Saturday, April 30, 2011

A-Frolicking-We-Went

Despite the fact that is was a Saturday, I pulled my sorry but out of bed at 7 a.m. ( I don't even get up at 7 a.m. on a work day!!!) and was up a Mom's by 8.

We were off to the Frolic!

Even though Toronto is only an hour away (and I work there every day now) we've never been to the Knitter's Frolic. We talked about going last year, but just never did.

We hummed and hawed about going this year. We don't need more yarn. We dye our own and almost everything else we can get from our LYS.

But Mom was on the look out for some new Japanese Stitch books, so we decided what the heck.

But what did I want?

Something different.

Something I love.

Oooooooooooooh......pure silk...... perhaps something from Hand Maiden?

We have lots of lovely bases, but we don't have anything that's 100 % silk.

So that was my intent.

The Frolic was PACKED!!! We had to use a little creativity to get a parking spot (poor Stella - I'm sorry about the grass stains). Inside was wall-to-wall knitters, all clamouring over beautiful, pettable yarns and fibres.

I brought my camera - but only ended up taking one picture:That's Mom (far left) and our LYS owner Julie (far right) who had a booth at the Frolic (some random knitter in the middle). I love how they are all in a similar shade of green.

Mom found her Japanese stitch books. And I did find my silk.This is Willow Street Silk - 100 % silk, "sourced from the leftovers of a luxury goods manufacturing process." There were so many colours to choose from - but in the end I was feeling very natural (unusual for me, I usually all about the colour) so I went with "Guernsey." This, of course, is destined to become a shawl - I'm thinking Icarus or Swallowtail, maybe.

And, despite the fact that I had found what I came for - you just know a few other items followed me home.

These little skeins were especially hard to resist (and obviously I didn't).The Black Lamb, Classic Bunny 0 A 60/40 merino/angora blend.... and soooooooooooooooooooooooo soft. These will become a jaunty beret and toasty pair of gloves for this winter. They had several pretty "natural" shades including greys and taupes, but in the end, I kept with my theme.

But I think all that bare yarn was freaking me out a little, because this little number popped into my shopping bag too (okay, I specifically went back for it - but that's not the point).
Malabrigo Sock in "Alcaucil". Okay, I do feel kinda of silly buying hand-dyed merino yarn when I can just make my own - but it's kettle-dyed. So it's different. It is. Shut up.

There were two skeins of it, so I bought one for mom too, as an early Mother's Day gift.

Of course, she also had to treat me too. In the form of a pretty shawl pin
And some buttons for the stashThere are four buttons in total.

Afterwards we went for lunch, and ate so much, we had to bring our dessert home. That means I've got coconut creme pie in the fridge... and I'm off to indulge!

8 comments:

Monika said...

I've never been to Knitters Frolic. I don't do well with crowds. I went to Kitchener Fair once, and it was so stuffed and crowded I was glad to get out. Nice haul you've got there though!

Minding My Own Stitches said...

Sounds like fun. The Frolic is always jammed on Saturday! Shirley and I are planning to go today to avoid the crowds and - hopefully - snag good parking. Sunday is usually quieter.

Alisha said...

oh i need to go to a frolic....what fun!

great buys too.....i can not wait to see what you create!

and oh is that your crackghan i see....looks so awesome. i need to add a few squares to mine ;)

Delusional Knitter said...

Beautiful yarns, love that Malabrigo color, very cool. Looks like a fun day!

gayle said...

The yarns are very nice, but oh-my-goodness that shawl pin!!! I'm too old to be squeeing this loud...

pendie said...

How fun is that! I usually come home with the same colors as in my stash, thinking I picked out something completely different! I love the silk and can't wait to see what you do with it.

sparkpaw911 said...

Love the new purchases, especially that silk. It's going to make a beautiful shawl, whichever pattern you chose.

Lost City Denise said...

And boy did you Frolic!!!

Gorgeous purchases!!!