).  The colors of dark blue and purples and mossy green mimic the morning mists settling over the moors.

Want to see some more new yarn?  SSYC recently received Lorna's  Laces Shepherd Sock in the colorway Country Christmas.  This blend of Christmas-y colors is great for a fun surprise on Christmas, or to wear on Christmas morning.

And the last sock yarn SSYC recently received is the missing color from our last Schaefer order- Grapevine.  This color is very similar to Gertrude Ederle, only there's no dark blue, just very dark purple, violet, sage, and evergreen.  Such a great combo.

Yarn arrived, and Yarn Aboard

Well, I received word that Dave received his Yarn Aboard box from me.  It made its way from Fort Wayne, Indiana to Canada in a tad over a week.  Dave wrote the coolest post about Yarn Aboard yesterday- he's so creative! Take a look.

Yesterday I got a cool surprise in the mail - an entire skein of the new Tofutsies yarn from SWTC!  Now I don't have to knit up that tiny sample that they sent.  Instead I can knit a pair of socks and see how the fiber performs. If you remember from my post a couple weeks ago, this is the soon-to-be-available sock yarn that is comprised of wool, cotton, Soysilk, and chitin (from crab shells).  Pretty unique.

I just cast on, so there's really not too much to report yet (and no pics).  What I did notice is that the yarn is thinner than I expected- more like Schaefer Anne than Fleece Artist, if you know what I mean.  I thought that I would knit the first sock with US 0 needles, but since I want it to go quicker, I am instead casting on and knitting the cuff and leg with US 1 and then I will switch to US 0 so that I have a nice tight fabric for the foot.  I figure since that's the part of the sock that will get the most wear, that I don't mind using such small needles on that part, to make sure the sock lasts.

A couple things I did notice right off the bat.... the center-pull skein actually had the yarn sticking out of the middle slightly.  I didn't have to stick my finger in the ball and try to find the beginning.  It was already visible.  Very nice.  And when I cast on, there was no separating of the plies.  Everything stayed together nicely.  And it's SOFT.  OK, I think that is three things, so more than a couple.  But anyway.

Can you believe it's December??  The weather here, until yesterday, has been downright warm.  Hard to believe that there could be a White Christmas when I still have vines flowering in my yard.