Keep Your Hands Busy!

Every year we have to make some tough decisions about which yarns are going to move along to make room for new inventory.  This summer the choice was way harder than usual, so in addition to putting the yarn on sale, we're throwing it a party!

One of those yarns is the ONline sock line.  This self-patterning sock yarn is great.  It's smooth, durable, and there are so many fun colors!

We have four bases to choose from (goofy nicknames are my own...those Germans are too practical to label their sock yarns with anything but the fiber content):

• Old Reliable - superwash wool and polyamide; available in forest colors
• Treat for Your Feet - superwash wool and polyamide infused with aloe and jojoba oil; available in Utah colors and carnival colors
• Soft and Shiny - superwash wool, bamboo viscose, and polyamide; available in bamboo colors
• Pure Decadence - superwash wool, silk, and polyamide; available in silk colors

All of these yarns will be 25% off all summer (21 June - 22 September 2017), no coupon necessary.  In addition, we'll be hosting the Online ONline Summer Sock-Stravaganza in our Ravelry group and on social media.

We asked our friends at ChiaoGoo if they would help us send off ONline sock yarns in style, and they graciously agreed to sponsor some prizes!  On July 22, August 22, and September 23, 2017(to give us time to tally entries), we'll be giving away one set of ChiaoGoo's mini interchangeable needles to a lucky Sock-Stravaganza participant (for a total of three prizes).  These are the smallest interchangeable needles on the market with sizes US 000 (1.5mm) - US 1.5 (2.5mm).  The sharp, stainless steel tips are perfect for find stitch manipulation, and the sturdy red cables add a distinctive touch.  If you win, you may choose between the original 5-inch tips or the brand new 4-inch tips.

So how do you participate in the Online ONline Summer Sock-Stravaganza and get entered to win the fabulous minis?

Required:  Fill out this form on our website.  There is no purchase necessary; filling out the form gets you one entry into the drawing.  Including more information will help us track the optional social media entries.  We promise to only email you if you win.  We don't sell information, and we don't have an email newsletter.  Only those who have filled out the form are eligible for prizes!

Optional:  You get one extra entry for every skein of ONline sock yarn that you purchase from Skein Shop from 21 June to 22 September 2017.

Optional:  You may get one extra entry per week on each of the following social media platforms:  Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Simply take a picture of your sock-in-progress, and use the hashtag #sockstravaganza.  Post on Ravelry to this thread.  You must use the hashtag in your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts, or we will not be able to find your entry.  On Facebook, you must make the privacy setting on your post public, or we will not be able to find your entry.  The safest thing to do is just to post directly to the Skein Shop or ChiaoGoo Facebook pages.  On Twitter and Instagram it is greatly appreciated, but not required, that you mention @SkeinShop and @ChiaoGooInfo.  Remember that only social media posts with work-in-progress pictures will count!

Optional:  You may get one extra entry per month by using ChiaoGoo needles or hooks.  Post a picture to the Ravelry thread clearly showing your ChiaoGoo tools in your work-in-progress.

 The other yarn that will be leaving us is the fabulous Findley Dappled.

It is identical to the Findley (which we will continue to stock), but it comes in great variegated and tonal colors.  The wool/silk blend is just the right combination of soft and shiny.  It truly is a very versatile and beautiful lace weight yarn.

The Findley Dappled will also be 25% off from 21 June 2017 to 22 September 2017.  Its event is Have Shawl Will Travel, inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermann's suggestion in the Knitter's Almanac that simple shawl knitting is the perfect take-along summer project!  Since the variegated colors might obscure very intricate lace, this is the perfect opportunity to explore more mindless (and thus travel-friendly) patterns.

Again, ChiaoGoo generously offered to sponsor prizes, so for Have Shawl Will Travel, we'll be giving away a circular needle case and your choice of 3 of ChiaoGoo's fixed-length circular lace needles on 22 July, 22 August, and 23 September 2017.  The case is brilliantly designed with labeled pouches for each size to keep you organized.  ChiaoGoo lace needles have sharper tips than their standard red line, and they are perfect for the fancy increases and decreases lace often requires.

Participation in Have Shawl Will Travel will work much the same as the Online ONline Summer Sock-Stravaganza.

Required:  Fill out this form on our website.  There is no purchase necessary; filling out the form gets you one entry into the drawing.  Including more information will help us track the optional social media entries.  We promise to only email you if you win.  We don't sell information, and we don't have an email newsletter.  Only those who have filled out the form are eligible for prizes!

Optional:  You get one extra entry for every skein of Findley Dappled yarn that you purchase from Skein Shop between 21 June and 22 September 2017.

Optional:  You may get one extra entry per week on each of the following social media platforms:  Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Simply take a picture of your shawl-in-progress and use the hashtag #gotmyshawl.  Post on Ravelry to this thread.  You must use the hashtag in your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts, or we will not be able to find your entry.  On Facebook, you must make the privacy setting on your post public, or we will not be able to find your entry.  The safest thing to do is just to post directly to the Skein Shop or ChiaoGoo Facebook pages.  On Twitter and Instagram it is greatly appreciated, but not required, that you mention @SkeinShop and @ChiaoGooInfo.  Remember that only social media posts with work-in-progress pictures will count!

Optional:  You may get one extra entry per month by using ChiaoGoo needles or hooks.  Post a picture to the Ravelry thread clearly showing your Chiaogoo tools in your work-in-progress.

We will be posting new pattern suggestions every Wednesday and Friday to the Community blog.  On Wednesdays, Sasha will highlight knit and crochet sock patterns that will look awesome with self-patterning yarns.  Look for her suggestions for simple lace on Fridays.  We are really looking forward to seeing some great socks and shawls, and we can't wait to make new friends in the Ravelry group :)

The (not so) fine print:

Each person may only win once per event.  Skein Shop employees and their family members may participate but are ineligible for prizes.  All non-winning entries will stay in the drawing through the end of the event.  If you are curious at any point about how many entries you have and how many entries we have received total for either event, please just email us at community@skeinshop.com.  We like to think we've thought of everything, but we reserve the right to alter the terms of this giveaway at any time.  Any such change will be announced on this blog and in the Ravelry group.

Anticipating Some FAQs

• Do I have to use the ONline sock yarn or Findley Dappled yarn for the projects in my social media posts?  No, but we'd love it if you did!
• You're recommending patterns, do I have to choose one of those?  Nope!  Those recommendations are just for inspiration.  Please make whatever sock or shawl tickles you.
• Do I have to start a new project, or can I dig out a lingering WIP?  These events are all about making progress, so WIPs are welcome.
• Do yoga socks count?  Is a scarf a shawl?  What about a cowl?  Or legwarmers?  We're not here to be the crafting police.  If it goes on your feet or legs, it's socks.  If it goes around your neck, it's a shawl.  Just relax and have some fun!