the blue blog archives: i love ny; greyhound not so much

First up on my second day in NYC was the newest and hippest knitting store to come to town, Suss Designs. Yes, the Suss from Hollywood Knits has brought her gorgeous knits and yarns to NYC.

Wowza, is this place incredible! They had lots of yarns I'd never seen before, including the Suss yarns which are lovely - what a difference it makes when you can see and touch them - all with beautiful colors and wonderful fibers. And the knitted garments for sale were to die for! They were even having a 50% off sale on winter items, but they were still too pricey for me. The styles were fabulous though. And browsing for inspiration is always free!

A quick lunch at Peanut Butter & Co. (everything peanut butter!) and then it was back to Purl so I could finally use that gift certificate my mother got me for Christmas.

We spent a looooong time looking at the staggering selection of Koigu and Kersti. I was all set to get some Kersti for a sweater, when mom pulls out the most amazing swatch of Alchemy Synchronicity in Rich Berry. I put the Kersti back, Julia Roberts came in to pick up some yarn, and I snatched up all the Synchronicity in that colorway.

Then I rode the bus home with about 500 other people - I've never seen so many people waiting for a bus (we were wrapped all around the entire downstairs gate area, which if you've ever been to the Port Authority you know is huge!). They must have pulled in every bus they had that would run. When I realized that none of the seat lights inside our bus were working, I briefly considered putting the knitting away. Then I thought, who says I can't do a short-row toe in the dark?

When the bus made a stop for folks to grab a quick bite to eat and the driver turned all the lights on, I realized my mistake.

posted by alison at 9:55 am | in nyc knitting , socknut

Comments

I wanna go to NY too!! I am so envious....

Posted by: Katarina at March 13, 2006 10:11 AM

Hehe.. this happened to me too and not only once! I always rush into knitting the toe with the feeling of 'almost done'. To realise later the same significant different position of the toes in my sock and those on my feet! But at least, the sock IS almost done, even with ripping. Your stripy one looks great!
It also looks like you had a great time in NY. Surely one of the world's knitter's paradises.

Posted by: carola at March 13, 2006 10:14 AM

Oh you will love the Synchronicity! I knit my Clapotis in that colorway and it is so soft and warm. Can't wait to see what you do with it!

Posted by: amanda at March 13, 2006 10:21 AM

Oh dear, sorry to hear about the toe... ;) You need one of those headlights to knit on the bus, you wear it around your neck and it lights your knitting. Thanks for bringing us along with you in NY, can't believe you saw Julia, very neat. :)

Posted by: ~Jo~ at March 13, 2006 10:23 AM

Not to be mean, but that's pretty funny!

Posted by: Carole at March 13, 2006 10:23 AM

I'm so sorry but I had a good chuckle about your perfect short row toe! Nothing like practice to make use even perfecter. How interesting to see Julia R in NYC! Celebrity sightings can be fun. I LOVE the Synchronicity in Rich Berry. I wonder what you'll do with it?

Posted by: Karma at March 13, 2006 10:28 AM

I, too, got a good chuckle from your "innovative sock design" -- hey, it might fit someone in the circus, maybe? ;-)

So, was Julia Roberts buying baby yarn, I wonder?

Posted by: Mary at March 13, 2006 10:31 AM

D'oh!

Posted by: erin at March 13, 2006 10:38 AM

Very interesting toe construction. Blocking might help. ;-)

Posted by: Kat at March 13, 2006 10:49 AM

haha. that is a Harlot-esque design feature, indeed!

Posted by: helen at March 13, 2006 10:54 AM

I absolutely love that ultra merino yarn colour.
Dont know what it is with me lately and my pink colour trip :) will have to see if I can figure the colour out and get me some... I have a sock pattern and pal that I might need to keep in mind.

Posted by: stinkerbell at March 13, 2006 11:01 AM

Whoops! Not a fan of the Greyhound bus, either.

Posted by: colleen at March 13, 2006 11:17 AM

Yeah, Jo, I've got a little light that I use for when I knit in our car on long drives, but I didn't bring it, because, well, the bus has lights. How was I supposed to know that the entire lighting system would be out on the bus?! Next time, I'll be packing it for sure. Thank goodness I had the iPod! I watched The Office instead of knitting.

Stinkerbell, the Ultramerino is color #130. Suss also has the ArtYarns Supermerino in the same colorway, but I liked the browns in the Ultramerino better.

Posted by: alison at March 13, 2006 11:22 AM

Hehehe. Well, it does make the sock fold easier...

Posted by: Monica at March 13, 2006 11:38 AM

I love the Rice Berry. So what was Julia Roberts buying?

Posted by: Diane at March 13, 2006 11:50 AM

That has got to hurt.

Posted by: claudia at March 13, 2006 12:30 PM

My MIL has a pair like that. She knit her late husband a pair of argyles around 30 years ago. It was the only pair of socks she ever knit. She didn't realize the mistake until they were given to him. She pulled them out to show me at Christmas time when I was knitting socks in the living room.

Posted by: Nancy at March 13, 2006 12:59 PM

giggle* still, beautiful stitching!!

Posted by: rebecca at March 13, 2006 1:04 PM

I knit the heel of my second-ever pair of socks on the wrong side, and I still wear them comfortably...

Posted by: NIna at March 13, 2006 2:24 PM

Peanut Butter & Co? Oh, divine! Bummer about the toe. Foot would be very painful if shaped like that...

Posted by: Chris at March 13, 2006 3:24 PM

Julia Roberts really came in for some yarn? I'm such a dork...totally jealous of the celeb-sighting (not many celebs come visit Richmond!)...

Sounds like an AWESOME weekend, despite the toe debacle :-)

Posted by: Melanie at March 13, 2006 4:16 PM

That toe is SO funny. Believe me, we all share your pain! ;-)

Were you so Politely Not Staring that you didn't notice what La Julia bought? (That would be me, I'm sure; I would be so focused on not gawping like an idiot, I'd completely miss the big purchase.)

Posted by: Beth S. at March 13, 2006 4:23 PM

Oh, NO! Way funny though, and I'll try to remember that when I do something similar next time...

Posted by: Carrie at March 13, 2006 4:49 PM

LOL! You could just call that sock "Art" and frame it ;-)

Posted by: Kathy at March 13, 2006 5:29 PM

What a fun trip! Envy your yarn! I'm not mesmerized by very many celebrities, but Julia would have me goggling, I've got to admit!

Posted by: Wendi at March 13, 2006 5:31 PM

how can you say that so calmly? "julia stopped in". what was she buying. i have so wanted to know what she likes to knit. any clues?

Posted by: laurie at March 13, 2006 6:27 PM

Maybe you'd like the Chinatown bus better. Service is frequent and safe and the prices can't be beat. Not to mention you can't get char siu, bubble tea, or red bean ice cream at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Posted by: Ina at March 13, 2006 8:50 PM

ooooooh, I am filled with envy!!

Posted by: carole at March 13, 2006 11:17 PM

That is way cool that you saw Julia Roberts at purl. I have lived in NY all my life and I have never had a star sighting.:(

Posted by: Carmelle at March 14, 2006 6:30 AM

OUCH!! that's what happens when you knit 'by feel' on the bus;-)
And I'm having a serious attack of STASH ENVY!!

Posted by: Julia at March 14, 2006 7:22 AM

I enjoyed reading about your trip - it is sad that a virtual experience, whilst stimulating (envy!), does not bring forth a personal stash enhancement.... and to see J.R. too... what fun.

Posted by: jess at March 14, 2006 7:26 AM

i'm close to making my decision about where i'm going to be come fall. you may have just made it very easy for me . . .

Posted by: shireen at March 14, 2006 9:10 AM

Oh, do tell what Julia is fondling these days! ;)

Posted by: Kerstin at March 14, 2006 9:25 AM

about a month or two ago i was downtown and stopped into Suss and then left there and headed over to Purl.. bumped into Uma Thurman and told her about how i had seen her photos around Suss and she asked in LA.. and i told her no on Lafayette.. even had an extra card to give her.. i think i made her day that i knew her from knitting rather than an acting stint :-)
i'm jealeous too.. i love Julia R:-)
k

Posted by: Karola at March 14, 2006 4:16 PM

The toe was tragic, but I still can't resist a good laugh. *LOL*

Posted by: Elemmaciltur at March 15, 2006 1:43 AM

Oh My Gawd, you saw Julia R....tell all, did she buy any yarn, which kind? did you talk "shop".
Hay you could have told her all about knitting for two.
Next time I'm in NY, i'll be sure to pop by Purl, and Suss, LOL.

Posted by: Orli at March 15, 2006 3:38 AM

What fun yarn shops! The sock cracks me up. Still love the striping, though.

Posted by: Kim at March 15, 2006 8:33 AM

Too bad they don't make those lighted needles in DPNs. Then you'd be set.
:)

Posted by: Micky at March 15, 2006 10:27 AM

How fortunate that I checked into your blog today...I'm going to NYC near the Village this weekend and I'm thrilled to hear about Suss & Purl & KnitNY. I can't wait! Any other stores I should check out while I'm there?

Posted by: Allison at March 15, 2006 6:54 PM

I did not make it down to Purl this time, but School Products and Yarn Connection were both great.

Posted by: Lolly at March 16, 2006 1:33 PM

Umm, I have a little technical question- you've knit the socks top-down and did a short-row toe, but how do you attach the toe stitches to the stitches which formed the upper part of the foot? Kitchener?

Posted by: Julia at March 17, 2006 11:33 AM

Yup, Julia, you got it, good old' kitchener stitch. You can see the finished socks here.

Posted by: alison at March 17, 2006 1:51 PM