New Local Yarn Store

I went shopping yesterday. Thought I ought to check out Get Knitted's new shop. Check the website out for directions, its in Bristol so not too far from me. Well, I didn't get there until about 20 to 5 but it was still open (opening hours are, at the moment, 10 til 5 tues to sat) so in I went.

It is huge! I had been to one of their open days last year and that was amazing but a case of so much wool, so little space. Now, there are big displays of all the main brands: Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Sublime, Patons. Shelves of other yarn. Tables covered in sock yarns in rainbow shades. So much yarn. I'm sure its all on their web site but when its all laid out like that its breathtaking. There were also comfy looking sofas if you want to sit down or park a non-knitting person you might have dragged along. Tea and coffee on hand which was very gratefully recieved after spending the first 15 minutes wandering round with my mouth open.

Then I decided I ought to get on with some shopping. Actually I decided this when I found the bargin bin. I don't know why but I always have to rumage in these. Anyway, I found a ball each of Rowan all seasons cotton (dark grey), cotton glace (golden yellow) and handknit dk cotton (blue) plus a variegated ball of unknown yarn in blues, greens and purple. All for between 1 and 2 pounds per ball. I have a strange attraction to odd balls of yarn, there was plenty of reduced packets with more than one ball, most with enough to make a small garment, but its the odd balls I like. It probably says something about me....

Then I started on the books. I knew I wanted a Debbie Bliss baby book, but i didn't know which one. Amazon isn't very helpful as there usually aren't pictures of the patterns and I like to browse. Well I decided I to get Baby knits for beginners. Don't know what I'm going to knit from it first.

At this point I was struggling to carry 4 balls of wool and a book so I went in search of a basket - just inside the door, how covienent. I must have walked straight past them when I first arrived in a yarn-overload daze!

I noticed two more baskets of reduced yarn so go for another rummage. Picked a couple of things up and them put them back. Handwash only baby knits for charity are probably not the best idea and I don't know anyone with girls to knit for. Are handwash only baby items ever practical, I would think not.

Then I noticed the tables or yarn the other side of the door, so I go for a look - collinette! It was the first time I haveever actually seen collinette yarn 'in the flesh' as it were. The colours are amazing! A skein of jitterbug sock yarn climed into my basket and refused to get out.

Turning round and I spot another table I'd missed before. This one is covered in jewel shades of koigu and the prettiest colour of pinks and creams with a hint of green jumped up and down and said 'Buy me! Buy me!' so I rescued it with a friend to keep it company. I have no idea what I'm going to make with this yarn, but it is so lovely.

About now I realised it was well past 5 o'clock and everyone probably wanted to get home. Whilst waiting at the till I grabbed a ball of dish cloth cotton. I have to find out what this dish cloth thing is all about. Then I paid, quite reasonable for me in a yarn shop, and went to the supermarket to get dinner, but don't get me started on that trauma.

I know I missed some things out. I remember picking up about 3 balls of opal at one point, a different self patterning sock yarn another time, a very soft and very pink ball of wildfoote sock yarn from Brown Sheep, some alpaca and probably much, much more. But I was good, I put it back to remember for another day when I have a pattern in mind and a use for it. I wish I'd remembered my camera to show you how lovely the shop looked but you will just have to come and visit instead. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

My Shopping:

I've thought of a sixth thing...

I have a weird thing about feet - not anyone's smelly feet, but those soft furry feet of teddy bears. I could stroke them for hours - Now that is weird.

Weird things about me...

Ok, I've finished knitting the booties, just need to sew them up now but not tonight as I've been drinking a very nice raspberry beer and its late. The second one looks a lot like the first (good!) so I haven't taken another photo, i'll leave that for when they are done. I think i've got enough yarn left for maybe a hat and mittens, or is a stuffed ball better? I don't know, what do you think?

Well, on to something completely different. As Lindsey Tagged me in a comment to my first post, I guess I should work out my list.

THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

So my 6 weird things are:

1. I can't ride a bike - trust me, I've tried. Circles are ok but straight lines become a problem and you don't get very far going round in circles all the time.
2. I want unusual animals as pets, not because they're unusual, I just seem to like unusual things. If i had the space I'd have a pet rat, snake, bearded dragon, tropical, marine and cold water fish tanks, a tortoise and probably a cat and a dog as well!
3. I don't like parsnips. Although I'm getting better and will eat them now if I have too. Apparently its weird to be veggie and not like a vegetable. They are the only 'normal' vegetable I don't like, perhaps I'm more weird for liking sprouts!
4. I only went camping for the first time last year (I'm 26), there was a massive thunder storm during the night but I loved it and can't wait to go again.
5. I collect rocks - I'm studying geology, or at least I will be when the course starts in february, and its what geologists do. Actually most of my very small collection so far I've bought but I have a lovely piece of peridotite. Hopefully I'll be able to get some more soon.
   
6. I give up, perhaps I'm just not that weird but I can't think of a 6th thing.

Well, I haven't gotten round to reading many other peoples blogs yet, so I don't really know who to tag, therefore I'm going to turn it around - comment here with a link to your blog if you want to answer the 'weird things' thing and I'll pop over and see what you've written, ok?

Right, it's late and I'm sleepy (I do love laptops and wireless networks tho, I'm sat in bed writting this) so I'm going to wish you all a good night. Nite!

A Finished Item

Thank-you for the comments so far, i wasn't really expecting anyone to actually read what i've written. I'll get round to the tag-thingy soon, promise.

I've finished the hat! So the finished item tally for 2007 is now 1. The colours aren't very good because of the flash and the pattern was from here. It's my first knit for The Baby Pack Project.


I've cast on for a pair of booties for a friend who is expecting a little boy. The pattern is from Knit Today issue 2. I haven't decided whether to knit the ball as well or see if i have enough yarn left for a hat or mitts. The yarn is RYC Cashcotton DK in cool and white, its lovely! In progress pic:


Well hope this was a more colourful post with a couple of piccys - i've got some more lined up for next time.

Thanks for reading,

Rachel

First Post!

Ok, so I was going to start this for the new year, I'm a bit late but I haven't finished anything yet so it doesn't really matter. Hopefully I'll add more things like links etc soon, but for now I'm just going to list my current WIPs (work's in progress for those who don't yet speak 'knit').

• A 'Bertie' scarf for MIL's birthday (hope she isn't reading this)
• A Multidirectional Scarf in Twilleys Freedom Spirit (lovely wool) for me, to match the hat I knitted over christmas. I'll try and get a picture of that on here, they are both in colourway Fire.
• A Baby hat just started for the Baby Pack Project

I probably have more things on the go (at least 2 pairs of socks, a scarf and bag - thats just what i can think of off the top of my head) but I'm not currently working on them. Perhaps I'll photograph them and show them on here. Then someone can tell me whether to finish or frog the item....

Sorry for the lack of pictures this time, the light inside is awful at the moment and not having a garden makes it difficult to find somewhere to photograph things - perhaps i should be more adventurous and do it in the middle of town.

That's all for now, hopefully it won't be long before I have something else to say, bye.