Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Oh so much yarn

It's been a busy week or two here at the shop. SO MUCH yarn has arrived and here's what I have to share today. First, Anne at Wooly Wonka Fibers sent us a stunning batch of her Arianrhod, Aerten and Artio sock yarns. She even dyed up a special edition SSYC colorway on each base. Not only can you buy them now, but you can also enter the contest in our Ravelry fan group to win a skein.

Want to learn more about Anne and her work? She did an interview here on the blog last year.

Sarah at Fiberstory sent us her new Gradient Sets. These sets include 7 little skeins that can be used together to create a stunning effect for socks or larger projects. We are even giving away three of these on Instagram contest this week!

Sarah has suggested the following patterns for these kits. You could use them for any "knit until you've used half of your yarn" or "knit until you run out of yarn" shawls such as Hitchhiker or Herald. You might also consider Rioja, Argent, Colorblock Handwarmers, or Global Nomad Cowl. Sarah knit the Crosshatch Cowl as a TNNA show sample, with the following notes:

In order to use the gradient kit most effectively, I used the following modifications:

Cast on 372 sts with darkest color in gradient. (would obviously work starting with the lightest color, as well!)

color 1: Knit 5 rounds.

colors 2-6: Knit 6 rounds.

color 7: Knit 5 rounds. Bind off in pattern.

The cast on and bind off rows are counted as the 6th round for the lightest and darkest colors, making each band of color 6 rows wide.

Super Stripes Knit Kit, a Preview

It's nearly time for the release of SSYC's next 10th Anniversary Knit Kit! This Super Stripes Sock Kit features our exclusive Poste Yarn, Striping Sock in the Mystery Spot colorway, a coordinating project bag, floppy Floops stitch markers and a handy needle gauge. And for the first time, I'm offering a 10% anniversary discount on the kit, so instead of $54, you'll see it marked down to $48.60. A real steal, if you ask me.

The 10"x14" bag is made by Hadaki of New Orleans and is the perfect size for your one-to-three skein projects. The exterior and interior fabric are both water resistant, which is perfect for someone like me who happens to spill coffee on a regular basis.

You'll find a set of 10 flexible Floops stitch markers in your kit, as well as a 24-hole needle/hook gauge. I find that I can never have enough of either of these tools. And even if I have sets in every bag, I often end up asking a friend to use hers.

The Mystery Spot colorway for this kit was dyed in our own Poste Yarn studio by Heather and Angela. Heather does the wet work, and Angela does the dry work. You wouldn't believe the amount of hands-on time that goes into each skein. The winding from cones into a 30-foot skein to make stripes, then securely arranging the skein so that it dyes up in stripes (in the right order without any spots or speckles), dyeing, rinsing, drying and finally rewinding into the normal-sized skein that fits on a typical swift. It's quite a long process, and Heather and Angela are responsible for each colored stripe you knit. They are true masters. And they have the kind of patience that I know I'll never achieve.

My bud Diana convinced me to let her test out a skein early, and here's her sock in progress (scrubs and all). She has quite a few partial skeins of Simply Sock Yarn, Solids, so she chose to knit different colors on each the toes, heels and cuffs so she could use up three colors of leftover bits.

If you'd like to do toes/cuff/heel in a solid color, here are my recommendations using Simply Sock Yarn, Solids, which comes in 50g skeins. Shown here: Turquoise, Slate and Fiesta Lime

Shown below: Sunflower, Cherry Red and Hottest Pink

I anticipate putting this kit up for sale on the website on Wednesday morning. Typically, our special kits sell out in a day, so please be prepared with your online account set up and perhaps other items in your cart so you're ready to grab one should they go quickly. Last month's 10th Anniversary Kit sold out in around 3 hours, which was quite fast for us. I do wish I could have more kits available to go around, but the handmade nature of the items makes them available in limited quantities. Once gone, well, you know. Thanks so much for your interest and allowing us to create these fun and colorful packages for you!

They're back.... Fleece Artist Thrum Kits!

Do you want the warmest mittens or sock slippers ever? Then you need a thrummed kit in your life. Fleece Artist pairs up a skein of aran weight yarn with some fleece, give you a free pattern, and you have a great project to later use yourself or gift to someone who you know will appreciate toasty warm hands or feet.

If you take a close look here, you'll see a Stardust colored skein of yarn paired with some red/black/saffron fleece. They are two separate hanks, just twisted together for convenience. You just win the skein into a ball as usual, and use the enclosed instructions to carry along the fleece as needed to make your fleece-lined mittens or socks. The Yarn Harlot even wrote up a tutorial on how to do this, if you'd like some help getting started.

We just got a beautiful shipment of this stuff in. It's been quite awhile since we've had this in the shop, so those that have been waiting will now see over a dozen gorgeous options.

SSYC Anniversary Contests continue!

It's time to win something super awesome with the help of Lorna's Laces and Joji Locatelli!

Photo above courtesy of Joji Locatelli

I've been knitting up Joji Locatelli's Three Color Cashmere Cowl, and I want you to be able to do the same. Lorna's Laces is gifting three lucky winners three skeins of Shepherd Sock of your choice to knit up this pattern, and Joji is giving each winner a pattern to make a cowl of their own. All you have to do is take a look at the nearly-solids and multicolors to choose three colors you'd use and tell me which ones in the comments below. You can choose any combination of multis and solids (all solids, two solids and one multi, or whatever you'd like). Just leave your comment by Monday June 29 at noon EST and you could be one of the three winners.

This is our Lorna's Laces wall at the shop- hundreds of colors of Shepherd Sock, all in one place! It's quite a stunning wall in person.

Thanks for joining in the 10th Anniversary FUN!

Arne & Carlos, back at SSYC!

If you've been patiently waiting for the past few months for more of the Regia Arne & Carlos collection, the wait is over! It's finally gotten back to the US!

I'm currently knitting the one below.

Just a reminder, this batch of the Arne & Carlos collection comes in 50g balls, so you need two for a pair of socks. Three balls if you have a men's size 11 or more (or typically ladies size 12).

And if you've been waiting for the Mineville yarn I've been teasing you with, it's now in the sale section. Dozens of gorgeous new hues prices at half of what you'd expect. Here are a few colors that I think are stunners....

Highlander

Acai

Peapod

Thank you SO MUCH

Thank you so much for coming to the shop today and sharing in our fun. We had a wonderfully busy day, and I greatly appreciate everyone who came out to see us, support us, and wait in a super long lines to do so. I'm so overwhelmed with your passion for the fiber arts, your kindness, and your inspiration.

Here's our day in a nutshell.

Your SSYC Team, clockwise from the top: Angela, Me (Allison), Heather and Rachael

Just some of the dozens of cupcakes. These were banana cream, and it's the first time we've ever run out of cupcakes before the day ended!

This line was THIS LONG for four hours. From the back of the store to the front and the curled around. You are all so patient and awesome.

Some of the smiling faces that not only waited in long lines, but did so with kids perched on hips and projects to show off.

And we adore the super special people who brought us AND OTHERS, like Katherine Misegades, who brought CDs of her popular patterns for so many people.

It means so much that you support us in so many ways. Thank you for everything. I look forward to continuing the party online all summer!

For those who wanted some of the sale Mineville yarn that I hinted at yesterday, it will likely wait til Tuesday because several MORE boxed showed up today! New colors will be in the sale section next week, instead of today.

A preview

A little tease of the awesome yarn you'll find in the sale section on Saturday afternoon. Dozens of colors of that fab DK at half off! Just $11 a skein.

On another note, Shawl won this contest. Shawn says that "My most satisfying project was the fingerless mitts I designed for my mom. Its a simple pattern that shows off Malabrigo Mecha's beautiful colors." Thanks for playing, all!

Come PARTY with us!

Simply Socks Yarn Company is celebrating our 10th anniversary online all summer long with contests, sales, gifts and more. But this Saturday is our chance to thank you in person, and we'd love you to come out and party with us! Each person who has purchased online, encouraged others to do so, sent kind e-mails, read or commented on the blog or Facebook, joined our Ravelry fan page, shared photos on Instagram... you're each a part of the longevity of this little shop and I thank you.

So let's party from 10-4 here at the shop on Saturday, June 20! You'll find us at 1315 E. State Blvd in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There's plenty of parking here (though there's a big block party in our neighborhood that day too, blocking off part of State Blvd which means you'll have to access our shop and parking lot taking Crescent Ave to California). Speaking of the East State Village block party, it's going to be fun and full of food and music, so you might want to spend some time there in the afternoon too.

We'll have cupcakes, contests, a Bird Leg Bag Trunk Show, and tables and chairs set up so you can sit and relax and knit with your friends. You'll even see hundreds of prize balloons, each filled with something just for you- a special discount, a gift certificate, or a prize, and you'll find out what yours is when you choose your balloon and bring it to Check Out.

Thank you SO MUCH for allowing us to serve you for 10 years! It's been a pleasure and my team and I look forward to many more.

Free Gift w/ Purchase

What's a birthday without gifts, right? Not only are we celebrating our 10th with kits, contests, sales and a party, but also some free swag! Orders placed online today through Tuesday, June 16 at Simply Socks Yarn Company will receive a free set of eight of these lightweight locking stitch markers. (If you ordered yesterday and we haven't yet shipped out your package, you'll still get some.)

If you were quick enough to grab one of the Tic Toc sock kits from last week, you received a set of these in your package. I've gotten MANY e-mails about when we will have more of these, and we will soon have them for sale in the shop too. For now, all you have to do is place an order online June 11 through the 16th and you'll get a free set (in a variety of colors) in your package. Just a little gift from us to you to show you how much we appreciate your support over the past 10 years. You are awesome!

If you haven't joined our Ravelry page, now's the time! Check out the prize that one lucky person will soon win! 20 ball of Cascade 200 Superwash!

Poste Yarn, Yak Luxe

We've dyed up something very special in our Poste Yarn dye studio, and we're offering it this summer at a low 10th Anniversary price. Instead of $26 a skein (which is already a very fair price for something with 20% wilk and 20% yak) you can grab it right now for $20.80 a skein. Yak Luxe is a sumptuous blend of superwash merino, yak and silk and is not only super soft, but reflects light in a way that these colors have unbelievable depth of color. You'll love how the yarn performs in fingering weight sweaters, shawls and winter accessories. Yes, you can use it for socks, but I think the fiber combination lasts longer when it doesn't get daily wear from the feet.

I'm knitting it myself right now into this cowl by Joji Locatelli and I'm already halfway done even though I started a couple days ago. The colors I'm using are Red Rock Canyon, Boyne Valley and Fingal's Cave (remember, we name Poste Yarn colors after destinations, real or fantasy). Knitting at this speed is a big deal for me, as I haven't had too much time to knit with school being out for James, two-year-old Henry potty training, and all the 10th anniversary shop contests and party planning going on here. But let's just say that sleep is being sacrificed. And I don't mind a bit, because these three colors were meant to go together and I love watching it develop.

Here are a few pattern ideas, some of them pulled right from yesterday's contest here on the blog.

Groovy Shawl (2 skeins)

Nurmilintu (1 skein)

Sea Side Rumpus (2 skeins, different colors)

Stripe Study (2 skeins, different colors)

Color Affection (If you haven't knit this shawl yet, just do it. So addictive, and a great way to combine three colors)

Aisling Shawl

Mary Mary Sweater (2-3 skeins)

I don't expect this first batch  of 10 colors too last long, since it's such a great yarn at a fab price. We will dye at least one more batch this summer and offer it at the same price, and likely trying out new colors too. Thanks for helping us celebrate our 10th Anniversary this summer!

Contest!

Contest has ended. Thanks for playing!

Who loves a 10th anniversary party? The Cyborg's Craft Room loves a 10th anniversary party.

Maegan has sent us these two skeins of her sparkling and non-sparkling sock yarn in the colorway "Ain't No Party Like a Cyborg Party" and we'd like to pass them along to one lucky winner! What do you have to do to win these beauties? Tell me in the comments below what has been the most satisfying project you've knit this year, leaving a link to the project if you'd like. You can show off your Ravelry project page or the pattern page too, but you don't have to.

Please leave just one comment, and do so before the contest closes this Friday, June 12 at noon EST. Thanks for playing!

Today's obsessions

Pics 1, 2, 3: a special merino/silk/yak blend that we are dyeing up in the Poste Yarn studio at a special price to celebrate our 10th anniversary this summer. If you were part of the last sock yarn club (sign ups start in a few weeks for the next one), you tried this first and due to all the great feedback we decided to dye more for everyone. It's so sumptuous and the way light bounces off the skein makes it almost glow with color. The first batch of this lovely stuff will be available in a few days. I may have cast on a three color cowl already....

Pic 4: I LOVE these striped socks knit up by Joyce. She used Turtlepurl striping in Comic Strip.

Pic 5: my friend Diana who knit this Harvest Sweater in the Mineville yarn from the sale section last month. I have more of this coming this summer. She paired her turquoise sweater with orange shorts and it WORKS. I don't think I could rock this anywhere near as great as she does. So impressive.

Stop on over to the Facebook page and Instagram for flash contests today featuring yarn from Dragonfly Fibers!

Winners of the First Contest!

I have randomly chosen the six winners of our anniversary contest! Each person won a skein of the special edition Better than Tin colorway dyed by Hedgehog Fibres for our 10th anniversary kit that went on sale (and sold out in record time) a few days ago. You were asked to design your own skein, and the winners are...

Beth, who said "I just got back from the UP, and I was struck by the dark maroon color of the rocks against the light green spring vegetation, all in the fog generated by the cold water of Lake Superior.  I'd love to see an ivory base with sections of that dark red and flecks of bright green!  Wikipedia file picture (of a non-foggy day) for reference: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Gfp-michigan-upper-peninsula-shoreline-of-lake-superior.jpg"

Therese, who said " I would love to see greys and blacks with streaks of peachy pinks, purples, and blues like all the colors of the sky."

Aimee, who said "Always bright happy colors, especially pinks and oranges or bright purples. Very rarely am I drawn to greys or blues."

Pat, who said "I would think blue, with some yellow, white and red."

Lisa, who said "We live close to Lake MI and I think a yarn w/ the colors of that environment; the off-white to brown sands, the green tones of beach grass and the shifting greys/blues/turquoises of the lake would be stunning!"

Jaclyn, who said "Ocean blues and sunset pink and orange like a tropical sunset!"

Such stunning ideas, everyone! Here are a few hints at some of the special colors that Beata and her team are dyeing up just for us. A tease, if you will. I will have batch of these for you later this summer... along with others.

If you didn't see our next contest, you still have a day to enter. Thanks for playing!

Picture post

Gradient kits and two color shawls were the things at TNNA tradeshiw this year. I've started another chevron baby blanket. A perfectly swampy green dyed on the same base that we did for our last sock yarn club selection (special deal coming soon!) and a mid-week trip to the zoo.

10th Anniversary Kit and Contest!

Today's the day! It's SSYC's 10th Anniversary! Hard to believe 10 years ago today I took the leap from environmental education to yarn shop owner. I'm so fortunate to have met so many wonderful knitters and dyers over the past decade and to run a business that not only helps to support my family, but many others. Today we're commencing the summer-long party with this fun kit. Details can be found here, and then go here to grab yours. As usual, the quantities are limited by the hand made nature of the goods. If you happen to miss out, I have two other kits coming in July and August that are just as collectible.

Let's also start off the party with a contest! Beata at Hedgehog Fibres wants six of you to have a skein of the Better than Tin colorway that she dyed specially for us for this kit. If you are buying a kit, you already get one, and you might as well enter the contest too and perhaps you'll get another one to knit a larger project.

To have a chance at winning one of the six skeins Beata gave us (learn about her here), play the role of a designer and tell me what colors you'd love to see put onto a skein of Hedgehog Fibres sock yarn. Do you want something bright and confetti colors? What about pale grey base with short bursts of blue and green? Describe the skein you'd love to see and you could randomly win! Heck, I might like your idea so much that I have it dyed for the shop (There are already some special edition colors in the works for this summer!). Just enter once and do so before Thursday, June 4 at 1pm EST. I'll e-mail the winners and announce here on the blog.

Sock below knit up by Vickie at Bird Leg Bags. I might have sent her the first skein last month as a little surprise and she did a beautiful pairing of the no-purl Monkey pattern with it (and she added that sweet picot cuff).

Today at TNNA

Rachael and I are in Columbus today for the yearly TNNA trade show. We get to catch up with our finery friends, see new goodies and share in all the thing we love. Found some AMAZING things for upcoming kits. Here is a teaser of what we saw on the show floor.