Completed Project: Greenway Variation for Julian

When I've got a bunch of baby blankets to make, I try to find a blanket pattern I really like, both for the look of it as well as the fun making it. This happened last year with the waves blankets (one, two and three). This year, I'm loving the Greenway pattern. After finishing Lennon's blanket, my hook was busy crocheting this one.





As always, details on Ravelry.

Using Knit Picks Brava worsted weight yarn in an array of blues, blueish greens and gray, I changed the striping pattern so I could buy the same number of skeins for each color. I was able to use just one skein of each color so I've got a second blanket waiting to be made.

The border was improvised using single crochets, half-double crochets, herringbone half-double crochets, and sometimes crocheting into the back stitch.

The Brava yarn that I used is a new line of 100% acrylic yarn for Knit Picks. I ordered it because the colors were exactly what I needed based on the baby's nursery. But I was very impressed with the quality of this yarn. I find it to be a bit softer than Vanna's Choice (of which I'm also a big fan) and you get more yarn for your money (219 yards vs. 170 yards).

Little Julian arrived last weekend and I hope he enjoys his new blanket.

LYS - All About Yarn in Columbia, MD

Another item to cross off my Year of Lovely things list - visit a not previously visited LYS in Maryland. I had a handful to choose from but I hadn't yet decided which would be the right one. The decision was made for me when there was a Groupon which was $10 for $20 worth of yarn at All About Yarn in Columbia. How could I pass that up?

On a rainy Saturday, the address was plugged into the GPS and off we went. The store is located in a business park and it was a little hard to find. After a few wrong turns, we found it. From the outside (as the photo shows), the shop just isn't much to look at.

All About Yarn

8970-G Route 108
(in the Oakland Center - near Red Branch Rd)
Columbia, MD 21045

 

I wasn't expecting much (more on that later) but I was so pleasantly surprised when I opened the door. You have no idea you're in a business park once inside the shop. The displays of yarns, books, needles and accessories and the great lighting make it a colorful, happy and welcoming store. There are so many different brands of yarn at all different kinds of price points, from common to uncommon yarns, novelty to high-end - there is something for everyone. There was also a wall of Addi needles at very good prices. The store is twice as big as you expect. Go past the register to some displays on either side and then a whole other section opens up. So spacious! Sorry I didn't take some photos to show you. You'll just have to take my word for it.

 

I got my money's worth with the Groupon. I picked up some gorgeous Cascade Yarns  Quatro - 220 yards of 100% Peruvian highland wool.

 

I also got a skein of Mountain Colors Twizzle, a hand-dyed yarn from Montana. It is 250 yards of 85% merino wool and 15% silk - DIVINE!

There were so many more things I would have bought but I thought two without projects planned for them was enough. I can't wait to go back to the store and at least get some new needles if not some more yarn.

After such a glowing review and considering this LYS is not far from where I live, you may be wondering why it took me so long to check it out in the first place.

 

The answer is - the WEBSITE. It is awful.

 

I will be honest that I even had second thoughts about getting the Groupon in the first place because of the website. I was worried the actual store would reflect the persona of the website. The website is hard to navigate, it looks old, but most of all, it looks unprofessional. While the website gives you the basic information about the shop (location, hours, brands carried), it does nothing to help promote the fabulousness of the store. It doesn't need flashy animation or complicated programming - it just needs to be reorganized, cleaned up, and some fun photos added.

 

So don't let the website fool you - this store is definitely worth checking out if you live in or are visiting the area.

Knit and Crochet Show 2011

I had a wonderful time at the Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis last month. The Professional Development Day was the highlight of it all for me, and not just because I won some awesome stuff in the raffle. The presentations, both plenary style by Vickie Howell and Ellen Gormley, and the small group presentations by nine accomplished instructors and designers, were very informative and interesting. Lion Brand sponsored the day (thanks, Lion Brand!) which included giving everyone some free yarn and hooks with which to make some chemo hats for the charity, Knots of Love. Here's my improvised design:



I was not able to attend the CGOA event at the Textile Museum inducting posthumously the fabulous Jean Leinhauser into the Crochet Hall of Fame, but I can share with you the video that was shown that night:



Such an amazing woman who will be missed by so many people.

My sister-in-law and I went to the shopping preview on Thursday night and had a blast. One of my favorite purchases was a handmade sheep pin by Ogle Designs. My SIL and I each got one in different colors.



I had so many people complimented me on the pin and asked me where I got it. I hope I steered more business to their booth and now I hope I've steered you to see their website.

I picked up some Addi needles to make the purple scarf and I got a signed copy of Ellen Gormley's new book, Afghan Design Workshop. I also picked up some awesome New Zealand yarn called Kia Ora Kiwi Laceweight by Zealana. It is 40% fine New Zealand Merino, 30% Organic Cotton and 30% New Zealand Possum fibre.

New Zealand possums are a bit different from North American possums. They were first introduced to New Zealand as a viable fur trade but they have since become a threat to other wildlife as they have no natural predators to keep numbers under control. The government has to do some drastic things (as in killing loads of them) to protect other species of animals, mainly birds.

This yarn by Zealana is available for purchase from The Yarn Sisters. But you're not just buying some awesome yarn, you're also helping a conservation movement. Learn more about how this yarn is helping - "Save a Kiwi - Knit with Possum!"

I picked up three skeins in three lovely colors and I'm hoping to make a pair of gloves from them. This yarn is so incredibly soft.



My SIL and I stopped at another booth, this one completely for charity. Called the Mother Bear Project, the charity is "dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of a hand-knit or crocheted bear." I picked up a crochet kit and I hope to make at least one bear before the end of the year.



The CGOA dinner on Saturday was also great - and there was more free yarn (and there was wine)!



Between shopping, free gifts and raffle wins, I had quite a haul of goodies when I returned home.



I don't have plans at this point to attend the conferences next year, but that could change. If you're been thinking about attending this fall or next year, DO IT! You'll have so much fun!

Midwest Meanderings

It is amazing how time has been flying all summer. First, I couldn't believe the Knit and Crochet show was a month away - then it was suddenly time to pack and go - and now it's three weeks later. Has your summer been like this, too, or am I just stuck in some kind of time warp?

Anyways - long story short, it was a great trip. While the 2011 Knit and Crochet Show in Minneapolis was the initial reason for a trip to Minnesota, it was also a great chance to see family in the area. That area included a 5+ hour radius from Minneapolis, too. Neither my DH nor I had ever visited this part of the country (beyond a layover at an airport) so the trip also let us add other states to our list of places we've been together.

Our trip from Minneapolis started with the 5 hour road trip to Wisconsin. It started out as a nice morning, but the rain came...



Sheets of rain, big drops pummeling the car, scary driving rain...but light in the distance made us hopeful for better roads ahead.



A few days in Wisconsin with family included two other states - Iowa and Illinois. Iowa was more of a drive-thru trip just to say we'd been in Iowa. The stop in Illinois was more of a destination. We visited the town of Galena which was historically known for being a major port of call for steamships. The town is full of history having hosted speeches by Lincoln and was the town where President Grant retired.

Inside of Grant's house with almost all the original furniture.


Downtown Galena


It is an artsy, fun little town with boutique-type stores along the main street. One of these stores was especially fun to visit - you guessed it - a yarn shop!

Fiber WILD! in Galena
fiberwild.com


What a wonderful little LYS this is! It has such a welcoming energy as you step through the door. The yarn selection is great as are the book, hook and needle selections. The owners are super nice and knowledgeable and the customers in the store (including yours truly) were having a wonderful time perusing the shelves for lovely fibers. While I normally try to find some local yarn when I travel, I wound up with two national brands.

I picked up some Flounce which, I found out later, is all the rage now. I had to have it once I saw the sample scarf being worked up in the store. The ruffles are so fun and the yarn is so soft. I chose purple as this will be my Ravens scarf now that football is back. The yarn is actually really easy to work with once you start. There are also videos online to help you figure out where to pick up the yarn edge. I'm knitting just 6 stitches on size 11 needles and it works up quickly. If it was my only project, I'm sure it could be finished in an afternoon. But I've got a few WIPs plus a book series I can't put down.



As always, details on Ravelry - but I will point this out, something that may be obvious to more experienced knitters but it took me a minute to figure out. The patterns and photos on Ravelry show a flatter scarf but I wanted the round, boa-type scarf. So - if you want a flat scarf with ruffles on only one side, knit stockinette stitch (knitting one side, purling the other). If you want the round, boa-type scarf with ruffles on both sides, knit garter stitch (knitting every side).

My other purchase was this Comfort yarn by Berroco. It caught my eye at the store as the colors are so nice and it is so soft. While I have oodles of baby yarn at home, I was with my sister-in-law who plans to have kids in the next few years. We thought it would be fun to buy the yarn for the hat and booties together so that when she does get the items, she'll remember when we bought it.



I should have bought my needles for the scarf there, too, but I thought I might get a better deal at the show. Lesson learned - but details about that and the rest of the trip in the next post.

From Wisconsin, we drove back to Minneapolis along the Mississippi river. It was a lovely trip along the water and was thankfully a rain-free drive.



While in Minneapolis, I didn't visit any local yarn shops as there was going to be plenty on the conference show floor. Plus, it was time to do some sightseeing!



I did find some crochet-related fun while on a tour of the Twins baseball park. Here's the front page of the Minneapolis newspaper the day the ball park was approved. Up in the right hand side - an article about crocheting!



Next post - actually about the show!

Lucky Find

On a recent day trip to St. Michaels, I made my stop into Frivolous Fibers. They've got a new sign up and they have reorganized the store. It looks lovely! As usual, I didn't need any yarn but that didn't stop me from checking out the selection. I was drawn to their new wall of sock yarns with bold and beautiful colors. I asked my DH if he'd like me to make another pair of socks for him. He looked at the wall and then found a basket full of - wait for it - Blue Moon Socks That Rock lightweight yarn! One of the owners commented the store had the lucky mistake of getting the skeins by accident. Blue Moon doesn't want new clients (booooo!!!!) so the store has been unable to get the yarn. In the end, it was a lucky find for me.



The colorway is Mustang Sally. I've got a pattern picked out on Ravelry for some cabled socks but I need to purchase the pattern in order to make sure I have enough yarn and that the pattern will be large enough.

DH was warned at the yarn store that the date of completion for this pending project is way, way, WAY up in the air. Like, he might get this pair of socks in the next two years. In the meantime, it makes a wonderful addition to my stash.

Knit and Crochet Show - Part Deux

After the excitement of Professional Development Day, I had a couple days with family events before I returned to the show on Saturday. My sister-in-law came with me and I was excited for her as it was her first time at a fiber event. Neither of us had signed up for classes but we did find plenty to do as we made our way through the exhibit floor.

I won't give you a complete review of all the booths - you can find the full listing here - but I will tell you I found plenty to ooh and ahh over, and even plenty to buy. I got some wonderful Lerke yarn from Dale of Norway - perfect to make a few fruity baby hats. I bought a new umbrella - sheeptacular design - as well as size 8 16" Tulip circular needles for a second Marsan hat (if I decide to make another).



The blue yarn pictured is from Tess' Designer Yarns in Portland, Maine and it will eventually belong to my SIL. She was so in love with the yarn when she saw it - but she thought it would be better to get a number of small, fun things than just one skein of yarn. So I offered to get it for her as a Christmas present and she accepted. She won't get to have it until Christmas, but at least I know I'll be giving her something she really wants and will truly enjoy.

I did let her continue to fondle it when we were sitting in the lobby looking over our purchases. I didn't have a project with me (long story - brought the wrong yarn with me for a current project) so I offered to wind up a skein of hand-dyed alpaca she bought from Nightingale Fibers. We had shared a table at lunch with the owner's sister who was helping her with the booth. She has the most beautiful yarns and she even names the yarns after the alpacas. As I was winding my SIL's yarn, and staring at the skein of blue yarn from Tess', I was starting to have some major yarn envy. The beautiful hand-dyed colors....the soft feel of the yarn....the potential!

I was trying to be ever so good with my yarn diet, just getting those few skeins of Lerke for projects I knew I could make...

But that nagging, biting feeling would not subside. Daydreams of knitting with the fabulous fibers would not leave my head. The thought of going home without it was too much to handle...

Back to the market we went where I bought a skein of silk from Tess' and a skein of beautiful baby alpaca yarn from Nightingale.

And then, I felt better.

Hello, my name is Samantha and I'm a yarn addict.





The top photo is Tess' Cascade - a 100% silk yarn. Divine! The bottom photo is of Nightingale's Lilian - an 80% baby alpaca, 20% silk yarn. I can't find words to describe the soft luxuriousness of this yarn. The color is gorgeous with subtle purple hues mixed with the cocoa brown shades.

With my yarn appetite fed, it was time for the CGOA Member Dinner, Fashion Show and Silent Auction. My SIL and I were so happy to get to sit with Jean, Rita and Marty again (as we did at lunch the day before). Also sitting at our table was -- seriously, I'm not making this up -- the Editor of Interweave Crochet magazine, Marcy Smith and Vashti Braha!

There was good food and great conversation. There were favors, too - a Tulip hook, Country yarn from Caron, Adirondack buttons, free patterns and other booklets of information about crocheting. The fashion show was amazing! I don't have very good photos from where I was sitting, so I suggest you check out the fashion show winners listed on the CGOA blog. Both my SIL and I won door prizes - she received some more Caron yarn and I received none other than a pattern book by Jean and Rita! I did make them both sign it for me.

At the end of the evening, it was thank yous, hugs and good-byes. As on Wednesday, my mind was buzzing with ideas. Sleep would not come quickly that night, which proved to be a bit annoying for a 7:00 am departure home on Sunday. But it was worth it - all that I learned and experienced, the wonderful people I met, the new opportunities I see ahead of me.

It took a few days until I was able to fully digest all that happened, thus this posting was not immediately written. My attendance at the conference renewed my hopes of making a career out of crocheting and knitting. It won't happen overnight, but the foundation has been laid and I'm starting to build my dream.

None of this would have been possible had it not been for the CGOA, the Professional Development Day program and the buddy program for new attendees. There is also so many thanks and hugs to pass around to all the amazing crocheters - professional and enthusiast - who shared their time, knowledge and kindness with me. I also need to thank my husband, Sean, for agreeing to make our summer vacation the trip to New England so I could attend the conference.

To everyone - Thank you! A million times, thank you!

LYS in Beverly Farms, MA: Yarns in the Farms

While up in Boston for Christmas, I had the opportunity to check out one of the cutest LYSs I've ever visited. Located in Beverly, Massachusetts, this uber cute store is a must see if you're in the area.

Yarns in the Farms
641 Hale Street Beverly Farms MA 01915
www.yarnsinthefarms.com





It was the day after Christmas when I went and they had used the recent snowfall in a fun and creative way with the knitting snowman.

You'll have to check out their website for photos of the shop inside. I can tell you that it is super cute. It's small but cozy and inviting. There are a couple of couches to sit and knit, yarn from the floor to high up on shelves, and tons of handmade decorations and goods (some for sale) throughout the store. The ladies working at the store were a delight. Very friendly and very helpful. One lady even stopped eating lunch to help teach my husband's aunt how to get her project started.

I had received a gift card for Christmas and had no problem spending it plus more. Here's my haul:



I was on a green kick that day. I was only going to get skein of green yarn, but when I tried to decide which one to keep and which one to put back, I couldn't decide. The green made me happy so I kept them both.

The one in the middle is Dream in Color Classy in a color called Happy Forest. The one on the right is C*Eye*Ber Fiber sock yarn in ivy.

The red skein is Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair in raspberry. local(ish) yarn having been spun and dyed in Vermont. I'm hoping to get a hat knit up rather quickly for Sean's uncle who gave me the gift card. I'm afraid that with my other current projects, it may be too warm for him to wear it by the time it is done and sent to him. It's the thought that counts, right?

Finally - the button. It's a plastic type material (not quite sure what it is) and it might be handmade or from some small producer. I paid too much for it (almost $5.00) but I loved it when I saw it as it looked like a slice from a very green sapling (I really was all about green that day). But Sean's first reaction was that it looks like a pickle slice -- and he is right. Sapling or pickle slice, I'm still happy I bought it. And I even have a plan for it! It'll grace the outside pocket of my knitting tote (which I was shocked the kit didn't include a button).

In summary - check out Yarns in the Farms. An excellent little yarn store worth the drive to visit.

LYS in NYC: Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Purl Patchwork

At the beginning of this month, I had to travel to New York City for work. I love taking the train to NYC and points north. It's so much more relaxing than air travel. Not only to you have more room to relax, but you also don't have to worry that your needles, hooks or other crafty items will be confiscated by TSA.

I got into town in the late afternoon with plenty of time to meet up with the Queen and check out a couple of fabulous yarn and fabric stores. Our first stop was the Lion Brand Yarn Studio.



Do you see the woman in the front window? The staff members took turns sitting in the rocking chair to knit and crochet next to the giant knitting needles and crochet hook. Click here for the big version - might be easier to see it all.

If you look at the web site, you'll see photos of the inside.

Is this technically a local yarn store or is it really a retail store since it's owned by a large company? I'm going to keep it categorized as an LYS since there is only one store and even though all they sell is Lion Brand yarn. It was a great studio, one that I would frequent often if I lived in the city. While the prices of the yarn were not as good as a 40% off coupon at Joann's, I was tempted to buy skeins and skeins of it. There is something about a well-done yarn display that can make even the most frugal shopper through skeins into a basket regardless of price. Luckily, I regained my composure and put back the 4 skeins I whipped off the shelf. But there was one skein I could not put back. I had not seen it in stores before and the colors were just too good to pass up.



It's sock-ease yarn in the most delicious colors. This must be skein number 15 in my sock yarn collection. I wanted to buy tons of other stuff I didn't need - the Queen laughing with me (and sometimes at me) as I walked around the store saying "I need this!" even when I didn't know what it was. I ended up with just one other item - some black eyes for a dustbunny long overdue.



The Queen also picked out Homespun in Barley for her future blanket. Once these baby blankets are done and friends stop breeding for at least a couple months, I'll be able to start on it. :)

The store was great and I'd highly recommend it. For me, my trip meant other item crossed off the 2009 Crafty Resolutions list!

Our next stop was to Purl Patchwork, which is the sister fabric store to Purl Soho.



The Queen picked up some beautiful fabric sets. I didn't buy anything there, but not for lack of wanting. I'm just not in the position to start yet another crafty hobby until I get either a bigger house or a larger storage cabinet for the craft room. If you ever did want inspiration to start quilting, Purl Patchwork would do the trick. I should also mention they had great spools of embroidery threads perfect for crocheting doilies.

We had planned to to Purl Soho, too, but the lure of frosty brews and pub fare was too strong to ignore. We had a wonderful evening chatting over copious amounts of beer until the hour grew late and the knowledge that neither of us could skip out on work the next day forced us to head home.

I really must make the trip up to NYC more often (and next time not for work). It's too much fun to see the Queen and enjoy the energy of the city.

Easton, MD LYS - Yarns & Company

Made another trip out to the lovely Eastern Shore a few weekends ago. Seriously - I need to move there. If only I could get a job there making what I make now or perhaps a teleworking position that would allow me to work from home. That is the dream!

We started in Easton and walked the quaint streets while enjoying the absolutely gorgeous fall weather. We popped into Irish Traditions, a store which was the most authentic Irish store I've seen stateside. I picked up some Christmas gifts (yes - CHRISTMAS gifts) and saw the most wonderful paintings and knitted items. The store owner was so nice, too.

Unfortunately, the Christmas gifts didn't exactly stay Christmas gifts as I gave them to Saoirse last weekend out of fear she'd outgrow them before Christmas.




We then popped into Jake's Pet Boutique where there were plenty of items with which to spoil Seamus. But they didn't have his favorite treats so while we were tempted by the items for sale, we didn't purchase any.

The next stop was Yarns & Company just down the street.



Proof again that Sean is awesome, he kindly took Seamus for a walk around the block and I checked out the store. I'm sure I could have brought Seamus in with me, but the 11 year old Yorkie in the store wanted nothing to do with Seamus nor Seamus to do with him.

Yarns & Company is a super cute store with a rustic feel. There is a great selection of yarn and the prices are very reasonable. The ladies in the store were so very friendly and I got some assistance with my sock and hat knitting issues (those pesky loose stitches at the beginning of a DPN in the round, aka ladders). I ended up buying some gorgeous hand-dyed yarn from Australia (which also came with a free shawl pattern) and a little skein of baby yarn in light blue. I also got a pair of bamboo knitting needles in size 5.



This store had the best prices for Clover needles I've seen (besides Joann's with a 40% off coupon). The store is definitely worth checking out if you're on the Eastern shore.

While we had a nice time in Easton, we were itching to go back to St. Michaels. I had hoped we'd like Easton more since the homes are bit less expensive than St. Michaels but one must follow their gut and our guts were drawing us back to St. Michaels. I'm guess the same was true for Seamus as he seemed a lot more relaxed and happy-go-lucky (i.e. not barking at everyone and everything) on the streets of St. Michaels as he did in Easton. Seamus also enjoyed our lunch at the Crab and Steak House. He loves hanging out under the table and barking at dogs passing by.



I did make another stop into Frivolous Fibers. They had changed the layout of the store slightly since last I was there. There is now a couch and it is a bit more open. I didn't buy anything - not for lack of looking and not for lack of wanting. I'm just very much aware of the mammoth stock pile of yarn I have at home and the number of projects I have to get done by the year's end. Best to put off some other yarn purchases while I get the things that need to be done, done.

What about the yarn I bought in Easton? Of course that doesn't count because that was my first visit to the shop. Plus, I do have projects in mind for the purchases. I'm using the shawl pattern that came with the hand-dyed yarn to make a birthday present and the light blue yarn will be made into a baby hat using the size 5 needles. :)

Three Days and Counting

I cannot express in words the excitement, the joy, the antici....





...pation of MS&W!!! This Saturday be a day filled with fibery goodness at the Howard County Fairgrounds!

But most importantly, in just three days, all my girls and baby Edward will be here. I cannot wait!!! But there is plenty to do before their arrival. I'm sorta ahead of the game with the bulk of the grocery shopping done but there's plenty else to do before Thursday night when the contingency from NYC arrives. Hence, it's 11:00 pm and I'm just finally getting some blogging done. (I had to make a cake for work, but that's a subject for a later post.)

In preparation of the big weekend, I recently tried out the swift for the first time to make sure it worked...



...and it did!



That's the Blue Heron yarn I bought in St. Michaels. Wanna close-up?



While I have every intention of posting more before the big weekend, I don't think my schedule will allow it. There's just too much to do between now and Thursday night. If only I could take an extra day off from work, but alas, that is not looking like it's in the cards.

If you happen to go to MS&W, be sure to check out the Ravelry meet up at the Rabbit pavilion and if you happen to see this Crocheting Commuter, do stop me and say hello. Safe travels and happy yarn shopping!

Last Minute Gift Idea

I saw this in the Joann's December project newsletter:



Yes, it's a wreath made to look like balls of yarn. The project idea can be found here.

If I had my yarn store, I would totally make one of these for the front door of the store. But I must say that the construction of the wreath appears to be a waste of perfectly good yarn. Gluing yarn to styrofoam balls is good for the weight of the finished wreath, but my heart would be heavy when I looked at that unusable yarn.

Instead, I think you could make this a wonderful gift presentation. Find a fabulous pattern, buy the yarn and ball it into 10 same-size balls of yarn. Using some heavy duty wire (that will hold its shape but not damage the yarn) thread it through the balls to make a ring. Insert two knitting or one crochet hook into the wreath and add a bow in a complimenting color. Add any embellishments, if needed (like stitch markers or fringe or beads - anything the pattern requires. Include the pattern in the box and voila! It's a full knit or crochet kit in the shape of wreath - and no yarn was wasted in the making. :)

Yarn Shops in Columbus, Ohio

A fabulous wedding was preceded by a trip to 2 of the 3 yarn shops in Columbus, Ohio.

First stop was at Knitters Mercantile located at 214 Graceland Blvd.



Located in a strip mall, I was a bit hesitant to enter but it was a hidden gem to discover. A well-sized store with some of the most friendly yarn shop staff I've ever encountered. The whole store exuded zen. The rows of shelves of yarn drew you in to explore all the colors and textures. Now - to point out yet again - I am by no means an expert when it comes to all brands, blends or types of yarn. I just know what I like. And let me tell you - I liked waaaaay too much in this store. One of the friendly staff members asked if I needed any help and she pointed me to some locally created yarn by Tuscan Grove. I just couldn't resist it! The colors were so gorgeous that I could have bought many skeins - instead I settled on this one.



It's 100% superwash merino wool in what is termed the Venice style (more info on their web site). The colorway is called Fresco and I absolutely love how the purple compliments the autumn oranges and yellows.

Knitters Mercantile also had a great selection of notions, hooks and needles and a good selection of books and patterns. I happened by the sale rack of books and picked up a fun box of crocheted bag patterns. At 50% off, this was a great find.



You'll also see a advertisement card for Knitters Connection 2009 which will be held in Columbus June 17-20, 2009. Though I'm not sure that I'll actually be able to go, I did join the group on Ravelry.

The store also has a table in the back for classes. While I was there, a knitting class was going on. The teacher was so patient and was explaining things in a way that all the students seemed to understand. Seriously - if I lived in Columbus, I would take classes and be at this store all the time. It had such a homey, relaxed and inviting feeling. I felt as though I could have hunkered down in one of the chairs and crocheted or knitted away for hours. It even had a "Crochet Friendly" decal from Interweave Press near the front door. It's a definite must see if you're living in or just visiting the area.

The second stop was at The Yarn Shop located at 1125 Kenny Centre.



Located in another strip mall-type location, this store was much bigger than the last. It included tatting materials and lots of embroidery. It was also a bit brighter (more windows) with higher ceilings. It definitely lacked the homey feeling I so enjoyed at Knitters Mercantile. The selection was wide but I can't say that I was wowed by it. There was a lot of synthetics and yarn that I've seen at other stores. There were a few gems here and there but I wasn't as drawn in as I was at the previous store - but that is not to say their selection was lacking. The hook, needle and notions selection was amazing - everything you could possibly need was there. There were oodles of patterns and books plus a huge selection of speciality buttons. They also have a play area for kids to occupy themselves while parents are shopping.

I was a bit turned off by the staff at the store. They weren't nearly as friendly as at the other store. The one person giving some instructions to a new knitter was actually quite aggressive and rude to her student. Had she been trying to teach me, I would have called her on it and/or got up and left. Perhaps this was the student's fifth time trying to learn and the instructor was just frustrated. Then again, the instructor struck me as being more of a knitting snob rather than a frustrated teacher. Do you know the type I mean? The women who seem to love knitting but they use it as a way to show how they are superior to others. For example, if you asked what a 2x2 rib pattern is, they would look down their nose at you as if you were not worthy of speaking with them. That's the kind of vibe I got from her.

Those somewhat negative impressions aside, this was still a really great store. I just know that I personally wouldn't make it my regular LYS if I lived in Columbus. I did end up making a purchase of some fun Harry Potter themed sock yarn. It's not like JK Rowling needs more money but I couldn't resist the commercial tie-in to sock yarn.



It's by Opal, a German company, and they have a whole series of the Harry Potter sock yarns. The one I bought is the colorway for Dumbledore. I giggle when I look at the label because it's in German and looks like "Halibut Prince" (in German - Half Blood Prince is Halbblut Prinz).

Though I didn't make it to Heavenly Creations, the two LYS stops were really great. I'd highly recommend a trip to both if you're in the area.

Yarn Shops in Portland, Oregon

I had a wonderful time in Portland last week - for business and for yarn. The photos above were taken from the top of the tram at the university. It's a free ride down and you get great views of the skyline. But now onto the important part - YARN!

There are a number of yarn shops in Portland but (as usual) I was limited to which ones I could see as I was sans car. I took the free shuttle downtown to Powell's bookstore as it was midpoint between two stores.

My first stop was The Knit Knot Studio.



The Knit Knot Studio
1238 NW Gilsan
Portland, OR 97209
503-222-3818

This was a tiny, little yarn shop. I'd say it the store space was no bigger than my bedroom, but with higher ceilings. It was well lighted, had nice displays and had a decent selection of yarns given its size. As I walked around, I found two yarns I really liked - one was some kind of cashmere blend and was uber expensive while another beautiful hank (also very expensive) was from Blue Heron Yarns in Easton, Maryland. Even if I loved it enough for the price, I refuse to buy yarn from my home state when I'm all the way out in Portland.

I kept searching around the store for something from the Northwest, or at least the West coast. I was going to ask the store owner if there was anything specific to Portland but she was busy with an enthusiastic customer. I listened in to their conversation (not that I could avoid it since the store is that small). The owner was very nice as she explained some kind of yarn to the customer (she also said hello when I walked in) but when talk turned to payment, my ears perked up. It seems she doesn't take any credit cards that give the customer points or miles or have some kind of rewards/points associated with purchases. The credit card companies charge a higher percentage for those cards so she doesn't accept them. This is the first time I've ever heard of a retailer not accepting such cards. I was shocked. I understand that the economy is shaky and owning your own business requires you to find cost-cuts where you can, but this was ridiculous. If times are tough, you should either lower your prices to increase the volume of sales, move to a cheaper lease/rent location, or work on marketing to increase sales. Limiting your customer's choice of payment? Not a good idea to inconvenience your customers. The only credit card I use has reward points so when I heard her say she wouldn't accept it, I left. I had found nothing in the store that was worth the price let alone the hassle of not being able to use my credit card. So in summary - it was an okay store but I can't honestly recommend you stop by there if you're visiting Portland.

I was slightly disheartened after my first stop. It's rare to find a yarn store that disappoints. Though it was now 3:00 pm PST, it was 6:00 pm EST and I was starving. I stopped by one of Portland's many microbreweries, Deschutes. Sadly, another disappointment. Of the 6 beers I sampled, only 2 were good. My burger was extra well done instead of medium and the heaping pile of fries was unappetizing.

I left the pub and headed toward the second yarn store on my list. I must say that I was not expecting much given the first two stops that left me unfulfilled. Plus it was quite chilly and I was the genius who didn't bring a jacket as it had been 80 degrees in DC the day before. Cold and disappointed, I walked to KnitPurl.

My third stop was a charm.



KnitPurl
1101 SW Alder
Portland, Oregon 97205
503 227-2999
866 656-KNIT (Toll Free)

What a wonderful store! Not too big, not too small, wonderful layout and an amazing selection. This next photo, which they so graciously allowed me to take, is for the Queen.



Have you ever seen such a selection of Koigu in your life? They seemed to have every color! Click on the photo and see the larger version. The selection made me drool. I wanted to buy it all though I had no idea what I would use it for. I also found some beautiful silk blend yarn but it was expensive and from a New York state producer. Luckily I had come to the source of some fabulous sock yarn from Shi Bui Knits. Here's my purchase which came in this cute little bag:





I got one skein in Earth (left) and one skein in Tweed (right). They were about $10 per skein and should make a pair of socks per skein. I'm hoping this yarn will be the motivator for me to get out the DPNs and learn to make a pair of socks, regardless of the simplicity of the pattern.

Needless to say, I highly recommend a stop at KnitPurl when you're in Portland. And if you're looking at the Shi Bui Knits sock yarn online or at your LYS, it's worth buying.

After the great experience at KnitPurl, I went back to Powell's bookstore to wait for the shuttle. I popped into the gigantic store which stretches more than a city block. I perused the craft book section but didn't find anything I needed. I also checked for a new release, Dark Banquet: Blood and the Curious Lives of Blood-Feeding Creatures by Bill Schutt. Dr. Schutt was one of my favorite professors in college and since I loved his classes so much, I'm anticipating his book to be just as entertaining and informative. Sadly, I didn't find it at Powell's (but I did order my copy from Amazon when I got home). And yes, this is a shameless plug for his book. But I really do think it will be a great read! :)

I'm trying to convince Sean that we should use our frequent flyer miles to make a trip out to Portland. Not only are there more yarn stores to visit, but there are also numerous vineyards around the Portland area that I'd like to visit. I also think he'd enjoy the vibe of the city and the other things to see and do - just so you know the suggestion isn't a completely selfish one.

I will leave you with one of my favorite photos from my trip. This has to be one of the funniest street signs I've ever encountered. Enjoy!