knitabit

Stash Enhancement

Oh tra-la-la, what a happy thing it is to add to one's stash.

Let us first take a look at progress on the brown raglan sweater:

I purchased an Addi circular needle yesterday, but when I used my needle sizer-thingy it seems just ever so slightly smaller than the Denise needle. I'm afraid I'll have to finish off the sweater on the Denise needles. I'm trying to be more careful with them but even so I've had the connectors separate a couple of times. Readers are leaving me comments about similar experiences with their interchangeable needle sets. A pox on them all! (The needles, that is, not the readers.)

Yesterday was my early morning meeting down in Denver which wrapped up before ten. Yes, boys and girls, that means PLENTY of time to haunt knit shops. At the recommendation of one of my readers, I went over to the store at Evans & Monaco. They had a wonderful selection of yarns, with many not found in other stores around here (Sirdar, for example.) But I have never in my life seen such a junked out store. The books and patterns were a complete mess. When I brought my selection to the counter to pay, I got out my credit card and woman very tersely said "we don't take plastic here, and I thank God for that every day." Well alrighty then. (The other two clerks seemed much friendlier.) The store was quite busy and the phone was ringing off the hook. At one point I overheard them say that all their classes were full for the next two weeks (or something to that effect) and that we're in the middle of a "knitting craze." I also heard them say that they will be moving to a new location in late spring/early summer.

This shop is really out of my way; I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.

But look what I got:

Yes, this is Elsebeth Lavold's 'Silky Wool' yarn and her new book. I bought a whole package - 10 hanks - enough to make pretty much anything in the book. I'm still lovingly studying each of the patterns before I make my selection.

This particular store didn't have Addi needles, so of course I had to make the trek over to Showers of Flowers. I ended up getting only the circular needle, but I had lusted after and even gathered up several selections of yarn. But in the end, I decided that I'd rather think through some options here at home and make a more studied decision than just doing another impulse buy.

The good news is that the circular needle was not bought in vain - it is the very size recommended for the Silky Wool yarn.

Comments

I love the Elsebeth Lavold book and the silky yarn. That's a great purchase. I've had my eyes on that even though most things in her book are a touch on the small side for me. More incentive to keep losing the weight. :-))

Posted by: UliUliUli at February 3, 2004 10:51 AM

Ooh, lovely yarn. Lovely color. You were wise in your choice, my dear. Sorry about your yarn store experience. That is how it is for me usually, so I buy online lately. Can't touch it first, though. Phooey. Hope your finger is healing!
Sonja

Posted by: Sonja at February 3, 2004 02:39 PM