Sunday, July 30, 2006

Yarning in Utah

For those of you not familiar with the term yarning, let me explain. It simply means to shop for yarn. I'm not sure if yarn must actually be purchased, but every time I go yarning, I come home with a few skeins for the stash. And if John is with me, I come home with more yarn than if I go by myself. He was with me this time...

Black Sheep Wool Co.
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Here I am outside the store before any yarn was purchased. This shop has become a regular stop on my trips to Salt Lake City, since it is very close to where we usually stay. I believe the owners are beginning to think I live in town. I always find something good here. This time I found some lovely sock yarn I had never seen before--Sunbeam St. Ives (80% Wool, 20% Nylon, Machine Washable). I was told that Nancy Bush has been using this for her socks lately. Looks like good stuff. I had a hard time deciding on what color to buy, so I came home with several. Good thing it's reasonably priced.
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The Needlepoint Joint
This shop is located in Ogden, Utah. I had never been to it before and judging from the name, I was afraid it might not have much for knitters. Boy, was I wrong! This store has everything. I was so involved in yarning, that I totally forgot to take pictures, which is a shame because the shop is located on Historic 25th St.--a beautiful location.

When I go yarning out of town, I try to buy something unusual or least something my LYS doesn't carry. I came across a brand of yarn in this store called Cestari. It's manufactured in Churchville, Virginia and is described on the label as AN ALL NATURAL, VERY UNIQUE YARN. How could I pass that up? I bought the 75% cotton, 25% wool blend in a 3 ply D.K. This yarn comes in other weights and blends including 100% wool. Other purchases included a vest pattern (probably for this yarn) and a small sock darner to add to my collection.
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There was a display of knitted pumpkins in the back of the store. These were the best I've ever seen. Some were felted and some were not. There must have been over 20 pumpkins, no two alike. All were variations of three different patterns, which the shop gives out for free. I came home with the patterns, but I wish I had taken pictures so I could remember all the different ways they were made. Well, I guess I have an excuse to go back now...not that I needed one.

7 comments:

  1. Okay, so when I read your post I started singing,
    "A yarning we will go, a yarning we will go..." Now the song is stuck in my head - guess I have to go yarning!

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  2. Anonymous10:51 AM

    Some nice looking enhancements there ;)

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  3. Store owner thinking you live in the town is good. Store owner thinking you live at the store means you are there too much. LOL

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  4. Good thing he was with you this time - you came home with some great stuff!! I'm the same way - always buy more when my husband is with me! :)

    How fun to visit the shops in Utah - thanks for the tips. Though I don't expect to be passing through there any time soon. ha The new sock yarn looks great and that vest pattern is really pretty!

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  5. the pumpkins sound really neat... yep guess you do have an excuse to go back soon... before the display goes away :)

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  6. You know Tracy, I have to go up to Ogden this week (maybe tomorrow). If I remember I can run in and snap a picture for you.

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  7. Jealous does not even begin to describe how I am feeling! I am sad to say that there are no good yarn shops in my town...only Michael's, WalMart and Hancock Fabric (((sigh))).

    I guess that can be a good thing in that it keeps me from spending all my grocery money on yarn. (Which I will add, would not bother me a bit, but might disturb the rest of my family considerably! Wish I could get them to set their priorities straight!)

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~Tracy

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