Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Tasty Tidbits

Been waiting for more of the Cubics and Dreamz (both 5 inch and six inch) from Knitter's Pride?  Me too!  I've tested both these new needles out on my recent Opal Van Gogh Sunflowers socks (nearly finished), knitting the leg with US 1 Cubics and the foot with US 0 Dreamz, and I like them both.  I actually prefer the less expensive Dreamz over the Cubics- partly because of the fun colors of each size, and also because they seem abnormally sturdy.  Neither the Cubics not the Dreamz have bent with use, but I really expected the US 0 to bend, because they are so thin, and because all other wood US 0 needles I've used do bend somewhat quickly (I'm not easy on my needles when turning at the gusset).  I will continue to use them as my go-to US 0 needles because I really am impressed with them, and the price and the color make them extra cool in my book.  Oh, and if you want to buy the Dreamz and get a reduced price, I now have the Sock Set (six sock sizes) in 5" and 6".

And in the category of oops-I-meant-to put-these-colors-on-the-website-two-months-ago-but-it-totally-slipped-my-mind (othewise called the Baby Brain Excuse), you should really take a look at the Highlights line from Artyarns.  They are dyed in a way to show off inticate patterns- ones when you don't want unpredictable striping or pooling to obscure what you're trying to achieve.  I've knit Artyarns twice now, and really enjoy wearing pair I kept for myself.  The stitch definition is wonderful, and the texture is definitely good for someone who says they don't like wool, when perhaps they've never tried wearing premium merino sock yarn.

And in case you're inspired to knit with the colors of the upcoming St. Patty's holiday, take a look at these tempting greens in the Highlights color line:

Want a non-yarn tasty tidbit? You should check out this recipe.  I wanted to use up some apple butter in the fridge and found this Apple Butter Bread to be a very easy, last minute recipe.  Half the loaf is already gone and I just baked the bread three hours ago!

Call for Test Knitters

Want free yarn?  Want to give your opinion on the latest and greatest?  Are you reliable and a quick knitter?  Then you might be interested in being a test knitter and reviewer for Simply Socks Yarn Company!

I receive many yarn samples a month from large companies and small dyers, and I don't have time to knit them all myself.  But for the past three years, a small team of you all have helped me out by knitting quickly and giving written reviews of what you've tried.  It's time to choose a new team, and even if you've been a test knitter before, you're welcome to re-apply.

I'll likely get many responses to this, so if you don't get a response or aren't chosen, please don't feel bad.  Last time, I got nearly 100 responses and chose five.  If you'd like to be considered, send an e-mail titled "Test Knitter" to service@simplysockyarn.com with the following info, and I'll send back the detail document so you can decide if you'd like to take part.  In this e-mail include:

1. Your name and your mailing address (yes, you are welcome to participate even if you are outside the US!)

2. A direct link to your project page on Ravelry OR two images of recent finished socks.  If I have to click around or scroll around to see images, you don't be included.  I just don't have that kind of time right now, so please make it easy for me.

3. Your blog address/website, if you have one.

I'm looking for quick, reliable knitters who are able to keep the details secret- no posting on Ravelry or a blog or Facebook about what you're knitting (usually it will come unlabeled anyway).  You'll receive yarn a few times a year and while I need a quite turnaround, you can always turn down a project if you are having a busy time in your life. While you definitely don't have to be an award-winning writer to help me, please know that you'll need to write up a thorough review (I'll give an outline to you) and take good photos of the finished project.  There is no compensation for helping out, other than the free yarn that you will be testing/reviewing, and big thanks from the sock knitters who read your review on the blog and depend on it to know if that yarn is for them.  And a big hug should you ever visit the store in person!

Short trip ideas

With a new baby coming this summer, I feel somewhat of a nesting instinct, or the urge to get certain things accomplished before the baby comes.  This list includes painting a basement room and turning it into a guest room since the new baby will take over the guest room, decorating a new "big boy" room for James, and taking some sort of vacation before the baby comes.

I know what life will be life will be like once the baby arrives- it's not easy having a wee one in the house.  Life changes completely for a few months (turning you into a lactating, hormonal zombie-like version of your former self), and for the coming years it's not easy to take vacations, take time away (as a couple, not as a family), go grocery shopping, take a long shower.... everything is more complicated.

So the thing I've really been thinking about lately is taking a few days away with Joe before this one comes.  When I was pregnant with James, I took part of a week and went to San Francisco.  Even though I was six months or so pregnant, I was fine walking all day and taking in the city.  Joe has never been there, so I was thinking of taking a few days away in April with him and visiting again.  But I'm open to other places to get away and be touristy.  Do you have suggestions?  I would like to vacation in a place where I can walk all over, be outisde in April and not need big coats and scarves, a place that has great food and an interesting (perhaps historic) touristy place to visit (Joe would really be into seeing Alcatraz).  I'm open to a somewhat long-ish flight, like five hours, as long as I also don't have to rent a car once there.  What about San Antonio?  Have you been there?  Or someplace like South Carolina or Georgia's barrier islands?

I'm COMPLETELY open to ideas and would like to hear about some of your favorite (childless) vacations.  PLEASE.

Abstract Fiber is back!

Oh, the saturated colors of Abstract Fiber's Supersock!  They are sure to brighten any dreary day.  Many lovely colors arrived today, so if you've been waiting patiently for something special, take a look.

The colors are dyed in short bursts so you get a wonderfully dappled project.  It's been awhile since I've had colors like Opal, Burnside Bridge and Koi Pond, (all shown below) so if you're waiting for those, snag 'em now.

Has anyone started their Sweetest Heart socks from the Valentine Kit yet?  I adore the pattern and while I don't have any full skeins to knit any for myself, am considering knitting it with a solid red or pink.  When Lara Neel designed the pattern, she was able to knit a size 10 sock (which is typical) out of the provided yarn, but if you have larger feet (or didn't knit to gauge) and need more to finish your socks, let me know.  I don't have any more full sized skeins to sell you, but I received a few mini-skeins (a little over an ounce each, I believe) that you can use to finish out large sizes.  I'm happy to supply you with a mini skein for $3 plus first class or priority shipping.  Since the skeins are hand dyed, the dyelot won't exactly match what you received, but it should be close enough to close a toe and look just fine.

Non Knitter Musings, by Joe V.Z

"Why do you need so many of these sticks?  Do you really need all these?"

"Couldn't you just use wooden shish kebab skewers instead?  It would be so much cheaper, right?"

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Sunday morning musings by my husband as I search through my double points to pack my bag for knitting group.  I don't even think he was joking about these.  What would your response be to his musings?

SSYC's Triple Threat Sock Yarn Club

Well, the wait is over.  I've finalized the details of the newest SSYC Sock Yarn Club, and it's now available for subscription!  What's the theme this time around?

I received many e-mails asking when sign ups would be available, and I really appreciate your patience- I like to take time making sure every facet is exactly what I imagine.  I had hoped to start enrolling two months ago, but things with the fiber industry can be a bit unpredictable, and it forced a bit of change.  Now we're all set for the club's enrollment to start, and I'll leave sign ups open for a week or so, or as long as possible.

What's the theme this time around?  Triple Threat!  For those who are unfamiliar with the term, it's used in the entertainment industry to describe someone spectacular- a Broadway performer is a Triple Threat if they excel at singing, dancing and acting, which makes them a stand out in their field.  For this club, Triple Threat indicates three stunning skeins of hand dyed yarn, each using a different technique to apply the color which makes the skein a stand out.  The first month you'll receive a semi-solid skein, the second month a vareigated hand painted skein, and the third month a skein of that ever-elusive hand dyed striped sock yarn.  If you love to try something new, or want some help getting out of a knitting rut, this club is for you.

Let me share next what this club does not include.  It does not include patterns or gadgets or bags or candy or jewelry.  While I do offer kits for special occasions that include fun items, my 3-month sock yarn clubs are for the knitter who wants a truely special yarn and colorway.  It's all about the yarn, people.

What it does include is a monthly selection of a special edition colorway dyed on a superb base.  In  April, May and June you'll receive one skein of 100g (approx 400 yards) fingering weight yarn.  Free pattern ideas will also be included via e-mail.  Your subscription price also includes three months of shipping (if you are shipping to Canada or UK or elsewhere, you'll notice that one normal shipping rate is also charged as it is on normail orders, and this covers the additional cost of shipping to you from the US).

How do you get in on this?  Simply visit this link and place your order!  Please do not place any other items in your cart, as this club must be ordered alone for your subscription to count.  You're welcome to place a second order if there's anything else you'd like today.

Want an example of the awesomeness from a previous club?  The skein at the top is Pagewood Farms' Garden Party from a couple years ago, and you can see a few more at this Ravelry thread.

Seeing the change

For the past four months, our growing family has just been a misty vision in our heads- we know I'm pregnant, I definitely feel pregnant, but there's been nothing we can really look at and see with our eyes that reminds us day-to-day that we are bringing a new human into this world.

Over the past week, this has definitely changed.  I have a real belly.  And a person is living inside.  Woah.

 

(An awfully grainy picture, I know, but I took it of myself with an iPhone.)

This person may just be a half-pound potato, but his or her life is certainly making it known on my body.  While the queesiness of the first trimester is nearly gone, it's been replaced by a three hour headache in the morning, relentless thirst and an hunger for kalamata olives or fried pickles, and just a wee bit of irritability.  If you've placed an order in the past month and there's been the wrong needle size, or one skein when there should have been three, hey THAT'S ME!  I can't blame it on Mary or Heather, but I'll blame it on the little potato.  I certainly have Baby Brain much more than I did with my pregnancy five years ago (there's only six days difference between the timing of this baby and James- odd, eh?).  In fact, I feel like every part of this pregnancy is amplified.  My connection with the wee one, my emotions, my body's reaction.  And certainly I'm showing much sooner than I remember showing with James.

I'm preparing a bit already too.  I'm working from home this morning, and my new nursing chair was just delivered!  Joe suggested that I get a chair for our bedroom to make it easier for me to nurse this time. I wasn't comfortable nursing James in bed (though the c-section could have affected that) so this time we have a chair so that one of us can be with the baby while the other one is sleeping in bed.  In our last home, we didn't have room for anything but a bed, dresser and small hard chair in our room, but this formerly empty corner is now going to be a comfy space for us to relax.  Now if I could only find a few hours to take a nap in that chair... that would be a treat!

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

After knitting for several years, I finally took on sock knitting a few months ago.  I have a few pairs under my belt, or on my feet now, and I'm getting a lot of advice from others on how I should knit socks.  Right now, I use double point needles and I like how that method does for me.  I've given a try to the two-circular-method, and even tried the magic loop, but they don't seem to work for me as well as double points.

How much of a try should I give these methods before just deciding that double points are for me?  I don't want to waste time trying other other avenues if I've already discovered what works for me, but I guess I'd like to know how long I should try.

I am looking foward to reading advice!

Newbie Sock Knitter

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Help a knitter out and leave your answers in the comments section below.  Do you have a question you'd like answered here?  Simply title an e-mail Ask the Knitters and e-mail it to service@simplysockyarn.com and your question could be chosen for this series.

Sweet Treat Valentine Sock Kit & Dream Club!

Now's the time to snag SSYC's Valentine Kit if you'd like one!  As usual, I put together as many of these as I can, but since all or most of the kit's pieces are hand made, there's a limit to how many I can get.  So if you see the link say something about no product found, that means it's gone..... but also we are apparently having issues with the server being too busy... so hopefully we can keep up with that throughout the day...

Sock photos above and below courtesy of Lara Neel

What is in this, our third, Valentine Sock Kit?  This one features a delicately dotted, special edition colorway from Claudia's Handpainted Yarn.  Confetti Confection is a mostly naked skein, sprinked with red, pinks and lavender.  It's complimented by the Sweetest Heart Sock pattern by Lara Neel (which will be e-mailed after your shipment).  The top-down pattern features two rows of hearts on the front, which taper to one heart at the toe.  The back of the sock is a simple rib.

The icing on this cake is a set of six hand-crocheted sheep stitch markers which fit up to size US 10 needles.  And you'll also find a complimentary sweet treat tucked in your package.  Mmmmmm CANDY!

I hope you like this little kit I've designed for you (and selfishly, me)!  I had a great time putting it together, and I'm very appreciative of the artisans who were able to work on my short timeline, turning what usually is a 3 month process into a 3 week one.  We will ship these out to you as quickly as possible, but please be patient with us as it will likely take a few extra days to ship - the SSYC Crew is a small group of three.  We take great care in assembling each package and it takes quite a bit of time to ship several hundred of these all over the world.

For those that have been waiting for Dream in Color's contribution to the day o' love, they've just released February's Dream Club selection!

To the cursory glance, this worsted weight skein looks like a vivid semi-solid pink.  But upon closer inspection, you find that this is actually a variegated colorway with berry and hot reds, and hot pink and vivid salmon- a true Valentine stunner.

The accompanying Heart on a String pattern was designed by Beth Kling, and is a feminine neckwarmer.  Very cute, but not suited to someone like me with a less-than-gazelle-like-neck.  But I'll admit that this colorway is one that I immediately thought "BABY GIRL SWEATER!!!"  So if you're thinking the same thing, snag a few of them.  And if you want the accompanying free pattern, just e-mail me your invoice number after your purchase (or just respond to your e-mailed receipt).