It seems as if every time I've turned around this week, I've had a lovely gift bestowed upon me. Some were for my birthday (which was Sunday) and from the usual suspects. Others were from people far afield and totally unexpected. All made me intensely happy and reminded me that I am living a charmed life indeed...
The swag:
My best pal Babs, daughter of Big Babs, gave me a Kpixie gift certificate. Hey, she was honest about her intentions as the gift cert message stated "Happy Birthday, I'm an enabler!". Yes you are Babs, and it's one of your many charms. Of course the gift cert burned a hole in my pocket, so I ordered some Brooklyn Handspun in Jungle Canopy. Yeah, it's sock yarn, I know I have a problem. But it's gorgeous, a lovely palette of green that will brighten up these dreary winter days, for sure. I am a Brooklyn Handspun virgin, so any input you all might have would be welcome.
One of the lovely exchange Graduate Students from France brought me three French Phildar knitting magazines! In a bag from the actual Phildar store! She is an absolute love for indulging me this way. Perusing these gems has induced in me a state of protracted euro-bliss.
Has anyone noticed yet that one of my new blogging strategies is to post a lot of pictures of things that I've received/bought/acquired in order to mask the lack of any real knitting progress? Just wondering...
The next present was very unexpected and truly appreciated. It comes from the Crafty Granny (Mom J of Lone Knitter fame). I commented on her blog that I really liked her Wallaby and was eager to try it myself...
So guess what? She bought me the pattern and mailed it to me, can you believe that? I always knew that knitters were a generous bunch, but this was truly a first for me. I am fascinated by this pattern and will be making one for a pal that's having a bébé this Spring. Thank you Crafty Granny!!
I also received (do you hate me yet?) a present from my best friend from high school, Nance. She went to a LYS in Minneapolis and purchased Hand Knit Holidays, a book I'd been coveting for a while. It arrived yesterday and I am looking forward to paging through it this weekend.
My next acquisition is one that I have been salivating over for months and months. Of course the time comes in every knitter's life when a knitting bag becomes no longer a luxury, but rather an essential accessory. You know what I'm talking about--suddenly that natty left-over satchel from the most recent Girl Scout event starts to bring your whole look way down, and something more stylish is a must.
(Yes, I know, I'm wretchedly shallow, this is not new information to anyone who knows me, incidentally.) So I caved (twist my arm!) and got a Jordana Paige Knitter's Satchel in Graphite and I LOVE IT WITH MY WHOLE HEART. It looks like a gigantic 1950's retro purse, has many little pockets and places for special knitting accoutrements and holds a massive amount of yarn, needles and other notions. The interior is surprisingly cavernous. The bottom has those metal feet that allow it to stand and not slump over. It has secret little pockets as well as snaps for holding in place errant balls of yarn. I could go on and on about this bag. If you're on the fence about it and can spare the ca$h, I highly recommend that you go for it! See, I can enable with the best of 'em.
Lastly, socks from Socks that Rock (colorway: 24 karat). Sure I bought it with my own money, (Happy Birthday to me!) but the money was a present, so I have technically not violated my 'knit from your stash' precept, right? Right? By the way, thanks to all you enablers out there who flooded my blog with comments stating that 'sock yarn doesn't count as stash'. A real supportive bunch. Glad I'm not trying to kick a pot habit, you all would be first in line with a bong and some twinkies...
Ahem, personal reminiscences of my twenties aside, this is my first experience with Socks that Rock. I wanted to see what all the hot fuss was about, so I ordered some. I know, I am so late to the party. Since I joined a sock knitalong at my LYS that begins on Saturday, I have an excuse (like I needed one) to give this yarn a try. Is it bad etiquette to bring yarn from another store to your LYS for a knitting event? Please let me know. Come on, delurkify, you know you want to!
Happy Birthday!! What wonderful gifts you received! Enjoy them you deserve them all! That knitting bag is especially gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd who said that sock yarn is a problem??? I don't see it as a problem. Do you?
What wonderful birthday loot!!! If I didn't like you so much, I'd be really envious. ;)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! Awesome stash enhancement... nice enabling all around. You'll know you are beyond all hope when you start hiding your sock yarn in the freezer so the kids don't find it. Love, LOVE that Jordana Paige bag. I've been eyeballing those at the LYS…
ReplyDeleteWow, so many new acquisitions for your B-day. Congrats!! That JP bag is just gorgeous, and I love that STR colorway!
ReplyDeleteThe LYS owner would be much, MUCH happier if you used her sock yarn rather than someone else's. Trust me!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Knitters have the bestest birthdays! Brooklyn Handspun and Socks that Rock on one day must be blissful. The knitting purse looks like it can take on James Bond. Perfect. The cover of the Wallaby pattern is so cute. I'd give it a try except I'm scared of sweater knitting...
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous! What generous friends you have! Doesn't it make you feel loved? I'm waiting for my STR Karat...and Terra Firma. I hate to say it but I really wouldn't feel comfortable taking someone else's yarn to my LYS for something like that. I even feel pretty comfortable there and everyone knows my name, kinda like Norm, but it is their livelihood. If people get excited about your STR they may just save their money and go home to order it. No business owner wants tht to happen, no matter how gorgeous the yarn!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input about bringing the STR to her store. I certainly have sock yarn from her store that I can use, and I will.
ReplyDeletePart of me feels weirdly entitled to knit other socks there because a. she herself frequently knits with other sock yarn in her store--she's a sock addict--and likes to try other sock yarn, b.this group is a sock knitalong that will be going for a year, and c. I have spent literally thousands of dollars on yarn at her store. I know that as an owner she DOES NOT appreciate (non)customers bringing yarn from A.C. Moore or Walmart or even other LYSs and then expecting help with a project. In that case she charges a fee, which I think is entirely appropriate. Maybe I just like to think I'm special! But thanks for the different perspectives, esp. the store owner one, k and C:)! I will bring some Opal from her shop that I need to keep working on and won't risk offending her, she's been a great friend and knitting pal...
Happy Birthday! I LOVE the color of that STR, it's stunning! As for the Brooklyn Handspun, I really loved knitting with it, I'm not sure what advice you would want. It fluffs up nicely after washing. I knit my socks in #2's but most people use #1's. Um....
ReplyDeleteLove the bag too, and those books are great gifts as well, you luck gal!
You are one lucky girl!! Your birthday must have seemed like Christmas! Love the new bag, if I could stop spending on yarn, maybe I'll get a bag. The new yarns are stunning. I finally got some help and am able to post pictures on the blog, so it's official, I have a blog!!
ReplyDeleteHaPpY BiRtHDaY to you!!! You have some rally wonderful gifts there. Love your purse and SOCKS THAT ROCK yarn! I have only tried it once but it is probably the most strongest sock yarn I have used so far. Really good wearing. The colors they dye are so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWow, what great goodies. It makes me want to leave the computer and go knit something! If I knit up all the yarn I have, I will absolutely HAVE to get more yarn.
ReplyDeleteYou lucky, lucky duck!
ReplyDeleteHey there - Just wanted to let you know if you have any questions about the Brooklyn Handspun you can always ask me! The skein you have there seems to be of the handwash variety. I stopped dyeing that about a year ago, I surprised they still had some in stock! schrodinger had excellent advise for the signature superwash but I wouldn't put what you have in the wash it will most certainly felt - handwash only.
ReplyDelete