Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Picture Post

See what's come by the store recently...

Natalie's finished Zauberball Starke 6ply sock, color number 2090.

Below, Natalie's finished Color Affection shawl in lovely neutral tones- various base yarns combined and it looks great, don't you think?

Below, my Color Affection shawl- nearly complete.  I used Merino Light in Graphite, Firewood and Vintage Sari- just a few more rows to go!

An amazing gift for the baby, from a wonderful knitting friend.  What a perfect suprise!

Heather, you definitely know her if you shop in the store, knit these for our little guy- sleep sack, adorable little pants and matching hats.  Adorable!

Madelinetosh Tosk DK. Yum.

Since this baby seems set on keeping put, I need a fibery distraction.  How about new yarn and a contest?  Madelinetosh sent a batch of goodies, which not only includes restocks of Merino Light, but new-to-us Tosh DK!  This is a wonderful 4-ply dk weight (or light worsted) superwash merino that is super squishy, soft and dyed beautifully.

Totally wearable colors that are perfect for fall garments or accessories.  The pattern that immediately caught my eye is one that I think would be a nice, relaxing and rewarding knit during my last few days of pregnancy and perhaps into my baby vacation- Susan's Scrunchy Scarves.

I like scarf patterns that have texture to them, and I like how designer-Molly's design shows of the gorgeous colors of Mansfield's Garden Party (below) and Envy (above) in Tosh DK.  I think Tart would be a color that would make a nice statement too.

Are you interested in knitting this pattern (the pattern gives directions for two slightly different versions)?  Queue it up on Ravelry.  Molly is even gifting two lucky SSYC knitters with a free coupon code for the pattern.  Just answer this question by 4pm EST Tuesday (June 26) in the comments below.  If you knit this scarf, what color would you choose of either Madelinetosh Tosh DK or Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label DK?  I think either of these (you'd need two skeins of one color) would make a super soft and beautiful scarf.  I'll annouce the winners in a few days, and if you happen to not check the blog, no worries, I'll e-mail the coupon code to you.  You do need a Ravelry account to download the pattern.

Flash Contest

It's the last Flash Contest of our 7th Anniversary Month!  You could win a skein of Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label (cashmere sock) in the color of your choice by answer the following question by 10am EST on Saturday, Jun 23.  If you could choose one color of Tanis' Purple Label, what one-skein project would you knit? Inspire us in the comments below, and I'll randomly choose one person to be the winner.  I still have this project in my queue.  J'adore.

A new shipment arrived of Tanis Fiber Arts, so if you were waiting on a color of Blue Label (merino/nylon) Purple Label (merino/cashmere/nylon) or Yellow Label DK (merino), then your wait is over.  I also have new colors Frost, Pink Grapefruit, Atlantic along with the restocks of your faves, so check it out.

I don't know if I announced the last two winners of the Flash Contests, but Wanda won a skein of Solemate with her comment "I love Aslan!" and Sarah who won a skein of the special Dream in Color from our new store's Grand Opening last year.  Her comment about her view of the day was "Tall, deeply etched red cedars embedded in the damp, rich earth next to sprawling, luscious pink rhodedendrons, both audience members to the babbling brook in a cool ravine."  Now that sound like a better view than I had that day!

There's still a baby on board here, and though I feel like I could have him any minute, my doctor says otherwise.  So you all could be stuck with me for another couple weeks while this little guy takes his sweet time baking.  I'll still be working in the store most days, but if it takes me a bit to get back to you on e-mails and calls, just know I will.... I'm just moving much slower than usual.  When the website closes for a month while I'm on leave, you'll definitely know- there will be a blog post here and while you'll be able to browse through the website, you'll see an obvious note that online ordering is disabled.  I can tell that many of you are stocking up on things before the online store closes, and I greatly appreciate that you are keeping us busy here!  If you happen to be in Fort Wayne this summer, we will still have open hours once a week with the hours listed as usual on the bottom of the hompage.  And when we the website reopens in mid- August, expect some awesome yarn, including the first batch of new Poste Yarn colors. 

Dude, really?

http://gawker.com/5920036/us-olympics-committee-is-mad-at-knitting-olympics-for-denigrating-real-athletes

I'm closing comments on this b/c I don't want to fuel the fire that is taking place, but I thought some of you might be interested in learning more.... or knitting some socks.  heh.

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

I want to knit some ankle socks for summer.  My second job requires me to be on my feet for 6 hours, so my focus is comfort.  Are there sock patterns designed to create more padding in key areas?

Should I go cotton blend?  Wool?  Any suggestions for yarn and pattern selection would be greatly appreciated!

-Working in Washington

*                    *                    *

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

Flash Contest

I overdid yesterday, and as a result my ankles and feet are the opposite of dainty.  I feel fine overall, but my feet are requiring that I stay put and leave them propped up.  So my view today isn't as colorful or wonderous as many tons of sock yarn in the store.  Instead, it's of my computer and boring, brown basement. 

And James eating a peanut-butter-banana-hotdog while watching Kung Fu Panda 2.  Such is pregnant life.

Want to participate in today's Flash Contest?  Share the details of one of your views today, and you could win a skein I found of Rapunzel's Rose, which was the Smooshy color that Dream in Color dyed last year to match our 1940's tile in our store (I found a few others, if anyone definitely wants to buy one- e-mail me at service@simplysockyarn.com).  I'll leave comments open a bit later tonight- likely til 7pm EST or so.  So leave me one comment describing one of your views (a pretty drive, a sleepy toddler, a long line at Starbucks) and you could be the winner.

Flash Contest

Congrats to Cindy, the winner of yesterday's Flash Contest who commented on her Spectre choice, "Antique Map is beautiful."   Cindy won a special skein of Yarn Hollow in a bamboo blend.

Let's have another contest!  This quickie Flash Contest will close today, June 12, at 5pm EST.  Leave one comment below telling me your fave color of Lorna's Laces Solemate, and I'll randomly choose one winner.  Solemate very popular right now for summer socks because it's the yarn with Outlast fiber- the one created for NASA for temp and moisture control.  And the colors are lovely.

Here's the color I love right now, Kedzie.  It catches my eye every time I walk past.

 

Flash Contest

The winners of the first Anniversary Flash Contest have been notified (Jeri, Stephanie and Kate- Congrats!) and I think it's a good time for a new one!.

From being your personal shoppers for your online orders, we can tell you have been unable to resist the offerings from Yarn Hollow.  Benthos, Bitty and Spectre certainly are awesome.  And YH's owner, Rita, has sent over a special bamboo-blend skein for one lucky contest winner.  If you'd like to have a chance at this lovely skein, tell me in the comments below what your fave color of Spectre is by 5pm today, and you could win!

If you're the winner of this quickie contest, I'll notify you by e-mail, so don't forget to leave that with your comment.  Comments will close when entry time is up.  One entry per person please.

Mother's Day 2012

On a day when I was a worn out, stressed, sweaty pregnant mess, these arrived.  Awesome photos from a mini-session I treated myself to from Happinest Photo (click over and prepare to be impressed) this past Mother's Day.  This is exactly what I needed this week- to remember that this difficult, cumbersome last few weeks of pregnancy leads to something awesome, and that I can retain who I am though it all.  And have created someone new and awesome in the process.

Flash Contest

I'll be doing a series of suprise "flash contests" throughout June, our 7th Anniversary Month! 

Visit the sale section and tell me in the comments below your fave color of the new sale Crystal Palace Panda Silk DK (50% off!).  I'll choose three of you to win a copy of the new Noro Magazine Premier Issue.  Leave a comment by 5pm EST tonight (Thursday, June 7) and you could win!  Check back to see if you're a winner of this quickie contest.... I'll also e-mail the winner if you leave your e-mail with the comment.

One entry per person- blog comments will be closed once time is up.

 

First KAL night

Just a few snapshots of progress of some of our Color Affection Shawls. Most of the dozen or so ladies who attended had just started (like me- mine are the bottom shots), but a few had already made it to the third color section.  I'll post here below each picture what I rememeber about the yarn, but if you see yours pictured here, then feel free to go to the Ravelry group and list what yarns/colors you are using or any details you'd like to share.

Heather is knitting in Madelinetosh Merino Light in Magnolia Leaf, a golden color that I can't remember right now, and Filigree.

Madelinetosh Merino Light

I think this is Debra's using a combo of Tanis Blue Label, Dream in Color Smooshy and some natural Smooshy that she overdyed herself to create the third, darker color.

Judy's shawl using Tanis Fiber Arts Purple Label in Orange Blossom, then the second color is Sweet Georgia CashLuxe Fine in Lemon Curd, and finally she's planning on using a darker color of TFA Purple Label.

This is mine, which I tore out several times because apparently I'm more into talking and chatting than knitting!  As of today, I'm just casting on my third color of Madelinetosh Merino Light.  First, I used Graphite, then Firewood, and while I was going to use Hickory as the third, now I'm going to go more bold with Vintage Sari.  At least that's the plan when I continue knitting this evening.

I'm totally addicted to this project right now, and if I continue that this pace it's likely I'll be nearly finished when we have our next KAL meeting next Thursday.  Woot!

Party picture post

So much fun. Still recovering.

SSYC 7th Anniversary Kit Now Available

Want a cool kit?  Go here!

If the link stops working, that means that this batch of the kit is sold out.  But I'll post here in about a week with details about possible preorders for kits that would ship in August once we have 8 weeks to get all the handmade items in again (and once I begin and end maternity leave).  Want to read the details of the kit before purchasing?  Take a look.

Thank you for your support over the past seven years!  Over the coming week or two, expect info about special sales and contests as we continue our celebration.  But til then, I'm going to have a good time at our big anniversary bash (come on by if you're in the area!) and eat my weight in chocolate ganache cupcakes!  I hear that the more cupcakes you eat, the more likely it is that your newborn will be a great sleeper.  That's true, right?  RIGHT?