Simply Socks Yarn Co. Blog

What I'm Knitting

Yellow! And brown! 

Which is a departure for me, as I typically go toward skeins that at least have some or teal or pink or orchid. But none of that is to be found in the Noro I'm currently enjoying. Now there's a bit of aqua, so at least that's somewhat me. But I'm really enjoying the sunny yellow of it all.

Are you knitting or crocheting something that is outside your typical color wheel?

This is the Thresher shawl in Noro Yukata color 20. I'm going to try and use the whole ball of this, all 200g, so I'm unsure how many pattern repeats that's going to take yet. But there are instructions for a 100g skein or how to make it larger. It's a nice, easy peasy pattern.

Though I'm a bit miffed at the expanse of garter stitch, which is another atypical thing for me. I usually like that. But apparently I'm in my eyelet lace era. I know I could modify the pattern to make more lace panels and less garter, but, well, that ship has passed and I'm just going to enjoy the mindless stretches of garter.

Recent Club Projects & SSYC Show and Tell

I wanted to share a few recent club projects that you all have sent me pictures of, as I just LOVE them. We have another club coming up in less than two weeks, and I look forward to sharing that with you. It will be a special one featuring SSYC yarns for our 19th anniversary.

These socks were knit by Karen. The full sized socks were made using the Uphill Downhill sock pattern and the sock set (a SSYC Test Kitchen set) that we sent along with that month's club. Shorties she was able to make from the leftover yarn. I do have extras of this club yarn, if anyone wants some. Just email me at [email protected]. I have some left if they are of interest.

Then I have some photos using the Truly Outrageous mini set (I have two of these left if you missed out too, just email) from Emma's Yarn. The cowl Amanda made is just perfect, isn't it? She used the pattern I included that month, which was the Simply Fun cowl. If you want to knit this in other colors, it calls for the Sweet Georgia mini skein sets, which we have all the colors in. Definitely a great summer knit!

Karen knit these socks with the same 5-mini-skein set, and says this about her pattern:

This was a basic sock pattern with three row stripes. Stripes 1-4 were three row stripes with the middle row being two colors alternating stitches. Rotating through the 4 colors. Stripe 5-8 were three row stripes in the same order as row 1-4. I changed the order of color for every 8 pattern rows. Cuffs, heels, and toes were done in the 5th color. I used no published patterns.

Vickie, owner of Bird Leg Bags who makes a lot of our bags for our Knit Kits, made this from our last Quirky Sock Yarn club, and she used a bit of Opal Yarn for the cuff/toe/heel, I believe this one. Quirky Sock will be part of our upcoming club again. It was our best selling club ever, and I look forward to sharing more with you again.

I also want to share a couple recent shop show-and-tells with you. It's pretty common when y'all come into the shop that you share your projects with us. I try to slow down enough to take pics. You're always welcome to email me photos of things you want to share too!

Diana knit this cowl using Noro Ito color 27. The cowl pattern is one that we have in the shop for you for free when you purchase the yarn. If you wanted this cowl pattern, just ask for it in the notes/ comments section and we'll either include the paper version or if we're out you can respond to your emailed receipt and ask for the pdf. Diana and agree that this is a perfect cowl to wear all fall as it will peak out nicely at the neck from under a wool coat. So, of course, she bought more to make a second one! 

Maria knit these wonderful socks with Madelinetosh Cotton Candy Daydreams. I can't recall if she used Twist Light Sock or Tosh Sock. I love seeing these highly variegated colorways knit up, don't you? She used this sock pattern.

I couldn't stop myself from casting on a new project. Last year, the dyer who has been dyeing our Simply Sock Yarn Solids like since 2009 had a natural disaster that impacted her dye studio and she decided to retire. So I've been going about testing new yarns and dyers to continue with our solid line, and I'm now in the process of choosing the colors for the line. I hope that I can debut it for you late this summer, still in 50g skeins like we've done fo the past 15 years, still at a great price. If you'd like to try it out with me, you can find a few colors in 100g skeins in the Sale Yarn section for now listed as SSYC Test Kitchen Solids. I'm knitting up color 11 right now. These are definitely going to be for me.

I love the stitch definition in this yarn. I'm using the Seasons Socks by Summer Lee. I'm doing a bit of a shortie version with just a 3-4" leg.

I hope you've enjoyed this episode of SSYC Show & Tell!

Opal Along With Me #opalalong

I've had several conversations recently on social media, here the blog and in the shop about small projects that we just keep along with us so that we have something to tink along when stuck in the carpool line at school, watching a kids' tennis match, in a waiting room, or a myriad of other scenarios when turning-string-into-something is the thing keeping us sane. To celebrate all these little moments that are total wins for knitters and crocheters, moments that we just can't understand how one doesn't knit or crochet, I've decided to start a summer of Opal Along With Me. Just an informal knitalong where we stitch away on socks other projects made of Opal Yarn.

Just a few unfinished socks I found... older collections. They release new colors every few months and typically don't make them again so get them when you see ones you like!

Why Opal Yarn? It's really what I knit more than anything else. It is an addictive knit, it's what gets me going again when my knitting mojo is waning. It's colorful, affordable and holds up to years and years of washing and wearing. When cleaning out my knitting cabinet behind my couch this past weekend I found no fewer than 6 unfinished Opal Yarn projects (some above), and this week I'm closing those toes and finishing those projects so I have a half dozen more socks in my drawer. Of course, having unfinished projects doesn't stop me from starting another, as I enjoy making more than finishing and I feel no shame over it at all. Knitting is the one thing in my life that I do how I want, when I want. I don't put restrictions on it like time or amount. I sometimes finish things, I sometimes don't. It's about the process for me. The possibility.

Sock touring bourbon makers with me last year

Want to join me in my celebration of all things Opal Yarn this summer? I've created a thread on Ravelry so we can all post our projects there if we like. I don't check Ravelry much (maybe once a month?) but I welcome everyone to participate there however you'd like. Or join with the hashtag #opalalong on Insta or Facebook or wherever you'd like.

My current Opal Yarn sock in a Hundertwasser color 2102-686. I'm going to put a solid toe and heel on it.

There aren't rules to this, just a way to share what Opal Yarn we're knitting over the next month or two. Just a way to connect with each other. Share anything made with Opal Yarn old or new. Get some more here if you'd like. We always have all the collections I can get here in the US (it's German made, so imported). I even do special orders of things that aren't typically sent to the US (like mini balls when I can get them).

I'm betting we'll have a contest or several throughout the summer for those who share. Feel free to tag simplysocksyarnco on Insta if you want me to see what you're making, or post on this Ravelry group. Let's share our love of all things Opal Yarn!

 

A Perfectly Fall Weekend

A few months ago, I had plans to attend Rhinebeck this past weekend for NY Sheep and Wool. But when it came closer I just didn't feel like traveling that far and dealing with crowds. It's been a busy fall and just felt like one more thing to add that I didn't need to. Instead, I had my own perfectly wonderful fall weekend with hiking, visiting friends and family, knitting, and decorating for Halloween.

Not only did we take a short road trip to spend time with family, we also got to see college friends and go hiking. If you're close to Bloomington, Indiana, I highly recommend a nice hour-long hike at Leonard Springs Nature Park. A beautiful hike accented by caves and little waterfalls and a perfectly gorgeous walk overall.

We decorated for Halloween, which also included trying to untangle the webs that our five-foot spiders live on. We did not succeed. Note to non knitters who pack up the web at the end of the season - take direction from the knitter in your life and store your string properly. LOL!

I also cast on and finished a new project that I'm calling my Sunday Scarf because it's easily finished on a Sunday. A simple scarf using two skeins of Malabrigo Caracol, a super bulky weight yarn that feels wonderful and knits up super quick. I chose two skeins of Caracol color 249-Talisman, cast on 19 stitches with a 24" US 15 needle and did the Cartridge Belt Rib the entire way. What's the Cartridge Belt Rib? It's just a two row repeat. Row 1: K3, *sl1 wyif, k3; rep from * to end. Row 2: K1, *sl1 wyif, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, sl1 wyif, k1. And continue for as long as you want your scarf. I had about 20% of one skein left, and I'm planning on using that for a thick stripe on a coordinating hat.

Tuesday (tomorrow) marks our 4th week of Socktober goodies and we'll have a bunch of beautiful sale yarns. Dream in Color's Colossal Sock will be back, as will a special silk blend sock yarn from Austria. We'll also have new Opal Yarn collections, and three new collections from Laines du Nord. One of them is live now, shown below in color 201. Each ball has enough yarn for two matching socks.

Living Vicarious Through Your Knits

Today I'm continuing with my week long (so far) theme of sharing some of your projects leading up to the start of month-of-the-sock-knitter, Socktober!  I'm sharing some knits of Brenda, someone who I love to live vicariously through when she comes to the shop. Whether it's planning colors for her next project (like this one or this one) or seeing her show-and-tells, I love seeing color through her eyes.

Here are a few things that Brenda brought into the shop this past Saturday to share with you.

This is her Rebel. A lovely shawlette and she chose Madelinetosh TML+Copper.... I believe in Cherry and Calligraphy. I recall that she even started in in another solid, but the contrast wasn't as great as was hoped, so she started it over to make it right. I love when we have no fear about tearing out and starting over!

Then Brenda made great use of Urth Yarn Uneek Fingering (which stripes) and Monokrom to make her Vacation Butterfly. Gorgeous, right?

She also brought in her La Mondiola wrap, which was part of the Malabrigo Arroyo KAL last year. 

Last year during the KAL we shared other color ideas in sport weight Arroyo, should you want to make one for yourself. If you hover over the images, you'll see the color numbers in the file names.

I hope this gives you a bit of inspiration on what you might put on your needles next!

August Honey Sock

A couple weeks ago we gave away some goodies with your purchases. One of those was the August Honey pattern from This Handmade Life. Today I'm sharing what I think is just a perfect combo of yarn and pattern using Qing Fibre's Super Soft Sock in Biscuit.

Isn't this divine? Julie S. knit these and said "It is the perfect marriage of yarn and pattern. I’ve made many things, and these are among my most proud moments!"

She also said that "The yarn was a dream to work with! Biggest issue was trying to find a cable needle small enough. Would certainly recommend the yarn base!" How do you solve the issue of needing a specific size of cable needle? Just use a DP in its place to hold stitches? Other ideas?

We have a really wide array of colors in Qing's Super Soft Sock right now, so if you wanted to do something similar, now's the time. I like that this pattern looks super with solids but would also look great with speckles and more varied colors too. I like the idea of using Time Traveler, below.

Do you have a project you'd like to share on the blog? I'll be sharing lots of projects throughout the rest of the month as we lead up to Socktober. So please do email me at [email protected] if you'd like me to share some of your inspiration!

Malabrigo KAL Progress - Week 2

I started my Malabrigo KAL project last weekend, and I'm really pleased with the progress I've made so far! 

I knit it Saturday at a family baby shower.

I knit it Sunday while having a lazy day and enjoying episodes of The Pioneer Woman.

I knit so much that I am now on something I would equate to the feeling of "sleeve island" where you knit and knit and knit for hours and barely see progress. That's because I have 310 stitches on the needles and am knitting stockinette for 22 rows. A LONG TIME.

Shop Manager Heather, on the other hand IS FINISHED WITH HERS ALREADY.

HOLY WOW. This is the picture she texted me around 10:00 last night as it was being blocked. We'll get better ones later but I just couldn't resist sharing. Now, keep in mind that Heather received the pattern over a month ago and even passed along some editing help to Malabrigo, and she really started knitting a lot on hers about 2-3 weeks ago. So she was much farther than the rest of us before the KAL even started. But even knowing that, isn't this impressive? She's a total pro.

Are you knitting this project? The pattern is available here if you want to join. We are happy to help you come up with your chosen colors if you are unsure. You need two skeins of Ultimate Sock and three skeins of Mohair. Some are choosing two different colors like Heather who chose Pocion in Ultimate Sock and Tigers Eye in Mohair. I chose two skeins of the same color, Indiecita. I do love the watery greens. Find combos suggestions here on last week's blog.

If you'd like to email me at [email protected] with your project photos or links to your Ravelry page, I'd love to show them off here on the blog. I'll be blogging throughout the rest of this month sharing all sorts of projects that you've made recently, so please do reach out if you'd like to share any of yours with the blog readers! You all have emailed me some great photos recently, so I'll be sharing some of those this week and next as we lead up to Socktober.

Breathe and Hope pattern from Casapinka

I adore working with designer Casapinka. Not only online, but in person. Next month for Simply Socks Yarn Company's 15th anniversary we had big plans for her to come here to Indiana and do some special events to help us celebrate. But that was all canceled due to the current health crisis. Thankfully, Bronwyn (Casapinka) is still making this time special for knitters as always because this coming Saturday was supposed to be national LYS Day (Local Yarn Shop Day) and as she has done in the past she has designed an awesome shawl for us yarn shops to give away with the purchase of the two skeins of yarn for the shawl. So even though we can't celebrate LYS Day in person with you my friends, my shop and others are still able to offer it to you with your online orders. All you need to do is purchase the two skeins of yarn for the shawl now through Sunday, and I'll e-mail you the Ravelry coupon code after the pattern goes live this weekend. And if you already have a stash you want to use and don't need two skeins, no worries. She will sell the pattern to you on Ravelry starting next week. But this is the way to support a yarn shop like SSYC during this tough time and get the pattern for free.

What do you need to make this awesome shawl? It calls for two skeins of contrasting colors of fingering weight yarn, and a US 4 and 6 circular needle (at least 24"). You'll get the pattern coupon code and direct link e-mailed to you this weekend by me. The pattern doesn't even go live until Friday, April 24 and the coupon codes won't be activated and e-mailed to you until starting this weekend. So please be patient with getting yours, as this is supposed to be a weekend event, but Casapinka is allowing us all to start showing this off this week since most shops are currently only working weekdays (if at all). Please do not send her Ravelry messages or e-mails about wanting the pattern. The woman and her husband are doctors, for Pete's sake, and she posted that she had COVID19 weeks ago. Send her good vibes or go to her pattern store to show her support and buy a pattern or eight.

Want some color ideas for your shawl? I'll be blogging here all week about color ideas for this, so please come back here to the blog every day to see more. And if there's a color you like and you don't know what to pair with it, you can always e-mail me, Allison, at [email protected].

Here are the color ideas that Heather (my shop manager) and I have come up with so far, and some tips/advice at the bottom of the page. It's an asymmetrical boomerang shaped shawl with nothing more complicated than a "knit one below" or slipped stitch. The yarn does most of the work. This could be my longest ever blog post, but it's totally worth it, I swear!

Two limited edition colors. Besamé from Stitch Together Studios and Obsession from Qing Fibers of London. Also consider Besamé with Rose Garnet from LITLG.

How about a combo reminiscent of spring crocus with Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles (try Sock too if you want) in Sangria (a SSYC exclusive color) and Velvet

Above I've combined Qing Sock in Gelateria with Stitch Together Studios in Wicked. Below you see Tosh Sock in Hydroponic with Neon Pink.

Above is Tosh Sock (also look at Twist Light Sock and Tosh Merino Light) in The Uncola with Neon Pink. Below is Hedgehog Fibres Sock in Bubble and Egg Yolk. To me, this combo sings "vintage Hawaii."

Want something springy with a little bit of tang? How about Hedgehog Fibres Sock in Poppy with Melon above. Or Piggy Bank with either Melon or Skinny Dip. Anime would also be nice with these solids if you like a grey with speckles.

One of Hedgehog Fibres new colors is Bijou and it looks epic with Egg Yolk.

We have over 200 colors right now in Tosh Merino Light, and we really like Coquette Deux with Surf. Also Surf with Hedgehog Fibres in Velvet (above). Below you'll see Surf paired with Hedgehog Fibres in Glacier. That's a heavenly combo, right?

Want some sparkle? You can do one or both skeins with sparkle from Madelinetosh. Above is Wetever with Iron out the Details - also look at Time to Pretend. Such dreamy, calming combos. Below is Cherry with Dirty Harry.

Again, more sparkle. But this time Copper Glitter in Onyx with Found Pottery with no sparkle.

Next is one of our exclusive Hedgehog Fibres colors, Potluck 2y with UFO.

Above is another new hue from Hedgehog Fibres called Comeback with Jelly. Below is one of our exclusive Hedgehog Fibres colors, Potluck 1v with Melon.

Some tips/advice:
- Don't search for the pattern link on Ravelry or expect your coupon code to work before 9pm on Friday (perhaps give Casapinka even more time). She isn't even activating the coupon codes until the weekend. Please also don't expect an e-mail from me with your code until Saturday, April 25 at the earliest. Tuesday at the latest if you wait to order over the weekend. Make sure you add [email protected] to your Contacts so it doesn't go in your spam folder. Please don't expect the pattern code if you don't purchase two skeins. It doesn't have to be yarn I'm linking to of course, as you can choose your own two skeins to purchase. But Casapinka requires two skeins be sold for us to give it for free. 
- Don't be afraid to combine yarns from different dyers like I've shown here. Many of them use the same mills, so it could be you're using the same yarn anyway. Or just ask us via e-mail and we're happy to tell you if it works or doesn't work together.
- Be adventurous if you want, or be safe if you want in your color options. Knitting is what we need it to be. If you want to take a risk with your color choices, just do it! And if you want to play it safe and choose two colors that are your safe choices, do that. Just make sure they aren't too similar or the stitch pattern won't show up. We are happy to wind your yarn for you if you want. Just put that request in the note/comment section on our Check Out page.
- Know that we will help you however we can. We love being your personal shoppers/shippers and living vicariously through your ideas. Please don't call the shop, just e-mail me, Allison at [email protected]. That's how we can best serve you while spreading our time out and social distancing (our team of four) during this time.
- Please know though that your first or second choices could sell out fast, so if you really want something, just take the plunge and order it b/c if you wait hours or a day to hear back, that particular yarn could sell out. And if something you love sells out, it's likely that we have something similar. We have over 16 tons of yarn, after all.
- We are still shipping 6 days a week, so we will get your order out the door likely within a day and you'll get tracking via e-mail. You might get a tracking confirmation at 8pm or e-mail returned at 5am- it's just the nature of how we are doing things right now to social distance ourselves and be as safe as possible. - While we are fast on getting orders out the door, USPS is taking a lot of time right now delivering (perhaps temp staff or quarantining packages, I don't know) but packages are taking triple or quadruple the time and not often even being scanned during that time. I've seen no packages go missing at all (which is amazing) but don't be concerned if you see your package go toward you, and then be sent four states away, then show up with no warning 8 days later. It's odd, but it's happening a lot. But things are not going missing. Just well-traveled packages for us and all shipping right now.
- Please let me know how I can best serve you during this time and feel free to come back to the blog every day to see what we're up to. For 15 years, the blog has been a wonderful way for me to connect with others, and I'm happy to help you make the most of your down time during all this. Just e-mail me at [email protected].
- We will continue doing special giveaways of stitch markers, totes, contests and more to keep us all going during this tough time, and to start celebrating our 15th anniversary, so consider bookmarking us here on the blog and signing up for the e-newsletter at the bottom of our website if you want to get info on what's new and coming at the shop.

Making some crazy socks

We had a fab weekend here in the shop at our big Holiday Open House. Please take a look at a few pics on Insta, and as usual the day was so wonderfully busy that I didn't have a chance to snap many shots. Saturday after I got home I put on my PJs, sat in front of my fireplace, and cast on a new project just for me. I've been wanting to knit up some modern tweed socks for awhile now and I decided it was time.

I chose Qing Fibre's Donegal Tweed Sock in Hippienista (which is sold out right now but they are dyeing lots more for me now), but if you want to cast on right away also take a look at the other awesome colors I have in Qing right now. I also have several other confetti colored options from Hue Loco and Swift Yarn. I just used my basic vanilla sock pattern like this one.

Sometime late in the evening I decided that tweed and confetti wasn't enough pizzazz, and I wanted to do a magenta heel for even more flair.

Now that I'm getting close to the toe, I want to add even more color. Either yellow...

.... or a coral.

Which do you think I should go with? 

I pulled apart a mini set that Fiber Story did for a club for us a couple years ago. We have other color options here (the pictured one above was for a club an no longer available) if you think you'd like to do something similar. Or consider a set from Sweet Georgia or Hue Loco or Stitch Together Studios.

I have to admit that throwing caution to the wind and just doing whatever I want, even if the socks won't match, is a bit thrilling. I've never been one that has to have my self patterning socks match (I just start the second sock where the first one left off), and so adding extra color to my toes and heels seems like something I would have tried ages ago. I really think I'll be doing two different colors for the toes and heels on the second sock in this pair. And then I'm considering using the leftover tweed and mini solid skeins for a special baby hat or two.

Pattern Pondering

Do you have sleepless nights or wake early? When you do, what do you spend your time doing? Knitting? Watching TV? I usually sit on the couch and work and watch TV. But last night (ok, very early morning) I decided to figure out what I was going to make in a yarn that I've been wanting to start on since it arrived a month ago, the West Fork color of Less Traveled Yarn in their Sport.

When I was photographing this yarn for the shop, there was just something about the color that really spoke to me. I love that it's a fall-ish color, but that it reminds me more of an apple orchard or apple picking. It has pops of bright red and green without getting too muddled in the dye pot. So I thought a pattern that looked like one of those bamboo apple crates would be cool with it. Kind of an orchard basket sock for a orchard-like color. 

So this is what I'm thinking for the stitch pattern. It would be an eight row pattern. I'm thinking I'll cast on 60 stitches on a US 2.5. I usually cast on 68 for fingering weight for my own feet on a US 1.5.

Cast on 60 stitches. Join in round.  k2,p2 rib for 12 rows. Then start the following stitch pattern.

Row 1& 2: knit

Row 3 & 4: knit 2, purl 4 (repeat to end)

Row 5 & 6: knit

Row 7 & 8: purl 4, knit 2 (repeat to end)

I think I'll continue the stitch pattern on the top of the foot too, depending on how squishy a fabric this pattern makes. If it's too bulky, I'll just do the entire foot with no pattern.

I'm hoping to have time tonight or Friday evening to cast on. I think this will be my weekend project and I'll report back on how the pattern above works out. I'm sure I'll post on Insta too, if you want to see if I make changes or completely scrap the idea, which is completely possible since I thought this was a good idea in the way-early am!

Thank you for a wonderfully lovely and busy day yesterday! The Oh-My-Gourd Knit Kit has sold out and many of you are taking advantage of the lornaslaces code at Check Out. And our sale yarn is flying. You are made of awesome and I'm planning a gift at the end of Socktober to celebrate!

What we're up to

I've been doing some test knitting lately. Above is a sock yarn that we'll be offering from a dyer that I met at TNNA earlier this summer. TNNA is the organization that hosts our national tradeshow, and walking the show floor is one way to see what's new an what's coming from dyers and fiber companies who want to come and show their wares. I'll share more details soon.

Below is a test knit, a new base from someone we already carry. I was asked to give it a try and give my feedback and I'll let you know if this is one that is widely produced. Both of these are great, both four ply fingering weight. I used the same pattern, Pebble Socks. Both are outside my normal color choices, but I really like them. I think it's good to knit outside your box sometimes. Are these inside your normal color range? Which do you prefer?

Rachael is knitting up a Close to You. It's a great free pattern to use to show off those single skeins of hand dyed yarn that you buy but haven't an idea yet of what to knit. Rachael chose a skein of Bespeckled Sock from Knitterly Things.

Her color is Pop Rocks from a previous batch/shipment and is no longer available, but she thinks that both Happy Accident and Vintage Kitchen would produce a similar effect.

Rachael also recently finished some awesome sweaters, both using Mineville Wool Project's DK weight yarn from the Sale Section. First is the Soldotna Crop using the DK Singles we currently have in stock.

The Fern & Feather sweater is gorgeous, isn't it? She used in the 4ply DK weight from MWP that we are currently out of, but you could definitely use something awesome like Tosh DK or Swift Cozy DK if you wanted.

What are you knitting this week? Do share!

SSYC's Valentine Knit Kit is now available!

 

It's very appropriate how in love I am with this Valentine's Knit Kit. These little flowers and the combo of silk and cashmere makes me swooooooon. I hope that you love this as I do and if so that you snag one quick. If you want more details, you can find them on the previous blog before your buy.

What else might you like to add to your cart with this kit? How about the new yarn I added to the Sale Section? Rachael knit up this gorgeous Fern and Feather sweater in Mineville Wool Project's Merino DK, which we have a fresh batch of in the Sale Section. Plus we have more colors coming in at the end of the month (and sock weight coming later this month too). And if you don't see a color you like there, you might also consider knitting it in Madelinetosh Tosh DK because not only is it amazing, but we have a HUGE array of colors right now.

And if you want a smaller project in Mineville or Madelinetosh DK, might I suggest the Wurm hat? I just attached a pom pom (Silver Lining, Large size) to mine and I've worn it every day since. Especially since it was -30 here last week. I would have put on an XL sized pom pom if we had it in that color! I love a big ol' pom.

I used one of the Halloween colors of Spun Right Round for mine, but this is similar in color. And I love this too.

Project Feature, Diana's Time Trades

If you've been in the shop on one of our big party days, it's likely that you've been greeted by Diana. She helps us out at the shop when we have our big anniversary parties and holiday shindigs. She's also likely wearing a brand new sweater each time. And awesome socks.

Over the past few weeks at knitting group, we've been watching Diana finish this Time Trades shawl. She told us it was for a wedding this summer, and when she described the dress, we all thought it would look really nice. Little did we know how fricken awesome it would look with the dress.

I mean, is this not the perfect combo? The dress is beautiful. The shawl is superb. But together? They say DAY-ANG. Your thoughts? Have you knit a shawl or socks for a special event that turned out so wonderfully that you couldn't believe it?

The yarn Diana used for her project was Hue Loco Opal (a 50/50 silk/merino blend) in The Real Teal and Confetti Cupcake.

What we're knitting

Deb M. recently sent me a few pictures of a recent FO and a WIP and I thought the results were too fabulous not to share.

Deb got one of the Targhee Test Kitchen sets offered last month, and chose to knit them together into an amazing pair of Slippery Slope Socks. I love how the colors interact with one another, and the single-color cables!

(All photos used with permission)

Deb's Slippery Slope Socks

After knitting the first pair of socks, Deb found that the generous yardage of the Targhee sock is enough that she's knitting a pair of Ludwig Socks for her husband. How fun are those slipped-stitch columns?

Deb's Ludwig Socks

Our Poste Yarn Test Kitchen Sets are our way of trying new dye methods or fibers and offering them to you at a great discount. This summer, we'll be offering you several opportunities to cash in on our creative endeavors, so watch the blog for more details on what we're dyeing up. Don't have one of these Test Kitchen sets burning a hole in your stash? Either of these patterns would look fantastic in Madelinetosh Tosh Sock or Twist Light, Primrose Yarns Zigzag, Hedgehog Fibers Sock (it would be a great use for any of the Sock Duos!), or Fiddleknits Dye-a-Tonic. Need help putting together colors? Just email us at [email protected], and we'll be happy to help!

Recently finished something gorgeous in yarn you found at SSYC? We love to see what you're making, so please do share, either via email or in the Ravelry group!

Thanks, Deb, for showing us what' you're knitting and allowing us to share with everyone!

Yarny Show and Tell

Candy corn inspired gradient yarn for one of our upcoming Halloween Knit Kits. Coming in October!

Get on the Chevron Blanket bandwagon! This one in Cascade 220 Superwash using four colors.

Beautiful Amy wearing her lovely Featherweight cardigan in Madelinetosh's Merino Light color Torchere.

A tease of some more Halloween goodness. A test skein of Vlady Warhol, a special edition color for an upcoming SSYC kit, inspired by the fabric shown.

Our Angela knit this Hitchhiker shawl in the Tannat color of Alegria. Take a look at all the color options here.

Brenda brought in her mashup of Cameo and Noel. She used Hedgehog Fibres sock yarn in our exclusive Leaf colorway.

Shipping Diva, Rachael, knit up this little Peanut vest using some of the 100g DK Merino skeins from Mineville Wool Project in the sale section.

A pillow that I should have bought in a yarn shop while on a long weekend in Bloomington, Indiana.

Sue bought in her Screendoor shawl using our limited edition Yak Luxe.

Brenda showed off her Turtle Journey. How adorable is this? A great use for two skeins of Madelintosh's Merino Light, Tosh Sock or Twist Light.

What a use of a skein of Babs! Diana made this Willow Cowl from a skein of Hot Shot in the Perfectly Wreckless colorway. I think Mad Hatter would be a perfect color for this too.

Show and Tell

I love when you e-mail me pictures of your project, or come into the shop and show off your latest projects. Here are a few recent pieces that came in the door,

First, Diana brought in these amazingly creative socks she says were inspired by the House colors in beloved Harry Potter. She used one skein of each of the Poste Yarn striping Wizard colors and she used just the first color repeat of each skein, separated with a white stripe in Simply Sock Yarn Solids Natural. toes and heels also in Natural. Since each sock took just a quarter of a skein, she has enough for FOUR pairs of these socks, or she can use the remaining yarn from each skein to knit individual pairs. She could end up with five different pairs of socks or five of the same pairs of socks. She even chose to knit the socks opposite, so that when she looked down and saw her feet peaking out from her jeans, she'd see each of the House colors. I'm in awe of these. You?

Take a look at this beautiful sweater, which for the life of me, I can't remember the pattern name. If it looks familiar to anyone, please leave in the comments. This sweater used 500g of a fingering weight we had in the sale section awhile back from Mineville. Color is Ivory.

You've all definitely been showing the love for our Poste stripes lately. Thank you so much for that! The beginning of this chevron scarf really shows of the Danxia Landform colorway (we just dyed new batches of that and Heartbreak Hotel!), don't you think? Wowza. Should you want to knit socks with this colorway, toes and heels in Turquoise or Hottest Pink would be super fab.

Do you have a baby knit to do? Consider a simple baby sweater using a skein of Opal 6 ply or 8 ply. This one used one ball of 6 ply and there was plenty left over for a little hat or booties. Such a great set to give someone special. Give this one or this one a try.

What about a super special log cabin baby blanket? Combine four of or five colors of Cascade 220 Superwash, and you could have something super awesome and easy care. Definitely heirloom knitting. I've knit this pattern twice already, and I'm itching to knit another.

Lori knit this gorgeous piece, which originally was going to be a more neutral one, til she learned the baby's gender and added a bit of pink and a crocheted ruffle edge. Don't you love the color combo?

These two are my socks, and the two of them together just caught my eye. I love the striping colors of Trekking XXL, and how appropriate they are for gift socks, since they are so easy to care for. The sock on the left is fingering weight Trekking XXL in color 565 and the sock on the right is the sport weight Trekking XXL 6 Ply color 1846.

Shop manager Heather finished this simple striped cowl using some of the half-priced single ply DK weight yarn we recently had in the sale section from Minevile Wool Project. This sold out quickly, but we have more on the way for you in generous 125g skeins. A huge array of colors so you can knit something beautiful for yourself or someone special.

Want to share your projects? Please do! E-mail pictures and details of yarn and pattern to me, Allison, at [email protected] .

Knitting in the new year

Here are some recently finished projects that you've shared with me in the shop.

Brenda bought in this gorgeous use of Mini Mochi. I think this Canyonette pattern shows off the stripes of the yarn just perfectly, don't you? This used 3.5 balls of Mini Mochi color 332. Sausalito would look just as nice.

Rachael recently finished this sweater using some of the Mineville Wool Project one-ply DK we had in the sale section late last year. I'll be getting more of that, so be on the lookout later this winter. The pattern is one she test-knit for the designer Mary Annarella. The pattern is called Enfield, and we all agreed that we love the repeat of the rib on the cuffs, neck and sides. Such a lovely design.

Laura knit up this Reverb sweater in Tosh DK color Dr Zhivago's Sky. Love LOVE this color. And the story that goes along with it.

And here's evidence that we continue to grow and grow and add more yarn because of your continued support. I listen to your requests and I do my best to make it happen. I swear, this shipment from Cascade took up a third of a Fed Ex truck. So. Much. Yarn. I'll share all about it soon.

What you're knitting

Sarah P has been knitting some awesome things with the fab Online Supersocke she got in the sale section early this year.

And she has this to say about the third picture, "Then because I had quite a bit left and a new baby arriving I knit a matching baby hat using the lace pattern from Rick." Now that's a great use of the leftover yarn!

Vickie (of Bird Leg Bags) started some Elm Street socks in our Poste Yarn before Halloween and used the Fruit Stripe Gum pattern to make the cool diamonds you see. We wil be dyeing up some great holiday colors this week, so stay tuned for some awesomeness. Or check out the SSYC Instagram feed for a sneak peek.

Brenda knit this Clincher scarf with a ball of (unknown) Opal and a bit of coordinating solid for the edge. I love that she used a self-patterning yarn for a scarf that most are using variegated. I think a Hundertwasser color would look great in this pattern.

And take a look at these! This matching sock and glove set was made with Simply Sock Yarn Solids in Slate and Fiesta Lime with a bit of Cherry Red. The talented knitter didn't know the exact pattern name, but she said it came from the online Sockupied magazine two years ago. She said she's very happy with the performance of the yarn, as she wears the gloves nearly every day when it's cold out and she's caring for her horses.

What you're knitting

Heather, your awesome SSYC shop manager, knit another modified Ease. In FOUR DAYS. This time, using her own hand spun and hand dyed yarn. She even ripped the yarn out of a half-finished sweater that she didn't think showed off the yarn well enough. I love it.

One of you, Sally I believe, knit this adorable baby blanket out of Cascade Heritage Paints color 9801. I can't for the life of me remember what the pattern is, or what the name of the skull mitts are that she also knit using Madelinetosh DK in Dirty Panther and Antler. Sally, if you are reading this, please do comment below.

Brenda knit this Piewhacket shawl using one and a bit more of a Dream Club skein from last year. She ran out using one skein and then found a lovely person on Ravelry who gave up theirs.

Jodie knit these super cool Burberry-inspired Turtle Purl striped socks.  I have more on this yarn on the way and I'll let you know as soon as it clears customs and arrives. I even have some coming with glitter.

My knitting friend Heather (not to be confused with shop-manager Heather... hey, I know a lot of super cool Heathers) knit this Bus Hat with one skein of Mossy in the Mineville Wool Company yarn we had the sale section last month. I'm totally casting on one for James.

Finally, something that I feel the need to start planning tonight... Wendy's Blender Socks. She basically used a lot of scraps to knit up these awesome socks just like the pattern tells you to. I see several Poste Yarns there, some Online from the sale months ago, some Three Irish Girls at the top, and some Lorna's Laces in Zombie BBQ. And that's just the ones I immediately recognized. Don't you want to start some too??

What we're knitting

Been in the shop lately?  If not in person, I'll still share with you what we're all working on!  Afterall, don't knitters love to share what they've accomplished?? Heather (our shop manager) recently finished the Sockhead Hat above.  She's been riding her bike to work lately, and wanted a bright hat for fall.  Something so that she would be more easily seen by car drivers. I'd say this Fluormania hat qualifies, right?

Below, Rachael (she's your personal shopper/shipper) finished her Blooming Shawl in the new Lilt Sock from Black Trillium.  She used the Ultramarine color.  Fab, right?

I just stared a new pair of socks, leaving two single socks waiting.  I couldn't help it.  I'm a sucker for a good Opal colors (ok, I'm a sucker for umpteen good Opal colors). This one is from the new Rainforest 10 collection.  It's color 8467.  And I'm already eyeing several of the re-released Hundertwasser colors.

Heather walked in this morning wearing the awesomest sweater ever.  Seriously, she rocks this thing, doesn't she? It's Ease, and she did do some mods (armholes, size) and she used the sale worsted we have in the sale section right now (MWP). She said she was surprised about the sizing and she had to end up knitting the XS size to fit her, which was smaller than she anticipated. She did alternate skeins on the body (since it's hand dyed) just to blend from one to another, but she didn't blend them through the whole sweater.  The color is Allegiant.

Finally, this project wasn't knit by one of the team, but it was knit by one of you.  The sweater pattern is Practically, and she knit it with no mods at all for one of her grand daughters.  She used the MWP worsted weight yarn in the sale section in the Tempest color.  Love it!

I'd love to show off some of your projects soon, and I'll be putting together a post in the near future with some of those.  If you'd like to share, just e-mail photos and details to Allison at [email protected] .