A very, very large day

Toronto, as always, totally rocked.  It was so bizarre to be somewhere, anywhere, by myself, with the freedom to just do my thang.

Where to begin?

How about a dorky self-portrait, taken just after the giddy realization that I was in Toronto, alone, with 22 hours before my meeting?  I snapped this on the tram between terminals 1 (where I arrived) and 3 (where I was staying).  I had a tram car to myself, and I very loudly and very badly bellowed show tunes and even woo-hooed a little.  Not even kidding.

I ditched my bags at the hotel and went out to the arrivals area and caught the "Airport Rocket", the express bus between the airport and the western end of the subway line.  From there I went one stop east and hoofed it over to Village Yarns.  It's a terrific shop, but they were a bit torn up in preparation for a large festival this weekend (I totally forgive them).  I called this my warmup shop, where I stretched and slowly took in the yarny goodness.

Back to the station, where I headed east to Spadina, then hopped a streetcar south to the Kensington Market area.  Just a block or two in?

[my bag is there to prove I was actually there, not just plucking random photos off the 'net.]

What a beauty.  Cozy, friendly and, most importantly, yarn-filled.

I found a few things.

Megan, the owner, was lovely and helpful and very obliging when asked to pose for a blog photo.

[She's totally not that type, but if it were me, there would have been dollar signs in my eyes.]

The haul?

The bluish stuff above is Colinette Jitter Bug, which has now been set aside for an unbloggable project.

Some Koigu KPPPM, my first!

Posh.  Let me say it again.  POSH!  (Lucia, 70% merino, 30% cashmere)

Lorna's Laces in Glenwood, longtime member of my wishlist.

[I seem to be on a pastel kick with my yarns right now.]

And some Alchemy bamboo for good measure.

and patterns for Alice's famous Lace Wings Shawl and Cookie A's Titania's Revenge (from last years BMFA Sock Club).

I also had a great visit with a cool knitter.

[who may look familiar to those of you who don't live under rocks and twigs.]

We had a wonderful time.  I love when I meet an online friend and it's like seeing an old friend.  Amy also treated me to the best organic fruit smoothie, perfect for the mind-numbing heat.

I hopped the streetcar to Queen St. West, where I meandered past the fabric, bead and boutiquey shops to Americo and Romni.  No purchases at Americo, but their selection of exotics was incredibly beautiful.  Romni is a sight to behold.  More yarn than I thought existed in the world.  (I'm barely kidding).  I think I was too tired to really see it all.  I need to return fully rested, fully fed and fully caffeinated some other day.  I did find some cotton that is destined to be funky hats for my girls.

[Brown Sheep Cotton Fine.  Love it.]

Hopped the bus to go a bit further west to the Knit Cafe, which I'd heard had a nice selection of Koigu.  I was not disappointed.

I rested and regrouped for my evening.  Knit night at Alterknit!

The girls were wonderfully welcoming, the staff friendly, and the yarns sublime.  I was just about yarned out, but I found some nice sock yarn in a sale bin.

[2 skeins, 2 samosas and 2 cold drinks:  $30.  Traveling to Ontario and finding out that one of my fellow knitters is the daughter of the owner of my favourite Nova Scotia LYS:  priceless.]

Total transportation costs were $11.25.  Yarn was perhaps a bit more.  If sock yarn "doesn't count" as stash, I was a very good girl.  If it does, I'm still a good person.

Just a person with more sock yarn than you.

Comments

[sarai.]

What a yarn crawl, Deb! Thanks for sharing. I confess I am mainly happy to stay in Nova Scotia, but this blog post is the obvious upside to city livin'...

[Steph VW]

I'm practically droooooooling at the sight of all that yarn. You'll bring it to your next KOL night, right? I'm pretty sure I speak for the group when I say that we would like to see a re-enactment of how your threw it all on the bed in your hotel room and rolled in it.

(there's new sock yarn at T.S. Just sayin'.)

[turtlegirl76]

What you have is both sock yarn AND vacation yarn which means it not only doesn't count as stash yarn, it qualifies as "negative stash" so you were very, very good. =)

[Rebecca]

If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the sound of me turning green with envy. Good on you for your yarn haul (no way does sock yarn does count in terms of total stash enhancement, at least that's what I tell myself). I had a similar experience in South Carolina when I visited my sister, forced her to drive to Charleston with toddler in tow, then ditched them so I could go troll through a yarn shop I read about online. It was awesome.

[melissaknits]

koigu. i need. I have also never had any. It's a dream. I am going to Portland ME this week and plan some yarn crawling, not sure what to do with Mr Wonderful, maybe send him for coffee?

[Jennifer]

I covet it all! *sob*

I can tell you had a great time! Meetings? What meetings?

[Valerie]

Hi Deb
We met last night at Chapters. Hope you didn't spend too much.
You're right about that koigu, it's gorgeous.
(And now I sound like a giant stalker...)
Valerie

[Jen]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! :)

[dobarah]

I do believe you have made the best of this situation! How can you ever go wrong on a business trip when there is this much fiberness involved? Koigu isn't in any of the stores I have visited, so I have yet to feel its bliss, but I still have time for this pleasure. You are so lucky!

[elayne]

Hi Deb. SO sorry I couldn't be at alterknit to enjoy all the yarny goodness and snacks with you. Next time, OK? I am glad you had a great all alone time to savour all the fine shops and meet some of your fellow addicts. Terri from alterknit enjoyed meeting you. (I stopped by yesterday and she gave me the lowdown!) So, keep in touch - I am also at lulu-bee.com. ciao for now elayne

[Jen]

I am insanely jealous. Not of the yarn...although it's quite pretty... of the time you had without children clawing and pecking at you. :) I gotta get me some of that. SOON.

[Amanda]

I'm glad that you enjoyed our fair city. Romni is a little overwhelming until you've been in there a few more times or have a really clear plan of what you're looking for.

I love that Posh yarn you picked up. I'd been eyeing that pink and yellow skein for awhile now. I'm glad it's finally off to a good home and has stopped tempting me!

I also tried to make it to Alterknit on Thursday but ended up working late.

Glad you had such a lovely time.

Amanda

[Theresa]

You were clearly having too much fun. I'm so jealous!

[Mary]

I totally covet the green Koigu and the shawl pattern. And, you know, the rest of your trip. ;-)

[Marti]

Looks like you had a blast in one of my old stomping grounds. A friend of mine was just at Romni and said pretty much the same thing...too tired to take it all in! What a yarn haul! I'm a wee bit jealous!

[Lesley]

Ooooh, I'm soooo envious!! Look at that haul!!
Luck lucky knitter!

[Nicole]

Hee hee! You are definitely a person with more sock yarn than me. Then again, you would exhaust my stash of sock yarn in under a month... It's a good thing I knit slower than you do! :) Glad the trip was fun!

[Terra]

I'm breathless from what you managed to accomplish in 22 hrs. Yarn phenom.

[Melissa]

Good work. I envy both your company and your stash enhancement.

[Teri]

Wow - you'll love the Koigu. I'm just excited to find another knitting pharmacist (I thought we were a rare breed).

[susanna eve]

what a great yarn crawl. It is like a map of the knitter's perfect day.

[Eva]

Wow, that's quite a day! I envy you - I could browse through the books at Romni for hours.