Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

Free Sock Project Bag w/ Purchase This Week!

We're nearing the end of SSYC's summer long 17th Birthday Celebration, and this week we are sending out free gifts with purchase, and I have to admit that this one is super duper cute. It's a sock project bag that reads "Today's good mood is sponsored by yarn" and it's in a bright, sunny yellow that just makes me smile. I hope that using yours makes you smile too!

What do you have to purchase to get your gift? Just place your online order and when it ships this week (or when we put it out in the Contactless Pickup box) your parcel will include the above bag. You don't have to add it to your cart or request it in any way - if you order Monday through Friday (and thru Sunday if we still have any left) we will put it inside your parcel before it leaves here. One per person this week.

What might you like to treat yourself to today? I have ALL SORTS of ideas to bring you joy. First on my list is our 12 Days of Stitch Marker Countdown Set. Instead of a yarn advent, this year we are doing 12 days of hand made, polymer clay stitch markers. And according to those of you who already received yours (they went live on July 25 for Christmas in July), you think they are super awesome. One of you ordered one set, then left this kind note when ordering TWO MORE sets "These stitch markers are incredible. Thanks so much for all the work getting them to us!" I don't blame you. I have two sets for myself. If you want a close up of how the Countdown is packaged, take a look at this video. And if you haven't seen the markers that our artisan makes for us for our various kits and clubs, then feel free to e-mail me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com and I'll share with you a picture of one of the stitch markers from the Countdown Set so you can see what kind of hand made quality you can expect. These are only available through this week, and then we'll put more together for November/December.

We have our second and last batch of our 17th Anniversary Hat Sets! We have a dozen options in our Kits & Clubs section right now. These are full sized skeins of worsted weight Madelinetosh Merino with a wonderfully coordinating, hand made pom pom (faux fur). All you have to do is wind your yarn (or ask us to in the notes section on the Check Out page) and cast on and attach your pom and you have a beautiful hat! You don't have to search for a perfectly matching pom, wondering if it looks as good in person and it might online because we have already done all the color work for you and put the yarn and pom together! And as a birthday treat, these are $10 less than the normal ones we offer in the fall and winter. Need a pattern? I like using this pattern with my worsted weight hats.

We have a slew of new yarn from Emma's Yarn! This sister-run company dyes beautiful skeins with fun names in Winter Park, Florida. We've carried their Practically Perfect Sock and Hella Hanks (50% more yarn and a bit of cashmere) for awhile, and now I've added Marvelous Mohair and Smalls (mini skeins) and I've been eyeing the Flamingle shawl now that we have both the Mohair and the Hella Hanks. Have a pattern in mind and not sure if you colors go perfectly together? Just e-mail me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com and let us look in person so we can assure you. Need a fun pattern idea? Try the Ice Cream Social Shawl. It uses a full sized skein of Sock and 6 colors of minis and is a great way to experiment with color. Want a garment? How about the Collins Tee?

Last week I shared the very first of Malabrigo's new sock yarn, Ultimate Sock (shown below in color 005-Aniversario). It sold fast and I already have a full restock for you. This sock yarn is like their original Sock in feel, ply and cost but it has a bit of nylon in it now. Yes, Malabrigo will still make the original Sock, which is 100% superwash merino (no nylon). But Ultimate Sock is perfect for those who must have a bit of nylon in their socks. Some of us have been waiting a decade for this one, and I have to say it delivers on all I wanted in a Malabrigo sock yarn.

We have more Dream in Color than ever before! 100+ colors of Smooshy Sock Yarn and Smooshy with Cashmere. PLUS they are sending us special little 10-packs of minis every month (starting with this month), and this first one is super cute.

Been waiting on our exclusive yarn from Dream in Color, Colossal Sock? This skein is 50% more than a traditional fingering weight skein, weighing in at 6 ounces! It's available only at SSYC and we even offer it for 45% off in our Sale Section (right at the top, alphabetically as DIC Colossal)! That means that instead of the $40+ range, you're paying just $24 for a skein. This yarn is great for all sorts of fingering weight projects. It's on the heavier side of fingering weight, is a bit "toothy" or "rustic" in that it's not like some of the really smooth bases that some dyers use, and it takes the dye so beautifully. We haven't had this in the shop for 7+ months, so I know many of you have been waiting (and already pounced in the first hour I had this up). Go to the Sale Section to see all we have. We also have some great deals from Gusto Wool, Madelinetosh (like Euro Sock in Escape Pod shown below) and more.

Love Tweed? I have some stunning hues from Hue Loco in Tweed or No Tweed. And we'll be playing our Instagram & FB game, Tweed or No Tweed next week (you tell me which you prefer and that enters you to win a $10 gift certificate to the shop each day we play) - this is just a preview showing the color Happy Little Bluebirds Fly.

Want the limited edition Human Kindness colorway from Madelinetosh? This color on Tosh Merino Light costs just $20 instead of $29. Tosh is hoping you take that $9 savings and pay it forward to an organization that matters to you. It would make a stunning Pavement sweater, right? Or perhaps a Reyna shawlette.

I think I'll leave it at that for now! I may add more ideas to this post later this week when I have time. But as you can see, we have A LOT of yarn you can take a look at. And if you have questions, just email me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you for 17 years! I often marvel at how online shopping has changed in nearly two decades - how when we opened, there weren't many places to shop for yarn online and the pictures were 8% the size they are now. And how we opened in a bedroom and now occupy a 1940's post office that seems to be made for us - all because of your support, patronage and guidance. Come see it in person one one of our open days if you can! Fort Wayne, Indiana is definitely worth the drive!

Free Birthday Gift w/ Purchase!

We're in the last month of SSYC's 17th Birthday Celebration and we still have some great gifts, sales and goodies for you! We've already done limited edition hat sets, special edition colorways, sales and even a 17th Birthday Sock Yarn Club. Next week we are giving away these cute project bags with your purchases!

What do you have to do to get one of these sock project bags that say "This good mood is sponsored by YARN"? Just place your online order as usual any time Monday through Friday (and we'll give them away through the weekend too if we have enough left) and we'll tuck one in your parcel before it leaves here. You don't have to add it to your cart or request it in any way - we will automatically include one in each package (one per person this week - so if you place several orders in the week, it's unlikely that we will give more than one unless we get to the end of the week and have lots left). And if you are a local and want to do Contactless Pickup, just choose that at Check Out - and don't forget to tell us in the note/comment field on the check out page what day you want it out in the box from 11am-1pm. 

You have a few more days to order our 12 Days of Stitch Marker advent! This is available through this week, then we will make up more of them for you for this Christmas as well. You get 12 different hand made, polymer clay stitch markers, each put in a little envelope on a garland that you can open all at once now (like I think most of you have done already from the great e-mails I have gotten!) or you can open them for 12 days until Christmas. Whatever you choose, these are beautiful little works of art, each marker with a holiday theme. It's a super deal. Want more details? Take a look at this video I posted to Insta.

What might you like to order to get your gift? We have SO much new yarn! I'll blog more on Monday about all the greatness we have in store, but if you scroll through the past posts here on the blog for the week, you'll see what's new. Like all the Emma's Yarn (MOHAIR too!), Dream in Color, Katrinkles accessories, the limited edition color from Madelinetosh, new Malabrigo Ultimate Sock.....  gosh, SO MUCH new yarn this week! And by Monday I should have even more up for you like more birthday Hat Sets, mini skeins from Emma's Yarn and the Colossal Sock from Dream in Color in our Sale Section that we haven't been able to get from the mill for 7 months! For those of you who have been waiting for this, the Sale Section is alphabetical so it will be right at the top. But likely not til Sunday or Monday.

Hedgehog Fibres x Madelinetosh Tweedy DK Collab

I've not been allowed to share this until today..... Madelinetosh and Hedgehog Fibres have collaborated on a very special yarn and it's now here at SSYC!

Tweedy DK is Hedgehog Fibres' limited production offering where they collect the colorful bits of their own yarn waste (ties and leftover bits) over months of time and then send them to the mill to be carded, blended and spun into yarn again. This yarn is usually only available sporadically in Natural and Noir, but they have been working with Madelinetosh to save the Tosh bits of yarn and have them milled into two very special colorways where the tweedy bits are all Madelinetosh blended into Hedgehog Fibre skeins.

The Hedgehog Fibres x Madelinetosh version of Tweedy comes in two colors, Dreaming in Light (a light, harvest color) and Future Reflections (a soft gray blue).

Madelinetosh owner, Laura, says this about the partnership “With this yarn we have created a revolutionary new model for upcycling and collaboration,” said Laura Zander, CEO of Madelinetosh. “Sustainability is a growing priority in the knitting and fashion worlds and by incorporating bright Madelinetosh flecks into this product, we were able to recycle yarn remainders while also prioritizing collaboration over competition. Now more than ever, it’s time for women-led companies to come together, disrupt old norms, and bring something beautiful into the world."

Beata, owner of Hedgehog Fibres, expounded on this idea, telling us “Coming up with Tweedy was a way to use great yarn that would have otherwise have been wasted. Madelinetosh’s hand-dyed remnants were super fun to work with. We teamed up to make two colors that are every bit Hedgehog Tweedy with Madelinetosh’s color sensibilities. We love how they turned out! The greeny yellow is my fave, because it’s unique, unusual, and weird in a very cool way.”

I agree with Beata. While I think the blue gray is going to be the popular choice to use, there's something about the almost neutral and still not quite gold color of Dreaming in Light that made me design this little bit of a hat that I combined with Tosh DK in Neon Pink and Natural to make this striped hat.

Want the pattern? Here it is!

Download SusHat

I have all the colors I used in my Sus Hat in stock right now, but not the pom. If you want the pom, I'll have them in stock in a few weeks. But I don't recommend waiting for the yarn because what I have now is all I'll get. They even come with a little PDF pattern booklet that I can e-mail you after purchase if you want. Small projects like shawls and hats and things that shop owners, like me, who are offering the yarn came up with to promote it. Just respond to your e-mailed receipt and ask me for it.

If you want other color ideas for the hat feel free to e-mail me and ask. Right now I have all four colors of Tweedy DK in stock, and over 300 colors of Madelinetosh Tosh DK, so we could definitely help you come up with a great combo. Like Future Reflections + Grasshopper + Farmhouse White. Or Noir + Button Jar Blue + Death by Elocution.

Malabrigo Yarn's Ultimate Sock is Here!

I'm so happy to share that we have Malabrigo's newest yarn, Ultimate Sock!

136-Sabiduria, 807-Cote d'Azure, 164-Sur, 412-Teal Feather

This yarn is similar in feel, ply and yardage to their most popular yarn, Sock, but it has nylon, which is a very welcome addition. Something that many of us have been waiting more than a decade for, ever since Malabrigo first introduced their Sock with no nylon. Of course, we have been knitting socks, sweaters and everything else with Sock for over a decade now, but nylon is a great addition to wool to make socks even more resilient. Having nylon in your sock yarn is like a little security blanket- yes, socks that are 100% wool will hold up nicely to wear if the fabric is nice a dense, but just knowing the nylon is there makes me feel a bit better. What can I say?

150-Azul Profundo, 252-Wabi Sabi, 363-Pascal, 416-Indiecita

I was able to test versions of this yarn before this one was settled on and I have to say that it invoked Goldilocks feels with "too much this", "not enough that" and now "just right." I love that it is plied and knits very similarly to the original Sock, but now has a bit of nylon. And yes, the original Sock will continue on. Ultimate Sock is simply an addition to the Malabrigo offerings. Right now, there are nearly 40 colors, and Malabrigo will add more over time.

658-Zinnias, 035-Frank Ochre, 214-Magenta, 005-Aniversario

036-Pearl, 611-Ravelry Red, 412-TealFeather, 069-Pearl Ten

As I tend to do as I was photographing all this loveliness for the shop, I went down the rabbit hole of combining colors - this time into ideas for Casapinka's upcoming Sharon Air MKAL that starts in a couple weeks. So here are a few four-color options that I think look fab together in person. It takes just one skein of each and when the pattern comes out, it will be available here.

334-Peggy, 736-Gloria, 398-Rosalinda, 696-Whole Grain

013-Oro, 862-Piedras, 142-Caramel, 214-Magenta

Thanks, friends!

We had a very nice and busy Christmas in July event on Monday! Thank you! I love seeing what you all choose. It makes me happy to imagine you creating with what you've chosen. And it's really interesting to see the things that sell out the fastest. Rest assured, we'll be getting more of the stripes and Kenyarn and Emma's sock sets again before December for you as well as other Christmas themed goodies.

We will have our 12 Days of Stitch Markers available for a bit longer, and then hopefully again in the fall before Christmas. If you ordered this, I can't wait for you to get yours!

Our busy week here continues as we got in a huge amount of Dream in Color and we'll even have more of our exclusive base from them, Colossal Sock, in early August. I think most of you have gotten a decent amount of Colossal Sock from us over the past year or so, at least until March when we couldn't get it any more for awhile. Colossal Sock is our 50% larger skeins of fingering weight yarn for less than what you'd pay for a typical 100g skein.

Now that the miss is able to keep up more and we are able to get our Colossal Sock back, I'll let you know when it's all here and ready. The price, like everything in yarn and elsewhere, will be about 10% more than it was before, but it's still a superb deal. I can't wait to share it all with you again.

We also have two new things from Emma's Yarn. Mini skeins and MOHAIR. I can't wait to share both of these with you! I ordered A LOT of colors, so it's gonna take a bit to get it all ready for you. But above is just a little preview of the Cosmos color.

What else is coming? More stripes from Freckled Whimsy, a special sock kit color from Urth Yarns, more from Uschitita..... well, we have lots coming for the end of summer, that's for sure.

Today's the day! It's Christmas in July! We've been celebrating Christmas in July for a few years now and it's been a great way to bring joy and color to our lives AND get Christmas themed goodies in plenty of time for the actual holiday season. It seems that dyers and makers create all their holiday themed wonders in the fall and early winter, which gives us all very little time to grab them and get things going. So if you are like me and like to have some holiday treats on hand early, check out the shop today at the Kits & Clubs link.

These things are all pretty limited in supply, so I don't recommend hesitating if you really want something. Afterall, these are all very busy makers and having them stop mid-year to make us special holiday goodies is a big ask, so we get as much as we can, but it never seems to be quite enough.

First off, I want to share with you something I've been working on for a year now and we even had our first intern this summer whose job it was to assemble all these for you. 12 Day Advent and Countdown Sets are all the rage in yarn, but have you enjoyed a hand made stitch marker Countdown Set? We're betting you haven't seen one like this, as it's been over a year in the making, each stitch marker skillfully hand made from polymer clay by our own artisan. Each of the 12 pieces is its own colorful work of art, one that you'll love knitting to again and again on your needles. Heck, these will even look great as bracelet, necklace or earring charms! If you can't wait and want to see one of these, e-mail Allison at service@simplysockyarn.com and I'll e-mail back a photo of just one of the stitch markers with you if you promise not to share it with others. We want it to be a total surprise to those who want that! And the price is $68, which is a total steal if you ask me. That's less than $6 for each hand made marker that will bring you joy when you opened your envelopes and each time you come to it on your stitches.

Each stitch marker is packaged in its own little envelope adorned with a wintery picture and a number, and clipped onto a length of yarn before it gets wrapped and packaged into a lovely little red gauze bag. Go here on Instagram if you'd like to watch a video of my set hanging on my mantle (obviously, the pine garland and felted balls don't come with the set - that's just part of my holiday decor). Before opening, the wintery themed packaged set looks great hung on a stairway or mantle with greenery as decor. When you want start your countdown, you simply unclip that day's envelope and see what's inside. And if you can't wait until December 14 to start your countdown to Christmas, no worries! We don't blame you! Unlike most "advent" offerings, this is NOT a preorder to ship in the fall. It ships right after you order on July 25 with all the other holiday goodies you've chosen! If you miss out, we may offer them again in November if we can, but we don't recommend waiting, just in case. 

Jollyville is a speckled colorway that is an exclusive to us from Madelinetosh. We released it last Christmas in some kits and Hat Sets and they were all so popular that we have these two kit options (a light or dark bag with a skein of Jollyville on Twist Light sock yarn) and two different SSYC Hat Sets.

One Hat Set has a white and red pom with Tosh DK and a white and green pom pom with Tosh Vintage (worsted weight). I will also have single skeins of Jollyville on Tosh Sock, Pashmina and Tosh Merino Light. I just LOVE the idea of a Pashmina shawl in Jollyville to wear all holiday season. Again, these are all now at the Kits & Clubs link.

Above, we have a very special Sock Set from the sisters at Emma's Yarn. Emma's Yarn has been a big hit here since we added them a couple years ago and their lively colors are cherry and bright. The Christmas Sprinkles Sock Set certainly qualifies as cheery and bright with the red and green speckles and red mini skein for toes and heels. I think this would also be great as a shawlette with a red edge. Something that you could wear all holiday season, peaking out of the neckline of your winter coat.

Jake Kenyan of Kenyarn has created an exclusive holiday colorway for us, inspired by vintage Christmas ornaments. Meet Vintage Vixen! She will be available on Jake's Sock and DK. See my unboxing video on Instagram. I also have a bit of Jake's stock here in the shop too, should you be needing other colors. He's JUST moving to a new studio so it could be awhile before he's all set up and dyeing for shops again.

Want a true yarny Countdown set? Madelinetosh has you covered this year with their 2022 - 12 Days of Madelinetosh. Preorders just went live today - this is the only one of our Christmas in July offerings that will be available to order before July 25th. It comes with a full sized skein of Tosh Vintage, 4 mini skeins, 3 Madelinetosh Maker surprises and four patterns (two crochet and two knit). This is the only item here that is PREORDER and must be ordered separately from everything else listed here b/c it doesn't actually ship until mid-November. These tend to sell out fast each year, so if you really want to save your space, please don't hesitate to put your preorder in today Again, it's a preorder and paying today secures your space and it won't ship until November as it does every year.

Below are the two designers who are contributing knit and crochet patterns to the 12 Days of Madelinetosh. And while the overall colors of the set aren't revealed until you open your little boxes, I can share that it's inspired by a nighttime winter sky. Sounds perfect. Preorder yours here.

Love a good stripe? YEAH. ME TOO. I had a hard time not snagging all these stripes for myself, but I'm going to at least wait one day after the 25th and if there are any left, I'm going to pounce. We have new holiday striping Sock Sets (striping yarn and solid mini) from Freckled Whimsy (who we added to the shop two months ago and her stuff sold out fast). Again, all these stripes will be found at the Kits & Clubs link while we have them.  I do have a regular color order coming next month too.

Peppermint Mocha

Christmas Cocktail

Sweet Treats & Rosy Cheeks

The Perfect Tree

Grandma's Sugar Cookies

Gather Round

Waiting for Santa

And we have some gorgeous striping skeins from Knitterly Things on her Vesper sock base and Glitterful Vesper. Yep, glittery holiday yarn for socks, ornaments, whatever.  Here are just a few of them. And if you want non-holiday colors, those are all found here.

Reindeer Games

Holiday, Celebrate!

Joyful Noise

Holiday Boogie Woogie

The Holly and The Ivy

Love Malabrigo? We'll have some of our exclusive Las Fiestas colorway on Sock and Rios (worsted weight).

All found here.

We will also have Urth Yarns Christmas color in Sock Kits (two 50g balls for matching socks), fingering weight skeins, and worsted weight like I used in this simple cowl. Kits & Clubs link.

Do you love mini skein sets? Take a look at all these from Yarn Love. 

Also from Yarn Love, the Mr Frosty Hat Kit in Blue and Red. It comes with all the yarn and an e-mailed pattern (just request the pattern from me after your order - responding to your e-mailed receipt is an easy way to ask).

Dream in Color is in the game too with our exclusive Jolly Elf sock sets- a skein of yarn and minis for toes and heels.

West Yorkshire Spinners always makes the most fun self patterning sock yarn options for the holidays, and we finally have some of their back in stock. Particularly popular is the Candy Cane, which we haven't had in stock for quite awhile, and I have snagged one for myself to keep on hand. I might grab two b/c it's its a great gift color too. And for less than $13 a ball, it's totally knit worthy. Each comes with a free pattern, so simply e-mail/respond to your receipt and I'll e-mail it back to you. 

Thank you SO MUCH for your support today for our Christmas in July! It's a much welcome, busy day for us here as we shop and ship for you all day and through the week. If you've shopped with us before, you know that we ship pretty quickly- often within hours of your order. We will keep up as best as we can but we are a small crew and it could take a day or two to get ALL these out the door to you.

I hope that these colors and the thought and intention we and our makers have put into this makes you smile and brings cheer to you and your needles. Especially our little stitch marker advent. We have smiled over these for months now, and I'm so pleased to finally release them into the world.

Christmas in July 2022, a Preview + Contest

Today's the day I share a preview all our upcoming Christmas in July goodies! We've been celebrating Christmas in July for a few years now and it's been a great way to bring joy and color to our lives AND get Christmas themed goodies in plenty of time for the actual holiday season. It seems that dyers and makers create all their holiday themed wonders in the fall and early winter, which gives us all very little time to grab them and get things going. So if you are like me and like to have some holiday treats on hand early, check out the shop on Monday, July 25 because that's when all these goods will go live. Everything detailed here will be found at the Kits & Clubs link on July 25.

First off, I want to share with you something I've been working on for a year now and we even had our first intern this summer whose job it was to assemble all these for you. 12 Day Advent and Countdown Sets are all the rage in yarn, but have you enjoyed a hand made stitch marker Countdown Set? We're betting you haven't seen one like this, as it's been over a year in the making, each stitch marker skillfully hand made from polymer clay by our own artisan. Each of the 12 pieces is its own colorful work of art, one that you'll love knitting to again and again on your needles. Heck, these will even look great as bracelet, necklace or earring charms! If you can't wait and want to see one of these, e-mail Allison at service@simplysockyarn.com and I'll e-mail back a photo of just one of the stitch markers with you if you promise not to share it with others. We want it to be a total surprise to those who want that! And the price is $68, which is a total steal if you ask me. That's less than $6 for each hand made marker that will bring you joy when you opened your envelopes and each time you come to it on your stitches.

Each stitch marker is packaged in its own little envelope adorned with a wintery picture and a number, and clipped onto a length of yarn before it gets wrapped and packaged into a lovely little red gauze bag. Go here on Instagram if you'd like to watch a video of my set hanging on my mantle (obviously, the pine garland and felted balls don't come with the set - that's just part of my holiday decor). Before opening, the wintery themed packaged set looks great hung on a stairway or mantle with greenery as decor. When you want start your countdown, you simply unclip that day's envelope and see what's inside. And if you can't wait until December 14 to start your countdown to Christmas, no worries! We don't blame you! Unlike most "advent" offerings, this is NOT a preorder to ship in the fall. It ships right after you order on July 25 with all the other holiday goodies you've chosen! If you miss out, we may offer them again in November if we can, but we don't recommend waiting, just in case. 

Jollyville is a speckled colorway that is an exclusive to us from Madelinetosh. We released it last Christmas in some kits and Hat Sets and they were all so popular that we have these two kit options (a light or dark bag with a skein of Jollyville on Twist Light sock yarn) and two different SSYC Hat Sets.

One Hat Set has a white and red pom with Tosh DK and a white and green pom pom with Tosh Vintage (worsted weight). I will also have single skeins of Jollyville on Tosh Sock, Pashmina and Tosh Merino Light. I just LOVE the idea of a Pashmina shawl in Jollyville to wear all holiday season.

Above, we have a very special Sock Set from the sisters at Emma's Yarn. Emma's Yarn has been a big hit here since we added them a couple years ago and their lively colors are cherry and bright. The Christmas Sprinkles Sock Set certainly qualifies as cheery and bright with the red and green speckles and red mini skein for toes and heels. I think this would also be great as a shawlette with a red edge. Something that you could wear all holiday season, peaking out of the neckline of your winter coat.

Jake Kenyan of Kenyarn has created an exclusive holiday colorway for us, inspired by vintage Christmas ornaments. Meet Vintage Vixen! She will be available on Jake's Sock and DK. See my unboxing video on Instagram.

Want a true yarny Countdown set? Madelinetosh has you covered this year with their 2022 - 12 Days of Madelinetosh. Preorders just went live today - this is the only one of our Christmas in July offerings that will be available to order before July 25th. It comes with a full sized skein of Tosh Vintage, 4 mini skeins, 3 Madelinetosh Maker surprises and four patterns (two crochet and two knit). This is the only item here that is PREORDER and must be ordered separately from everything else listed here b/c it doesn't actually ship until mid-November. These tend to sell out fast each year, so if you really want to save your space, please don't hesitate to put your preorder in today Again, it's a preorder and paying today secures your space and it won't ship until November as it does every year.

Below are the two designers who are contributing knit and crochet patterns to the 12 Days of Madelinetosh. And while the overall colors of the set aren't revealed until you open your little boxes, I can share that it's inspired by a nighttime winter sky. Sounds perfect.

Love a good stripe? YEAH. ME TOO. I had a hard time not snagging all these stripes for myself, but I'm going to at least wait one day after the 25th and if there are any left, I'm going to pounce. We have new holiday striping Sock Sets (striping yarn and solid mini) from Freckled Whimsy (who we added to the shop two months ago and her stuff sold out fast). Again, all these stripes will be found at the Kits & Clubs link the morning of July 25.

Peppermint Mocha

Christmas Cocktail

Sweet Treats & Rosy Cheeks

The Perfect Tree

Grandma's Sugar Cookies

Gather Round

Waiting for Santa

And we have some gorgeous striping skeins from Knitterly Things on her Vesper sock base and Glitterful Vesper. Yep, glittery holiday yarn for socks, ornaments, whatever.  Here are just a few of them.

Reindeer Games

Holiday, Celebrate!

Joyful Noise

Holiday Boogie Woogie

The Holly and The Ivy

Love Malabrigo? We'll have some of our exclusive Las Fiestas colorway on Sock and Rios (worsted weight).

We will also have Urth Yarns Christmas color in Sock Kits (two 50g balls for matching socks), fingering weight skeins, and worsted weight like I used in this simple cowl.

Do you love mini skein sets? Take a look at all these from Yarn Love. 

Also from Yarn Love, the Mr Frosty Hat Kit in Blue and Red. It comes with all the yarn and an e-mailed pattern (just request the pattern from me after your order - responding to your e-mailed receipt is an easy way to ask).

Dream in Color is in the game too with our exclusive Jolly Elf sock sets- a skein of yarn and minis for toes and heels.

West Yorkshire Spinners always makes the most fun self patterning sock yarn options for the holidays, and we finally have some of their back in stock. Particularly popular is the Candy Cane, which we haven't had in stock for quite awhile. And for less than $13 a ball, it's totally knit worthy.

Whew! I think that's it! If you made it to the end of this post, you deserve a chance to win $20 to spend at SSYC! Just tell me a bit about one of your favorite holiday themed projects. Maybe it will inspire someone reading to try something new, or will make us remember something we forgot. Leave your comment by noon EST this Saturday, July 23 and I'll randomly choose someone to win.

Color Ideas for Casapinka's Upcoming "Sharon Air" MKAL

August 12 is the start of Casapinka's yearly mystery knitalong (MKAL) with details posted to her Ravelry page, if you're interested. Here and there on our SSYC blog, starting today, I'm going to share some color inspiration we have here in the shop so you can get started on your knitting without wondering if colors go together. I know it can be exasperating sometimes to tell if colors really go as well as you think when you're looking at screens, so we're here to do the personal shopping for you! And as always, if you see something you like but want to switch something out (or if something sells out and isn't on our website any more), you're always welcome to e-mail me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com and we are happy to curate something special for you. After all, we have A LOT of inspiration to choose from!!!

Earlier this week I post about these kits that Emma's Yarn put together, and they just arrived today so you might find something here too.

Here are some colors that we like together for this MKAL, today featuring a slew of small hand dyers. You need one skein of each of the four colors for the pattern. First, let's look at Hue Loco. Here is Fuchsia, Future Too Bright, Troubles Melt Like Lemon Drops, and Pear. All on Merino Sock but also available on Tweed Sock. 

We really like this combo on Hue Loco Merino Sock of Sunny You Should Ask, Tropic of Cancer, Why Oh Why Can't I and Hustle. It's like a party at a cocktail lounge in Miami that the Golden Girls might have attended.

Keeping with Hue Loco Merino Sock (but also available in Tweed Sock if you want to do one or all with some tweed flecks) we have Once in a Lullaby, Midsummer, Happy Little Bluebirds Fly and Snowshoe.

Go all out with the tweed with Hue Loco Tweed Sock in Do Come True, Midnight Sun, Skies are Blue and Bonafide.

Then we have Why Oh Why Can't I, Way Above the Chimney Tops, Skies are Blue and Once in a Lullaby on Tweed Sock. Also available all on Merino Sock.

Have you tried Cosy Posy Yarn Co? These yarns are dyed in Canada and we just added this line a few months ago. There's a merino nylon option and one with a bit of cashmere. Shown below is Hunny Bunny, Rhinestone World, Jewel and Raven.

And shown below from Cosy Posy is Envy, Brick & Mortar, Bonfire and Agate. How's this for impending autumn vibes?!

Now let's show off some of the calming, artistic hues from Six and Seven Fibers. Rachel is a genius with color, almost giving her skeins a watercolored look. Shown below on Barley Singles (so single ply fingering weight) is Frost, Gorse, Pumpkin Juice and Avonlea

And if you like Monet inspired cooler hues, try her cashmere blend Alfalfa MCN in Pekoe, Pansy Slippers, Merpeople and That Lawrence Boy.

I'll share more color ideas here and there. Heather and I just spent ten minutes today roaming around the shop in between customers, and we were able to put together all this inspiration in that short amount of time! Keep in mind that the pictures on our website at the above links are more accurate for color than these quick ones that I snapped with my phone and am showing on the blog. But I think it gives you a good idea of what they look like together, even if a bit of the nuance is lost in the quick photos above. Have questions? You know where to find me! service@simplysockyarn.com 

What I'm Doing & Knitting

Summer started here in my house about a month ago when the kids got out of school and it's been an odd whirlwind ever since. James took a bit of summer school, Henry did a basketball camp, they both had birthdays then we headed to the lake like we try to do with my childhood best friend, and every minute in between has been full of work work work. So far, not a lot of relaxing, but it's still really nice for the kids to be out of school because that means no getting up at 6am, no running them around to various activities every day, and no school volunteering so I'm not constantly juggling work with their school stuffs. And I am now fully recovered from my torn Achilles, so I'm back to sand volleyball several nights a week and that makes me feel so much better.

As always, I'm enjoying knitting and tink a few rows here and there. Most of my knitting time comes at night while watching TV with the kids, so a basic sock that I don't have to look at is still my go to. Yesterday I spent my Sunday knitting in between ironing new curtains and hanging them. So I really did get a lot of great knitting time in. Above on my DK weight Summit Summer socks (this pattern is great for DK weight socks) and below on my Opal Memories color 11004 socks. 

I made the epic mistake of machine drying my new cotton/linen curtains for my family room and they shrunk three-to-four- inches in length.  Well, two of them did and the other ones I must not have dried them all the way, so after I ironed them all and put them up, two of them were significantly shorter than the others, and so I had to take them back down, put them through the rinse cycle again and dry them so they shrunk to the size of the other ones. And then iron them again. So, note to all, don't fully dry your curtains if they are natural fibers! The curtains I put up in the kids' rooms were thick poly blends, so didn't shrink when I dried them, so I just wasn't thinking.

What's on your needles right now? Are you making time to knit or does the summer bring other hobbies like gardening or volleyball or anything else that you switch to? I need to just start keeping a project in my car so I can have a few moments to enjoy while Terry's driving us places. I'm just not that organized, I guess!

Don't these boys look like little men? I can't take it. Every time I snap a new photo and compare it with the last, they look older. James is 15 now and 2 inches taller than me already. And Henry, well, that kid is smiling all the time and is constantly making is laugh. I’m a lucky mama.

Casapinka's "Sharon Air" Summer MKAL

If you're one who likes to knit Casapinka's most recent pattern or KAL, then it's time to start grabbing your skeins because the Sharon Air MKAL (Mystery Knitalong) starts on August 12! Emma's Yarn, as usual, has come up with different sets of skeins for this four-color project and since our order will be here in less than a week, I'm allowing preorders now so that when they get here mid week next week, we can just ship yours right out. You have nearly a month until the MKAL starts, and I'll post more color ideas in the near future, but if you're one who likes to allow the coloristas to curate your selection, this is a great way to go.

If you order other items along with your set, all the yarn will ship together next week when the sets arrive here. 

If you're looking for other color ideas, also take a look at Hedgehog Fibres, Fiberstory, Madelinetosh and our big selection of Emma's Yarn. We have so many gorgeous skeins in stock right now and if you're not sure if the colors look great together in person, you're always welcome to e-mail me, Allison, at service@simplysockyarn.com and we'll get our eyes on it and let you know for sure. We love being your personal shoppers and finding you just the right thing.

We also got in some very special 5 skein Fade Sets from Hedgehog Fibres, and these would be perfect for the MKAL as well. You'd just have one skein left over for whatever you'd like. We have sold more than half the options we had earlier this week, so go to the Kits & Clubs section to see them all.

We are open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, from 10-4 so if you want to come and choose your skeins in person, that's great! If you have one or two skeins already you'd like to incorporate, we're happy to find you other skeins to go with your stash. Just bring 'em in.

 

Ask the Knitters

Dear Knitters,

I've been spending more time out and about lately and I need a small project that I can tote with me where I go. Something small, and not too complicated. I was thinking about some socks in Opal, but could you suggest some other project ideas or patterns? I planned on simple socks, but I'd really enjoy looking up other project ideas too. I'd wager that I'll be needing small project for the next few months.

Thank you!

Dot in Mississippi

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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.

New Yarns This Week @ SSYC!

I'd say we are about mid-month into our summer long 17th Birthday Celebration, and I have some really awesome things to share today! not only did I add some spectacular Hedgehog Fibres Fades yesterday, but today I have our special edition anniversary color from Malabrigo!

Floribunda is everything I want in a summer color for 2022. It has a calming, herbal feel to it, which is a palette I'm always drawn to. It's not neutral, but it's a color that could go with so much. I have it for you on Sock above, but I also have some skeins in Rios b/c we introduced it in our Hat Club we did this past winter on Rios and I have a few extra. So if you were in that club, now's your chance to grab a skein or two more if you wanted to. We have a limited amount of these and I don't plan to have Floribunda redyed. So if you collect or love Malabrigo, this is a rare chance to get a special edition colorway from them.

I also have a bit of our exclusive Convergence color on Madelinetosh Tosh DK, which was part of our Hat Club as well. Since I have to order in particular quantities to have special colors made, sometimes I have a few skeins left over and put those up for everyone to grab. This color is perfect for sweaters. It would go perfectly with jeans. This color took longer than any other color to get right because I kept saying "MORE SPECKLES!" Don't be surprised if I have them dye this later on other bases because I think it's just the perfect color.

What else do I have for you today? I have two new Opal Yarn collections and a restock of all our Solids. Water World is full of color and I can't wait for an addictive knit when I cast on.

Beauty is infused with Edelweiss extract and Vitamin E for nourishing and antibacterial properties that lasts several dozen washes. You might remember the very popular Austermann Step yarn from years ago and it was infused with aloe & jojoba. I still get a lot of requests for that one, and if you're one of those people then you'll appreciate Beauty for similar reasons. And Austermann Step was over $20 for a ball and that was over a decade ago! So $18 for a ball of Opal now is a super deal.

Julia of Knitterly Things dyes some of my favorite yarn and her stripes are back in stock! I have lots of your faves, with more glitter and holiday hues coming for our Christmas in July event. Hand dyed stripes are labor intensive to make and take a lot more time than variegated yarns to dye, so I can't get it that often, and usually in smaller quantities. 

I hope you see something to bring you some joy! Order today and you might even get it by the weekend so you can cast on something new! I'm in need of a knitting escape, so these new skeins are exactly what I need.

For those who like to add a bit of reinforcing thread, I've found a really nice option for you that I think we can get consistently. Take a look!

More 17th Birthday Goodies @ SSYC!

This week's bringing a slew of special edition goodies to celebrate our 17th Anniversary! Today I'm sharing with you the 20 different one-of-a-kind Hedgehog Fibres Fade Sets all available at the Kits & Clubs link while they last. I have 10 sets in their Sock Yarn and 10 in their Skinny Singles. Sock is fingering weight, merino/nlyon and it's plied (so three thin plies make up the yarn), and the Skinny Singles are 100% superwash merino and while it's also fingering weight, it's one ply- so one fingering weight ply. Skinny Singles and Sock can be used interchangeably in patterns like Fading Point that call for five skeins that go together, or any other pattern where you don't want to choose the colors yourself but want them to go well together. Casapinka's doing a Mystery KAL in August that calls for four skeins, so one of these would be great and then you could use the fifth skein for another project sometime.

Beata, the head colorista and owner of Hedgehog Fibres, puts these together for us using their Potluck and one-off skeins, and they are always super popular. Again, there are just one of each set. Each set comes with 5 skeins of yarn.

Here are just a few of the sets I have for you today.

Then tomorrow, I'll have more to share with you from two of our most popular dyers, Madelinetosh and Malabrigo. Can't wait!

Picture Post

Just wanted to share how awesome the shop looks right now and a few things to come. The shop this weekend - thanks to all who came to visit over the holiday weekend!

Zauberperlen as bracelets! Lol!

ALL the Katrinkles



And this is just a tease of a small part of what we're releasing on Monday, July 25 for our popular Christmas in July event! I'll do a whole post showing off all the goodies about a week before so you can plan your attack. We have some truly beautiful skeins coming your way.

Katrinkles

How was your holiday weekend? Did you get a few day off to relax and do what you love? My fam and I used our holiday time to escape up to Michigan -way north. It was grand. A bit cold on the water, which is odd considering it was 100 just two weeks earlier. But hey, it's the midwest. All in all a great time was had. The boys are on summer break and for the first time in awhile we haven't enrolled them in any summer activities past June, so they have a full two months to just be kids without obligations. And that means a lot less obligations and driving for Terry and I too!

We have such a fun array of goodies from Katrinkles this week! I've ordered some things that are new to us, like a bit of jewelry, and there are new colors of some of our fave stitch markers. Here's just a bit of what you'll find here.

Free Shipping + a Contest!

What's the next treat in our 17th Birthday Summer Celebration? A FREE SHIPPING weekend at SSYC!

That's right, just place your order online as usual and enter code JulyShip in the coupon code field in your Cart and you'll see that your US Shipping is free (sorry, friends, International shipping is way too pricey to offer for free). This coupon code will work through Tuesday, July 5. If you forget to enter it, just respond to your receipt and ask me to apply it for you.

New Hue Loco colors

What might you like to get to treat yourself to a wonderful summer knit? We all need a small project to take from place to place, one that doesn't sit on our laps and heat us up, something portable and easy like a self patterning sock to enjoy while sipping a tasty drink on vacation. All my projects this summer are single skeins or a combination of scraps or minis. Definitely small things like socks and hats. 

Scroll down to see the crazy amount of yarn we have received this week - long awaited restocks of Regia Premium Merino Yak (Washable luxury fibers? Yes please!), the Somewhere Over the Rainbow Collection from Hue Loco PLUS their Backyard Chicken Collection, Emma's Yarn and Wonderland Yarn Blossom Gradients (above) and more. What's more?

Silver Sebright Hen in the Backyard Chicken Collection

We have SO MUCH new yarn from Madelinetosh this week (come see it in person Saturday if you dare! We are open July 2). Not only do we have great restocks of all the sock yarn and heavier bases we offer (not just for socks!) we have new colors like 5 Letter Word(le), Boredom, Autumn Winds, City of Trees, and You're on Mute shown on Twist Light Sock below. So in addition to the 300+ colors we stock, we just keep getting more. I can't stop myself!

We also have more of the Black Currant color for those that missed out after it was brought out of retirement.

Everyone loved the new Zebra sock base from Life in the Long Grass so much that we added the similar Oliver Twist Sock Yarn from Yarn Love. Oliver Twist even has a bit of nylon for those who demand it for socks (I don't, but some do). And the colors are simply divine. Shop friend Diana knit a Pavement sweater of the Zebra in Moonbow, so if it's something you're considering, this is how this time of marled yarn looks knit up. There's a black strand plied somewhat randomly in the yarn, and it really gives the overall socks or garment a cool look. We have a lot of Zebra and Oliver Twist colors to choose from right now so you get to knit something that's your taste.

Want to make some hats? We have some really cute hat sets (yarn+pom) right now. Take a look and get a super cute project done in days. Make several to get your holiday gifts done ahead of time. This pattern is my go to.

Malabrigo's limited edition Metamorphosis gradient sock yarn continues to be a fave here. Not only is it something that Malabrigo doesn't typically make, but the price of the gradient cake is just $25, when other lines charge nearly $40 for theirs. Gradients are harder to dye and take more time to get right, thus the higher price. But this is the deal of the year. Shown above is my Herald Shawl in the 318-Starry Night color.

And keeping with that Starry Night theme, I knit the above socks last month when Opal Yarn released their most popular Van Gogh collection again, 10 years after it's initial release. Of course, I have a goal of knitting them all. This one isn't even the Starry Night color, but to me it totally looks that way, am I right?

Do you like tools and trinkets? I have a fresh batch of stitch markers and some new knitters' jewelry from Katrinkles. They are all made in Rhode Island and are not only useful but adorable.

I hope this inspires you to choose something new to bring your joy. And if you don't live close to us, we'll ship to you for free as a treat from us to you! Just use code JulyShip.

What have you been knitting lately? Tell me in the comments by noon EST on July 5 and I'll randomly choose one commenter to win a $20 gift certificate to the shop!

Regia Premium Merino Yak Sock Yarn

Some things are still hard to come by since the pandemic, but I'm starting to see some real hope in the supply chain! No, I can't get all the imports I want, and yes some dyers are having a hard time getting their base yarns still. And yes, shipping prices are up and everything else we purchase seems to cost more. But. BUT. I'm seeing some improvements are making me very happy. One of those things? We just got in ALL of the colors of the Regia Premium Merino Yak sock yarn. And I'm delighted.

7504 - Gold

This plush blend is not only luxurious, but it's also easy care. You can machine wash this with all your other sock yarns. While I don't machine dry any of my socks, a friend told me she has dried hers and there wasn't a change.

7510 - Beige

This yarn comes in over a dozen heathered solids and 6 multicolors. The yak fiber has a naturally brown shade, so it gives the yarn a bit of a heathered look and even the brighter hues seem somewhat natural in color. And at 437 yards, there's plenty of yardage for even my size 11 feet. I'd have about 14% leftover.

7513 - Mint

Have you knit this Regia's Merino Yak yet? It's gotten some great reviews from sock knitters. And it's great for sweaters as well. All the colors look so good together so would be great for fingering weight sweaters too. Like this amazing striped one. We can help you pick out colors if you like (just email service@simplysockyarn.com as always), and then you can use the leftovers from your sweater for these socks.

Malabrigo Yarn's Ultimate Sock

Edited to add a month later - It's HERE! Check it out!

Malabrigo is soon releasing a new sock yarn WITH NYLON! Their original Malabrigo Sock has been their most popular base for years, and about two years ago they sent me a sample of a yarn that they wanted me to test. A super secret skein of sock yarn that had some nylon. I gave it a try, gave some feedback and after another year or so they came back to me with a new base to test and and I'm super duper happy with it and will have it in the shop for you soon. I have another skein that I'll soon cast on to show off on Instagram, Facebook and here, and I'll show you how it's knitting up. But since I've already tasted this base, I'll share that I like it just as much as the non-nylon Sock that we've offered for more than a decade. It's plied the same way, has the same feel, but also has 25% nylon for even greater durability for socks and accessories that get a bit more friction. I know many sock knitters want a bit of nylon, and while I think that if you knit a dense fabric on the foot with a 100% superwash merino yarn it wears just as nicely as one with nylon, it will be nice to have one with nylon too.

I can't wait to share more with you, but til then you can look through the initial 30 colors that they are releasing. And, of course, I'll have it for you as soon as it ships.

Madelinetosh's Mood Ring Colors

I have a special restocks of colors for you from Madelinetosh! Some colors in their lineup are unpredictable and look different enough from dye lot to dye lot that they don't offer them anymore in their collection. 6 of these retired colors are super popular and we all really wanted a comeback, so Madelinetosh has released them again and it coud be just a once a year type thing. These "Mood Ring Colors' are Fog, Opaline, Vintage Sari, Fallen Cloud, Cold Shoulder and Texasbama - all shown below in Tosh Merino Light.

Opaline

Fog

Vintage Sari

Cold Shoulder

TexasBama

Fallen Cloud

I also have these available for you on Tosh Sock, Twist Light Sock, Tosh Vintage Worsted, Tosh DK and Pashmina. At least while supplies last. And if they are offered again, you know I'll get them and add them to our 300+ line up that we offer. Texasbama has long been a fave of mine - I knit a Sockhead Cowl (shown below) awhile back in Twist Light Sock color TexasBama. I love how the wild color looks knit up. And Vintage Sari, Opaline and Fallen Cloud have been faves here for a decade. I'm glad they have brought all these back, even if for a limited time.

Let's hope Madelinetosh brings back some of their other retired colorways again when they are able to get predictable results in the more finicky colorys. Afterall, hand dyeing yarn takes a certain kind of artistry to produce, and since the minerals in the water, minerals in the dye powder, amount of heat and the person dyeing the colors that day can all vary, we can always get a bit of differences. It's part of the charm of hand dyed yarn, afterall. Am I right?

Emma's Yarn Mini Skein Sets

I have something super drool worthy to share with you today! Emma's Yarn is putting together 10-mini-skein packs they are calling Theme Packs, kind of a play on where their studio is located in central Florida. Winter Park is surrounded by Universal Studios, Disney, Legoland and more and I think it's a cool way to use that inspiration in their colorwork. Plus, I just love minis.

Blooming Bougainvillea

They have released just 6 different color sets. which we have all here.

And, of course, I love these so much that I ordered A LOT of single mini skeins so you now have a lot of options for small amounts of yarn that you can use for toes and heels, adding a stripe of color to a basica project and more. Plus these little gems are just addictive to collect and then dream about how your might use. I hope those arrive in 6-8 weeks. Plus another base that I can't wait to share....

There's also a fun pattern to use with the yarn, designed mom-to-Emma-and-Aspen, who also owns the yarn shop the sister dyers grew up in. Do check out Tropical Dilemma if you want to use all 10 mini skeins in one pattern.

It uses the Sailor's Delight pack.