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No holiday would be complete without holiday yarn!
October 01, 2006
I say that, but this is probably the first holiday I've brought yarn back from! Everyone said I should go to Artfibers, and their yarns looked pretty special on the webpage, and it seemed a very cool shop so I went there on my first day, while Adam was still working. I thought it would be mean to make him go too! And everyone was right, it was a super shop!
Obviously the best bit was the yarn (although the shop and staff were very nice too). When I looked at the website before I went, I thought I would be keen to buy some of the more unusual looking yarns, but when I got to the shop and felt all the yarns I changed my mind. The more traditional looking yarns (made from fibers like silk, alpaca, nmohair and wool) felt so fucking incredible (I'm sorry to be rude, but they seriously did!) it was all I could do to stop myself burying my face in them and purring.
I knew I wouldn't be able to take much back with me, so in order to try as many different yarns as possible I decided to make a blanket. I got these yarns:
They are Basque, Whisper, Kyoto, Gypsy and Mammoth. They are all lovely but there were another 2 yarns, Rune and Celtic (you can see these all on there website) which I feel sorry I didn't get now, as they also felt heavenly!
I started my blanket a week ago when I get back, and so far I've done about 6 square feet (!):
I think it might be nearly done - it should end up about 8 square feet (2 x 4 feet), so a good size for over the lap, it was never going to be a bed sized blanket. I'll crochet around the edge with some Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran I have spare to finish it.
So thanks everyone who said I should go to Artfibers! I loved it.
I also have made a page with a few holiday snaps on. To put them on the blog I would have needed to make them too small, so they can be found here if you would like a look. It's probably worth a click for the jellyfish photo alone!
Posted by jen at October 1, 2006 04:20 PM
Comments
Ooooooooooooooooo that is nice yarn. Very nice. And the blanket is tasty tasty. How many balls of each did you get to make it that big? I hope they ship to the UK ;)
The holiday pics are funky too - stunning scenery, and you were right about the jellyfish :D
Posted by: Bryony at October 1, 2006 07:29 PM
Ooooooooooooooooo that is nice yarn. Very nice. And the blanket is tasty tasty. How many balls of each did you get to make it that big? I hope they ship to the UK ;)
The holiday pics are funky too - stunning scenery, and you were right about the jellyfish :D
Posted by: Bryony at October 1, 2006 07:32 PM
Hello. I'm new to knitting, although I think I found your website whilst Googling for ideas for beady kirby grips! Anyway, that blanket you're making looks lovely. I haven't even learnt to purl yet! Congrats for the pattern in the book. And the jellyfish photo is fab!
Posted by: Tori at October 1, 2006 08:50 PM
the photos are great, looks like you had an amazing trip!!!! welcome home. and i love the colors in the blanket, but you knew i would, right? :)
Posted by: carolyn at October 1, 2006 09:31 PM
How funny - I live in Sonoma county and probably haven't been to four wineries in one year, much less in one day! Such and industrious holiday with beautiful pix.
Posted by: Silvia at October 2, 2006 04:07 AM
Lovely yarn and I'm glad you had a good time in SF. I will be having a family Thanksgiving reunion there myself in late November, Thanks for the details for the yarn shop because I'll try to make my way there when I can peel myself away from family fun!
Posted by: maria~ at October 4, 2006 06:14 PM