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: