[Warning: lots of pictures in this post!]

Well, the fifth times the charm. I literally visited five LYS between Monday and Saturday and finally, on the last visit, I BOUGHT YARN. Fell in love is more like it, but I’ll get to that.

I went to visit Handknits in Englewood, New Jersey. I’ve been wanting to go (Jen, we’ll go back – I promise!) and I’m glad I did. This is what a yarn store should be! There was a ton of yarn – rooms and rooms of it! And somewhat organized to boot. There was a back room that had the sale yarns and books. The room next to it had a big table (sort of like a conference room) with all the baby yarns and fingering weight yarns. The front entrance where the checkout was had all of the novelty yarns and the big, big room in the middle had everything else. Lots of Rowan, Karabella, Takhi/Filatura di Crosa/Art Yarns, etc. Clearly the owner takes issue with KFI because there wasn’t a Noro or Debbie Bliss to be found. There’s a lot to compensate though.

The staff was extrememly helpful without being solicitous. In fact, no one really said anything until I seemed ready for help. And then they were very helpful. I was there much longer than I anticipated.

I was looking for some felting yarn for Sophie – I really wanted Cascade 220. They didn’t have any Cascade but the owner was nice enough to go through the store with me and point out all of the yarns that felt well. One of the ones she showed me was the Manos del Uruguay. I’ve never knit with Manos before, but I’ve certainly heard of it. I in LOVE now. I’ll tell you! I was looking for something to make a Sophie for my sister – and for me. Well I ended up finding the most gorgeous colors!

Aren’t they beautiful? The first one is a tan/camel with pink running through it and the second is a pearly pink with gray running through it.

I love this yarn! (Did I say that already?) I absolutely love the color and the texture – I don’t even want to knit with it – I just want to look at it and touch it. I think the saleswoman thought I was crazy when I said I was going to felt it – but why not? Just because it’s expensive? I know that I carry my other felted bag all the time – much more than I would wear something, I think. So is that bad? I bought all they had in those colors – my idea was that I’d combine them for a larger Sophie for my sister. I thought the tan/pink would look really good with her tan leather jacket and the KSH gloves I’m going to make for her, eventually. But I’m thinking I might buy more of the tan/pink for myself. I’ve got some Chanukah gelt waiting for me at my sister’s – it’s got Manos written all over it! If anyone reading has felted this stuff – can you make me feel better? Or tell me I’m crazy? OOOh, I LOVE it!

While I was at Handknits, I also picked up a few more balls of Filatura di Crosa Primo – the yarn I used to knit Max’s blue striped hat. I wanted a hat for Charlotte, my niece, and I didn’t want it to be blue as well. Charlotte looks good in primary colors – pastels wash her out – so I went with a bright purple/red combination. I think it came out cute!

I know Charlotte will love it – she’s really into hats these days and the weather is supposed to turn really cold this week – so the kids will be nice and toasty!

Also, I finally finished the two booga bags I had sitting around. They’re for my best friend’s daughters (2.5 and 6). I originally made the pink one, but tried to felt in my front loader washer and it didn’t really work. When I say it didn’t work, I mean I ran it through like five times and it still wasn’t really felting well. So I washed it again at my sister’s with the blue one. The pink one is a little smaller because of it. They’re both made with Noro Kuryeon. I don’t remember what colors.

I started my Ribby Cardi!

The color seems really off in this photograph.

I’m not sure about the yarn as far as softness is concerned – it seems a little scratchy in my hands, but it certainly knits up easy. I think this project will go pretty quickly. I’m excited about it!

I even knit some on the geometric scarf last night while watching Spiderman 2. It’s looking good and is oh so soft, but it’s boring (and a little tedious since the yarn splits) to knit. I’ll get there.

Tomorrow I leave for my sister’s until Thursday. My brother-in-law is going away so I’m going down to lend a hand. She’s pregnant and the kids are crazy! My nephew is excited though. He doesn’t really understand time exactly, but he knows I’m coming for the seventh and eighth nights of Chanukah. My sister says every morning he wakes up and asks her, “Which night of Chanukah is it tonight, Mom?” So cute.

And last but not least, Bonne Marie’s blocking tip worked perfectly! The Silkroad Aran Tweed exapanded exactly how I’d hoped and the size looks great. It also softened up considerably (not that it wasn’t already soft.) I might not start to put it together until I get back from my sister’s. There’s still lots to do what with the armbands and neckband.

Okay. I’m done! Thanks.