This April, Simply Socks Yarn Company is working with the Community Harvest Foodbank to raise money feed the hungry. Spring is a time of year when many don't think about hungry families- it's usualy during Thanksgiving and Christmas that we all consider those who might not have tables full of turkey and stuffing. So I'm organizing a Silent Auction at the store, allowing those who attend to bid on speical items donated by our favorite dyers, fiber companies, and designers.
If you were to attend a Silent Auction at a yarn store, what type of items would you be most interested in bidding on? Special colorways and fibers like the skein shown above? Perfectly paired patterns and skeins? Private classes for you and a group of friends? Handmade socks or mittens? Tell me what you would love to see and help us make this event a success!
If you're in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area, mark your calender for the afternoon of April 13 and help us show our support of Community Harvest Foodbank! If you aren't in the Fort Wayne area, I'm still trying to think of a way that our supportive knitters around the world can take part. If you have suggestions, please e-mail me those.
Many of the dyers we all know and love have already come on board- Madelinetosh, Shibui Knits, The Unique Sheep, just to name a few. So if you haven't received an e-mail from me about this event yet, and you'd like to contribute, please e-mail me because I definitely want to include everyone, but the response has so far kept me so busy that I haven't yet contacted everyone.
I would bid on the yarn pictured above. Love it! Can you share where it came from?
Posted by: Cynthia Parker | January 25, 2013 at 08:23 PM
What would I bid on? Yarn, definately. A bird legs bag with a little pair of folding scissors that are added to the zipper pull; a little zipper pouch with a set of cable needles or yarn needles; some double points and a needle sizer; small measuring tape and a set of stitch markers; heel and hand cream in matching scents; soak - those are some of the things that come to mind. For bigger items - socks, mitts, scarves and shawls - those would be great larger ticket items.
Posted by: Leslie Fehr | January 25, 2013 at 09:36 PM
For us online people, order a special colorway (like the one in the picture, please!) and just tack on 5.00 to the price, with the extra being donated to your food project.
Posted by: Jane | January 25, 2013 at 10:16 PM
You could run a web only silent auction, either via a blog or facebook. This item is presented at a certain day and time, ending 24 hrs later, or 2 hrs, or what ever. Then let the comments section act like the paper sheet would. So the bidders could see the competitions bids, and know that they have untill xoclock to bid. And contact inspiration dyeworks on etsy, she is a small indie dyer in grand rapids mi that would probably donate some, ask her for the color 'starling' my lys can't keep it in stock!
Posted by: kim benedict | January 25, 2013 at 10:18 PM
You put together such cute project kits at Christmas and at other times. I would bid on any of those even though they are not put together yet. It would be a fun win--like a mystery box.
Posted by: Amy St. Amour | January 26, 2013 at 12:27 AM
I'd bid on a kit of knitting stuff.
The kit could represent the fund raiser theme.
I love the kits I've gotten from you.
Good Luck!
Posted by: lisha | January 26, 2013 at 08:50 AM
I would agree-- I would love to buy some special yarn; maybe like the beautiful yarn pictured and you could add on a donation amount--excellent idea!!!!
Posted by: Jean Y | January 26, 2013 at 10:32 AM
I would bid on special yarn , and other items related to knitting maybe made for the bid: project bags, yarn bowls.
Posted by: Roberta | January 26, 2013 at 11:45 AM
I have a project bag made by my mother that I can donate. I'll bring some in so you can choose.
Posted by: Julie Davidson | January 26, 2013 at 06:23 PM
Yarn of course. Project kits (especially for cowls or scarves) - also great. Project bags are good but of also like some small incidentals bags. Maybe you could get some of those little plastic discs tape measures made up with the Simply Socks logo & just sell them outright. How about a kit of folding, scissors, stitch markers, cable needles, yarn needles, etc in a cute little bag. Maybe a set of sock sized DPN's (say 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 3.0 & 3.25 mm) in a handmade roll up case - maybe with a pocket or 2 for accessories.
Posted by: Donna | January 27, 2013 at 01:10 AM
BTW, I too LOVE the yarn in the photo!
Posted by: Donna | January 27, 2013 at 01:11 AM
Take the above colorway, pair it with a pattern, and sell it as a fundraiser. I bought the last one you did for Thanksgiving over a year ago and loved it.
Posted by: Elaine | January 27, 2013 at 09:42 AM
You are so creative and these are excellent suggestions, I would do any of them! You want it to be a little easy for you to do, so maybe yarn (love the one in the picture!) and a pattern, then a separate item of knitting doodads, then a separate item of a project bag...folks could buy one or all of them as a complete set. I wouldn't have bidding on-line, just items to buy outright! Can't wait to see what you come up with! Woo Hoo!
Posted by: April | January 27, 2013 at 05:54 PM
I love the food bank. It helps so many families. I would bid on a tour / demonstration of how your yarns are dyed. Imagine being the first outsider to see the newest colorway.
Posted by: Ann | January 27, 2013 at 07:58 PM
If I went to a yarn store I would be looking for yarn. The skein you have pictured is beautiful. I am glad you support the food bank, and the spring idea is really great.
Posted by: Jeri | January 28, 2013 at 11:37 PM
I am nowhere close to your store, so would have to bid online. Closed or open bids would work, although open would gather more money, I'd think! The yarn pictured would be great, as would one of the kits, as mentioned above!
Posted by: Jan | January 29, 2013 at 04:53 PM
I like the idea of offering special skeins and tagging on the extra $5 for a donation. WOrking full time doesn't allow much time for bidding on anything during the day. But would be willing to buy some unique colorways.
Posted by: Kathy Boettcher | January 29, 2013 at 06:30 PM
As a local, the idea of a special class for a small group of friends would be very special. I do love the idea of a limited edition colorway with pattern, bag and needles. That would be cool
Posted by: Jan | January 30, 2013 at 09:04 AM
Any of the above suggestions sound good but, for me, bidding online would be difficult. Might be a deterrent for others as well.
Posted by: Nancy Butler | January 30, 2013 at 12:07 PM
If it were on-line (no way I'll get to Indiana, that's registration period for me) I'd bid on sufficient yardage of matching hand-dyed sock yarns for a large shawl (1200 to 1600 yards of yarn total) gladly.
Posted by: Michelle | February 01, 2013 at 01:06 PM
A "donation competition" in which the top three or five donations are entered into a drawing for a one of a kind shawl size skein or sock set? All bidders give cash and one wins the prize.
SSYC tote bags or limited edition project bags would be popular with those of us on yarn diets.
A special purchase pattern which includes a chance to win yarn for the project? Or several different ones.
Posted by: pincess | February 01, 2013 at 01:15 PM
I like the idea of a pattern and yarn together. You don't have to make that pattern but it sparks some ideas,and I would bid via the internet.
Posted by: Fern | February 01, 2013 at 04:52 PM
The yarn in the photo!! If it's something you're already offering, you could set up a special sale for the colorway with the option of paying $5, $10, whatever, extra to go to the Food Bank. It doesn't seem like that would be too hard to set up, and it might pull in folks(like me) who are mostly "in it for the yarn"(as cool and creative as your sock kits are, I've bought a couple of them just cause they seemed like the only way to get the yarn, LOL)
Posted by: Jan | February 01, 2013 at 06:24 PM