Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Poste Yarn, Select Sock Week Long Release Party!

Our latest Poste Yarn is LIVE! I'm so happy to introduce to you Select Sock, a hand dyed, fingering weight yarn dyed in small batches only for us in our little dye studio. 

Select Sock is a super soft yarn with superior stitch definition. There's a wide array of tonals, multicolors and speckles available right now, 44 colors in all, and we will continue to offer this yarn as we have time available in our dye schedule. This is likely the largest array of colors you'll see available of this yarn at once, as we already have a full dye schedule and Select Sock won't be back in the dye pots til later this spring. Some of these colors aren't repeatable, so grab what you like while you see it.

How are we celebrating this release? First, skeins are just $16! This will normally retail at $18, but for the next week (through March 5th) you'll be able to snag as much as you can for just $16 a skein. For a similar sock yarn, you'd expect to pay around $24.

Second, we'll have contests throughout the week here on the blog and on Instagram. Enter to win something awesome- read to the end for the first contest.

Third, I'll share pattern ideas and color pairings to help you combine the colors into this collection into more than socks. Of course, Select Sock is perfect for socks. It's soft, durable, wears well and is machine washable. But those are also the same characteristics that make it work for baby items, lightweight garments, shawls and accessories.

Thank you so much for your continued support of SSYC. I introduced our first shop yarn, Simply Sock Yarn Solids nearly a decade ago, and since then we have continued bringing you what you tell us you want by starting our own in-house dye shop and bringing you stripes, beautiful fiber blends, and great deals from our own Poste Yarn studio.

So let's kick off this release party with a contest! Tell us in the comments below what are your two favorite colors and one lucky person will be randomly chosen to win a $32 online gift certificate to the shop so you can buy two skeins! Contest closes at noon EST on Saturday, March 3. Now, I don't recommend waiting to snag any skeins you really want because these are likely to sell fast at this price, but perhaps use it for the next batch or for something else that's super awesome. Thanks for helping us celebrate!

Knitting and Life

Over the past few weeks, I've made more time for knitting. I'm not exactly sure how- I think I've tried to work less over the weekends, and instead enjoy time off more. And I do find time to knit a bit during Henry's basketball practice.... though in this picture I just got my project out and realized I forgot my 4th needle. Why can't they sell double points at Girl Scout cookie table?

All this knitting has allowed me to finish up a few projects, like my Brights Grove socks that I started last year (cashmere for ME!) and a hat for my man that little Henry immediately wore out the door instead.

I feel like this gives me the right to start another new project, right? I've already purchased the Lovella pattern. But I should probably finish my Kallara shawl first, right? I only have about 5% to go.

Other than knitting, life is pretty darn good. The boys are growing right up. I realize I used to show a lot more  of them when they were tinier (can't believe I've been blogging now for nearly 13 years here!). This is my last year with kids at home/work with me! Henry is already enrolled for starting Kindergarten in the fall. I just can't believe it. 11 years with kids at home and all of a sudden I'm not going to have a little sidekick all day making telling me how awesome I am and giving me cuddles. I also won't have a shopping/errand buddy and won't be stopping at the park randomly. It's going to be so adult-like and odd.

Both boys are puzzle kids. Henry's are the more tradition type, and James is totally into his Rubik's cube right now.

They both love Minecraft and Roblox.... and watching other people play those games on YouTube. Isn't that odd? That people have YouTube channels where they just play games and others watch them? Swimming is also a big thing here. As is pretending to build forts in the trees and playing on water, whether it's frozen or not.

What' on the agenda this week? Well, I hope to have dozens of colors our new Poste Yarn, Select Sock! It's our newest base in Poste Yarn, and it's super nice. Angela's working on Sockhead hat in it right now. We'll have a really beautiful array of tonals, multis and speckles... something for everyone. And since we dye it in-house, we can offer it at about 1/3 lower than you'd expect to pay.

Online Supersocke

Once a year or so, I get a great deal on OnLine Supersocke at put it right in the Sale Section. Usually, it's 40% off or so.... this time two of the collections are 50% off and one is 45% off. Really great deals on really interesting fiber combos. One is a cotton stretch collection (I LOVE THESE) with some wearable and giftable colors, one is a striated colored silk blend and another is a self patterning bamboo blend. Some really cool combos to try!

Take a look!

What I love about OnLine Supersock is not only the fun colors, but the durability and how well the finished socks wear. I've gifted many pairs of these socks over the years, and the recipients always want more. Especially the Cotton Stretch collections. Do give these a try if you haven't before!

SSYC's 19th Yarn Club

It's time to sign up for the next 3-month-subscription of the SSYC Yarn Club!

Want in? Please do join us in the MEGA Speckle Surprise Club! Why MEGA Speckle Surprise? Because everything about this club is generous and extravagant- the amount of speckled yarn, the creativity of the dyers and craftspeople, the size of the surprises. I've seriously pulled out all the stops for this club, bringing you more than 100g of yarn each month (one month more than 200g!), really superb surprises to go with each... even a beautifully hand made, zippered project bag that fits a 3-4 skein project. Again, everything about this club is super sized, except the price!

If you love the limited edition Knit Kits we put together for holidays and special, but aren't keen on stalking our website only to miss out because they sell so fast, this club is for you. You get a specially curated kit each month (April/May/June) by just subscribing once. If you join, you'll be in great company- our club enrollment has doubled in the past couple of years, which shows me that not only are new knitters joining, but previous club members are coming back again and again. I love seeing your names on the list year after year- it makes us all feel like we are doing this right!

When you join, please make sure the club is on the only thing in your cart when you check out. If you'd like to order other items today, please do so on a separate order, as you must order the club alone to be enrolled.  US shipping is included in the cost of the club, and if you are not in the US, you'll see our standard flat rate added just once at Check Out. Have questions? I bet they are answered here. But you can e-mail me at service@simplysockyarn.com if you have more.

Primrose 25-mini-skein Sets

Now is this doesn't make you swoon, I don't know what to do with you.

Kelsey and the crew of Primrose Yarn Company have put together three different 25-mini-skein sets for us. The plan is for using them for Ambah O'Brien's gorgeous Adventurous Wrap, but of course the sky's the limit for these little jewels. Each little skein comes labeled with the color name, and each set comes with a list showing you what order is recommended for using them.  I love all three color options so much I can't even decide which one I want to use. I only have about 5% of my Kallara left to knit, so an Adventurous might be next up. I would feel like a superstar finishing and wearing such a design.

 

Valentine's Day Contest

What do you want for Valentine's Day? If it's yarn, hey, just send that loved one here. Who doesn't want a yarny gift for a special occasion?? But if it's not, I'd love to know what you want or what the best or most out-of-the-norm thing was that you've given or received.

Flock Fibre Lone Pine Singles in Rubellite

I can't recall anything crazy that I've received for Valentine's Day. I'm not one who wants to show up to attention (I think I am, and then I just get uncomfortable) but I'll admit that showing up to dinner at a nice restaurant with flowers and gifts waiting on the table for me was awesome. That's the kind of gesture I'd seen on TV or a movie and never considered it happening.

Flock Fibres Lone Pine Singles in Alpenglow

I think that any loving gesture that shows time and effort was given is perfect. I feel like I spend 99.999% of time time on others and I give myself less than 1% of my own time. I think that's pretty typical of a lot of people- we give and give and give and while we don't expect anything in return, it's really nice when someone shows us such great attention.

Flock Fibres Lone Pine Singles in Larkspur

So do tell what you've done or had done for you that was super awesome. Perhaps we can be inspired! And let's make it interesting.... how about leave a comment by midnight EST on Valentine's Day (Feb 14) and I'll randomly choose one person to win a $25 gift certificate to the shop!

Winners of the last contest were Marilyn and Lisa. Congrats ladies! Enjoy your free patterns from Ambah!

sKNITches NEW Striping Colors

I just can't get enough stripes lately. I spent all Sunday morning knitting up these lovelies, and now I can't stop thinking about all the new sKNITches striping colors. Sam has released a new merino/nylon base instead of her original 100% merino base, and a slew of new colors too.

First, 'Ello Love. Aren't these perfectly sunny colors? It makes me forget our landscape is covered in snow and ice.

Next, Battleship. This is perfect for someone who doesn't like a ton of color on their socks, but it has enough flair to keep you interested while you knit.

What about Scandi? A nice, modern combo of colors, don't you think?

There are many other options too. And if you really want a true idea of the colors, look at the skeins of yarn instead of the knit up stripes. I take photos when a new batch arrives, and the photo of the yarn is more true for what we received than the knit up pictures that Sam provided.

Did you see?

Please tell me you noticed the new awesomeness I added to the shop from sKNITches! Sam is one of the dyers I've worked with the longest. She's been dyeing up stripes for over 12 years now, and I do believe hers were the first hand dyed stripes we had in the shop over a decade ago (in merino and NEW merino/nylon). She just added a new line to her offerings, Grimwich Sock, a wonderful merino/nylon blend with splashes, dashes and speckles of color and it's spectacular.

Shown in Clare Quilty, Belligerent Fools and Flummoxed & Fair Isled

I love when striped sock yarn dyers go outside their normal routine and stretch their imaginations in the studio. Julia at Knitterly Things released her Bespeckled line last year, and it's been a hit. Julia is well known for her Vesper striping sock and so seeing her go wild in the dye studio just makes my heart sing.

Shown in Kindness, Daisy Chain and Pop Rocks.

The past few weeks, our own Heather has been excersizing her creativity in our Poste Yarn studio, and we're dyeing up something special for you. Heather is behind all the wet work in the studio, the color imagination, the application, the beauty. She typically dyes stripes, but sometimes we release special short runs like the 250 gram skeins of worsted weight yarn we had in the sale section.

Now we're dyeing up a really nice sock yarn base for you in a huge array of amazing colors. Here's just one of them, drying on the racks. Likely to be released at the end of the month. Stay tuned!

SSYC's Pretty Posy Knit Kit now available!

SSYC's Pretty Post Knit Kit is now available! This kit is described in detail here, or go here to purchase yours now.

Thanks so much for your interest! I have some really awesome things planned for spring and summer. And, oh man, are you ready for those season or what? This has been one heck of a winter here in the midwest US, and temps keep plummeting to the single digits for weeks on end. It's so pretty outside with the snow and glittering ice, but it's just so cold that we can't go outside and enjoy it. So what have I been doing instead? Knitting, of course! I've made it nearly halfway through my Kallara Shawl, and I plan on starting on a pair of one of these socks in the next day or two. I love to try a good wool-free blend. They are rarely available, so when they are released I love to knit them.

Superbowl Dip

This year for Superbowl, we stayed home with the kids and they made it to halftime to see the show. We ate mac and cheese and veggies and I made a spicy cheesy chicken dip for us adults. I made a small amount because I knew the kids were unlikely to touch it without me using major negotiating skills. By Sunday night, I have no such skills left.

I looked at various recipes online but didn't have everything needed for those. So I made up at recipe with stuff I had in my fridge and cabinets and it turned out so darn good that I had to share. It reminds me of the popular buffalo chicken dip, but cheesier and better all around.

Ingredients

12.5 ounces of canned chunk chicken. I used one of these.

1 brick of cream cheese, softened

1/2-3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

2 t ranch seasoning. I use this.

1/3 cup sour cream

A glug of milk- enough to make this stirrable

Pinches of Old Bay seasoning and pepper

Tabasco. I used 2 t at most. Use more or less depending on how hot you like stuff.

Directions

Mix everything together (the cream cheese really needs to be room temp for this to be easy) and spread in an appropriate sized (small) casserole dish.

Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

We ate ours with tortilla chips and I can see this being good with crackers too. It was so good. If making for more than 4 people, I recommend doubling.

I'd love to know what you can't live without during the big game. Is there a particular recipe you enjoy over and over? Do tell!

SSYC's Pretty Posy Knit Kit, a preview

Say hello to my pretty friend, SSYC's Pretty Posy Knit Kit! I didn't hint too much as this kit earlier, because the Irish yarn had been held up in Customs for a month and who knew if it would end up in a black hole. It has finally reached us, we now have our second/last Valentine Knit Kit nearly ready for you.

I am in luuuuuurve with this kit. I usually gravitate toward bold and sassy designs but I adore this sweetly modern look and the watercolor flower fabric bag is one that I'd carry nearly all the time. This kit features beautiful sock yarn from Life in the Long Grass. This colorway coordinates perfectly with the Medium Wedge Project Bag from DnA Designs. Angie made us a stunner of a bag, don't you think?

To go with this bag we have four little heart stitch markers and some yummy Mexican Chocolate Biscotti from our local fave Zinnia's Bakehouse.

We will have this ready for you Wednesday, February 7 in the mid morning EST and I'll post here when its live. Last week's "I Love Sweater Weather" kit sold out within a few hours, so I do hope that if you missed out and love this one that you'll be able to grab one. We do our best to offer an array of kits and as many as possible and we do hate to disappoint, but there's a limit to how many hand made pieces we can convince our artisans to make for us.

I have a lot of new yarn to share with you later this week! A super cute cotton blend from Regia has just become available! This Tutti Frutti collection is the rare wool free option and you can bet I'm casting on a pair this week. I expect this to sell fast, but I'm told more is on its way to the US in early spring. You can get the whole collection of 6 for 10% off, or purchase one or two at our lower-than-MSRP of $17. I'll soon have more colors from Wooly Wonka Fibers, new hues from Manos and new stripes from sKNITches.

Kallara-ing right along... and a contest!

I've only had to tear out once and I'm loving the #ssyckalaralong so far!

For my Kallara shawl, I ended up choosing the two skeins on the right, Pixel (a new Tosh Sock color) and Onyx. I didn't choose Dirty Panther. It was very similar to Onyx, but a bit lighter and more varied in the saturation of the dark grey color.

This is where I had to tear out. I dropped a stitch and just figured I'd start over.

This circled stitch is the one part that caused me consternation. It's the one purl on the wrong side row. And sometimes I forgot it and the just fixed it on the next row. But yesterday, I forgot that stitch just once, so I consider that an improvement.

Otherwise, this is a very meditative and intuitive knit. I'm currently in the middle of the second increase section.

Want a chance to win a free pattern from Ambah O'Brien, the Kallara pattern designer? You have two chances to win. - One chance if you aren't participating in the KAL and and extra chance if you are. In one comment, tell me what two colors of Tosh Sock you would choose to make your Kallara. Then in the same comment, if you are actually participating in the Kallaralong, tell me what colors/yarn you did choose, leaving me a link to your Ravelry project page, your Instagram page, or a blog if you want to show us a picture too. The yarn doesn't have to be Madelinetosh that you did choose- we just want you to tell us whatever you chose to go with and leave a link to a pic if you have posted it. You have until Wednesday, Feb 7 at noon EST to leave your comment.

Details of the Kallaralong, and a coupon code for the pattern, can be found here.