About this same time I received my State Swap parcel from my swap buddy in Arkansas. She sent all manner of lovely state-specific goodies, like barbecue sauce and candy, along with some terrific knitterly things. I now have my first skein of Collinette Jitterbug, and I can't stop admiring the colors - a sort of deep jade green with other colors sprinkled in. I can't wait to to see what sort of (short - why does Colinette put up sock yarn in such a short skein?) socks will result!
Check out the lovely little stitch markers. I love how dainty they are. These are stitch markers I can use and enjoy in real life without them getting in the way of the knitting.
And here lies a photo of my poor lonely MS#3.
Somewhere around the time I went to hear the Yarn Harlot I lost my beads and crochet hook. Fortunately both were easily replaced, but it slowed my momentum considerably. Then the last clue was revealed. I am still in shock and have no idea how I would like to proceed. Actually, that isn't true - I have lots of ideas and no time to spend working them out. Fortunately knitwear is patient, and will rest peacefully in its little zip-loc bag until I find the time to investigate.
And then there was the travel. I visited Swarthmore and Cornell in August with my college seeking son, but sadly had no time there for yarn stores (although I was armed with the necessary information!). Then in September I had the chance to spend a few days in Chicago visiting the University of Chicago (and finally one little yarn store...). Here is the obligatory photo of the Cloud Gate sculpture in Millenium Park.
Well, maybe not quite the obligatory photo; this was taken from inside the sculpture. Some really cool views to be had, what with all the curves and reflections.
For those keeping track of yarn stores to visit, when in Chicago please visit the lovely folks at Loopy Yarns (www.loopyyarns.com; 719 South State Street). It is within walking distance of Millenium Park and the Art Institute (places to leave muggles while you shop in peace) and the staff and selection are both fabulous. I was there late on a Sunday afternoon and was not rushed in any way, even though my final decisions were made well after closing time. And I learned that Lorna's Laces is a local yarn for them (dyed nearby), with many of the colourways named for Chicago neighborhoods (Ravenswood being the actual home base, so to speak). I brought home enough Mirasol Miski (100% baby llama and in a good cause!) to make something cozy and shoulder-warming for the winter. Loopy Yarns definitely passes the "if my son goes to college here I will be glad to visit this yarn store again" test!
(I really ought to be sleeping, so I will save the yarn store, and current projects for when Blogger will allow the photos. And by then I should have some photos and news from Rhinebeck!). Pretend I just drew a line through the sentence in the parentheses.
Why? Because I wrote most of this post early this morning when Blogger was avoiding my photos like the plague. Now in light of day I have edited, added, posted the necessary photos (okay, the ones I thought necessary!), and generally beaten the post into shape. But there are still two things I haven't learned - how to draw a line through a sentence I have edited (leaving it visible but alerting the reader that an edited version follows) and how to make a live link (so you can follow my suggestion to a site without the copy and paste action). Well, actually there are more things than that I need to learn, but here I am at the end wishing I could do both of those to improve this post. Something to look forward to!
Anyone going to Rhinebeck - suggest how we might meet. I will be there as part of a bus group on Saturday, so my time is limited, but any hints I can garner about how to have the most fun - and meet some new folks! - are all welcome!
Knit early and often!
3 comments:
I have no idea what I am doing wrong, but I have tried for two days to email you, and it won't leave my desktop! Splither, splither, splutter! Well, I had a nice little thing prepared for you, so I am going to try to post it here if it will let me. My email is Denchief at earthlink dot net (you know what to do!!) so if it does not post maybe you can e me and I can reply??
Here goes...
LOL - yeah, this IS funny. I'm still not sure where I know you from, although I am figuring probably Elann.com.
I have been to Rhinebeck many times, because while it is about two hour ride, it is something my son enjoys and therefore my husband thinks it is a good idea...besides which, it is out in the countryside. I have a whole strategy I will be happy to reveal to you....Mwahahaha....
What you need is a map of the grounds. I think they may have one online. What you will find is that the fiber stuff is to the left of the entry points, out to ALL the way to the left, and a bunch of other nice-but-not-essential-to-knitter-stuff is, roughly speaking, to the right. To maximize the fibery goodness of the day, I suggest....
Enterring the far left entry. I mean, when you are looking at the fairgrounds from the parking lot it will be the one farthest to your left.
The 4- H barn where they sell stuff to eat in front and have contest winners inside will be on the right as you go in I am hopeless with distances. On the left will be livestock pavilion type things, which have open sides above a certain height. Some of these will have livestock and some will have exhibitors. As you continue on the right I think you will see the fleece tent. Down the hill straight ahead on your left, is the bottom of an agricultural building where they have exhibit space - the lady with the vintage fiber stuff is usually in there, alone with people who do jewelry, Jamie Harmon from Vermont, the Weavette people, (Is it pathetic that I know this by heart?)...
This barn also has an upstairs, which you reach by going up a path, and that is ok but I have never dropped dead over what they have there - it's nice but less exciting than some other stuff, but only in my opinion, I am sure it is some people's first stop.
If you go through this first line of barn like things there is a second line, and a big white building where they usually have Little Barn Limited and exhibits of antique wheels and stuff. Usually a lot of good roving in that barn.
You can melt your credit card in ANY of these!
While things do move around and I have not been there the last two years, vendors try to get pretty much the same places because they want people to find them, and people tend to remember where they were. I'll be hitting the vintage lady, (Who often has useable stuff that compares well in price to newer versions...) Lendrum Vendors (Because I need a new drive band fro mine) the big White Barn (I am looking for some Lucy Neatby Patterns and they often have them there at a vendor on the left wall), and Probably the whole rest of the place, but more quickly. I want some absolutely terrific roving for a friend who has just taken up spinning.
The whole experience is worth the trip even if you buy NOTHING. First of all, you can look at all the books you've just been seeing reviews of and decide which ones you want for the holidays. You can touch all the fiber and yarns. You can actually just buy a pattern instead of spending six dollars for the pattern and seven for shipping. You can feel knitting needles. You will see more handknitted sweaters than you had any idea existed, and they will all be on very real looking bodies, not supermodels. (No offense to supermodels, if you happen to be one, just that most of us aren't and seeing how the sweater looks on people like us can be helpful.)
The bus that goes from Long Island arranges with the driver to be back at the bus at a specific lunch time so that morning purchases can be locked up in cargo, leaving arms free for afternoon purchases. If they have not already arranged that with your buses, they probably can, if they try and are sweet to the driver. I have never ridden the bus so I don't know the details of how this is finessed, only that it happens.
I am always in a quandry about looking vs. buying. Part of me wants to see everything first, then go back and buy what I want. Ont he other hand, by time I do that a lot of what I want would then be gone. It is a bit of a pickle and if you have any sure-fire advice on this situation I'd be happy to hear it. The best I've come up with is that if it is one of a kind, better off buying it first - if it is an umbelievable deal, buy it first, otherwise, you can look and come back. At least that is what I think at this moment!
I would love to meet up - are you compfortable with the idea of exchanging cell phone numbers?
Thea, the Gryffinitter.
hehehe, pelted with panties.... made me chuckle! love the goodies you got for your swap pal!
Just checking in (after months--geez) to see how the MS3 progresses--if at all?
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