Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Swift Yarns

I have a spankin' new dyer to share! Say hello to the stunning skeins of Swift Yarns, dyed by Carol in NY.

Shown above are Brooklyn and Lightsaber on Bliss Sock, a super soft merino/cashmere/nylon blend. You really should click on the images and then zoom in to see them in all their glory.

THE SPECKLES. Oh, the speckles.

Shown above are Bewitched and Cherry Blossom on Cozy DK. And it is oh-so-cozy. A wonderfully squishy superwash merino that you need for hats and accessories and sweaters and all the things.

I'm so happy to welcome Carol and her wares to the shop. Look for more awesomeness from her soon- more colors, more bases and something super special.

What I want to knit

I'm in the mood to knit another baby blanket. Another Chevron baby blanket. This would be my fourth, and there's not a particular baby that I have to knit for, but I'm just in the mood. But I want someone to change my mind. Here's why: It's going to be 80 degrees here tomorrow, so definitely not blanket-on-my-lap weather. So it's likely to be a project that I start and it languishes on a shelf for months, or if history is any indication, for a decade.... like this project, which I put on Ravelry nine years ago with the comments "As of April, I’m bagging this project for one that doesn’t make my legs hot as I knit. I’ll likely pick it up when things cool down in the fall." Now, what year in the fall... that is still to be determined. But it definitely wasn't 2008.

What I think I really want to do is knit a project that combines several colors into something awesome. I don't want to knit a Fade because several of my friends tell me that the lace portion is fiddly. I'm not good with fiddly. But I do want to combine colors into something awesome. Maybe a shawl, maybe a blanket- but not a full sized blanket 'cuz my attention span will fly away.

So, who wants to convince me of another project? I don't care if it's fingering weight or worsted. I'm up for anything as long as it's somewhat mindless and I can enjoy it while watching TV and listening for little feet upstairs (oh, the dread of hearing the little feet running around after bedtime). Help!

 

Picture Post, my Tuesday

Shop is open to the public 'til 4 today. So full of color!

New Trekking XXL Tweed coming soon

A Fade that Rachael put together while winding yarn. Details on the exact Merino Light colors here.

My recent finished socks

Opal Fresh & Juicy colors 9360 and 9365

And, oh yeah, just a little bit of awesomeness in this striped+mini set...

That's how my Tuesday is shaping up. No too shabby!

Girls Just Wanna Have Sun!

Spring has finally sprung here- at least in NE Indiana. The birds are chirping in the morning, windows can be thrown open early afternoon, and I've brought out my sandals. Some knitters mark this time of year by changing out what projects are worked on, exchanging heavy sweater knitting and blankets for socks and lace. But I always knit socks, so my lap doesn't sweat regardless of what I'm knitting. Socks all year round!

To celebrate the coming summer, I am re-releasing last years Girls Just Wanna Have Sun Knit Kit! I don't have many of these, but I am able to put together a handful of them for those that missed out last year.

This fun kit includes a specially printed mason jar mug emblazoned with "This Yarn is Making Me Awesome", a skein of limited edition Splattershot color from Lorna's Laces, and unlocking stitch markers. For those that don't want a kit with a bag, and want something with a lower price, this one is for you.

The Girls Just Wanna Have Sun colorway is shown above with Peach, Margarita and Pink Blossom (sold out right now), if you wanted to add a skein of a solid to your speckle color that comes with the kit.

I'm looking forward to share the awesome Knit Kits we have planned for the summer to commemorate out 12 yarniversary, so stay tuned for that info as it's released early summer!

 

Regia Pairfect Collection from Arne & Carlos

Schachenmayr has combined two of their most popular Regia self-patterning collections into one grand option- a Pairfect collection designed by Arne & Carlos!

Perhaps you've knit the Pairfect collection before. It's the one that gives you two perfectly matching socks by having a thin yellow strand at the beginning and middle of the ball that indicates where to start for each sock. And perhaps you've also knit some of the Arne & Carlos colors (they even come in heavier weight)- these are the guys who design the popular Norwegian sweaters and translated that work into self-patterning Regia socks.

Well, now the two concepts are one and you can get two "pairfectly" matching Arne & Carlos socks!

Are you a person who wants two matching socks? I'm well documented as being on the "oh, forget that" end of the spectrum. But a balls that's over 450 yards is plenty for my size 11 feet, even if I'm wasting a bit to get to the middle part to start again. And the colors and patterns are so cool that I really feel the need to cast on.

Blue Moon Fiber Arts, BFL- a contest!

I now have OVER 100 color of BFL Fingering from Blue Moon Fiber Arts and I'm celebrating by giving away three skeins of this yarn, one each to three lucky winners! Details below.

This includes new colors like Rhubarbie Girl above and Stars Hollow below.

And with summer coming, the season wouldn't be complete without tomato-inspired colors like On the Vine above and Heirloom Tomato Jam below.

And of course we have standard faves like Hobbit Garden above and Muddy Autumn Rainbow below.

Looking for Fall/Halloween, Valentine or Christmas colors? Lots of those are back too:

Fall/Halloween: A Speck of Autumn, Autumns Up, Cornucopious, Fall Frolic, Halloweentown, Hobgoblin, Jeepers Creepers, Jonagold, Pumpkin Patched, Rocktober, Socktober, Socktoberfest, Squashed (shown below), Witchypoo Rides Again.

Winter/Christmas: A Very Scummy Christmas, Angry Elf, Arctic Puffin, Christmas Balls, Dreidel, Elf, Fleece Navidad, Holiday Inn, Jack Frost, Joy to the World (shown below), Let it Go, Rainbow Reindeer, Sugar Plum Fairy, Xmas Rock.

And for those of us that just watch the last episode of Grimm, we can celebrate the series with a special color, shown below.

I've never had so much of Tina's BFL sock in the shop before, so don't miss out if there's something you really have your eye on. The BFL (which is a different breed of sheep than the typical merino) takes the dye really nicely and seems to glow with color. And it's a generous 4.5 ounces, so more than a typical 3.5 or 4 ounce skein.

Want a chance to win your fave color? In the comments below tell me these two things: Have you knit BFL (Bluefaced Leicester) wool before? And what are your three favorite colors shown here? Leave me one comment before noon EST on Wednesday, April 19 and I'll randomly choose three winners to win one of your listed faves.

Me? I've knit BFL yarns several times. It has a smooth hand, seems to be very vibrant in color across the board, and I wash it like any superwash wool does (I wash in the machine on cool in a mesh bag). My current favorite colors in this line up are #shepersisted, Heckley Speckley, and Delirium. But this changes from day to day depending on mood/weather/rotation of the planet.

Spring Break Contest, Day 5

It's the end of our week long Spring Break Contest journey! Next week, the kiddos and teachers are back in school, vacations end, and life goes back to normal. To me, Spring Break means it's the last leg of the school year and there's a two month countdown til summertime. Join me in the last contest day by answering the question/s below.

Today you have the chance to win your own SSYC curated kit. Tell me in the comments below a little bit about yourself- what you're obsessed with knitting right now, what yarn you'd like to try that you haven't, what your fave (least fave) colors are and if you're in the mood for a surprise. Do you love kittens or Pyrex or coffee? We will put together a special Knit Kit just for you if you are the randomly chosen winner. The more you tell me about yourself, the better we can put something together that is truly you. Share anything you'd like and you could be the person randomly chosen to win!

To give you an idea of the kind of Knit Kits we put together, here is a throwback to a few we've done over the past decade.

Christmas seven years ago

The opening of our larger, restored post office shop six years ago

Halloween with a glow-in-the-dark bag

Valentines Day 2010

Second Harvest Foodbank fundraiser

And those are just a handful of the dozens of Knit Kits we have introduced over the years. Enter the contest before noon EST on Saturday, April 8 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a your own surprise Knit Kit!

Thanks for joining in our week-long Spring Break journey!

Spring Break Contest, Day 4

Here in the US we are nearing the end of Spring Break week. The kids and educators get a week off from school, some use it as a time for family vacation, and some use it simply as a time to regroup and get things done. Here at SSYC, we're going to celebrate with a week's worth of contests!

Today, you have the chance to win a skein of your choice of Djinni Sock from Dragonfly Fibers. This soft, cashmere blend is dyed in an array of vivid colors, and all you have to do is answer the question below for your chance to win the one you like best. Maybe to make these!

Have you been on a yarny vacation or pilgrimage? I've heard some fantastic stories from some of you about knitting cruises you've been on, or week long car trips where you and your friends stop at yarn shops along the way. Do tell if you've done something knitterly and awesome, or tell us about a fiber excursion you'd like to take. You have until noon EST on Saturday, April 8 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a skein of your choice.

Last year I finally went to an epic fiber festival, Maryland Sheep and Wool. I have been wanting to go for years, but I always had kids that seemed too small to me to make it a go. So finally, we all went and it was just as great as I had hoped. I shopped til I dropped, the kids enjoyed petting sheep, playing in hotel pools and sleeping on sofa beds, and I even got to knit the entire way there and back. It was awesome.

Spring Break Contest, Day 3

Here in the US we are mid Spring Break week. The kids get a week off from school, some use it as a time for family vacation, and some use it simply as a time to regroup and get things done. Here at SSYC, we're going to celebrate with a week's worth of contests!

Rose Window

Today, you have the chance to win a ball of your choice of our recently released Poste Yarn, Big One DK. This double-sized DK weight skein of all USA made superwash merino is perfect for oh-so-many projects. These are 560 yards of superwash merino - double the size you'd expect for about 30% off. For two 100 gram skeins of DK you could expect to pay $44-50 for the same yardage. We are able to keep the price on our Poste Yarns lower than you'd expect because we dye the yarn in house. So it's a fab deal at $31.50.

Do you have any Vacation-the-Movie like stories like traveling to Wally World and having a mishap or eight along the way? What about a vacation that you immediately wanted to hit the Redo button? Please share your funny/awful stories so we can live vicariously and learn. If none, just leave a comment saying something like "nope, not me" or tell us what would be your worst vacation nightmare. Contest ends at noon EST on Saturday, April 8 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a skein of your choice.

Praca da Republica

One year, when I was in first or second grade in Florida for vacation, I got such a bad sunburn I remember my mom putting cold cloths on my back and shoulders and sitting in front of a tiny TV and fan in a little hotel room. Other than that, I can't recall any really bad vacation memories, so maybe I'm blocking them. You?

Spring Break Contest, Day 2

Here in the US we've started Spring Break week. The kids get a week off from school, some use it as a time for family vacation, and some use it simply as a time to regroup and get things done. Here at SSYC, we're going to celebrate with a week's worth of contests!

Today, you have the chance to win a skein of your choice of Smooshy with Cashmere from Dream in Color (shown above in Morning Glory and below in Flower Drum Song). We just received a restock and new colors (like the whole Hamilton Color Collection) in this super soft cashmere blend, and all you have to do is answer the question below for your chance to win.

Where would you like to go for a week's vacation (if cost were no impediment)? Are your kids old enough that Disney is now an option? Or are you the type that wants to sit in a café in Paris and enjoy a pastry with your love? Perhaps you'd like a week alone to relax and be by yourself? Tell us all about it before noon EST on Saturday, April 8 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a skein of your choice.

I really want to take my kids somewhere beachy with family activities. But the idea of flying with two little boys or driving 20 hours gives me pause every time I start planning. I mean, I love my kids but put them together in the backseat for more than two hours and they will be arguing over the same Legos and complaining enough about having to go to the restroom again that I might turn back. We did go from Indiana to Maryland Sheep and Wool last year, and they did fine, so perhaps I should seriously consider a longer trip?

Spring Break Contest, Day 1

Here in the US we are starting Spring Break week. The kids get a week off from school, some use it as a time for family vacation, and some use it simply as a time to regroup and get things done. Here at SSYC, we're going to celebrate with a week's worth of contests!

Today, you have the chance to win a skein of your choice of Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Super Sparkle. This soft, dazzling yarn comes in all the great hues that Tina is known for, and all you have to do is answer the question below for your chance to win.

Where was your most memorable Spring Break trip? Was it a college trip to New Orleans or a family vacation to Disneyland? Tell us all about it before noon EST on Saturday, April 8 and I'll randomly choose one person to win a skein of your choice.

When I was a kid, my parents were both teachers and we traveled by station wagon from Indiana to Florida for a couple years to Panama City, Florida. We packed up the car, and at that time there were no laws about how kids had to be secured, so I sat in the back "trunk" of the station wagon with blankets and pillows and basically annoyed my sister to death the whole time. I remember being totally bored (There were no iPads or DVD players! Gasp!) and making up lyrics to Wham songs that had to do with how badly I wanted to stop at a rest stop. I don't recall how I spent 14 hours in the car, but I'm sure I wasn't good. We stayed at a low key "resort" with a bunch of other teacher families. It had a little pool and I do remember venturing to the ocean twice for a swim.

Do tell me about your adventures!