Saturday before heading out, I tried to find the store listed in the yellow pages so I could look at a map and know pretty much where it was located. It wasn't coming up at all, but I did find another shop not too far away and they had a website. I clicked. I shouldn't have. They carried Koigu, which I've been wanting to try for a while now. I called Jen to find out the name of shop #1 and if she wanted to check out the second shop I found. Yes! We had the afternoon planed.
I finished my errands and then headed to the new yarn shop. I parked just up the street from the store so I could window shop on my way to meet Jen. From the window display alone I knew we were in trouble. We decided lunch could wait while we shopped.
The store has only been there 2 months. They carry some really beautiful yarns. Alchmey yarns was what drew us there, but they also carry Lobster Pot, Art Yarns, Handmaiden and Manos, among others. This is what I got...
Yes - Sea silk. It is everything everyone says it is. Soft, mucho yardage, beautiful colors and WOW!
But look at that hand dyed Manos! It was the last two skeins of that colorway. How could I have left it in the store? I couldn't. I have no idea what to make out of it but I'm sure something will come to light.I did get one other thing at this shop. Jen picked up one of those sheep tape measures for me. Now we both have one and I'll think of her every time I use it. Which I already have and is why there is no picture of it because it's in my stitching bag.
When that was done we went to lunch and showed off our knitting. Jen finished a beautiful shawl from Exquisite Little Knits. She used the Merino/Silk blend from Cherry Tree Hill and was disappointed that there were spots where the dye didn't quite take. Has anyone out there had this problem? I don't think it would have been so noticable if the color was lighter than the deep jewel tones she chose. It is still a beautiful shawl.
Off we went to shop #2 and what an odd little shop it is. It's a yarn shop, but also a pottery studio. Never would have thought those two would mix, but there it was. I found the Koigu which wasn't exactly the huge collection I had envisioned in my mind. One cubby hole full. That was it. Not that it stopped me from buying any...
The pink and beigy-yellow and white are the Koigu. The blue under the white is some yarn that the shop owner hand dyed. She swears the yarn is the same as Koigu. The price was right and the colors are really pretty so it came home with me. The Pink/green is from Artyarns and finally... I got caught up in Jen's boucle yearning and I had to buy the teal/green/yellow Lorna's Laces. She bought the same but in colors more like my Sea Silk.So - I bought Canadian yarn on Canada Day and helped the American economy on Independance Weekend. Yeah North America!
5 comments:
I have some of the Cherry Tree Hill lace weight in jewel tones with the same problem. There are glaring spots of white where there is no dye. I have CTH sock yarn in jewel tones - no problem, the dye is saturated throughout the yarn. The problem yarn is not just two or three little spots, but many, and it ruins the yarn in my opinion. I have thought about trying to overdye it, but I have no dyeing experience.
Perhaps your friend could overdye her shawl - since she has put so much work into it? Perhaps an experienced dyer could provide input.
blissfulknitter AT gmail DOT com
Nothing like a bit of commerce to show National pride is there?! ;-)
I live in the same area you do. What shops did you go to?
Hi Patti. There is a new shop in Bedminster called The Knitting Lab. They've been opened 2 months and are closing this Friday till September (must be nice). The shop is well worth the wait tho. The second shop is Angelfire Studios in Basking Ridge.
Hey Lacer. Making my pitstop comments. I LOVE all of those yarn colors you got. I almsot purchased some of the same a few weeks ago. Can't wait to see what the finished stuff looks like!
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