Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Freesia Shawl featuring Tanis Fiber Arts... a Contest

Is this a seriously gorgeous shawl or what?  Simple lines with just enough detail to catch your interest, and a large span of garter stitch to show off the wonderful variation in color that Tanis and her husband create on each skein.

This.  This is Freesia, designed by Annie Lee (all photos courtesy of Annie Lee Designs) and is "inspired by my one of my favorite flowers.  I love freesias, the scent and beautiful arching bloom spikes!  I designed it in DK for the cool Canadian springs and autumns."  I imagine flinging this shawl over my shoulders to take an evening walk, or to walk around my shop in the early morning before the furnace makes the shop all warm.  It's the kind of shawl that one could wear all the time.  And it's something that I wouldn't have to be delicate with.  Henry could tug on it, trying to get my attention, and it wouldn't snag or become mishapen b/c the dk weight yarn gives it a bit of heft.

Shown knit in Brick in Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label, I think you could choose three skeins of any of Tanis' colors and this would rock.  Or, you could also go with Madelinetosh Tosh DK or Madelinetosh Pashmina if you prefer.

This pattern is going to make a great addition to my queue, and I highly recommend.  If you'd like to try and win one of three free Freesia pattern codes from Annie, tell me in the comments below what color you'd use from either Tanis Fiber Arts Yellow Label or Madelinetosh Tosh DK and you could be one of three people to win a coupon code to use on Ravelry.  The contest ends on Saturday, July 6th, and I'll announce the winners here the week that follows and also send out e-mails.  Thank you, Annie, for offering up some patterns!

Here's my disclaimer... if you're like me, you find one pattern you like and then you fall down the rabbit hole of perusing the rest of her designs and finding several more.  Like Groovy in dk or in fingering weight.

Or Annie's Casual Cardi.  Oh, man, how I want to knit this with some Tanis or Madelinetosh.

I take absolutely no responsibility for the rabbit hole you're about to fall into.  Simply lovely designs.

Because you are awesome...

...and showed such interest in SSYC's 8th Anniversary Kit, which sold out in 4 hours...  I asked Babs to dye up one batch of the special edition color for those who missed out and for those who wanted another skein.  Keep in mind that this yarn is dyed in a way that each skein is unique (has more or less of each color, or different concentrations), so the skein you received in your kit will look different than the skein you receive now.

I have a limited supply of this, so if you are interested, please don't wait too long.

What else is new?  Many new colors from Three Irish Girls in Adorn (merino/nylon) and Glenhaven Cashmerino (merino/cashmere/nylon).  Awesome summery colors that make me want to cast on another new project this month.  It's been a month of casting on things and while nothing is finished yet, I still want to cast on another.  *sigh*

 

The week back

Isn't it funny how we so look forward to going away for a few days off, and then we can't wait to get home, only to completely forget the moutain of laundry/empty fridge/weeding/work that is waiting for us?  Do you sometimes wonder if it's more work to prepare for taking time away and recover from that time than it's worth in the relaxation?  I have those moments.  Usually coffee helps!

Shown below, the cute men in my life.

I took some time off last week, spent time with family, attended a special wedding , did some knitting (that was a Hermione's Everyday sock in a secret-for-now test knit that I'm enjoying), went to TNNA to visit with my fiber-friends (my first long day away from Henry- I know, I should get over it, right?), and now I'm hoping that this week is one of making up for lost time.  I enjoy a quick work pace and changing duties, so this is the type of week I get energy from, plus we have a store-open day tomorrow (Tuesday) and a lot of yarn on its way.  Three Irish Girls, Madelinetosh, Opal are on their way this week, and Fiddle Knits and Biscotte & Cie (skeins and kits for this pattern) have just arrived again. 

At the TNNA tradeshow, the team and I found some awesome new things for you that I'll share in the coming months (that is, when Rachael was done geeking out over all the knit celebs), plus new colors of some of our faves.   Shown below are new colors from Sweet Georgia and Manos Alegria.  You can expect those as soon as they are available.

 

In this last week of the shop's 8th anniversary month, I'm offering something that many of you asked for.  When Rowan first released news of their sock yarn, I offered it as a pre-order collection to you and gave a store credit along with it to celebrate.  Afterall, I'd been waiting for Rowan to create this for a long time!  Some of you missed out, and some wanted just 5 or 6 of the collection of 8, and asked if I was considering offering a celebratory store credit in that case.  So if you haven't yet ordered any Fine Art, or have and want more, I'm offering a $2 store credit (online orders only, as the credit applies to your online account.  Neither phone nor storefront purchases are eligible in this case.) for each skein of Rowan Fine Art you order between 6/24/13 and 6/30/13.  You can order one skein or you can order a dozen, and you'll receive a $2 store credit for each skein purchased.  The credits will apply to your store account after the 4th of July holiday, and you'll receive an e-mail when they go active and can be redeemed.  It's a small way of showing that I listed to you and your suggestions/wants/needs and want to tailor my shop into what suits you best.  We like what we do here, and your passion for yarn and what you create with it makes us enjoy it even more!

Picture post

Taking a couple days off to spend time with family, knitting, and beverages. All things I enjoy immensely!

Free things week

In case I don't tell you how much I greatly appreciate your passion for fiber arts and your patronage to Simply Socks Yarn Company, I'd like to show you this week. With each order placed today, Monday the 17th, through Friday the 21st, we will be including small tokens in your packages. You may receive Soak washes, Heel creams, patterns, needle gauges, or any combo of these with your order. Just my way of letting you know we are thinking about you during our 8th anniversary month.
I am taking some time off this week to visit family, so the SSYC team will be taking care of you and your orders while I'm radio silent. We have store open hours this Saturday, and these continue to be very fun and busy days for us as out of towers and local crafter come browse and share projects. Hope to see you there!

Actual knitting content

Since having Henry nearly a year ago, life hasn't allowed me much spare time for knitting.  Which I knew would happen, but when looking over the past year and what I've finished, I realize how little time I've really had for myself and the thing I enjoy.  So for the past couple weeks, I've tried to make a little bit of time for myself, stealing moments to knit a row here and there.

Here's one thing I'm in the middle of- a cowl of my own tinkering and "design".  Basically, a long tube that I'll connect the two ends of when I think it's long enough to double around my neck.  I'm using Sausalito in colors 8120 and 8307 for this because it does all the work for me- pick two colors and just alternate every four rows and the color changes magically.  Simple.  I've used one ball of each color so far, and will use part of a second of each to finish.

Below is a pair of mitts I started two weeks ago, and yes, I know the picture is awful.  It's super hard for me to take a decent photo of dark-colored Rowan (color 303) when at a baseball game.  I've completed the mitt shown now, and am nearly halfway done with the second mitt.  Since I have so little knitting time right now (but at least a lot of mommy time), I am enjoying the sense of near-accomplishment from even a tiny project.

Next I'm sharing something that a friend knit up.  Adorable baby dolls.

And look what's under the dresses!

Is that not fricken adorable?!  Little bloomers!  Here's a link to her project page, if you'e like to do something similarly awesome.

Now that the summer has started and both Joe and James are home with Henry and I, I hope to make more time to knit and relax.  Are you hoping for a summer full of knitting and crochet?  Or are you doing something else this summer? 

Party time

If you aren't able to make it to the shop for the anniversary party tomorrow in Fort Wayne (Saturday the 8th), you can still join flash contests and see photos on the SSYC Facebook page throughout the day. The link to our FB page at left.
Hope to see you online or in person!

Five years apart...

....but so much the same.

Above:James, five years ago, playing in the cupboard. 

Below: Henry, today, playing in the same cupboard.

These two.  They are so freaking adorable together lately.  Having little Henry is awesome for many reasons, one of them being that I get to look at a little face that is so similar to the one I saw five years ago and it's like reliving those moments all over again.  Those special little times (that come between the frustrating and exhausting ones) that you want to relive again because the first time you didn't realize how quickly it passes.  Like the first time your little one discovers that the cupboards open and have oh-so-many fun things inside.  Do you all have pictures nearly identical to this one?  I think it's a right of passage for any baby- getting to explore the kitchen and pepper the floor with measuring cups and plastic dishes while Mama takes a rare opportunity to do the dishes without a little someone holding onto her legs.

Henry is watching every. single. thing. that James does now.  It's like the Borg learning and adapting to the Enterprise crew with every encounter. (Did I just reveal how big of a Geek I am?  Yes, I think I did.)  Little Henry is absorbing every noise, reaction, non-listening moment, gesture that James makes.  I think Henry's going to reach his supposed milestones quicker than James even did because he has someone to learn from every day.  At least until James starts Kindergarten in the fall and is gone every day.

I'm hanging out with these two all day today (thankful for naps so I can blog), taking a moment for us, while the SSYC Team finishes getting the rest of your Anniversary Kits to you (and this month's club selection for those enrolled).  About the Anniversary Kits... yes, they sold out the quickest of any other kit I've ever put together.  Under four hours.  I know many more of you would like to get one, and while I can't accomodate everyone, I do hope you'll e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com and ask to be put on a waitlist if you'd like to have a chance at one.  They were $58, and here's whats in them.  I won't be able to respond to each waitlist request (there are alot so far), but I'l let you know in a few weeks if I have one for you.  Thank you for your interest!  As always, we put together as many of these kits as we can (in the hundreds), and I greatly appreciate how popular they have become.

SSYC's 8th Anniversary Kit Now Available

Edited to add- the kits sold out in a record 4 hours.  Wow.  Thank you for your interest!  If you missed out, e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com for possible waitlist. 

The Simply Socks Yarn Company 8th Anniversary kit is now available.  More pictures and details can be found here, and keep in mind there are actually TWO kits.  They are very similar- same yarn and accessories in each one, but one has a striped bag (shown above) and one has a polka dot bag.  And if one sells out before the other and you see the dreaded "no product found" link, then check the other kit.  I do have more striped than polka dot, because that's the one I prefer.  There's just something about the black bag with pencil thin stripes that really gets to me.  Though, I'm a fan of polka dots too, which is why I couldn't resist giving two options.

Since you may want to tack on things to this kit (which costs less than most of our other kits) to take advantage of free US shipping at $85, we do have other new things in the shop this week.  Opal's newest Handwerk and Hobby collection is quite awesome.  And I have restocks of the Smoky Eyes and the Sweet & Spicy collections, which have been very popular.

And if you were hoping to make a sweater out of Madelinetosh Merino Light or Tosh DK (like my whole SSYC Team seems to be doing this summer), I do have sweater quantities of most colors right now.  So you'll be able to get 4 or 5 (or more) in the same dyelot if you order in the near future.  Oh so many gorgeous colors right now.  I even have the four colorblock colorways in Tosh DK right now (you'll see them marked as part of the colorblock series under the color name).  Shown below in Ash/Red Leaf.

 

And if all that yarn isn't enough, we have also been dyeing up a storm in our Poste Yarn studio, bringing back the rainbow-making Emerald City and Yellow Brick Road from the St. Patty's Day Kit.  Combining these two skeins gives you jewel-toned rainbow socks, legwarmers, mitts, hats, you name it.  We also have redyed Buckeye, Green Bay Pride, and several other of the sports team and Wizard House series colors.  Oh, and more highlighter colors too!  We've been busy.

I expect shipping all the kits out to their new homes will keep us quite busy over the next few days.  Thank you for giving us a fun week!  While we often ship out the same day, please allow us a few extra days to get orders out, as we do pack everything with great care (and enjoy browsing the shop to pick out your orders).  It takes us time and I do hope you'll be patient with us. 

Hotsy Totsy Sock Kit

It's nearly time for a bit of 8th anniversary celebration in the form of a SSYC Sock Kit!  I plan on putting the kits up on the website on Wednesday, and here's what you'll find in this kit.  Well, two kits really, because we have two different bag options for you.

Each Kit includes a Babette skein of yarn from Miss Babs, dyed in the It's our Yarniversary colorway.  "Babettes" are what Babs calls a method of dyeing where each skein has the same colors included, but one can be very different from the other.  Differences can be found in depth of color, saturation, how much of each color is in each skien, how the colors blend together... so while each skein is in the same family and uses the same fiber and dye, each one is unique.  The picture below shows a nice representation of what the skeins look like. Yours will be a special fibery work of art.  Give the image a click to see a larger version.  Go on, it's worth it.

The yarn comes nestled in your choice of bag.  Like I mentioned, there are two bags options, so you'll really be choosing between two kits with the same fibery goodness, just different bags (unless you choose one of each).  Here are the coordinating zippered bag options.

The bags are 14"x10.5"- so plenty big for a sock project, or even a shawl project.  A very useful tool in a knitter's arsenal.

Everyone likes to get flowers on their special day, so how about some adorable crocheted flower stitch markers?

And finally, I'm including gold seed beads and four beaded pattern ideas.  I thought it would be fun to knit a little bling into our projects, and this color really looks nice with some translucent gold colored beads.

The colors of this kit are quite celebratory, don't you think?  Like a disco party, or an evening summer barbeque. Fire reds, burnt oranges, golden yellow, fierce violet, overdyed with black and gray.  J'adore.

Again, this kit will go up for sale on Wednesday, and you can check the blog or Facebook to find out when.  Or, sign up for the store's e-newsletter to be notified directly to your Inbox.  

It's all hands on deck over the next few days to get these ready for you.  We're listening to 90's rap, and wrapping these up all pretty so they are all ready on Wednesday to their new homes.  If you are local and want to pick up your kit during the Anniversary Party on June 8, please place your order online on Wednesday, because our kits typically sell out in a day.  Just e-mail service@simplysockyarn.com after you place your order and ask me to refund your shipping because you'll be picking it up.

Simply Socks Yarn Company's 8th Anniversary

It was eight years ago today that Simply Socks Yarn Company opened its virtual doors with a mission of supplying sock knitters with the fiber and accessories we needed to fuel our passion for our craft.  Eight years ago, I started Simply Socks Yarn Company in a 10'x12' bedroom of our first home, and didn't imagine that it would soon take over the upstairs, then a new home with a barn, and then finally a 3500 square foot shop.  Eight years ago, I thought that my small internet business would be a good way to supplement our family's income, once Joe and I decided to have kids (I was 26 at the time, and our boys were a few years off).  I didn't plan that I would need to quit my full-time job with the County just 6 months after I opened doors.  I didn't realize that my business plan would be completely invalidated by the immense interest from knitters and crocheters just like me, crafters who wanted a special mix of what SSYC offers.

My attorney and CPA were politely cautious with their advice when I came to them for assistance.  Nearly everyone who isn't a knitter things I'm crazy.  That my business must really be a front for something else... something sexier, more awesome.  They don't realize what knitting is, what it does, how it fuels our passion, helps us meditate, gives us hours of enjoyment and a finished garment for the same cost as a bucket of popcorn at the movies.  I think if more people realized how truely awesome the fiber arts are, the world would be a more content place.

Eight year ago, I had no idea where my little idea would lead.  It's now become a source of income for my family, the families of those who pack your boxes and help you at the store, dye your yarn.  A source of income for over a dozen small dyers, postal carriers, fiber mills... so many of us rely on your passion to feed, clothe and house our families.  We get to do something we love every day, and I'm thanking you from all of us.

So how will we be celebrating this 8th anniversary?  Today (Sunday June 2), I'll be knitting it up at the Tin Caps Stadium for a Stitch n Pitch.  If you're there and see me or the SSYC staff, flag us down and say hello!    Throughout this month I'll be letting you know about special things we're doing to celebrate- the anniversary kit, special sales, contests, the PARTY.  What's that?  Yes, the party!  On Saturday, June 8th, come to the shop at 1315 E. State Blvd in Fort Wayne, Indiana for contests and cupcakes... and, oh yeah, over 5 tons of sock yarn.  From 10-4 we'll be eating and shopping and I want you to join if you can!  If you can't, I'll be posting pictures on Facebook throughout the day.

Thank you for eight years.  I enjoy every day I work serving you.  I really, really do.