the blue blog archives: three bags full

First, even before I met up with the girls, I had to go to Habu! I picked up another ounce of my fabu habu red cotton, just in case I don't have enough to finish the tank I'm working on. They wound the ounce on a little teeny cone, which is so cute that I'm hoping I don't need to use it and can keep it with my other "decorative yarns" on my knitting table. Next to the red coned cotton is some incredible handspun cashmere that my mom couldn't resist (note: mom is not a knitter, so I get to knit her purchases as well - woo hoo!). So, someone's getting a cashmere scarf this Christmas. Then there's two little yellow mini-skeins of Habu's silk-mohair. It reminds me of KidSilk Haze and is so soft. Maybe I can use it someday to make something with crazy hazy ruffles like Elisabeth's Elfin. Finally, the coolest thing ever, preknitted, retro-colored strips of yarn that I have no idea what to do with but had to take home. Take a closer look and tell me you could pass that up!

Once I met up with the girls at Purl Soho and Jenn showed us her incredible Vintage Knits wavy-line sweater, my mom and I decided I had to immediately buy enough Koigu to make one for myself. And does Purl ever have the Koigu, let me tell you! They've got lots of the solid colors too, which are really my favorites (remember, I've got variegated issues). Mom also found this sweater knit up as a store model and we decided that we both had to have one. I just happen to have some DB cashmerino aran from the Must Have Cardigan that I chickened out of. And mom wants the DB cotton angora that the pattern calls for. A mother-daughter knit-along is born!

At the comfiest yarn store ever, Downtown Yarns, we could only see red. My mom kept coming back to the red and white Manos Cotton Stria (soon to be a candy-cane scarf for her) and I just had to have the one ball of red Calmer (ON SALE!). Jenn had us hunting around for good handpainted yarns after mentioning the Pooling Colors Scarf pattern in the Fall Interweave Knits. When we saw the Schaefer Anne yarn, we started laying out skeins and checking out how the colors would stripe. I ended up with a skein with subtle red colors. I can't wait to see how this pattern and yarn work out!

Finally, at my fave, KnitNY, we went blue. I picked out a skein of GGH Via Mala in my favorite color for the fingerless gloves from Weekend Knitting. Mom picked out some Koigu (yes, more Koigu!) for me to make some socks (yes, socks!) for my great aunts. And I picked up a lovely coupon for 10% off my next purchase. Makes me want to rub my hands together like Montgomery Burns on the Simpsons and say, "exxxxcellent."

posted by alison at 8:19 am | in nyc knitting , vintage

Comments

what's the smiley for DROOL?
looks like an amazing day. and so nice your mom shares your fetish!

Posted by: amy [squib] at July 27, 2004 8:53 AM

oh, my heart goes out to you having to lug all that yarn around NYC! ;-)

that habu yarn is gorgeous! get me on a train back to NYC!

Posted by: Leigh at July 27, 2004 8:56 AM

Looks like the best shopping trip, ever. Wow :)

Posted by: Amy at July 27, 2004 9:12 AM

Excellent indeed !
Fabulous shopping ! :0)

Posted by: Emma at July 27, 2004 9:23 AM

Oh my! A knitters dream. Everything looks fabulous. I love the Koigu in the solid colors. Enjoy!! :-)

Posted by: Eilene at July 27, 2004 9:33 AM

You did all that in just one day? And I thought I was good. But then I have to drive at least forty five minutes between yarn stores. And have lunch. Beautiful stuff.

Posted by: Larry at July 27, 2004 10:01 AM

"exxxxxxxcellent!" Indeed! You cleaned up that town!! You really made up for lost time! :) And.....boohooo...we've been replaced! ACK!
You got the preknitted yarn from Habu! I'm glad because it kept calling your name!
Nice haul! And haul you did! :)
You are a good american. Doing your best to stimulate the economy!! :)

Posted by: sandy at July 27, 2004 10:05 AM

Wow, I hadn't realized you bought as much as you did, and it all looks so lovely!! I'm glad you rescued that one poor ball of red Calmer - ha! What will that become? And yay!! You got some "Anne". I won a hank on Ebay and will be knitting along right with you.

Posted by: Jackie at July 27, 2004 10:21 AM

Wowzers! That is a lot of good loot. I started playing with colors and making swatches for that wavy-line sweater a few weeks ago. Oddly enough it is in similar colors to your preknit retro yarn. I am finding that waves stitch to be very fun. Enjoy your new yarn!

Posted by: Amy at July 27, 2004 10:23 AM

Wow! I'm wiping up the drool. You picked totally fabulous yarn. I can't wait to see the knitting commence on any or all of these. That wavy line sweater is the bomb, I might have to give that a looksee since I have developed this Koigu fetish, um...fondness. I sure wish I could catch your finishing fondness!

Posted by: Bliss at July 27, 2004 10:38 AM

Your arms much be sore (or longer!) from carrying that load home. Envy! What what a great haul.

Posted by: margene at July 27, 2004 11:25 AM

Holy cow, girl! You're going to be busy. That is a heck of a lot of projects to acquire all at once. They look fabulous though. Have fun!

Posted by: LauraA at July 27, 2004 11:38 AM

I really admire how you have vision for the Habu yarns. I must got over my hurdle and make something from them. : )

Posted by: Cindy at July 27, 2004 11:42 AM

oooooo, I want to go shopping with you!

Posted by: Lorette at July 27, 2004 1:31 PM

Wowie! I wish I could touch that cashmere. Thanks for the links--now I obviously have to get the Fall Interweave Knits as that blue ribbed is calling out for the alpaca I have had for YEARS and my sis-in-law in London will likely be getting the floral purse.

Posted by: Melissa G at July 27, 2004 6:01 PM

Everything looks so pretty. Yay for socknitting!
And that knitted yarn is too crazy- love it!
Habu sounds like a fun store to go to.....

Posted by: Sarah Elizabeth at July 27, 2004 8:14 PM

I stopped by Habu on my recent trip, and I was blown away by the knitted yarn as well. The colorway you selected is great. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

Posted by: Gina at July 27, 2004 11:16 PM

Oooh, so much yarn! I'm jealous! They all look gorgeous. The preknitted retro-colored strips of yarn looks absolutely fabulous.

Posted by: c at July 28, 2004 2:07 AM

i cannot believe how much time you have spent in new york since i moved away from there. were you just waiting for me to leave????

Posted by: carolyn at July 28, 2004 7:34 AM