Major Knitter

Sioux City's LYS - Susan's Yarn Garden

I'd like to share a little bit about Susan's Yarn Garden with you.  It's an oasis for knitters in my hometown.  I forgot to share these great pictures with you.  If you ever find yourself in Sioux City, Iowa, please stop in and say hello to Susan.  You'll be glad you did.

Here's Susan at the cash register ringing up my purchases.

When I was in Sioux City in February for the wedding, I purchased this great handmade knitting bag by local artist Foolish Pleasures.  It's currently only for sale at Susan's Yarn Garden.

This time I bought my clear clogs - aka - Sluggers and 2 skeins of Sockotta yarn.  I also got an airport emergency knitting kit that Susan put together and hopes to sell in airports across the country.  I also got some great stitchmarkers by another Midwest artist.  Susan threw in the Knit 'n Style magazine as a gift.

See these great stitch markers.  Aren't they cute?

 

Here's the emergency airport knitting kit -While-A-Way.  It comes with a pair of bamboo needles, a pattern and enough yarn to make 4 dishrags with varying patterns of difficulties.

I had so much fun at my hometown LYS that I can hardly wait to go back.  Thanks for such a wonderful shop Susan.  You've given me another reason to go home from time to time. 

A Great LYS in My Hometown

I found this great LYS in my hometown of Sioux City, Iowa when I was here for my wedding last month.  I forgot to share my discovery with you.  I found Susan's Yarn Garden via my SIL Debbie.  It was just the thing I needed to get back my knitting mojo after this week.

Susan's Yarn Garden is a goldmine in my hometown.  Susan, the owner of this LYS, has built a wonderful oasis in Sioux City for all things fibre-related.  She has great space, great needles, great fibres, great knitting accessories and more.  I think I'll be tempted to return often to my hometown just to add another LYS to my list of favorite shopping spots to feed my knitting addiction.

Joanne's Sampler Blanket

Do you have your priorities straight?  I do.  I rearranged my schedule so that I could attend Charlene Schurch's sock classes at Knitting Central.  I wasn't going to be able to attend either session, but I realized that this class was just too important to miss.  While I was in my LYS, my friend Joanne stopped in with her finished baby blue sampler blanket

This blanket is a free store pattern when you purchase the yarn at Knitting Central.  I purchased the yarn in red and The Sampler Blanket is high on my list of future projects. Joanne has made at least 3 of these and each one is more gorgeous than the last (if that's possible).  It's truly an inspiration. 

Saybrook Yarn

What's a mini-vacation without a trip to the LYS?  Julie gave me the Yellow Pages and I looked up knitting.  Lo and behold I found one knitting shop in the area.  So we all piled in the car and did some sightseeing followed with a trip to Saybrook Yarn.  I fell in love with these adorable Mary Janes in Sandnes Lanett pattern book #0114 and bought the pattern for them.  Now I need to find the right black and white yarn combination to knit them up into baby gifts. 

As I often do, I asked Cindy at Saybrook Yarns what her favorite sock yarn is.  She steered me toward this scrumptious Mountain Color yarn made with wool, mohair and nylon.  I immediately purchased a skein in a blue/green/purple combination

I also purchased 2 skeins of Cotton Classic and 2 skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk for a few surprise projects.

After a delicious lunch near the knitting store, we settled down for an afternoon of Boggle and laughter.  Is it just me or is it always about Y-A-R-N?

Run, Don't Walk!

My LYS - Knitting Central - is having a huge sale this weekend.

The sale runs from Friday, August 10th to Monday, August 13th

• 40% off a great selection of yarns
• 30% off assorted magazines and books
• Selected store samples available for sale

Yarn Connection

I traipsed into the city last night.  BF met me at Grand Central and we walked down to Borough Food and Drink at 12 East 22nd Street in Manhattan where we met Judy for dinner.  Of course, I had to make one quick stop at The Yarn Connection for a quick knit fix.  I asked the owner what her favorite sock yarn was and she quickly spouted out Trekking.  So I picked up a skein in this blue jean speckled colorway before we continued our walk to the Flatiron Building.

Of course, I was busy finishing up some powder blue Magic 28 socks on my commute - so I snapped a picture of my work in progress inside the restaurant by this marvelous montage of Subway signs

No - my knitting is not upside down - the subway sign is upside down in the center of this collage.  I thought it was a brilliant piece of art.  The socks agreed.  It was a wonderful evening of good friends, good food and great conversation.

Not So Local LYS

When I got back from visiting Terezinha, I wanted to send her a little knitting package.  I had the concierge at the hotel help me find a hobby store nearby and found this wonderful shop in Sao Paulo called Pintar e Bordar.

Felipe helped me find some knitting needles, baby yarn and even stopped to pose for this picture.  Thanks for your help!

I managed to put together this care package for Terezinha.  I thought maybe she could help me knit up some swatches for the Knit Notes and I could help her out of her financial situation that way. 

New Blogs!

I forgot to tell you about two new knitting blogs that have sprung up from my LYS. 

The first one is the Knitting Central Blog and it has lots of great pictures of finished projects that are always showing up in the store. 

The second one is Danni's Blog.  Danni is an extremely talented knitter, computer programmer and generally a wonderful person.  She works at Knitting Central and if you haven't seen her knitting, you really should check it out.

You can learn about more of my local knitting community through these two blogs.  I hope you'll visit them and add them to your bloglines.

Another blog that is relatively new in town is my friend Teresa's blog - Life, Love, and Food in My America - and while it's not about knitting, I highly recommend you visit her site and say hello.  Her stories of life in America are touching and you'll be anxiously awaiting the moment when Teresa decided to publish a book.

How I Spent My Day

I went to the Westport Young Woman's League today and helped assemble Valentine's goodie bags for the senior center in town.  It was a great day.  We put fruit, candies, and handmade cards made by the local school children in bags and delivered them.

After that, I had nothing else on my schedule so I decided to visit my LYS - Knitting Central.  Why you ask?  Well, because I need more sock yarn, of course.  Secundogeniture told me that he wants green, brown, and black socks and could I just make him some like that.  Not like the gray, blue, and white striped ones I'm currently making.  OK.  I cave.  I go to the store and look at all the sock yarn.  Nothing is quite right except one skein of Koigu.  Unfortunately, it's the only skein.  So instead, I buy 6 skeins of Koigu in other colors and some new Brittany 5" dpns and begin to knit in the store.

I cast on 60 sts with the Koigu in a grayish blue and begin a sock with a K2, P2 cuff.  Fanon was there too, so we chatted and knit in the front of the store for an hour or so.  It was a great way to spend a little "ME" time.  Actually, when I looked at my watch is was already 1:00 p.m.  I'd been there for several hours having a grand ol' time.  Such a nice place to sit and chat.

Oh - see my scarf?  It's really Joanne's.  She left it at the WYWL valentine goodie bag event, so I brought it with me to deliver it to her.  It's chenille and very warm.  I think I have some purple Lion Brand chenille in my stash.  Maybe I'll knit a scarf for myself.

Saturday Delight

We had an intimate Saturday kNit Live today with Jane, Betsy, Joanne and me.  It was great to see everyone and see the progress made.  Betsy is making some wonderful spider socks for her daughter.  Joanne is working on the second or third panel of her textured blanket.  Jane worked on her red Cascade 220 Almost Argyle sweater - er - I mean "jumper" and I flitted from socks, to wrist warmers, to a loom hat and a hat knit on the Magic Loop.  It was a great group, but the camera was sleeping. 

Later in the afternoon, I took Jane to two more LYS.  At Knotty Girl we each bought these great t-shirts plus some yarn.  Debi was such a doll, as always.  There were so many wonderful things to look at and covet.  In the end, we exhibited great discipline.

And we snuck into Janet Kemp's just before closing.  I bought these adorable knitting needles from Serendipity and Jane bought some Opal pink sock yarn.  Gotta have that souvenir sock yarn.  Janet looked amazing in her handknit sweater in blues and purples despite being under the weather.  I hope you're feeling better Janet!

Then we headed home for a fish and steak dinner with asparagus, salad, corn, strawberries and Fluff (BF's idea) and finally, apple pie a la mode.  How's that for American hospitality.  Soon after that, with our tummies full and our bodies exhausted, we called it a night.  Tune in tomorrow for more knitting news.

Give My Regards to Rhinebeck

Today is the day. Many of you (hundreds if not thousands) are already there. More of you are en route. Are you planning on meeting at the coffee shop before you head to the Duchess County fairgrounds? Will you be at the blogger's meetup? Will you see old friends? Will you make new friends? How much yarn will you buy? How many classes will you take? Why do they sell everything under the sun made out of lamb at the food court to a group of knitters? (I never understood this last one). Will you buy the raw wool and make your own homespun yarn? Will you go to the auction and bid on a lamb? Sheep? Llama? Or will you take home a brand new puppy? Will you have your picture taken with the rabbit lady?

Whatever Rhinebeck and the New York Sheep and Wool Festival signify for you, may you have a wonderful day.

Home, Sweet Home

I love traveling and visiting other yarn stores.  All the traveling makes me appreciate my LYS so much more (not that I ever take it for granted, though).  Knitting Central has the best selection of Koigu I have ever seen (you know how I'm hooked on Koigu).  Of course, Cynthia always has the latest and the greatest items.  Sometimes I like to wander in, just to see what's new.  I dropped in yesterday to tell her how much I appreciate her store and I also picked up this yarn for gifts.  The blue koigu is a gift for a friend who recently had a birthday.  The pink is going to be knit up into a scarf for Bethany.

Speaking of gifts, I received this book, Knit 2 Together, as a birthday gift from Julie.  She's such a great friend.  Thanks Jewels!

Beth Brown-Reinsel Class

I stopped by Knitting Central to pick up a few knitting accessories and to inquire about getting a private lesson on the Fair Isle vest.  I would like to have someone walk me through the steeks the very first time I try them.  Both Sally and Cynthia are whizzes at fair isle, so when the kids are all back in school, I'll be spending some quality time at my LYS.

Whenever I'm there, I always ask Cynthia what's new - products, classes, etc.  She told me about this great class from a wonderful teacher who comes to the store once a year.  I was sold.  I signed up for Beth Brown-Reinsel's Textured Twine Knitted Socks class to be held all day on Monday, November 13th.  I'm really looking forward to it.  It will be a wonderful day in the knitting community in Westport.  I think there's one spot left if you'd like to join us.

A Few More Purchases

I had a gift certificate that was burning a hole in my pocket this morning, so while I was at Knitting Central for my refresher course and my extra supplies, I also picked up some Turbo Addi's in US Size 4 (in 14 and 24" length needles).  Then I realized that one of my good blogging buddies just had a 36th birthday this weekend.  Some green multi-colored Koigu called out to me with his name on it, so bought three skeins for some gift socks.  While I was at it, the cream Koigu was whispering my name, so I bought that, too.  When my purchases were tallied, I was 90 cents short of the value of the gift certificate, so I added the cute Knit Happens Post It Notes.

Starter Fair Isle Project

I got an email from Knit Picks yesterday and was intrigued by these three patterns.  I decided to order the kit for this project for my niece or nephew.  I think all of them might wear it.  Of course, it will probably go to Conor who has declared his affinity for Aunt Jennifer's handknit sweaters.  Cute boy!

This pattern is called Crayons & Chalkboard by Kathleen Taylor and I think it will be just the thing for a home-schooled child to wear, don't you?

I need to special order the yarns for my Alice Starmore fair isle sweater, so in the meantime, I thought I'd try my hand at this. 

Seeing Red

I went to Knitting Central today and this Big Red Knitting Bag in Posey caught my eye.  I was just thinking to myself that I needed something red to go with my summer toes. 

   

It's a great knitting bag with lots of pouches and pockets on the inside and enough style to be your favorite handbag.  Just the thing I needed to brighten up my summer knitting look. 

Mother's Day Knitting at Knitting Central

Cynthia told me that Knitting Central would be open on Mother's Day with bagels and mimosas to honor all Mothers.  What a great idea!  I went in for twenty minutes and chatted and bought some lovely Lorna's Laces plus some new sassy knitting needles and got a little Mother's Day gift from Cynthia which she made up for everyone who visited today.

Here's my lovely yarn.  Why three skeins?  The one of the left is to use with my red yarn for some shadow socks.  I don't know when I'll ever get around to making them, but I'll be ready when I get inspired.  The ruler, yarn gauge and needle gauge is my Mother's Day gift from Cynthia.  Isn't it cute?

Now, the Piece de Resistance.  Here are my sizzling hot Bella Blue needles.  Aren't they a hoot?

Thanks Cynthia!  What a great Mother's Day treat for myself.

Sally's Sock Session

Sally called me to tell me that the Sock Session was being called to order.  So, I found a brief 30 minutes to run over to Knitting Central to join Cynthia, Sally, Gail, Mary and Jeanine for a bit of knitting, pizza, chocolate covered almonds, KAL advice and that great knitting camaraderie.  It was a delightful time and I even managed to make some progress on my brown sock.

After one month, I'm finally ready to finish the toes on my first Purl Lace Sock from Socks. Socks. Socks. 

Have you notice how little I've actually been knitting?  If so, good for you.  I've really wreaked havoc on my neck, shoulders, arms, back, hips and knees from all the repetitive motion I do.  All my favorite hobbies involve fine motor skills and I tend to attack everything I do with a vengeance.  Needless to say, my body suffers.  I've been working with my massage therapist Diane (SHE'S THE BEST!) to try to counter the damage.  I'm supposed to be doing lots of stretches and yoga and other exercises to work the opposite muscles as my knitting and blogging muscles.  I'm still working on that discipline.  In the meantime, I need to give my muscles a rest, so there has been very little knitting.  Sigh.  Hopefully, it won't take me another month to finish the second brown sock.  It sure has traveled though - London, New York, Connecticut, Boy Scout Training and Whitewater Rafting.  It's quite the adventurous sock, don't you think?

Store-Wide Sale!

The Needlework Shoppe in Westport is having a big store-wide sale today to make room for spring merchandise.  Sale prices are up to 40% off.  Stop by and check it out yourself.  Here's an excerpt from their ad:

The Needlework Shoppe…an experience! Knit, Crochet, Needlepoint, Embroider, Cross-Stitch, Quilt, yarn, needles, hooks, hand fibers, hand painted and blank canvases, cloth, thread, fabric, books, patterns, scissors, lamps, magnifiers, ribbon, buttons, beads, trim, kits, accessories, notions, classes, finishing, framing, custom services, newsletter, gift certificates, membership club discounts, sales, guilds, events.

Address: 1 Wilton Road, Westport, Connecticut
Tel: 203-227-8098

Knitting Central Featured in VOGUEknitting!

Did you get your copy of the Spring/Summer 2006 VOGUEknitting yet? 

Mine came in the mail today and there was a feature article about my LYS Knitting Central.  Congratulations Cynthia!

March 8th - International Day of the Woman

Gail of KnitBliss emailed me today to tell me what her group is doing for the International Day of the Woman on March 8th. Read below and let her know if you'd like to join her and other Fiber Friends at Janet Kemp's store on March 8th

Celebrate International Women’s Day

Janet Kemp Fine Yarns and Needlework, located at 2420 Main Street Stratford, invites the public to celebrate International Women’s Day on Wednesday March 8th by exploring new hand-colored yarns from The Schaefer Yarn Company. Schaefer yarns are uniquely hand painted, dyed, and named for remarkable women who have influenced the world around them in both small and grand ways. The tags on these brightly colored yarns read like mini history lessons, a tiny biography that can link us to the first empress of China, Wu Zhao, and the first lady of the world, Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as to Nancy Ward, a little known Cherokee woman who was much admired by her people.

International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

Please join Janet Kemp from 6:30 to 8:30 in her newly enlarged store in Colonial Square, Stratford. The public is invited to bring their needlework for an evening of conviviality. Please call 203-386-9276 for more information.

It sounds like fun. I hope I'll be able to go.

I Struck Gold!

This morning, Primogeniture, Secundogeniture and I went to Knitting Central to get in on the big 40% off sale.  The boys were little angels.  Really.  They were on their best behavior.  OK.  I may have bribed them with a trip to EB Games and Toys R Us.  Still - they were very well mannered.  I told them we'd be in the store for a half hour.  In truth we were only there for 15 minutes.  It didn't take me long to score these great deals - all at 40% off.  Yeah.  I love a sale.

How could I resist this Jaeger yarn in camouflage?  I bought 13 skeins and I think I'll knit up a baby gift (blanket, sweater and/or hat maybe?) for a Marine Corps buddy who just had his first child.

I got the last 2 skeins of this Jaeger Natural Fleece.  I think I'll make another mini-capelet.  It's so incredibly soft and the color is brilliant.

One skein of this sockotta yarn.  I can't remember if I need one skein or two to make a pair of adult socks.  If it doesn't work for me, I'll knit up a pair of socks for my niece.

And finally, the piece de resistance...

Four skeins of Classic Elite Yarns Obsession.  Yeah.  That's right. CASHMERE at 40% off.  What a deal.  Cynthia said I hit the jackpot with this yarn - best deal in the store.  I knew that.  It's such a lovely spring color that I thought it would make a lovely stole for a romantic evening with BF at our favorite restaurant come April. 

Knitting Central is open today for two more hours.  HURRY.  You can still get there before they close at 3:00 p.m. and get in on the incredible sale.  It will be well worth the trip.

Oh yes.  I made one more purchase on today's errands.  I bought this.

Bratz dolls are so hot this year so I thought I'd start designing a few sweaters for these dolls.  I haven't noticed any patterns on the Internet yet.  I guess I might as well be the first.  I'm already planning a shrug for this doll. 

Presidents' Day Sales!

Two of my LYS are having big sales for Presidents Day.  Yippy!

Knitting Central is having a 40% off sale on selected yarns. 

The Point NYC is having a sale for the entire weekend.  Tomorrow is the last day. 

Check them out.  Run in and see what you can find that you just can't live without.  I'll probably drag Primogeniture and Secundogeniture into Knitting Central when it opens at 11:00 a.m. to see what I absolutely MUST have.

See you there!

PS - Perhaps other LYS are having sales, too.  I just didn't get a newsletter or see it on their website.

Nicky Epstein - Live and In Color!

Monday morning and I'm feeling fine.  Why you ask?  Because Nicky Epstein gave a class to promote one of her new books at Knitting Central.  It was so wonderful and I had the very best time.  I was as giddy as a school girl, maybe more.  Nicky was so warm, lovely, patient, knowledgeable, kind, etc.  I was in awe of her style and techniques.  She brought some handknit samples of items that are out in publication in a variety of magazines.  I got to model the "Celtic" poncho with sleeves next to Nicky.  It's featured in the January 2006 "Knitting" magazine (a British knitting magazines).  I loved it and am considering taking it on as a new project.

She also had these lovely hand embroidered long black gloves that were recently featured in Vogue Knitting (I believe she said).  Does anyone remember which issue it was?  They were spectacular. 

I took tons of pictures of the class, but the book is still in the works with the publisher, so I promised Nicky that I wouldn't post the pictures for a few more weeks.  Then, don't worry, once the book is announced, I'll be posting all about it.

Gail Knits - Big Sale!

Well, no trip would be complete without a trip to the LYS.  I went to the Las Vegas Yellow Pages and found Gail Knits.  I asked the concierge how far a walk it was and he said about 8 miles.  OK - I know I'm a Marine and all... but that's too far a walk for a vacation.  So BF and I walked 2 miles to Sahara Avenue from our hotel where we planned to catch a bus the rest of the way.  In the end, when we got to the bus stop, we ended up taking a taxi.  We finally got to the store and boy was I lucky.  They were having a huge 30% off sale on their fall and winter yarns.  Lucky for me!  If you're in Las Vegas and you have a rental car, check out Gail Knits.  Both Gail and Wendy were so helpful.  And like I said, it's a good thing they were having a sale.  I saved $15.00, which is a good thing.  My taxi ride cost $60.00.

While I was there, I bought 3 skeins of Misti alpaca (green, white and pink) to knit up the swatches I need for my Nicky Epstein class Monday morning at Knitting Central.  YES!  I know, why did I wait until the last minute to do my homework?  OK, so I procrastinate.  It was a good excuse to visit a yarn store in Vegas.

A Self-Indulgent Afternoon

I was supposed to go into the city and meet BF and a friend of ours for a farewell lunch before he moves to London this weekend.  Unfortunately, at the last minute, he got called into a meeting with the boss, and BF caught me just before I caught the train.  Since I had an unexpected afternoon to myself, I thought I'd drive over to Knitting Central and sit and knit.  Guess who I ran into when I got there?

Tara was sitting and knitting, too.  What a pleasant surprise!  So we spent the afternoon together chatting away.  Tara is making a hat for her 6-month old son in blue and brown cotton.

And here I am, coincidentally wearing blue and brown, showing off my progress on my heel flap.

While I was there, I picked up two pairs of Turbo Addis for baby blankets - US Sizes 13 and 15 in a 40" length.  I also picked up the Rambling Rows Afghan booklet.  I've heard great things about this and thought it might be a nice change of pace for a Warm Up America blanket.

I finished one heel flap and am starting the second.  Nothing like an inch-by-inch update!

The Needlework Shoppe

I ran out to The Needlework Shoppe this morning to get three skeins of worsted weight yarn to match the colors of The Westport Young Woman's League.  I'm hoping to whip up an American Girl Doll poncho in the League's colors for tonight's meeting at 7:30 p.m.  If successful, it will be one of the door prizes for our holiday party.  Wish me luck.  I'd better get started.

My Day in NYC

Today BF and I went into the city to meet some friends.  As promised, I filled my knitting bag (made by my SP5 Stacy) with myriad projects and proceeded to Manhattan.  I made something completely different than what I set out to knit.  I made an all brown "Stash Buster" scarf with three different types of brown yarn from my stash.  I cast on 90 stitches while waiting on the platform for the train to arrive and did the final bind off stitch when the train pulled into Grand Central.  It's the one hour wonder.

BF and I met one friend for lunch and one for coffee at this wonderfully comforting spot - The Kitchenette - It was so good, in fact, that we ate way too much food.  It may have been the three desserts that put us over the edge. I'm thinking about coining a new phrase to describe this overeating to the point of pain as "discomfort food".  You should definitely check out this restaurant - just show more discipline than I did.  Oh, and try the desserts - but maybe just one at a time.

After that delectable lunch, BF and I decided we needed to work off our lunch, so we walked about a mile or more to The Point Knitting Cafe on Bedford Street.

Helene and her staff are so friendly I could stay there all day.  I don't get down to SoHo or Chelsea that often, so it's always a treat when I can visit some of my NYC favorite stores.  Despite packing brown and light blue yarns in my bag for the day's knitting, once on the train, I decided that I didn't really like the yarns I had.  So I did the only logical thing a knitter could do.  I bought more yarn.  So these next scarves aren't technically going to be "Stash Buster" scarves.  They're going to be more like "I bought new yarn to make it look like I was randomly picking yarn from my stash" scarves.  That's OK, isn't it?

Don't you just love these colors?  There will be two brown and light blue scarves made from this yarn.  The one currently on the needles is Misti Alpaca Chunky in brown and light blue.  I used US size 15 circular needles and did a knitting cast on (140 st) and knit in garter stitch alternating the yarn every 2 rows. 

Never Overlook the Sales Bins!

Oh my!  I forgot to share with you my finds in the sales bins at Stitches East.

The book is my latest summer reading - Jane Green's Babyville.  I did not buy it at Stitches East. 

The book and needles were not on sale.  The funky and unusual yarn was in the bins and at half price, I figured I could use up these yarns for my Barbie binge.  Doesn't this Gedifra lilac look amazing?  I'm currently trying out a few new patterns with it for Barbie. 

Some will be fun. 

Some will be flirtatious. 

Others will just be down right outrageous. 

And look what I fell in love with inside the Berroco Bambini Pattern Book #235

I am thinking about making this for my nieces.  It's made with Hip-Hop and Zap.  Isn't it just adorable?

Stitches East is Open Again

One of my favorite haunts in Manhattan is Stitches East ("SE").  It's close to the office and easy to get to for most of my city knitting needs.  Oh, and did I mention there's a huge Starbucks in the atrium of the same building?  What's not to like?  Well, I had a little scare when word was on the street that SE had closed.  What?!?  That's not possible.  So today, I had to go see for myself.  GOOD NEWS!  It was only closed for 2 weeks for renovations.  Here's proof.  I took this picture with Joyce of SE this afternoon. 

Joyce and I were talking about Barbie doll patterns.  But to heck with that, doesn't Joyce's handknit jacket look amazing?  I think I should making something like that for me.  It's really great.

Go check out the new look at Stitches East in the Park Avenue Plaza.  You have to go inside the building's atrium and veer to the right (or left - depending on which street you enter from).  The Park Avenue Plaza is located on Park Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets.  You can enter the atrium on either 52nd or 53rd Street.  Enjoy!

If you haven't been to Stitches East before, not only do they have lovely yarn and wonderful space to spread out and knit awhile, they also have the most detailed hand-painted canvases for needlepoint and other needlework projects.  The canvas itself is so beautiful, it's almost a shame to cover it up.

I'm off my diet(s) with Bam Boo

Oh no!  I'm off the South Beach Diet.  I'm off the Yarn Diet.  What's a girl to do?  Don't worry, this is really all yarn related.  Molly came today for a "ladies who lunch" date.  We went waltzing in downtown Westport and had a lovely lunch at Acqua.  Yum.  That was my first downfall.  I managed to have a sensible salad for lunch, but then was tempted by that vanilla creme brulee.  Nooooooooooooo!  I have noooooooooooooo willpower.  OK.  It was absolutely delicious. 

After lunch, Molly and I were trying to decide what store to hit next.  She asked me if I had been to that new yarn store in town.  I said I didn't think it was open yet.  She thought it was.  So we walked across Westport's Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge (affectionately referred to as "Flag Bridge") and walked right up to The Needlework Shoppe (which BF and I call the Needlework Shoppy).  It turns out we were both right (regarding the store's open status and not the pronunciation of "shoppe"). First the store was open.  Then it was not.  It had a epic sign on the door explaining that it had been open for a few days, but then closed to finish stocking and pricing so that it could open fully prepared to help new customers.  The saga continued by saying that if you came by and knocked on the door or found the door open, you'd be more than welcome to come in and shop.

So, we tentatively tried the door, and like magic, it was open!  We walked in to find Sherri (sp?) and some workers busily stocking and pricing things.  The shoppy has a storybook quality to it.  It's whimsical and charming and like a candy-store, it's stocked floor to ceiling with all types of fiber art eye candy imaginable.  There are things for knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, cross stitch, quilting, embroidering and sew much more.  I was amazed at the quantity and quality of supplies.  What the store lacks in wide open spaces it makes up for in depth and breadth of supplies.  This was my downfall.  Like the creme brulee on that menu calling my name, the yarns at the shoppy were screaming to me "BUY ME!", "No, Buy ME!" until finally, I found something I couldn't resist.  The creme de la creme that I had been enviously eyeing on other blogs - Classic Elite's Bam Boo in China Blue.  Pure heaven, I tell you.  Silky, soft, and as the label says "antibacterial fiber".  I'm offering a to-be-named prize to the best REAL answer of what that means.  Can you believe they made a yarn out of bamboo fibers?  It might be easier to grow in my yard than sheep, goats, rabbits, llamas, or other animals.  I might just consider it.

So, there you have it.  I went off my diet(s) and am encouraging you to do the same.  Sherri was a dear and her store is lovely.  Stop by and see if she's open and offer her some words of encouragement.  She still has new supplies arriving every day (hand painted canvases, more quilting supplies, etc).  And she's mentioned the class schedule will be coming soon.  It should be exciting to have another type of fiber store in town.   For those of you who read my blog, you know that I abandon my knitting from time-to-time in favor of cross stitch.  It will be great to have a source nearby for my other fiber hobby fixes.

Good luck Sherri.  Please go visit the shoppy soon and see for yourself.  It's located in Westport at the corner of Wilton Road and the Post Road.

The Needlework Shoppe

1 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880

Tel:  (203) 227-8098

Stuck in DC's Union Station...

As I was on the train, I thought of all my knitting blog buddies that I wanted to visit.  I thought of Lauren when we stopped in Philly and when I got to Union Station in DC and discovered that my friend couldn't make it to dinner afterall, I honestly contemplated getting on another train to Alexandria (or the Metro) to go find Knit Happens to see if resident knitters -  Wendy, Holly and Kristine  (and all the rest)- might be there.

Alas, my bag was too heavy to schlep around so I just decided to hang out in Union Station, eat, knit and read until it was time to go the the show.

But I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it make a great story?  Take a trip across the country and visit all the knitter/bloggers along the way?" 

Run, Don't Walk.

My favorite LYS - Stitches East - in Midtown Manhattan is having a huge sale on their floor model sweaters hand knit by the store's owner.  I just happened to walk in yesterday on the first day of the sale and was able to pick over all the sweaters.  You have to keep in mind that the sweaters were selling for $15-$35 a piece.  The yarn alone is worth at least 2-5 times that price!  Anyway, I managed to purchase these 2 pieces. 

This adorable baby sweater just needs buttons and it will be given as a gift to a friend of mine who was an original member of the SNL.  Shhhh.  Don't tell her that I didn't knit it myself!

This sweater was knit in a very comfortable cotton silk mix (as far as my deft fingers can tell).  It's as comfy as any old sweatshirt I've ever owned.  To tell you the truth, it looks a bit frumpy on me, but it's so darn comfortable, and I figure that in a toss-up between this and an XL sweatshirt - this one has slightly less frumpy factor, but just barely.

If you are in Manhattan (and especially if you're a S, M or Petite) RUN, don't walk, to Stitches East and see if they have any more sweaters left over.  You'll be glad you did.  If they don't have any sweaters left, buy some yarn and sit a spell.  That's what I did after purchasing these sweaters.  I bought 13 skeins of Filatura di Crosa's 501 in a beautiful purple hued blue, plus some size US 7 (4.5 mm) bamboo circular needles.  I'm making a mock cable baby blanket as a gift.  It's a bit slow as there are 33 cables in the pattern, so it's not going quickly.  I do enjoy making baby blankets for my stash to have on hand for gifts.  When I wait to make one for someone I know is expecting, the pressure gets to be too much and I don't enjoy knitting the project as much.  Go figure.

Eat, Knit and Be Happy!

Guess where I went this past weekend?  I went to get a coffee with friends at a new coffee shop in Manhattan... conveniently co-located inside this wonderful new knitting store called The Point!  Their slogan is "eat knit and be happy".  What could be better?

I was in luck, because in addition to coffee, they had a latte yarn.  (Sorry!  I couldn't resist).  I was finally able to purchase the last four missing skeins of Tahki Baby yarn for the Nicky Epstein Flower Basket Knitalong.  Whew!  I was beginning to give up hope of ever finding it.

The owner of The Point, Helane Blumfield, was a delight to meet.  Her store is only a month old.  If you're in the neighborhood, please stop by and visit.  We sat for over an hour.  I was knitting and buying yarn while my friends just drank their espressos and chatted.  It was a great afternoon.  Here are the details:

• The Point
• 37a Bedford Street
• New York, NY 10014
• Tel:  (212) 929-0800
• Tel:  (877) 60-POINT

I Can See Clearly Now

We took our good friend, CB, to have lasik surgery yesterday.  While he was having the surgery (in under 20 minutes), we lounged on these great massage chairs.  I think it was all a ploy to get us to consider having the surgery done.  It worked!  I'll see how CB recovers from this procedure, but generally, I'm on board.

We took CB back to his apartment in Soho, hung out while he rested, and then I went shopping.  I got some fruit, cheese, bagels, ice-cream, chips, juice and this

You see, CB lives just a few short blocks from Purl.  It was calling me from the apartment  and I just had to listen.  CB was napping, BF was napping.  It seemed like the perfect time to make my escape.

Joelle was so wonderfully pleasant and helpful as was Bryan (who helped me find the pattern and yarn for that adorably cuddly bear.  I'm going to make the bear (not sure for whom, yet), a pink hat and scarf as a surprise gift (so I can't tell you who it's for) , and a blue sweater for ME with those 11 skeins of blue Koigu.  I also got some Turbo Addi needles (size 3), some Lantern Moon straight needles (size US5), a handy yarn requirements pamphlet for ordering yarn, and finally, this wonderful balm to keep your hand smooth while knitting.

Knottygirl Knit & Yarn Club in Fairfield, CT

BF (who is thinking about changing his nickname to Knotty Boy) and I took an afternoon drive over to Fairfield, CT to visit Debi Haehl and her brand new store with the catchy name "Knottygirl Knit & Yarn Club" .  What can I say?  The store was charming and absolutely lovely.  I bought some Squiggle and Cascade Fixation - both in purple - (to make another Jazzed Up Denim Jacket) and Debi threw in a cute little retractable tape measure with the knottygirl logo on it.  Ooh!  I love freebies!

I didn't take any pictures in the store, but the store is so inviting that you just want to plop down on one of those big comfy sofas up front and knit in some of the gorgeous Cascade, Manos and other natural luxurious fibers she carries in merino, silk and cashmere. 

Debi was a pure delight to meet.  She has so much enthusiasm for knitting and crocheting.  She graciously helped 2 other customers while we were there with such patience and a radiating joy for what she does.  I can hardly wait to go back and sit and knit awhile.

Some of the fantastic decorating accents in Debi's shop include:

• my favorite - a pink and white blown glass "knitting bag" which is actually a display to hold the knitting needles;
• a pink antique washer tank with the knottygirl log emblazened on the side;
• basketry from a Vietnamese women's coop; and
• those lovely brown and pink knottygirl t-shirts.  (I gotta have one!)

While knottygirl doesn't have the largest selection of yarns (don't go looking for any acrylic yarns here), it does have the largest dose of pure charm and atmosphere that I've seen in a knitting store in a long time.  I hope you'll stop by and say hello.

ADDED PLUS - Right next door to the knitting store is an awesome antique shop (I am thinking about buying that library card file for sorting all my knitting needles!) and a high end consignment store (think Prada and fashion).&