the blue blog archives: a day at A-E-K-I

The boys don't yet understand that you're supposed to read from left to right. And they're still a little vague on "smile for mommy."

You may be shocked to hear that we here in Boston have no IKEA. Until this year we had to either rent a van and drive to New Jersey to get our hip, affordable home goods or - gasp - go without. But now there's an IKEA less than three hours away! And what could be more fun than a family day trip to IKEA?

Our trip was inspired primarily by my sudden and acute need for yarn storage. All I want for Christmas is a yarn cabinet! My most generous and patient husband chaperoned the kiddos around the store while I searched for the perfect storage system. (Unfortunately, the kiddos aren't "completely" potty trained so no IKEA Smaland for them. Boo hoo. But there were several fun little playspaces hidden in the main showroom as well as plenty of cool sofas to climb on and neat tables crawl under. And they had a blast taking turns playing with this chair in the Children's Furniture area.)

A few hours, one cabinet, a couple of cinnamon buns and loads of other goodies later, we packed ourselves back in the car and drove home. I knitted. Santa hubby says he'll try to put the cabinet together next week. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

posted by alison at 8:23 am | in fantastic fiber voyage , sock block

Comments

That play area for kids is the best! We could shop for 40 minutes while the kids had fun.

Now I want to head to ikea...

Posted by: Steph at December 12, 2004 8:43 AM

woohoo, ikea! and a yarn cabinet sounds great! mini and i just love that place. sometimes when it's rainy and i have exhausted all indoor play spots, we head out there for lunch, play and shop. mini digs that kids meatball meal. and gotta get a bun while you're there. enjoy your cabinet (i know you will, hehe)

Posted by: froggy at December 12, 2004 9:01 AM

You're singing my yarn storage song.
I've used a rolling wire drawers set from IKEA for my yarn . It worked so well, I needed a second.

Posted by: Lynn at December 12, 2004 9:44 AM

It's early sunday morning and I am reading your blog. I tell hubby, let's go to IKEA!? Off, we go, thanks for the idea. LOL! Your boys will soon get to enjoy the wonderful world of Smaland! ;)

Posted by: ~Jo~ at December 12, 2004 10:06 AM

I just bought a cabinet for the kiddies' playroom to store toys (wood w/sliding plastic buckets in various sizes) from IKEA. Did you pick up the adorable children's aprons (gingerbread men on them with red & white piping) by the checkout lanes? They're priceless and only cost $2.99! I'd hoped to have a x-mas pic of the kids making cooking w/the aprons on, but ran out of time!

Leslie, With an IKEA 45 min from my house

Posted by: Leslie at December 12, 2004 10:34 AM

I love Ikea.Hubby loves putting together Ikea furniture.kids love getting the hot dogs.It's a good day when you get to go to Ikea.But I always thought it would be nice if they sold wool from Sweden.Wouldn't that be so cool?

Posted by: cara at December 12, 2004 10:49 AM

if your kids are reading right to left, it's time to teach them hebrew =)
here in little of Israel, the same land that deprives us of pop tarts and many other nice treats, we do as it happens have IKEA, on a good day, about 30-45 mintues away. Hubby and I might be visiting soon also...we need a toy chest for our kid...and boy oh boy, I'm sure he'd love to run rampet...but I think hubby would have a melt down if he did.

Posted by: Orli at December 12, 2004 10:57 AM

We don't have an IKEA here in Colorado either! I miss IKEA so much and I wish they'd move inland soon!!

Posted by: Libby at December 12, 2004 11:02 AM

I *heart* Ikea so much! We do not have one in Atlanta... yet (October 2005 - yes, I'm counting the days). Every time we go to my inlaws for a visit, we drive past the DC area one and I drool out the window. Most of the time we get to stop and a couple of times I've brought home a SUV full. I even went out of my way to visit one in Belgium when I was there for work. It's a strange obsession.

Posted by: carrie at December 12, 2004 11:28 AM

I LOVE the new IKEA - ONLY in New HAven! Plus- NEw Haven is so fun- Yalies and great pizza- the perfect little trip.
And a 3 hour knit time- priceless.

Posted by: beth at December 12, 2004 11:39 AM

Next time you're in New Haven, you have to give some warning and schedule knitting time!

Posted by: Lauren at December 12, 2004 11:39 AM

About time you had a yarn cabinet! Your boys are so adorable.

Alison, I *love* your Leftovers vest, and the photos are excellent. Thank you! Another pattern on my looong to-knit list. :)

Posted by: other alison at December 12, 2004 11:57 AM

Oooo... I can't wait to see the cabinet!
I used to love Ikea... Then I worked there for a few months. After that experience I vowed to never step foot in Ikea again. Now I love to send someone else to get me what I want :)

Posted by: Laurin at December 12, 2004 12:03 PM

I have suffered from IKEA envy for quite a while. The closest I've ever been to one is watching the Fab 5 shop there on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy".

Posted by: Dani at December 12, 2004 12:20 PM

It´s so funny how ikea around the world fascinates people the same way. Here in Germany it was long time that ikea was the furniture shop for students and young familys with low budget.
My little daughter with 15 month now, is too small for smalland but she loves beeing in ikea with us and eating this koetbullar (you know that) meatball meal. Funny how your ikea pictures just look like takne here. I have two ikeas around in my town, but Germany has the most ikea shops worldwide as far as I know.
Like your leftover and I have the hlaf of the blanket finished you did for one of your boys. It will be a gift for a newborn and I hope his parents like it.

Posted by: Sibylle at December 12, 2004 5:43 PM

Oh so much to say:
Yeah for IKEA! You do know that we're due for one here in Massachusetts in the spring (I think in Stoughton)? And you should ask Kim sometime when knitsmiths need some entertainment (that's a little joke) to tell you her story of her odyssey to be one of the first 100 customers of that New Haven Store.
And funny enough, I too am knitting a k2p2 sock, and I'm exactly where you are at the moment.
Cheers, and Happy Holidays!

Posted by: julia fc at December 12, 2004 7:43 PM

Ikea is a great place, I enjoy going to our's here in the PNW. BTW, I have a freebie pattern on my blog that is perfect for small amounts of left over koigu.

Posted by: marti at December 12, 2004 7:48 PM

I'm with Lauren. It would be great to meet you if you come back to New Haven with some spare time. I can just see a bunch of us knitting in IKEA! :)

Posted by: Jessica at December 12, 2004 7:56 PM

wow, here I thought I had it rough, driving 45 minutes to the Ikea closest to us. We might be brain twins, Alison. I've been wanting to go to Ikea to get a yarn cabinet myself.

Posted by: Peggy at December 13, 2004 4:08 AM

Is the seaming party over? Since I haven't seen any finished pop or weasleys I guess not. Anyway I sat down and seamed the thinking dress yesterday. It's almost finished, and I'm planning on doing the rest this evening.

Posted by: Helene at December 13, 2004 4:47 AM

We went to the New Haven IKEA this weekend too! We bought my mother a yarn storage bin, the same bin system that I use to store my fabrics. I like it very much. I am able to sort my fabrics by color and I can vaguely see through the bins so that I know what to grab without fuss.
I look forward to seeing what you bought!

Posted by: Melly at December 13, 2004 9:05 AM

Your boys smiling "for" each other made my day! Too cute. I have one 3 year old boy who cracks me up all the time. Having 2 must mean twice the fun!

Posted by: Sharon M at December 13, 2004 9:12 AM

oh ikea.. Julia is right, next time I'm at knitsmiths (which is soon, i hope) I have got to tell the story of sleeping out all night in the pooring rain to be one of the first to see the ikea new haven... i'm sure you can just imagine. I have been to the new haven store 4 times since it opened and the best part is we even rented a uhaul to bring all the stuff home from the grand opening!!

i can't wait to see your cabinet. i have one from ikea that is 6 feet by 6 feet.. and it is FULL O YARN !!!!!

Posted by: kimberly at December 13, 2004 9:42 AM

Cara, what a brilliant idea - Swedish wool at IKEA - I love it!

Lauren and Jessica, great plan. Next time I make a trip down to IKEA, I'll let you know. :)

How funny, Melly, that you were there too! I wonder if we were all there together buying the same thing.

Posted by: alison at December 13, 2004 9:46 AM

Hey - you should have told us CT-ers you were coming (if the New Haven one's the IKEA you went to!) There's a whole chunk of us within 10/15 minutes of it!

Mmmm...knitting & Swedish meatballs....

NEXT time!

Posted by: Eklectika at December 13, 2004 2:44 PM

When you said the boys had a blast with a chair, I KNEW it was the rotating egg chair -- lots of experience with that one.

Posted by: Sylvia at December 13, 2004 3:09 PM

don't you just *heart* ikea? my family does and it really does count as a family outing since there is sooooo much to see.

Posted by: amanda at December 13, 2004 5:45 PM

Oh yes - Ikea is awesome... growing up in the Bronx we went to Ikea several times to furnish my room...

Now that I live in AZ I am thrilled that we just got an Ikea here... YEAHHHHHHH

And I was there today... what a cool store!

Posted by: Alison at December 14, 2004 1:04 AM

Gee do I feel lazy now. I live about 5 minutes away from IKEA and still haven't made it there. (I keep seeing the huge crowds in the parking lot and can't bring myself to face it yet.) I'm glad I won't have to make the drive to New Jersey anymore though.

Posted by: Christina at December 14, 2004 10:10 AM

What did you buy for your yarn storage? Alisons in need of yarn storage want to know!

Posted by: Alison at December 15, 2004 3:12 PM