For the love of yarn

It's amazing what we knitters will do to get our yarn, especially if it is on sale. When I first got to Skein Lane this afternoon, I was shocked by how long the line was--out the door and a little ways down the block. (I've never seen a yarn store so busy!) I hate to admit that I was a little disappointed that the yarns were only 20% off, since at their summer sale last year I got 30% off (if I'm remembering correctly). I had told myself I would only buy something if it was at least 30% off, but I figured 20% was still quite good, so I begun my search for the yarns I listed in yesterday's post. Sadly, I didn't find any Kid Silk Haze. There was one lone ball of JaggerSpun Zephyr, but it was pink, and I'm not really a pink person. I did find some Southwest Trading Company Bamboo yarn in the Electric Blue colorway. (I do hope it holds out okay, one ball was snagging a little already.) I also ended up buying three skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock--two in brick and one in pond blue. (The brick will become the Embossed Leaves Socks from Winter 2005 Interweave Knits, and the blue some sort of ankle socks.) I skipped on the Manos del Uruguay, maybe another time, if they discount it further.

Once I finally decided what I was going to buy, I got into line, which ended about halfway down the block. Then I waited, and waited. And waited. Two hours, more or less, partially because it was really busy, partially because they do things the old-fashioned way: hand written receipts and a calculator. (Note to self: I should always bring my knitting with me.) I did consider putting my yarn back, but I stuck it out, along with everybody else. (A guy working there said the line remained pretty constant throughout the day--I would guess there were at least 20 people in line at one time--that's a lot of people.) It was kind of exciting, in a nerdy knitter way, to see someone knitting some Knucks while she was waiting in line! I also heard some people talking about the new Knitpicks needles and another group talking about Artfibers.

In other news, I have a feeling I won't be going to Dixon this weekend. Ah well. At least I've got some yarn to distract me.

Beware of yarn sales

A little less than a year ago, I went to Skein Lane for the first time, because it was my birthday and they were having an awesome sale. Now, the owner is retiring and the store is closing. I'm kind of sad, it's a nice big store and they had some great sales. I'm most likely going to go crazy tomorrow and buy everything quite a few skeins, when their closing/retirement sale starts. I have no idea how much they're going to mark down their items, so I'm trying not to be overly optimistic, but there will be some sort of prize contest, which I'm excited about.

In order to have some idea of what I will might buy tomorrow, I've been working on a yarn list for the various projects I want to make. I think I've narrowed it down to five projects, almost all with the original yarn called for:

1. Birch from Rowan Magazine 34. Three balls of Rowan Kid Silk Haze. I hate how the mohair gets all over everything, but it's such a gorgeous yarn that I try not to mind too much.

2. Paisley Lace Shawl from Spring 2005 Interweave Knits. Two 2 ounce balls of JaggerSpun Zephyr. Because I love Evelyn A. Clark patterns and I wouldn't mind having another shawl.

3. Lotus Blossom Tank from Summer 2006 Interweave Knits. Two balls of Southwest Trading Company Bamboo. I've never tried this yarn before, so I'm curious as to how it will knit up. (And do we see a lace theme?)

4. Socks. No specific pattern yet. Probably Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock, which comes in such great colorways. Maybe enough for two pairs.

5. Floral Tree Skirt from Handknit Holidays. Twenty-two skeins of Manos del Uruguay. Yeah, that's a lot of yarn. I don't plan on buying all 22 tomorrow--I'll have to see what colors they even have in stock. I won't be making this right away, but I might as well buy the yarn if it's a good price, right?

And, you know, there might be some impulse buys. Possibly non-yarn items, like books or needles.

But wait! That's not all. I want to go to Lambtown this weekend to get more spinning supplies, but my mom and sister don't seem very interested, so we'll see. I actually think my dad might be the one most willing to go, since he grew up in Dixon, where the event is held. (Random side note: the farm that my grandparents bought there used to be sheep pasture.) Then Stash, my usual yarn store, is going to have a bag sale at the beginning of August on discontinued yarns and yarns they won't be carrying anymore. So, I just might happen to buy more yarn there, because it may be my last chance to buy it locally. I really want a digital camera too, mostly so I can take pictures of my knitting and prove that I'm actually using all this yarn.

The number three

I have three works in progress. My preferred project at the moment are some Knucks. I love love love this pattern. I'm not sure if I'll embroider the ones I'm knitting now, but I think I'll be making more than one pair! I even signed up for the knit along! I'm also knitting some blue lace (Evelyn A. Clark's Trellis Scarf) and a diagonal garter stitch scarf from yarn that I spun!!! (I'm a bit excited about that.)

Then there are three hats waiting to be to sent to Jeanne. (See Stephanie's posts.) Two watermelon and one green veggie of your choice (lima bean? pea? squash?).

And I must choose three knitters to invite to an imaginary dinner. It's very hard for me to pick only three. I'd say definitely Molly Weasley. (Yes, she's fictional. But if dead knitters can come, why not fictional ones?) She has raised seven children and knits a sweater for each of them every Christmas, and I want to know how she does it, even with magic. I also want to invite someone I call the purple swatch person. When I was in first or second grade, she came to our school library and showed our class what knitting looked like. I was enchanted by how the purple something she was making was suspended on the needles, and I knew then that I wanted to learn how to knit. I'd like to thank her for sparking my interest in knitting, even if it took me about 10 years to take up a pair of needles and learn. But who should I invite as the third knitter? Ann and Kay of Mason-Dixon Knitting? The Yarn Harlot? Evelyn A. Clark, my favorite knitting designer? Or maybe Gromit? I'll have to think about that. In the meantime, back to my knucks!