Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

12 Days of Sock Yarn Winners

Thanks for your patience with me as I finally found time to randomly choose, notify and post about the 12 Days of Sock Yarn Winners! All winners have been notified.

Our 12 Days of Sock Yarn contest is one of my fave times of year here at the shop.  We give away some really great prizes,  it's a time of connection as we learn more about each other, and it adds a lot of joy to my season. I've incorporated new traditions, new projects and oh so much more into my life after so many years of hosting this sock yarny holiday on the blog each December. And especially during the past two years when I see less people and haven't knit in public with my knitting group, this blog and the contest provide much needed connection. If you want some inspiration and a nice lunchtime read, you can go to the Archives link on the right side here, choose a year and the month December and scroll to around the 12th of each month where you can read all the yarny questions and answers. When I go to that link, I realize that I've written thousands of blog posts over the past 16 years..... longer than I've even been a mom. 

Congrats to all the winners and thank you so much to everyone for joining us in another season of cheer!

12th day - Winner is Judy who said, about her knitting mojo "The best way for me is not to try to get it back. Instead I read even more than usual and find that the knitting mojo reappears when it is ready to do so. It is fun to find knitting references in my reading."

11th Day - Winner is Melissa H who said about New Year's resolutions this year, "No resolution. I just try to do something better than before, whatever it is. This year, I’m hoping to make a few kid-sized sweaters for kids belonging to friends who don’t have knitters in the family, and maybe one or two to donate also."

10th Day - Winner is Carol who said about using mini skeins "Yes, for the first time. I tested Susan Ashcroft's Just Wiggle It cowl pattern, and it was by far the most fun thing I knit all year."

9th Day - Winner is Barbara who said her mantra for the year would be "Don't ask the question if you're not ready for the answer."

8th Day - Winner is Jody, who said about new yarn vs stash yarn usage this year, "I have been really happy to have a nice stash of yarn to pull from and have used it whenever possible. I also used some stash yarn to knit projects that were always on my to do list but I hadn’t gotten to them until covid. I would say though that it’s probably been about 50/50 for me when you compare stash use to new purchases. For example I had to buy a lot of red yarn this year - it was the most requested sock color and red is not a color I tend to stash. And then of course you have to replace what you used from your stash lol so definitely a 50/50 split for me."

7th Day - Winner is Elissa. When we asked what project you love for those single skeins you buy but don't know why "OMG, I've got NOTHING! Help! haha"

6th Day - Winner is Annabeth who said about the colors she used a lot this year "I like to think I did a good job of choosing yarn for projects this year so I didn’t have a solid when I wanted a stripe and vice versa. Probably one of my favorite this year though is the Jolly Elf sock set I bought from SSYC! I love the look of a striped sock with solid heels, toes, and cuff!"

5th Day - Winner is Erin who said about her go-to White Elephant gift, "I always thought a white elephant gift exchange was for things around your house that you want to get rid of. My family did one a few years ago - I contributed a cookie jar shaped like a penguin, and received a game of Twister!"

4th Day - Winners (there are three!) are Staci who says about her knitting in 2021 "I don't think I've completed anything in 2021 :( I've been plagued all year with a wrist injury. I'm trying to finish a Never Not Gnoming by Christmas right now. That will be the winner if I manage."
and
Mary, who says "Christmas stockings would be my most satisfying knit. Something new to me."
and
Shamilya who says "Hats! Hats! Hats! I knit lots of hats this year most of them variations of the same two patterns, but the last hat I made was a new pattern (barley hat) and I managed to use all 110 yds of yarn. No scraps!!! I held the yarn double with alpaca (first time doing that) and had to cut the decreases short, but I ended with a hat that fit exactly as I wanted it to. I still have some of the alpaca leftover, but I'm so happy I used all of the wool because it was haunting me."

3rd Day- Winner is Anne who says this about what marks the start of the holiday season for her, "The day after Thanksgiving is the main marker of the Christmas season for me to start decorating and planning. But if I am thinking of making knitted gifts for Christmas that starts in July as I just don’t do hurried deadline knitting. Knitting is my fun and stress less time and needs to stay that way!"

2nd Day - Winner is Amy G who says about her favorite holiday recipe "I love this post because of all of the great ideas! We have a few favorites - homemade Chex Mix is a must and super addictive. For Christmas morning we do Caramel Pecan Rolls - although for the younger set who don't know better, we make some without pecans. A new favorite for every other year is Tyler Florence's Beef Wellington!"

1st Day - Winner is Denise. I asked you all about what you've done during this difficult year to spread kindness, and she said "I am really working on kindness. Kindness in my dealing with others-giving them the benefit of the doubt, being supportive. This Christmas I did the usual- buy toys for underprivileged kids and donate to the food pantry, but I also mailed a $100 gift card to someone I know who is a single mother of 3. I hope she enjoys a little extra this season. I also started a knitting group with my 3 favorite knitters and at our meeting this month gave them all a handmade Christmas project bag with a skein of Christmas sock yarn. Just something to brighten their day. I have also made an effort to be an extra big tipper these last few months as people in the service industry have been working hard and understaffed for quite a while. I wish everyone a healthy and happy holiday!"

Kenyarn is here!

I'm so happy to be able to welcome a new dyer to the shop! Jake Kenyon of Kenyarn has a really devoted following and I'm right there with you all, that's for sure. Such zesty colors, and I especially like that he pulls inspiration from some of my favorite things, literature, Broadway shows and science.

Shown above in Cirrus DK colors The Empress and Gluttony

I'm especially pleased that Jake developed five colors just for Simply Socks Yarn Company, all with a space theme. Here are Earth, Mars, Neptune, Shooting Star and Milky Way. I have these for you on both Stratus DK (superwash merino) and Cirrus Fingering (superwash merino/nylon sock).

If you're coming to visit us in person this weekend, we look forward to showing these to you in person. I've updated our open days through the end of the year so you can better plan your visits to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

I have to more hand dyers coming to SSYC later this spring and I can't wait to share them with you. Kenyarn is dyed in Rhode Island, and the next two are imports, so a bit more unpredictable in their arrival. Want more from Kenyarn? We will definitely be adding more from this dyer in the spring/summer.

HiKoo Madrona Sock Yarn - A Contest!

I have a new yarn to share! For those of you who like a super soft sock yarn with alpaca, I have something just for you. New Madrona Sock is a blend of alpaca, merino, bamboo and nylon and it's just perfect for that extra special, luxuriously soft feeling. And for just $20 a ball!

The color range is super nice, isn't it? Just click on this link and see them all lined up so beautifully on the page and tell me that the color range isn't just oh-so-lovely! The colors all go really nice together too, so if you want to combine for sock striped socks or a colorwork sweater, this would be a great choice. And, again, just $20 a ball for a blend that we haven't had before. It would be great in socks and cowls for gifts, right?

I'm really happy to see something new in the fiber offerings. It's been a hard year or so of finding things other than the typical merino/nylon for socks, as mills with low staff have been focusing on what sells the best, not creating new and exciting yarns for sock knitters. We've carried yarn from this HiKoo line before, if you remember American B.R.A.N.D. yarn from years ago that featured wool from American Rambouillet, and then was spun in PA and dyed in NC. I like that this is another non typical blend for sock knitters and I hope you like it too!

Want to enter to win a skein of your own? Tell me in the comments what project you're working on this week. Please feel free to leave a link to a project page or Ravelry pattern so if others are inspired by you that they can do similarly. We love details around here! Reading your comments is like sitting around a table of knitting friends and hearing what you're up to. Please leave me one comment by noon EST on Feb 28. Thanks!

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

Can you tell me what you've been knitting on (or crocheting on) so far this year? I'm looking for some inspiration, I guess. Perhaps in scrappy socks or interesting techniques. Or it could be that your normal projects will pique my interest too.

It's been so cold and gloomy here in the Midwest the past month that I've been stuck around the house. I could use some color and pattern inspiration. And some connection too.

Many thanks!

Adelle in Anderson

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Help a knitter out and leave your advice in the comments section below.  Have a question you'd like to see answered here?  Simply title an e-mail Ask the Knitters and send it on to service@simplysockyarn.com . Your question could be chosen for this series.

Kenyarn coming soon to SSYC!

We have a new dyer to welcome to the SSYC family soon, Kenyarn! 

All photos courtesy of Kenyarn

Jake Kenyan's colors are widely coveted and I'm so pleased to be sharing him with you in our shop as soon as the end of the month on a sock and DK base.

Jake's works full time as a dyer in Rhode Island (learn more about him from a feature done by CNBC), previously being a speech pathologist. His own father worked in the textile dyeing industry, which definitely gave him a head start in colorwork. Many small dyers have a day job as well, but Jake made the jump to full time and there's no looking back!

I pulled the two stills from Jake's Instagram stories, so they are a bit blurry. I'll definitely share great pics as soon as everything arrives.

I was so inspired with Jake's colors that I asked him to dye us up some shop exclusive colorways, which I can't wait to share with you. If you've read the shop blog for long, you may know I have a science background and I love all things Star Trek and space. So these five colors are inspired by our universe and the stunning colors of the expanse. Here's one above, Mars, in the dyepot!

I look forward to sharing more from this dyer (and two more coming up soon too!) as soon as it arrives.

Free Tote w/ Your Purchase This Week!

This week, we'd like to show you some love and are giving you this large tote with your purchase at Simply Socks Yarn Company!

How can you get one? Just place an order online this week starting today, Valentine's Day, and ending on Saturday, February 19, and we will automatically tuck one of these cotton totes into your package before it ships out. You don't have to e-mail to asking for it, or add it to your cart in any way. All you have to do is place your online order as usual and we'll just wrap your tote up with your yarn or needles and include it in your parcel before it leaves here, Easy peasy!

Yes, if you're coming to Fort Wayne, Indiana to shop in person during our once-a-week shopping days, we'll give them to you Tuesday Feb 15 too! And yes, if you order online and choose Contactless Pickup, we'll include one in your bag in the pickup box (just make sure to tell us in the notes/comments section at Check Out what day you're coming, between 11am-1pm only Monday through Saturday- make sure to give us more than 24 hours notice). We're giving out one tote per person this week, so if you place several orders, please know that we have enough to give just one out.

Rasta in Indiecita

What might you like to order to get your free tote? Well, we have more Madelinetosh and Malabrigo that we have ever had. Literally tons of it in bases ranging from sock to super bulky. 16 years ago we started carrying just sock yarn but over the past decade+ you've asked us to offer other weights of yarn as well and we listened! Malabrigo's Rios (worsted weight) and Rasta (super bulky) are some of the most popular yarns we have here, and they definitely aren't sock weight. And we carry EVERY color! Plus, Malabrigo's next KAL starts tomorrow (it was going to start two weeks ago but they delayed it so all us shops could get enough Arroyo for you), so if you wanted to participate, read this blog post and choose your colors and join in!

Tons of Tosh as soon as you walk in our doors

Have you ever seen more than 300 colors of Madelinetosh in one place? We have hundreds of colors (some even formerly retired and brought back!) in Tosh Merino Light, Tosh Sock, Tosh DK and more. You really can't find more from this Texas dye studio in stock and ready to ship today than here at SSYC.

Our newest Opal Yarn lines are super lovely. If you like fingering weight, Memories and Schafpate are for you. I've knit one color in each line now and I ADORE THEM oh so much. And if you want thicker socks, try Paradise 6ply and Ice Palace 8ply. We even have the Van Gogh collection coming back next month, after 10 years they are re-releasing it!

Have you tried Zauber Perlen yet? These have been selling faster than ever the past few weeks and I'm wondering if y'all are making this cowl or something else? I love the idea of socks with this yarn, perfectly stripey/gradient socks. Wowza. 

Want to try a new yarn? How about the 100% recycled sock yarn, ReFine from Cascade Yarns? The colors are slightly heathered and together are a really lovely palette, should you want to combine several into a larger project. Heather (our shop manager) says she's considering choosing a color and holding it along with a mohair for a beautiful sweater. Me? I'm knitting my Rainforest-13 into some Winter Frost socks.

Since it's mid-month, that means we just released our monthly Hat Sets! I have six of them for you for February, and I have some of our Valentine's Day Oooh La La sets as well. Our Hat Sets typically sell out fast, most within a day, so if you really wanted one or more, please don't hesitate. And if you miss out, I'll have more in March too. All these are in our Kits & Clubs section.

Do you love a great import? We have all the new colors from Hedgehog Fibres in their Sock Yarn (go here to an earlier blog post to see them all), and we also have all the Nettle Sock colors from Denmark studio Onion Yarns. Have you tried this sock yarn with nettle fiber yet? Nettle fiber is used as a natural sub for nylon. It's soft and doesn't absorb the dye like merino, so the yarn has a slightly heathered look. It's super popular for socks and cowls and sweaters. Get two for socks, and more for larger projects.

Want a special kit? I have just 8 of these from Madelinetosh. It was something they offered last February and now I have 8 more for you and that's it. This bag is everything, isn't it?

I'll post more ideas later this week too, but I think this gives you a great start on some lovely goodies that you might like to celebrate tis Valentine's Week. Thank you for being here for us in our 16th Valentine's Day helping you celebrate your love of yarn. We can't do this without you!

SSYC Small Batch Sock Yarn

We have such lovely skeins to share today from our Small Batch Sock line.

Small Batch Speckle Sock color 1213

Before the pandemic, we closed up our back-of-shop dye studio, Poste Yarns (if you miss the yarn, check that link sometimes because we sometimes find stuff in the shop and put it back on the website), and instead converted that large area into more storage for the shop so we could support more dyers. It was a good move overall, and really good timing. When dyers needed support and orders during the early part of the pandemic, we could help them and increase our inventory because we had more room to house all yarn - also referred to as "my stash" - hey, it's mine until it's yours! As you can tell, over the past few years we have really expanded what we offer- much more than sock yarn, we now more weights and double the colors of Madelinetosh, Rios and Rasta from Malabrigo (in all colors) and other great yarns that we otherwise might not have room for. But I still miss having our own line of yarns where I could quickly dye up trends in colors, special skein for events and color things that fit my mood. 

That's where our Small Batch Sock comes in. It kind of fills that niche. I love being able to still have dyers make us up special skeins just for us, and these I'm able to offer these particular ones at a great price. Instead of $26-30 for glorious speckled skeins, these are around half price. The colors might just be available once or twice, but the price is great and the knit is superb.

Small Batch Speckle Sock color 1215

You might have seen that I added over a dozen gorgeous speckled color in the Sale Section last week (colors 1201-1216) , and I was able to get just a little bit more of the variegated colors that I had for you last year. Those are colors 1301-1308.

These are a fabulous deal and perfect for gift socks. They are machine washable and would even hold up well to a machine dry or several if needed. Usually when I gift socks to people, they are aware to just pull them out of the wash and put them on top of the dryer to air dry when you put the rest of the batch into the machine. But if they accidentally ended up in the dryer a few times, I don't think there would be any issue.

Small Batch Sock color 1305

These are some of the socks that shop friend Doris brought to show off when she came to visit us from Kentucky in the fall. I love when you all bring show and tell items!

Small Batch Sock colors 1304 and 1307

All the Snow

Is anyone missing their snow where they are? I think it all ended up here. You can have it back any time now.

Over the past two days, we have gotten around 14" of snow at our place, and with drifting it's made for some pretty big mounds. We have dug ourselves out and the city roads are now navigable, so we are back at shipping your yarn to you, as of today. We have a lot of orders piled up since the last time we were able to make it to the shop on Tuesday, so please bear with us as we do our best to get all your lovely Oooh La La Hat Sets and Sock Sets shipped out to you. We like to get your orders shipped out within a day, but ol' Mother Nature had her own agenda.

Opal Memories color 11004 (we got a second shipment so we have all the colors back in stock)

My kids are on day three of school being canceled, and usually this is about the time when I start getting anxious about not getting enough work done. But like the rest of the city, I actually stayed in and did not work. It was a much needed, forced break for me. I spent most of it knitting and cooking. In a matter of a couple days I nearly finished this lovely sock (and the drink next to it, of course) and make chicken enchiladas, vegetable beef soup, homemade buns for sliders, a double batch of drop biscuits for morning egg sandwiches, brownies, several salads, pasta, lots of sandwiches and hot cocoa for the kids and their sledding friends.... you'd think all we did was eat over the past few days! But it was really nice to enjoy these past few days with the kids and cook a lot. It was a good reset.

Henry gets in on the cooking too.

What do you find yourself doing when you're snowed in? Cleaning and organizing? Cooking? Knitting? Catching up on a show? I was thinking of doing a puzzle this weekend or completing one of the paint by number kits I bought when we were all home during the pandemic nearly two years ago. We'll see.

It's time for Valentine's Day Knits!

If you wanted to grab some of the special goodies I have for your for Valentine's Day, now the time! This year we have a Sock Set, a Hat Set and some 5-skein fade sets curated by Beata at Hedgehog Fibres! Oh, and we have all her new Sock colors that I shared last week on the blog too.

The Oooh La La Sock Set features a limited edition skein of Smooshy Sock Yarn in our exclusive Oooh La La colorway, a coordinating mini for your toes and heels, and stitch markers that Katrinkles made for us to look like Scrabble tiles that spell LOVE (with the heart as the O of course). We featured these markers last year as well and I'm so glad that Katrinkes was able to make them again for us.

Then we have the Oooh La La Hat Set that features the same colorway but dyed on a worsted weight merino/cashmere/nylon blend and not one but two pom poms. These poms are each 4", so slightly smaller than the 5-6" poms we typically feature. Many of you asked if we could feature smaller poms once in awhile and we're happy to oblige. These poms have elastic instead of strings, and this video shows you how you can use a button to affix your pom to your hat. Though I take the easy way out and just string extra yarn through my elastic loop and then simply tie my pom onto my hat as usual.

Want one of the specially curated 5-skein Potluck Fades from Hedgehog Fibres? I have 10 on Sock and 10 on Skinny Singles, and since I have just one of each they are sure to go fast. I had some for Christmas as well and most went within a day. Grab one or more to knit yourself a fade sweater or shawl or break them up into smaller projects like a three skein fade and then use the other two skeins for socks or cowls or whatever you like. I seriously considered grabbing one of these just for a single skein I saw in the batch, but I always want to wait a day or two just in case one of you wants the set first. If it's still around after a couple of days, then I'll pounce!

We have some fab restocks of Malabrigo (Rasta keeps flying of our shelves, and we don't even specialize in super bulky yarn!), Madelinetosh, Addi needles like the new Rocket Squared double points, Cascade ReFine (100% recycled sock yarn for just $11.50), and more Opal Memories and Schafpate. Now's a great time to get Addi needles and Madelinetosh because the prices are going up 10-15% .  It's definitely a good time to stock up on sweater quantities of Tosh, since we got a huge shipment of all our bases, including the ever popular and hard to keep Tosh DK. Plus we got back colors we hadn't seen for years like Black Currant, Pelican, Golden Hickory (above on TML) and Baroque Violet (below).

And in case you didn't see the awesomeness in our Sale Section right now, we have a fresh batch of our Simply Sock Yarn Small Batch. For just $14.50 a skein, you get a wonderful sock yarn splattered with the most beautiful speckles. We have over a dozen colors for you.

It's worth noting that we are experiencing quite the winter event here in Indiana starting today through the next several days. More snow that we've seen in a long time and the city is basically shut down, schools have all taken off through the rest of the week, and we are all hunkered down waiting to be able to dig our way out. So while we typically ship your orders the same or next day, it's likely that if you order today, Wednesday, that your order will take a few days longer than usual to get out the door and on its way to you. If you choose Contactless Pickup, you won't be able to get that until Saturday, Feb. 5. I appreciate your patience with us as we wait for the snow to stop and the plows to start so we can get back to shopping and shipping for you. Please don't be concerned if you don't see your order have tracking until Saturday. We have A LOT of orders already waiting and we will hurry as fast as we can through them as soon as we are able. Thank you for keeping us busy!