Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Smooshy with Cashmere

Oh so many new colors and restocks of the decadent Smooshy with Cashmere. If you fell in love with the new colorways released by Dream in Color that pay homage to classic musicals, then you can now get them on Smooshy with Cashmere too.

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I'm knitting Cabaret in Jilly into a Sockhead hat, and I'm already half done after just starting a few days ago. The color application on these skeins is just. so. wonderful. I just can't get enough and am already thinking of a second project. I have all these colors on Smooshy and Everlasting Sock too if you want something that's fingering weight and holds up to wear really, really well.

Kiss Me Kate

 

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My week so far: Towers of kits (all are now on their way to their homes!), my current project of a So knead hat in Dream in Color Jilly in Cabaret, Henry enjoying a tea party, and some Hedgehog in Boombox (more on its way now).

Valentine Kits now available!

Get your Valentine Kit now!

See the kit in detail in this earlier blog post, or just go now to snag yours. As usual, you can add more items to the order to get free US shipping with and $85 order. Please don't place two separate orders (one for kit and one for other items) and ask us to combine them to save on shipping b/c it's unlikely that we will be able to do that during busy times like this. There's just too much going on to monitor e-mail as quickly as we ship or check and see if there are duplicate orders from one person. Usually, we're great at that. Kit days, no.

The lower-than-usual price of this kit (it costs about 30% less than our Christmas kits!) means that more of you will be able to take advantage of it, but it also means that it could sell out super quick. So please don't hesitate too long if you'd really like one. Sometimes our kits sell out in 4 hours.

Thank you so much for your continued support of the shop and our creative endeavors! I love what I do, and I can safely say that my team and all the dyers and companies I support are greatly appreciative that you keep us so busy. I hope that our love for what we do shows in the quality of the yarn and goods we sell, and I thrive on knowing that the packages that you receive bring you happiness and joy.

New from Dream in Color

Dream in Color has introduced a new set of hues inspired by classic musicals. And if you're like me, you'll want to cast on immediately. Can you spot all 12 of the names here? Is your favorite musical represented in these? I was in at least 5 of them throughout middle and high school.

I'm planning on starting a Sockhead hat in one ply Jilly in Cabaret for a friend for Christmas next year. Getting started early!

You could also knit up any one of the awesome skeins of Smooshy or Everlasting Sock if you want something a bit heartier that will hold up to wear better. But for me, I love how the dye seems to glow on a one ply yarn, and since I won't need it to hold up to hard wear since my project will be a hat, Jilly it is!

I'll have the new colors in Smooshy with Cashmere for you next week as well, if you want a bit more luxury fiber with your hand knits.

Valentine Knit Kit, a Preview

It's nearing Valentine's Day, and that means it's time for a specially curated kit from Simply Socks Yarn Company! Take a look at what's available to you next week:

The speckled colors we dyed up in our Poste Yarn studio for our Christmas kits this year were so popular and sold so quickly that we decided to let more people have a chance at them. That means a new, exclusive colorway to celebrate Valentine's Day! This skein is completely USA made from sheep to skein, a soft and durable superwash targhee (that's the breed of sheep) wool and nylon blend, and it's dyed by us in our little Poste Yarn dye studio in our shop. I got to be the first one to knit up this colorway, and I adore how my test skein turned out in the sock above.

The name of the colorway is Kingdom of Florin, which pays homage to one of my favorite movies and love stories.  Know which one?

These special mugs have a sentiment that we fiber fanatics can all relate to "Knit what you love" on the front, and "Love what you knit" on the back.

Along with the mug and the yarn, you'll also receive two handy cable catchers, coil-less safety pins endorsed by sock pattern designer Cat Bordhi. Great for holding stitches and keeping them secure without snagging them. You'll also get a tasty treat from our neighborhood bakery, Zinnia's Bakehouse. I've already enjoyed several of these S'more Lovin' treats, a tasty play on the traditional krispie treat.

This kit will go up for sale the morning of Monday, January 25, and will be priced much lower than most of our kits at just $45. For that, you get beautiful yarn, a coordinating mug, useful tools and a tasty treat. When it arrives to you, I hope you take a few hours for yourself to sip and knit and nosh with something that was specifically made to bring you joy.

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Just a teaser of the new hues from Dream in Color that I'll soon be adding to the shop!

My week of knitting

For the past few months, I haven't found a huge amount of time for knitting. I've been focusing on caring for my growing boys, working, playing more volleyball, and really only find about three hours a week to knit. I've definitely noticed the lack of it in my life. Knitting is my meditation, my relaxation, and my quietness. So to say I haven't had much of those three things would be true.

But this past week, I've found more of what I need through this lovely skein of yarn.

This is the yarn for our upcoming Valentine Knit Kit, and when Heather first dyed up the test skeins in our Poste Yarn studio, I knew I had to cast on immediately.

Of course, I had to pick out the right needles... which then led to organizing said needles, which then led to finding that tall, skinny shot glasses are perfect for storing these needles. Apparently I am easily distracted. But back to the knitting.

I'm finally down to kitchenering the toe, and to say I'm in love with this would be a certainty.

To go with this dappled sensation, I designed these mugs. Don't you need one in your life?

I'll have details of the entire kit here on the blog later this week, and I expect it to go up for sale early next week. Exact day to be announced.

Stunners from Cascade Yarns

Cascade Yarn has added a new selection of colors to their 220 Superwash line, and they are fabulous! Almost heathered in color, but actually dappled with tiny flecks of dye, this new collection is called Effects.

The colors can be combined with the huge selection of solid 220 Superwash, or used alone in accessory, sweater or shawl projects. I've found that they really pair well with the designs of Laura Aylor. Take a look.

First, Wheats Valley. This sweater actually calls for this exact yarn, so using the new Effects colors is a no brainer.

All pattern photos used with permission of Laura Aylor

And OMG, Woodwork. I want this in Lava or Lightning. I really wish I could cast this on today.

And since the weather here in Indiana has finally decided to turn downright awful (in the single digits when it's been so warm so far), I feel the need for a proper shawl. Like Hawkesbury or Glace Bay. And you know my love of all things aqua. I'd totally knit these in Denim or Teals or even Stormy Sea.

If you like a slightly more ruffled wrap, what about Cinnamon Toast in Autumn or Pastilles.

And I love the look of Blustery Day and the fact that it is easily adapted from scarf to wrap size.

Don't you think that the mild colors in the Effects line would work really well with the textures in Laura's work? It wouldn't take away from the pattern at all, but would still give the overall project a more dynamic look than would a solid color.

Thanks, Laura, for playing along with us and sharing your patterns! Such beautiful shapes and textures to pair with the new Effects colors. Makes me want to get started this minute.

Arne & Carlos 3rd Regia collection now available

The wait is over! Six new colors are now available from Arne & Carlos!

This is the pallet of yarn that arrived this morning, delivering all this yarn. Yeah, it's gonna be a popular one and you know I don't like to disappoint. When the first collection arrived last year, it sold out in an hour, and I don't want to let you down this time!

I also have more of the first collection (this one is 50g balls, so get two for a pair of socks) and the 2nd collection should you have missed out on either of those. The first collection is the only one that is in 50g balls, so you just need one from the 2nd or 3rd collection to make a pair of stunning socks.

The new year, resolutions

Have you noticed a lack of resolutions this year? I swear, I haven't seen one of my Facebook friends or heard even one of my knitting friends bring up a resolution this year. This seems odd to me, as I seem to remember EVERY year reading or hearing about wanting more time to work out, more sleep, less fatty food, etc. But this year, nada. Nothing.

Have you noticed this as well? Perhaps is just me and my age group- we are getting older and perhaps don't rely on those conventions to force us to try and change our ways. Maybe we are starting to realize that the promises of early January don't help us make actual change in our lives. Or maybe my peers and I are just sick of trying to better ourselves! HA!

I have noticed lots of great groups restarting or gaining popularity on Ravelry. The knit-from-your-stash type, or the knit-as-much-and-as-fast-as-possible contests (if you're in one, please leave a link in the comments so I can live vicariously). I really enjoy reading and hearing about how those are going, though I don't like participating myself. Knitting is my stress reliever, and I find most deadlines and contests to be the opposite of what I need my knitting to be.

How about you? Have you resolved to make any changes in your life or your craft? And have you found that resolutions have helped you in the past? I will say that the new year does make me reflect on things in my life that I'd like to change. For instance, work/life balance has been something that has always been on my mind for the past eight years, especially since having my first child, but lately I feel as though I've achieved about the best equilibrium that I'm going to get. I'm really happy with my home and work life, and I've learned to rely on others more over the past year than I ever have in the past. I've learned to accept help graciously, say no, not work much when the kids are awake, get less sleep, accomplish more in less time, while also allowing myself to do things I enjoy.

So I can't really think of anything that I would want to change about myself or my life in the new year. But I'd love to hear about what you're putting your energy into! Perhaps it will inspire me to work on something new.

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A hat my grandma made 40 years ago, Hedgehog Fibres on the couch at knitting, a friends first finished socks of the new year (in a one-off Poste Yarn), three colors of Primrose Yarn that I adore (Bloody Mary, Springy and Burn Out) and MORE shop fixtures

Dream Club January 2016

Dream in Color has released their January Dream Club offering, which features a lovely skein of Jilly with Cashmere with two free patterns, a bandana/cowl and mitts. You can get both patterns out of one skein of yarn, so it makes a really nice gift set. The colorway is less bold and turquoise than pictured in the pattern pictures that Dream in Color offered. The pictures of the yarn shown below are accurate, a denim and charcoal colorway with a big of vivid punch.

This is the type of color that is good for so many complexions that it could easily be a make-ahead gift that you have on hand for that last minute holiday gift. And who doesn't need mitts in their life? If you don't want the bandana (which can also be worn as a cowl), you can easily get two pairs of mitts out of the 440 yard skein, or two bandanas and no mitts at all. Up to you!

Next month is the last Dream Club offering before Dream in Color takes their normal 6-month break from the monthly offerings. So grab what you like while you can!