Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Picture Post

New Lorna's Laces colors!  The first 4 are from the Sock Summit's Dye for Glory contest, where dyers had the opportunity to enter their yarn in various categories.  Below are 4 from Lorna's Lace's Monster Party theme (perfect for upcoming Halloween): Frankenstein's Cotillion, Ghoul's Gala, Medusa's Masquerade & Zombie BBQ.  The fifth color is Burnside (a well-known blvd. in Portland, OR), the special edition commemorative Sock Summit '09 colorway that LL dyed JUST for SSYC!

 

 

  

 

The weather here has been downright odd lately.  Early in the week, it stormed and was humid.  Now the air has the cool bite of October.  Which I kind of like, because we can have the windows open...if the neighbors haven't spread liquid manure over the fields.  There's nothin' like the smell of putrid horse and cow poop to make you close up your house.  But the weather has created some beautiful skies this week; some with a dim glow that casts everything in a warm gold light, others with threatening storms rolling in, and more with vivid sunsets of mauve, blue and violet.

 

 

 

 

 

I love socks

Imagine my happieness when James uttered those words this morning.  He picks up the socks on the forms and hugs them and says, "I love socks."  My heart melted!   And no one has prompted him to say this!  So for part of the morning, he would pick up a sock form off the kitchen table (doesn't everyone have them all over their table?!), give it a hug and say "I love socks," then would carry it to the other side of the kitchen and either line it up on the floor or try to shove it in an apple basket.  If there was ever any doubt, he is definitely Mama's Boy.

Below are two socks that I recently knit with Alchemy's Juniper sock yarn.  I knit theVintage Jade fromAlchemy's Elements (semi solid colors) using the Nutkin pattern (I added an extra pattern repeat).  And I then knit the Monkey sock using Underwater Moonlight from Alchemy's Colorways.  I cannot stress enough how much I love these socks and how wonderfully the yarn shows off the patterns.  The stitch definition is perfect, the colors don't pool or stripe in a weird way, and they were both acomplete pleasure to knit.  I'm already planning my next project using Clarita or Mediterranean.  I'm hooked.

 

Opal's NEW Rainforest 5 Sock Yarn

 

Opal's released a new Rainforest Collection, the fifth in this very popular series!  As they have done for years, the German company donates proceeds from this collection to organizations that save habitat and prevent rainforest clear-cutting.

My favorite of this bunch is the first color at the top left, 2670.  What's yours?

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Little White Lies

I've started lying to my son.  I can't help it, it's just easier to tell him that the remote is broken, rather than explain to him why I can't stand watching Little Einsteins again.  Saying, "It's broken" is so much easier and it's something he actually understands.  I wonder how long it will take before he catches on and starts making up little lies himself.  Hmmm, maybe I should stop....

My brother used to lie to his sons and tell them that the ice cream man played music to make people happy.  And if you think that's bad, a friend of mine tells her kids that the ice cream truck plays music when it's OUT of ice cream.  Isn't that the most brilliant lie?

Are there harmless lies that you've told your kids/spouse/friend that you'll admit to?  And what about knitting lies?  Have you ever told someone you like their gaudy yarn or project just to be nice?

(I've been meaning to share this picture with you for several months.  James found a full box of Unique Sheep's Gradiance Scarf Kits, and started unpacking in the foyer.  I ran upstairs with the camera to get a picture from above of the way he lined up every kit.)

Our "Virtual" Sock Summit Booth

It's been crazy hot here in NE Indiana over the past few days, so we're having a few friends over to hang out in the pond and try and cool off.  We all have kids the same age, so James has plenty of little buddies to splash with while the adults eat and watch and laugh.  So before that happens, and while James is napping, I'm writing that very rare weekend post!  I wanted to let you in on something special...

I'm bringing Simply Socks Yarn Company's Sock Summit booth to you!  For those of you who didn't get a chance to visit the Summit, and that's most of you, I wanted to let you in on some of the wonderful yarns and great deals that I had at SSYC's Sock Summit booth.  I feel very proud that my small store was able to sponsor the Summit, and I had such a great time... those of you who couldn't come should be able to share in the fun too, right?!

FIrst off, you'll find all Schaefer Anne yarn 33% off!  That means that each skein was originally $27, but is $17.80 until Friday Aug. 21. This includes the special edition Memorable Knitter Series (with colors for Elizabeth Zimmerman, Dorothy Reade, Emma Jacobsson, & MaryWalker Phillips) and a special Simply Socks colorway that Schaefer dyed just 51 skeins of like they did in the Heather yarn base for our 4th Anniversary.  And if you e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com after your Anne purchase, I'll e-mail you a free Lace Cuff Sock pattern.  You might also want to check out the free Entomology pattern on Knitty, as that shawl got lots of long glances at our booth at the Sock Summit.

I also have for you 6 Special Edition, not-to-be-repeated, colorways of Dream in Color's Smooshy sock yarn.  Veronica is debuting a new dyeing method she refers to as "flash dyeing", rather than the Veil-dyeing method she originated, and it produces a more vivid color combination and color changes, with flashes of color.  Be one of the first knitters to knit up yarn with her new technique before it becomes widely available.

After months without being able to get it, Fleece Artist has sent more BFL Sock!  I'm so happy to have this back in the store, as well as several new colors of Casbah.  Take a look at Salt Spray, Tranquility, Boreal, Mellow Yellow, Topaz and Pebble- perfect for those Ishbel shawls and berets everyone seemed to be wearing or knitting at he Summit!

I have a new yarn line to share, and that's Jawoll Silk from Lang Yarns!  I've been carrying Lang's Jawoll since the store opened, and now Lang has a very nice silk blend (and it comes in several "manly" colors) and each ball comes with a matching spool of reinforcing thread for toes and heels.

Crystal Palace has released new colors of their VERY popular Mini Mochi.  Colors 109- 116 are new, and I also have most of the previously-sold-out colors available as well.

Finally, I have for you new colors of Alchemy's Juniper sock yarn in both their colorways and elements.  I have new colors of Noro's Silk Garden Sock Yarn (colors 293-308) a restock of Alpaca Sox, Zauberball and Zauberball Crazy.

Noro Sale Yarn

Before I get to the Sock Summit details, I just want to let you sale watchers know that I have some Noro Silk Garden Lite (not a sock yarn, but very very popular for scarves and sweaters) in the last two pages of the Sale Section for 25% off!  I have 7 colors available, and right now have plenty for larger projects like the Lizard Ridge blanket (you can easily sub this yarn for the Noro that's called for) or smaller ones like this diagonal scarf.  Silk Garden Lite is a super soft combination of silk, mohair and lambswool, and at $9 for a 137 yard skein, it's quite a deal!

So I've been back home for a whole day now, and I would like to personally apologize to all the people I've silently mocked when they complained about "jet lag."  I guess I figured it was just a state of mind, and every time I heard someone mention how jetlagged they were, I would think, "try having a baby, and then tell me how tired you get from flying in a plane."  I was wrong and I take it back!  Changning times, for instance going from Portland to Indiana, and losing three hours (thus waking at what feels like 3am) really, really sucks.  So I'm self-medicating with caffine in the forms of both espresso and coffee, in hopes of jolting my system into some sort of productive state.

But Sock Summit was worth it.  It was an experience that I wouldn't give up (even for sleep!), as it was unlike anything I've ever done before.  I was constantly surrounded by amazing yarn, color, and people, and I'm so proud that my store was there and that I was able to sponsor it.  It was oddly wonderful being surrounded by thousands of people who were just as (or even more) passionate about knitting, and everyone there seemed to be in a sort of fiber induced fog.  I don't think anyone there has ever been in such a large space that was literally stuffed with yarn.

I got to spend lots of time with my vendors and indie dyers, I found several new dyers that you will be able to enjoy in the coming months, and I met so many amazing "knit-celebs", shop owners, bloggers, knitters, podcasters, and new friends.  Several of you gifted me with little socks, skeins of yarn, and well wished for James, and it was WONDERFUL meeting you! 

I've already been asked many times "with there be another Sock Summit?"  I don't have an answer.  And I don't know where it would be, if there is one.  But I will definitely let you know if I learn more from the organizers.  While all the classes and events were full, I was surprised to see that there weren't more shoppers at the Marketplace, for all the hype it got.  I really hope that all the indie dyers there got enough business to make it worth their expense... but I'll be doing my part to support a special few of them by offering their lines in the store in the near future.  I figure that since most of my customers didn't get to go to the Summit, I should bring the best (in my opinion) to you!

Picture post, last day of Sock Summit

Sock Summit, Day ?

What day is it??? I think it's Saturday, right? We are having one of those weeks when there is so much going on at such a quick pace that you can't quite figure out what day of the week it is. But it's making for a fabulous time, that's for sure! Shown here are several booth pictures (sorry, looks like only one loaded from my phone) that we took this morning after restocking and arranging from a busy Friday. I met MANY of you that have emailed or commented before, but I've also met many new SSYC knitters, and Im very grateful to you all for making SSYC and the Sock Summit a success! Now back to the booth...

OMG, Anna Zilboorg

Uh, Anna Zilboorg is holding my yarn. ANNA ZILBOORG now owns two skeins of my yarn. I just had a 10 minute conversation with THE Anna Zilboorg!

Must lie down now.

Sock Summit, day 1

Pic 1: the first knitter to purchase Simply Sock Yarn!!!!
Pic 2: booth setup
Pic 3: me and booth setup
Pic 4: booth setup
The Marketplace was open for only 2 hours for attendees, and I was not mentally prepared for how slammed we were!!! Tomorrow the Marketplace opens to the public (wipes brow in terror) and while I know we will be busy, I really hope I have more time to chat with those of you who came over today!! It was so cool putting so many names to faces!!!
I hope to blog more tomorrow..,. I'm almost to the front of the liquor line at the opening reception, so ta ta for now!!

OMG Sock Summit Setup

It's quite easy to believe that I've now been awake/traveling/setting up a booth now for 22 hours! Easy b/c my flip flop wearing feet are about to jump ship and hang with someone who isn't set on killing them. I can barely believe that the Sock Summit organizers and staff have been doing this now for weeks.
Pictures here are of Jasmin, half of the Knitmore Girls (spelling?) podcast (smelling Simply Sock Yarn); the entrance of the Marketplace; Holli Yeoh with a baby sweater knit with Simply Sock Yarn and the Ruby pattern from her Bees Knees Knits pattern line, and Swampette wearing our cute booth aprons!!!
All of this is from my iPhone, so please forgive the layout! I'm eating pizza, and going to bed!!!

SSYC at Sock Summit

I'll be leaving tomorrow to fly to Portland, OR for the Sock Summit!  Squee!  I'm so excited about being a part of this grand event, not only because my store is a sponsor, but also because as a knitter this means I can shop-shop-SHOP!  If you aren't going to The Summit, check back here throughout the week to see glimpses as I have time to post them. (Thanks go to Tina at BMFA, for the permission  to show off this picture you took!) And while I'm gone, please keep Joe busy filling orders.  He's always been a big help around here, but I want him to get a good taste of the crazy pace around here!

I want to share with you the lovely things that will be at our booth (523/622) this Thursday thru Sunday.  Not only will there be the fabulous guests I've mentioned, but of course, yarn.  You'll find Pagewood Farms, Fleece Artist, Dream in Color (in Starry and special edition Smooshy colors), Lorna's Laces (including a special edition Sock Summit-inspired colorway just for SSYC), Schaefer Anne, sKNITches, Alchemy, Silver Moon Studio's bags (NEW!), Malabrigo, and a brand new sock yarn...

Simply Sock Yarn.  I've been hinting about this surprise for awhile now, and I'll be debuting the store's OWN hand dyed, semi-solid sock yarn line at the Sock Summit.  I've been working on this for over a year now, and it's taken all of 2009 so far to develop the colors.  Want to know more?  GREAT!

I don't know about you, but I've become more enthralled with knitting solid and semi-solid colors as I've progressed into more intricate sock knitting.  I've also been in need of particular colors for sports team/college or socks that match a particular outfit or sweater.  And even as the owner of a store that specializes in sock yarn, I often have a hard time finding exactly what I want, when I want it.  So just like when I opened this yarn store over 4 years ago, I decided that I could do this more effectively myself if I could be in control and do it my way.  There are so many dyers making amazing solid colored yarns, but they are all in such high demand that it can be difficult to get yarn in less than 2 months- and not all of them have the exact colors/fibers you might want.

Simply Sock Yarn is a 80/20 merino/nylon blend that is machine wash and dry, is fingering weight, and is soon to be available in over 70 solid colors.  Yeah, you read that right.  Over 70 colors.  And I still don't have the entire color line finished yet.

Each skein is 175 yards/ 50 grams, which means that you don't have to buy a huge hank of yarn if you need less than usual for stripes, colorwork, or garments.  Each 50 gram skein is enough for one sock.  And each skein retails for $10.  That means that you can make a pair of the highest quality merino/nylon, hand dyed yarn for $20.  I did my best to get the skeins at a great price point, and I hope you'll agree that that's a very fair price for such craftsmanship.

I've left no stone unturned when developing color for this line.  And no, I'm not dyeing the yarn myself- I'm NO dyer.  I'm working with a artisan who has the most experience dyeing yarn.  Really, it's been a complete pleasure developing the line because I'm working with the most knowledgeable people.  What does this mean for you?  You can knit those perfect sports team socks for your daughter's volleyball games, or your boyfriend's favorite sports team.  You can knit those super soft, machine washable cabled socks and have the pattern show up beautifully.  You can knit a baby sweater or blanket with multicolored stripes, and not have so much yarn left over that you're not sure what to do with it.

And the big thing?  COLOR CARDS.  It's practically impossible to find color cards anymore, but you'll be able to get a set for Simply Sock Yarn so that you can compare and plan your project with actual fiber samples, instead of on your computer monitor.

I really do think that I've pulled out all the stops in creating this yarn line, and I'm open to suggestions for things that you really see missing in solid sock yarn. Please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions below!  And I know one of the questions on everyone's mind is... when can I knit it?!  Simply Sock Yarn isn't available for purchase yet, but it will be in late summer/fall.  Only a small amount will be available at the Summit in 30 colors.  But rest assured, when it is available, you'll be the first to know!