Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

What did you do this weekend?

If you got some sleep or had an alcoholic beverage this weekend, you've topped my weekend, so please share so I can live vicariously!   One thing I did that was cool though... take a look a the picture of James.  It was taken with my new iPhone.  Yep, that's right, the woman who has never even sent a text message before went out and splurged on an iPhone.  Some friends of Joe's and mine came over to meet James, and just happened to bring their new iPhones with them.  While I hadn't even given the new toy a second thought beforehand, once I saw it in action, I. Had. To. Have. One.  And I love it.  Screw that college fund for my child- momma and daddy need some iPhones.

Now Joe and I will never have a normal conversation again.  First, we have a baby, which leaves us sleep deprived and unable to talk about anything other than lactation and the color of our son's poop.  Now we never have to verbalize anything again, we can simply text message each other from across the room.

Anyone else get an iPhone? I have a PC (sorry Mac people) but this tiny little gadget may definitely make me go out and get Mac technology.  I thought I loved my iPod, but this little thing is even better.  Now I can take progress pics of my knitting anytime, anyplace.  Of course, I have to have to some time to knit for that to happen...

Notice how the sleeping gown James is wearing is HUGE?  It's 0-3 month size.  How I got such a tiny baby when Joe and I are definitely not tiny people, I'll never know.

Contest Winner is...

Thanks for all your fun contest entries- some true, some straight from urban legends.  I really read each and every one of the over 200 of them and it's hard to believe that parents would really name their kids such exotic names (at least the believable ones).  We have a contest winner- Katrina!  She says, "My sister's mother-in-law's maiden name was Zerlin. Her first name is Arva, and her two sisters were named Kerma and Desda."  Boy did spellcheck enjoy THAT sentence.  Check out  Katrina's blog linked above, give her some congrats, b/c she's going to get a fun package of goodies from me including some Fleece Artist yarn.  Just e-mail me your shipping address and I'll get it out to you, Katrina!

Wow, you all really like babies and yarn.  Maybe in that order, I'm not quite sure.  I used to think you really liked yarn, but now I think you really really like babies!  Thank you for all you supportive comments and e-mails regarding my last post, especially about the size of James.  He's growing nicely and eats often, making it hard to get anything done, and I am trying to enjoy this sleepy fussy stage because I know it's not going to last long and he's just going to get bigger and change so much.  What I like about this stage right now is how cuddly his is.  He just snuggles right up to me and is so warm and loving.  Oh, and I adore his milk mouth- when he's had enough to eat and the milk just kind dribbles over his mouth and chin.... I just smooch him.  I loves me some baby-love.

The Dream in Color and Somoko are just flying right outta here- I'm glad I ordered large amounts, but still I don't think its going to last much longer.  But there's more to come, just be patient please, for the dyers to work their magic again.  I know, that's like the pot calling the kettle black; I don't have much patience about yarn so how can I expect anyone else to have any?  But for those who want to see some more new things, we got a great shipment from Artyarns and it includes a few new colors, 109, 151, 119, 130 (shown at right), 134, 147, and 234.  And the variegated colors are all listed with my recommendations for solid colors that coordinate so that you can do intricate colorwork or matching toes and heels. 

I'm also expecting more Seacoast Handpaints, Sleeping Dragon, and some new surprises to arrive soon, perhaps in about one week, so check back for even more tasty fiber treats and pics of James.  Who am I kidding?  I'm a proud mom and a fiberholic.  There will be many pictures of both my obsessions to come.

And... we're back

1. I'm back

2. The store is open

3. The contest is over- winner announced soon

4. New yarn has arrived and more on the way- Dream in Color and Somoko

5. I'm in love with a guy named James

I'm exhausted, so I had to list ALL the things you might want to know upfront so I can get down to what I really want to share.  JAMES is wonderful.  He's a tiny little guy at only 6 pounds 8 ounces, and HOLY CRAP I love every little inch of him.  People regularly ask if he's completely changed my life, and I really want to answer that No, he hasn't.  I don't know if I already felt like a mom before he left my body, or if he just fits in so seamlessly that I don't really notice a huge change.  But I really feel like the same person I was pre-James.  Just better, more exhausted, more worried, and more everything.  But basically I'm the same, just more.

The picture at right is of me and James, the night he was born, only a few hours after surgery.  Yes, I probably look a bit shell shocked and drugged up after 30 hours of induction that didn't produce a natural birth and finally a c section, but it's and honest representation of my life in the past 2 weeks- unretouched and true.

Joe and I are quite in love with our tiny man, who came home from the hospital weighing under 6 pounds (you may already know that babies lose 10% of their weight after birth).  Have any of you come home with such a tiny baby?  Did you freak out when none of the clothes you brought or had at home fit and the baby's feet came to the knees of the sleeper?  I did.  I mean, who expects to have such a tiny little bundle?  I didn't, especially since he was overdue.  If you click on the pic at left, you'll see a close up of the day we brought him home.  He's wearing a newborn sleeper, which is rolled up at the arms, and hanging off his legs.  Putting him in that made me realize what a fragile little baby I was just about to bring home.

Thank you so much for your wonderful e-mails, comments, cards, and knitted gifts.  Your support really makes me feel as though my store is more like an LYS rather than an internet store.  I've gotten to meet so many great people through the store and this blog, and I hope that continues for many years.  You all rock.

We're having a baby!

Hi All,

If you're reading this, it means that I've gone into labor and am likely on the way to the hospital or recovering from having my baby boy!  YEA!

Simply Socks Yarn Co. will be closed for at least one week from the date at the top of this posting, up to two weeks depending on how I'm doing.  You are welcome to place orders during this time, but these items will not ship until the store reopens.

You'll know the store is back open when you see the Closed sign disappear from the website's homepage- I will also post something new here... hopefully a picture of a super-cute-little-cuddly-future-knitter!  And remember that you'll find lots of new yarn in the store, listed here in this post.

Joe and I (and little Danger) really appreciate your patience during this time.  I'm sure Danger's sorry (ha.) that he's disrupting things right now, but I'm hoping that he'll be a great napper and let me get work done once the store reopens.  All babies sleep well, right?  Um, hello?

So here's a fun little contest to keep you slightly entertained until I get back- you get only one entry, so make it good.  And make sure to check back and see if you are the randomly selected winner (and read the comments for all the funny entries).  The winner will get a fun little package of yarn and goodies from me after I return.  Answer me this: What's the worst/funniest/weirdest baby name you've heard?  It can be a celebrity baby name, someone you know, or you can even make it up if you like!  Leave your answer in the comments section below.  This contest ends when the store reopens and I post a new entry here.

Your yarn store owner/knitaholic/soon-to-be-mama,

Allison

P.S.- I'm kinda scared.  I'm HAVING A BABY.  Whoa.

Baby, it's hot.

Please tell me that I'm not living in the only midwest city that seems to be hotter than usual.  It's way above 90 degrees here today, and I'm quite thankful for the AC right now.  Whew.

Obviously, as little Danger is overdue right now, I'm quite large and in charge.  The belly has grown quite a bit from the last time I post a pic of it.  It's HUGE, right?  I feel like a total swollen sasquatch.  This pic was taken on a day that I woke up and my hands, feet and face were crazy swollen, and I spent most of the day sitting on the couch til the swelling went down.  I feel the need to tell you that b/c I don't think it's a flattering picture at all (and I have red eyes behind the glasses).  But I take total responsibility for the shelf butt I have.  That's just how it is and there's no excuse for it!

So I'm gearing up for the first shipment of the SSYC Sock Yarn Club, which begins in about a month.  Almost everyone has e-mailed me confirming their e-mail addresses, and if you think that you may have forgotten, just check your e-mail, b/c I e-mailed those who forgot.  Otherwise, you're all set and will get an e-mail before the first box is shipped in August (hopefully the first week, but we'll see when it gets down to it).

In non-yarn-and-super-pregnant news, my garden is in full swing.  Well, it's not just my garden, b/c Joe does every bit of picking out what's in it, tilling, amending the soil, watering and weeding.  I just look at it and prepare and eat what comes out.  So far, we have already harvested garlic and peas, and I'm hoping that the soybeans and cherry tomatoes will be soon to follow.  Are there certain vegetables that are notorious for causing babies stomach problems when the moms eat them?  If so, I'd like to read your experiences, if you want to comment or e-mail me.  The pic at left is of Joe's green bean towers.  They grow up big cylinders that Joe built.  He's all about the vertical growing in the garden b/c we have so little space.

There's no Danger here...

Well, according to my doc, Danger has decided that he's perfectly happy exactly where he is and it looks like he has absolutely no interest in arriving in a timely manner.  What does this mean?  Probably another week of hot summer discomfort and eating copious amounts of mac and cheese.  Thank Kraft for the blue box.  And thank the gods of technology for air conditioning my 80 year old home.

I've had lots of questions about yarn lately, and in case I haven't addressed all these before, here's the lowdown on all the new yarn shipments coming soon:

Dream in Color- All the colors will likely arrive while the store is closed and then will be added back to the store when it "reopens." (technically the website isn't "closing", you can still order things that are there, I just won't be shipping them til you see the Closed sign disappear from the website).  I'll do my best to keep Dream in Color in stock, but like many other small dyer operations, they are inundated with orders and do the best they can.  And who really wants yarn that is dyed in a rush, and not painstakingly and lovingly dyed?  Not I.  I'm fine waiting for my goods.

Fleece Artist Silk/Cashmere- Several new colors have arrived, and more will arrive shortly, so all those will be added to the store when it "reopens."  Oh, and the colors that have arrived are heavenly- Blackberry especially.  Good luck gettin' this b/c I'm thinking of snagging half if it for a shawl, or eight.  Just sayin'.

Seacoast Handpainted- Both the Merino/Tencel and the Panda Sock are expected to arrive while the store is closed.  The colors we carried before, plus some new ones, are expected to be available once the store reopens.

Sknitches- Oh, now this is the hand dyed, self striping yarn I've been waiting for.  The sample pair I knit is at left,surrounded by baby socks that aren't for Danger, but have all been gifted to friends- I think there's something in the water here in Fort Fun.  "Want to get knocked up?  The Holiday Inn has a special just for you!" (not exactly the a good slogan for the Visitor's Bureau) ANYWAY... I ordered Sknitches several months ago, and it takes quite awhile to get in b/c it's dyed by one talented dyer and it takes a long time to dye stripes, especially in the amount that I ordered.  This will likely arrive at the end of July/early August, and when it sells out it will be several months before I can get more.

Artyarns Ultramerino 4- We are out of several colors and I've ordered even more colors of this fabulous line.  It's super soft, like a very high quality cotton- none of the scratchiness sometimes associated with wool, and the colors are amazing.  If you have tried this, you know what I mean.  If you haven't, jump on that bandwagon and give it a try.  I've listed the variegated colors with the solid colors that match, so you can even do coordinating toes and heels, or intricate colorwork.

Fleece Artist's new Somoko-  This is the newest yarn from Fleece Artist that I pictured and wrote about here.  I also expect this to arrive while the store is closed, so it will be available once the store reopens.

HAPPY 4th!  Enjoy the festivities and fireworks tonight!  AND PLEASE HAVE A BEER OR A TASTY MARTINI (or several) FOR ME. *sigh*

A Finished Object?!

Yes, really!  I actually finished the socks that I promised my doctor, and will be gifting them to her shortly.  I hope in return she gives me news that my pregnancy is almost over and I can expect a little Danger in my life in just days.  I have a feeling that my hopes will be dashed though, and she'll tell me that I'm not ready.  Ack.

I really, really like the finished pattern- I used the Waving Lace socks from IK's Favorite Socks book (a must have- really- the book is great) and the Poppy color of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn.  When I first knit the pattern, I wasn't sure how much I liked it b/c it seemed sloppy, but I really like the finished pattern and I'll likely knit a pair for myself in the future.

The colors in these pictures are slightly off, I'm sorry to say, b/c I wanted to get some pics taken before I gave the socks away.  This close up really shows how nice the pattern turned out.  If you click on it, you can see it in even greater detail.

Does anyone else have links to pics on your blogs where you have knit these socks?  I'd love to see someone else's work with this pattern and see what yarn you chose.