What on earth would possess a moderately sane woman to road trip 4 hours with 2 kids and no hubby, to a house with one more kid and 2 fabulously plucky dogs?
BFF!
Nancy lives far too far away, so a visit with her is an EVENT. With my hubby taking off for work meetings and another trip home awaiting me next week, I took my opportunity to visit the South Shore, my best friend Nancy, her adorable husband Paul and even more adorable son Charlie.
First off, Nancy-related knitterly content. She loved her felted clogs. I finished the knitting and felted Paul's while there, and he loved them. Charlie's hugely-belated birthday sweater fit him like a dream.
AND...
Done like dinnah! Now I can stop blogging about my Handmaiden Ottawa sweater and wear it!
Details? Handmaiden Ottawa, Cape Breton Highlands colourway, 3.75 mm needle, top-down raglan with square neckline and shawl collar. Yarn-over raglan increases. K2, P2 ribbing on collar, cuffs and bottom band. Waist shaping and no bust darts gave me the happy medium I had been seeking in previous posts. Fits my yooge chest and is just that right length for my torso. It took the better part of three hanks (1950 yards) and is worth every dime.
Fate wanted me to shop for yarn today. I chose the Annapolis Valley route home. Despite the fact that daughter #1 barfed in a cereal box somewhere around Weymouth, it was a very worthwhile decision to have made.
Highway 101. Stuck in slow traffic. Exit 11: Wolfville. Should I go to Gaspereau Valley Fibres today? No, Deb. You're knitting from your stash. Keep going.
Exit 10: Grand Pre. I can still double back slightly to GVF. Should I? I almost do, and then decide to be a good girl.
Exit 9: Gaspereau Valley. I had never noticed this little sign, as I think of this as the Hantsport exit. Fate is intervening. Fate wants me to go to the magical barn of yarn.
Crap. I am en route.
The delightful Julie is unpacking several large bags from the Fleece Artist. I learned something very important today. When Kathryn cleans house, everyone wins.
Mill ends, end of line, seconds, odds and ends. Unlabelled, so very much like a treasure hunt. Selling by overall weight.
Buy a little bit? 10 bucks per 100g
Buy a bit more? 9 bucks per 100g
Be smart and buy 1000 g or more?
8 bucks!
I went loony looking for any and all sock yarn. I had to stop before even attacking the third bag.
Ladies and gentlemen, The Haul.
Here it all is, looking so very happy together.
I may go and look up the colour names eventually, but for now you have to contend with my dorky interpretations.
This one's Sea Wool. Sea Wool, people!
Do you need a minute? (I can wait.)
Don't know and don't care what this one's called, it's going to be Hedera in the coming weeks. Just shy of 100g.
Olive green. Unsure of the colour's name, but I have named her Harlot's Choice.
I have already cast on with this gal. At 125g, she'll make a really nice sized pair of socks.
Charcoal and chocolate and another pair of socks. Any votes on which pattern to work?
Chocolate covered purple, tipping the scales at over 200g. Maybe some knee socks, or maybe some holiday generosity.
Another big 'un, this time in red semi-solid. I heart it so.
The Queen Mum of all finds. A generous pound. Julie says enough for an adult sweater, but it may have to be for one smaller than myself.
Total weight was just shy of 1800 g. I saved a TON of money today. That's all I have to say about that.
Good gawd woman, I am pea green with envy. I love love love the Charcoal and chocolate yarn. Can't wait to see the socks that come from this yarn.
Hey the sweater looks fab on you. No wonder you keep wearing it. Don't you just love it when these things turn out perfecto
Posted by: Suzann | February 28, 2007 at 01:52 AM
I got the note about that haul coming in. Not a fun time to be broke!!! Nice job though!!!
Posted by: Lisa | February 28, 2007 at 06:56 AM
Holy haul! The olive green and the red semi-solid are my favourites!
Hmm. You might be able to coax an adult sweater out of the pound if you incorporate some openwork...just saying...
Posted by: Moe | February 28, 2007 at 07:55 AM
Well, ya gotta spend money to save money, don't cha know!
Love the Ottawa sweater. I really like the way the colours grouped together (some would say pooled but not me). It almost looks like stone.
Posted by: Megan | February 28, 2007 at 09:07 AM
Ooooh, the envy. So glad you let yourself be pulled off the highway...
My heart hurts to be so far from all the deeply discounted Fleece Artist yarn! :(
Posted by: Sarah | February 28, 2007 at 01:23 PM
I HAD to delurk to say OMG! Is there any yarn left???? I've ordered yarn from them before, by phone. Too bad all of the Fleece Artist is unlabled, or I would do so again! Hummmm, maybe I'll call anyway and take my chances? I had to laugh about your thought process during your drive.
Posted by: Jennifer from NB | February 28, 2007 at 10:03 PM
Awesome find!! I love it when people stumble into awesome sales like that. Isn't it funny how you kept being pulled to GVS? Enjoy all that wonderful yarn!!!
Posted by: bufanditas | March 02, 2007 at 09:51 AM