Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Zauberball Starke 6 and Zauberball Crazy

Many of you are fans of Schoppel Wolle's Zauberball sock yarn.  When Schoppel Wolle first released their one-ply, slowing gradating colors, they were a huge hit. Then they released a 2-ply sock yarn that gradated, but the two plies were different colors, making a cool effect and dubbing it Zauberball Crazy.  Now, they have released a new 6-ply dk weight sock yarn, Zauberball Starke (pronounced shtar-kuh) 6.  The Starke 6ply comes in a very generous ball of 150 grams.  Which is 50% more than the normal 100g balls of Zauberball and Zauberball crazy (the fingering weight cousins), thus the higher price tag too. But from those 150 yards, you can get a HUGE pair of socks, or a nice sized scarf or shawl.

I have a few colors in stock for you now, with a few more to come.

I also have a few new colors of Zauberball Crazy and a restock of many of the colors of Zauberball (shown at left is 1535-Stone Washed).  I'm still waiting on some of the colors of regular Zauberball, as this has been a very popular line and hard to keep in stock.  I order large amounts so that it lasts awhile, and for the most part, I've been able to keep the colors in stock.  Of course, if you are a fan of this line, you know which of those colors are hard to get...

I think just as many of you are knitting shawls and scarves with this as you are socks.  If you've knit this, or are planning to, please do share your projects and ideas with us!

In love with color

I've been inspired.  Everyday I'm surrounded by amazing color combinations of yarn.  But this past weekend, I've found color inspiration elsewhere- in fabric.  I know, it isn't a great leap from one fiber medium to another, but what can I say- I'm a fiberholic, whether it's yarn or fabric.

My rug arrived this weekend.  I've been meaning to actually do some deorating since this time last year when we finally decided on paint colors for our first floor.  It took a year, but I found a rug I liked, and ordered it immediately.

As soon as I saw this rug in my house, I finally had the interest in making real decisions about design.  Finally.  I went to the library to check out books, and the librarian saw that I had checked out Midwest Modern by Amy Butler. She recommended a local quilt shop that carried a few lines of Amy Butler's fabric.  So what did I do?  I immediately went there and found the perfect fabric for accent pillows.

Oh, but there's so much lovely fabric that would look good in my room, that I can't decide!

And if that wasn't enough, there's so much more!

Since I've decided, for now, not to put curatins up on our windows (we are far enough removed that it doesn't matter and it would obscure the views) what are some other ways to incorporate fabric into a design, other than pillows?  A small quilt?  Anything else?

On a yarny note, I quickly sold out of a couple of the colors of the sale Cascade Sassy Stripes in the sale section.  And the other colors are almost gone too.  But I have more on the way.  So if you missed out on the great deal, look at the end of the week one last restock of Sassy Stripes before it's gone for good (has been discontinued).  And lots in color 715, the blue stripe, which is the one that everyone seemed to snatch right away.
 
 
 
 

K4Me in 2010, 3rd project

Thank you for your comments and e-mails regarding Wednesday's post.  I've let go of trying to control James' potty training, but food was becoming an issue to me.  I was becoming offended when James wouldn't even try something that I had made, and I'm realizing that I should stop making it about me, and just give up some control.  If I look at the bigger scheme of things, he really is a healthy eater, and I should let him have some control of what he wants to eat, within reason.

I've found a bit more balance this week- not just work and toddler time.  I've found time to work out every day, I've knit an entire sock, I've made several meals (banana muffins and broccoli cheddar soup were faves), and I've read an entire book, Dan Brown's Lost Symbol.  I thought it was a good read, but not great.

The sock I knit was in Cascade Sassy Stripe color 715.  I've carried Sassy Stripes since I opened SSYC almost 5 years ago.  It's continued to be a popular yarn, but is now being discontinued.  At $6.75 a ball (it takes 2 balls for a pair of socks), it's a good deal.  But I've snagged A LOT of it at a great price, and you can now find it in the sale section for only $2.70 a ball.  That's 60% off!  I don't know that I've ever had a yarn in stock for less than $3 a ball.

So for under $6, I've got this lovely size 11 pair of socks in a fun stripe (well, I only have one sock completed so far).  It was one of those addictive knits that was a breeze to knit. Not only because I knit the leg on US 1.5 needles (but decreased to a US 0 for the foot, as I want a thick fabric that will hold up to wear) but because I liked watching the stripes develop and thus kept knitting and knitting.... and knitting.

I have 5 colors in the sale section right now, so grab it while I have it, as I'm told this will no longer be made.  It was good while it lasted.

Raising a good eater

I like to cook, and I love to eat.  When envisioning parenthood, I figured it would be full of family meals- sharing my love of my family by making them healthy, tasty meals.  No longer cooking for two, I thought cooking would be even more enjoyable.  But a certain little toddler has a different idea, and it doesn't involve eating the food I've served at the dinner table.

For the most part, James has been a good eater.  And even now, when I have complaints about the things he won't eat, he still does eat quite a bit of fruits and veggies.  In fact, hummus-smeared crackers and avocado are two of his favorite things.  He won't eat meat, but he'll devour veggie chicken nuggets.  And no plate of mac and cheese is safe around him.

When I first started giving James solid food around 6 months, he would eat anything I put in front of him- if I pureed it, he'd eat it.  I don't think that James has had store bought baby food.  Instead, I cooked his food, pureed it, and froze it into ice cube trays.  I figured that making his food would not only be healthier and cheaper, but it would taste better, thus fostering a more adventurous eater.  But that hasn't been the case in his 2nd year.  When I cook a meal, he usually refuses to eat it.  Chicken pot pie?  Nope.  Broccoli casserole?  Nada.  Pulled pork? No way.

Like Kate Gosslin says, I'm not a short order cook.  If I spend time cooking a meal, I'm not going to make something else for a finicky toddler.  I want him to enjoy the food that I've lovingly cooked (and he's often cooking/stirring right with me), but if he doesn't want to eat it, I'm also not going to make a big deal out of if either.  I figure that when he's hungry, he'll try it.  But it hasn't worked.  If I make a meal of pulled pork, sweet potato and corn, he will eat the sweet potato, a bite of corn, but absolutely no pork.  And I'm wondering why this is.  He seems pretty stuck on the things he's eaten in the past, and won't try much new anymore- with the exception of bready or sugary things.  Especially if it's something that has several items combined, like a soup or a casserole.  And if there's anything added to his scrambled eggs or mac and cheese, it's like they've been poisoned... but I can add any fruit/nut to a pancake and he'll eat it.  Odd.

What are your experiences with kids' eating habits?  Do you think James will eat more as he gets out of the toddler stage?  Are there certain things you did that successfully got your toddler to eat new things?  Am I expecting too much this early in the game?  I know there are certain things that I won't eat, and even though I might like something one day, they next day I might not.  So it would make sense that a toddler would be the same way.  But I have to admit that it offends me when I make something that is really good, like homemade chicken and bisquits, and he won't even try it.

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

Can you provide some knowledge on this subject?  I've been putting reinforcing thread in my heels because they tend to wear out.  A woman at my LYS informs me that some opinion exists that this can actually accelerate the wear as the nylon is sharp and can rub and wear out the wool.  She said that the thread that has the nylon coated with wool is somewhat better.  I'm referring of course to yarn that is 100% wool with no nylon already.

What do you think of this?  Is reinforcement thread a good or bad thing?

The Reinforcer

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Help a knitter out and leave your advice in the comments section below.  Have a question that you'd like answered her?  E-mail service@simplysockyarn.com and title your e-mail Ask the Knitters.  Your question may be chosen for the blog.

The Snow

Yeah, snow.  Who'd a thunk that simple frozen precipitation could change life for so many.

Here in NE Indiana we received just less than a foot, but the drifting was enough to cancel school for two and a half days and pretty much make us homebodies for the better part of a week.  I have no idea how those of you in DC and DE are able to function with the ridiculous amount of snow you've received in the past week.  And it seems there's more to come. (The pictures below aren't from this snowstorm, but you get the idea.)

We live in what I often refer to as "the country."  As a girl who grew up in the suburbs of a mid-sized city, I figured that moving out to a rural area in the midst of an Amish community would make life very difficult in weather extremes.  Turns out, not so much.  After living in our new digs for two years now (wow, how time passes), I've gotten quite used to being 15 minutes farther from the city, instead of in the midst of everything.

The perks of living in the country different from the perks of city life- it's quiet, we are surrounded by nature- woods, river, pond, farmland.  We don't see neighbors, which means that we don't have to compete for parking/get angry when the early rising dog is left outside to yelp at passersby/wonder why our neighbor left his recycling bins out for half the week.  And while people are more nosy about newcomers in our rural setting, they are also kind.  The owner of the only restaurant in town greets James with hugs and an immediate bowl of cottage cheese.  When people spin off the ice covered street into the ditch, they don't call a tow- instead the nearest house with a truck or the next passing vehicle just pulls them out.

But one of the perks I wasn't prepared for was the clearing of the streets.  Turns out that living in an Amish community means that the roads are often plowed so that the buggies can travel.  When we used to live in a tightly packed neighborhood in Fort Wayne, our street got plowed MAYBE once a season.  We would basically have to shovel our own street to get out.  But here in the country, the plows go by several times a day.  Now, if only the plowing would extend to the city so we could get farther than our little area to the post office... that would be something!

How has Mr. Winter affected you this week?

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

I have fallen for knitting socks.  My only problem is that the soles of the socks develop holes after a couple of washings (by hand) and no dryer.

What should I do for sturdy soles?  Do you have a pattern that will reinforce the heels and soles?

Thank you for your help,

Sole-holes in Sammamish

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Help a knitter out and leave your advice in the comments below.  Do you have a question for The Knitters?  Title it Ask the Knitters, and e-mail it to service@simplysockyarn.com and your question could be chosen for the blog.

Weekend in snippets

Good weekend, accomplished much.... of nothing.

Watched a game with friends.  Want to know if it went our way?  Well, we live in Indiana.  How 'bout you?

Drooled over new yarn.

 

Finally started decorating the family room we painted blue almost a year ago.  Ordered this rug b/c I lurve it (and I need to cover a recent coffee stain on my carpet that I can't blame on a toddler.)

 

Poured over Etsy looking for accessories.

Everyone else on the eastern half of the US seems to have gotten snow except us.  So James and I drew snowmen instead of building them.  This 2 year old can't put together a full sentence yet, but can draw like, well, like his dad-the-art-prof.

Watched Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog.  Joe and I agree it's the best show we've watched in a long time and now I'm going to buy the soundtrack too.  Thanks, Joss.  Want some handknit socks?

Ate best. cookies. ever.  Made by Joe.

New Shibui Staccato Sock Yarn

I have a brand new sock yarn to share with you, one that I've been waiting months to arrive.  Shibui Knits' merino sock yarn has been a favorite here since they released it around two years ago.  It has wonderful pattern support and while it sells quickly I've managed to keep most of the colors in stock for you all the time. But now, there's a new sock yarn in their line for me to share with you, and that's their Staccato Sock Yarn, a luxurious blend of merino, silk and nylon.  And not just a tiny bit of silk- 30% SILK.  What's that do for your sock yarn?  It makes it super soft, warm and it has a lovely slight sheen to it that you don't find in 100% merino yarns.  The good silk content really makes this sock yarn a stand out.

I can't wait to knit this myself.  I have to admit that I'm considering knitting this in one of the variegated colorways for the SSYC KAL this month.  I haven't yet had a chance to cast on, even though it started 4 days ago, so I can easily change my mind here.

I've also gotten a restock of Shibui's merino sock yarn, and I know many of you were waiting on this.  Those of you who had backorders/preorders for certain colors, those will ship now.  It's been quite a wait for some colors, but Shibui's been out for quite some time.  But thank goodness the wait is over!

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

I have two socks that I'm working on that I now have a problem at the heel break.  Sock #1 has 84 stitches, with a pattern repeat of 12; sock #2 has 72 stitches with a pattern repeat of 8. Both of these are easy enough to split in half, but that is not appropriate for the pattern break.  Do I make the heel larger than 1/2 or smaller than 1/2?

I considered doing an equal half, but I can't figure out what to do with the left over pattern on each side.  If I continue the pattern beyond the heel and onto the top of the foot, which I would like to do, what do I do with the left over stitches on each side?

How do you recommend splitting for the heel, when the stitch pattern doesn't fit evenly in half the original stitches?

Thanks for your help,

Heel Splitting in Helena

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Help a knitter out and leave your advice in the comments below.  Do you have a question that you'd like answered here?  Send an e-mail to service@simplysockyarn.com and title it Ask the Knitters.  Your question could be chosen for the blog.

Feb 1, Let the KAL Begin!

I took your advice and made time for myself this weekend. Joe and I had a double date night with friends- had a great meal and even better time just laughing and having adult conversation (one that doesn't include discussing the newest Imagination Movers episode).  Then we saw Avatar, which I wasn't really interested in seeing until everyone told me that it's a must see, even if only for the effects.  It was a cool movie, and I only wish that I was one of those knitters who could knit in a dark theater b/c that's about the only thing that could have made the evening better.  All in all, it was a very good weekend and I'm ready to start the week and work my butt off again.

While I didn't find time to knit, I did browse through Ravelry and my yarn stash and I think I decided on the yarn that I'm going to use for the first SSYC Knitalong on Ravelry, and I'm going to cast on tonight.  It's a striped sKNITches yarn with a coordinating solid mini skein that was part of the SSYC Sock Yarn Club a couple years ago.  I've been holding onto Windsurfer, as I wanted to knit it for myself.  Now's the perfect time.  Now I have to decide on a pattern before casting on later tonight.  If you would like to participate in the KAL, you can go here.  If you don't have a Ravelry account, you can sign up for one to participate in the KAL.  It looks like the KALs will be continuing throughout the months, and I'm going to participate as much as I can in them because I think that having other knitters chime in on what I'm doing will help me finish my projects in a timely manner.  And I like to see what everyone else is knitting because it provides great inspiration.

Want a KAL button for your blog?  Check it out at left.  Just right click and save it somewhere on your computer and use it on your sidebar, linking it to the Fans of SSYC Ravelry Group.

-Oh, BTW, as I mentioned in my previous post, I treat myself to a good cup of coffee and a muffin before my hair appointment.  And the lady at the coffee shop (one I rarely go to in Georgetown, if you live in Fort Wayne) dropped the muffin in the tray that catches the old coffee grounds.  Then she put it on a plate and tried to serve it to me.  I said "I'm not taking that," and she seemed surprised.  So after fixing up my coffee with milk and sugar, I noticed that SHE PUT THE DIRTY MUFFIN BACK IN THE BAKERY CASE TO SELL.  As James would say, "Eeeeeeww, GROSS."  If I still worked for the Heath Department, I would have put the smackdown right there.