Craft Store Expedition
Faced once again with the eternal question of what to knit now, I decided I better get some more yarn for my Boundless Blue Blanket. A trip to Michaels and/or Jo-Ann's was in order. Since I've moved to the other side of the city, I needed to do a little online research to locate the nearest stores. I was pleased to see that the closest Jo-Ann's (although not all that close) was in the same plaza as a Michaels. One or the other was bound to have what I was looking for, and I wouldn't have to drive all over to find out.
With the enticement of exploring a new area including a different Einstein's bagel place, I persuaded John to embark on this expedition with me. First, we hit Jo-Ann's, and I found five skeins of the yarn I wanted. I will probably need a couple more to finish, but no worries since it is one of those no-dye-lot wonders. And speaking of wonders, I was stunned to find a package of Susan Bates sock needles containing 4 sets of 5 dpns in US sizes 000, 00, 0, and 1. Why was this so surprising? First, the craft stores rarely have double-point needles, and, second, they never have them this small. Plus, I've been dismayed to realize in the past that individual sets of Susan Bates dpns come in sets of 4 not 5. All in all, I considered them quite the find and with the price working out to around 50 cents a needle, I decided these needed to come home with me too.
As I poked around to see what else they might have hidden beyond the floofy, fluffy novelty yarn, I stumbled across some Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky which was just the color I've been picturing for my Rogue sweater. It's a light heathered sage color called Willow. Now I'm still planning to make my Rogue with yarn from a "real" yarn store, and the Chunky Wool-Ease is thicker than the called for Aran weight yarn. However, this would make a pretty inexpensive alternative, and the gauge could be worked out by following a smaller size. If I have no luck in finding something else I like, I won't write this possibility off out of hand.
Over at Michaels the shelves were filled with even more fuzzy, feathery, floopy yarn. One brand in particular called Moda Dea completely amazed me with the miriad ways they found to arrange varied bits of fluff and stuff. These people wouldn't know a smooth yarn if someone tied them up in it. We had alot of fun petting their yarns (especially Dream which felt just like a little baby bunny or kitty), but I don't think I'd want to actually try to knit the stuff. Michaels also carried Patons Bohemian, an insanely soft multicolored chenille. I may be persuaded to make at least a small pillow out of it in spite of my aversion to knitting with something where you can't tell one stitch from the next. Then there was Lion Suede which looks and feels like its namesake. This could be what I eventually use to make carrying cases for some of John's instruments. In the end, I came away with a few balls of Patons Grace in the colors Snow and Sky which I plan to use for some summer socks. I'm thinking of either the Pom Sqad socks from MagKnits or the Not Just for Golf Socks from Wildhorse Farm Designs.
Incidently, John was really patient as I ogled all the yarn and knitting supplies. It was fun to have him along, and I think he may have actually enjoyed it just a little himself.