Saturday 20 November 2010

Yarn Stores Galore!

So I said I'd blog about my yarn store visits on my recent holiday. Well here you go!
I uploaded them in the wrong order, so we're going with last store visited first. Oh well!

The last store I visited was Knitch in Atlanta, Georgia. Hubby took the pictures in this shop, so they're MUCH nicer than the rest :)



I was super excited to go to this store because of BrooklynTweed's SHELTER yarn. I made a bee line for the shelf it was on!



Their store display was absolutely gorgeous. Everything was beautifully laid out, and there was loads of space and light.



Their samples were lovely too, here's some felted bags they had on a shelf. I could have spent hours wandering round it, just looking at everything.



The colours they had together were really striking, here's a display of Colinette Jitterbug. Really vibrant!



At the back of the store they had a really nice area for classes & knitting groups. A huge table right under a window, and a blackboard announcing upcoming events etc.



Everything was really thoughtfully arranged.



This had to be the best thing of all though. Chicken Run! Apparently one of the customers made it. Isn't it brilliant? It sat on a shelf by the till.



So that was Knitch! Next up is Four Purls in WinterHaven, Florida.



This was a lovely store that was a bit hidden away. It took a couple of drives around the block to find it!



This store was a flying visit when I was trying to buy a replacement dpn for my Everglades Socks. I can't remember the name of the owner, but she was a really lovely person who tried her best to help me. There was also an impromptu knitting group going on, so I was a bit sneaky taking my pictures. I only took pictures of alcoved areas of the shop, and not the main floor area.



She had a great selection of yarn, the biggest brand was Cascade. She had a lot of Italian yarns too.



I liked this shop and would have liked to spend more time there, but alas it wasn't to be. If I go back next year, I'll definitely go for a longer poke around.

My last store for you is my favourite, Sip & Knit in Maitland, Florida. this store is about an hours drive from the house we stay in, in Orlando. Doni the owner is just lovely. She remembers me every year, and I was greeted with a big hug when we arrived. Alice loves to play with her dog Tucker too.



Look at the sheep outside the door. Isn't it the best? I wish I could have one of those :)



Inside the store is a treasure trove. It's like a converted house, so you walk down hallways to find more rooms filled to the brim with lovely yarn, notions and patterns. I could spend all day (and all my money) here.
This is the main room of the store. *sigh* yarn heaven. She has lots of brands of yarn, and some really exotic stuff too. This is where hubby got me my Qiviut for Christmas last year.



This is the back room of the store, where I probably get most excited. It's the sock yarn room. Squee! Look at all the sock yarn! And the cutie sheep on the top shelf. Aww!



She also had Della Q bags, and lots of notions. This room is the notions and pattern room. I could sit here for hours going through all the books and magazines, not to mention the button jars! This store is a must-visit for me every time. I can't wait to go back!




Other random yarny/crafty spottings were made too. On Hallowe'en we went to Celebration for lunch on our way to Disneyworld and there was a farmers/craft market on. It was brill!

There were the most amazing looking vegetables, fruit and cakes there. We got some delicious organic Orange Blossom Honey, hand candied fruit (NOM) and of course some sweet stuff. This stall was all about gingerbread and it was good, let me tell you.



Although I was a bit distracted looking at all the lovely hand sewn aprons, oven mitts, tablecoths etc. I have a soft spot for gingham.

Then we found this stall. I'd forgotten all about this one, we've seen it before. The stall holder is usually knitting socks when we arrive, but not today. She was mainly selling quilts.



Although, if I'm honest, I don't think they're "proper" quilts per se. They don't look like the designs were made from fabric shapes, more like a sheet of pre printed fabric that was then wadded and sewn to look like it was quilted.



They were still pretty though.



So there you have it! My yarn store adventures from my holidays. Writing this post has given me a real longing to go back. Fingers crossed!

Good knitting!

8 comments:

Irene said...

You have had a (yarn) ball!!! Thanks for sharing!

Lou Harmon said...

Hi The moebius is on one of Elizabeth's DVDs. In a nut shell in worsted weight you do the invisible cast on-about 32 stitches. Start to knit. When you get to 3 stitches before the end of the row...yarn forward and move the next three stitches to the right needle purlwise. Turn work and knit to the last 3 stitches, yarn forward, slip the next three stitches purlwise, etc. etc. You do that til it is about 50 inches long. Give it one half a twist and weave the ends together.

I can't afford 'good' yarn right now..so this will have to do.
Take Care.
-Lou

Alrischa said...

There aren't any good yarn stores for miles where I live. It was so nice to go shopping with you!

Tara said...

Lovely shops! I would totally have run to the Shelter display too :)

sheknitupthat said...

Colour me jealous!! Did you buy any new stash at all?

Knitrageous said...

Great pictures! Real eye candy! I got to visit a real yarn store this past weekend and because of you asked to take pictures. She said no at first but then reluctantly said okay so I didn't take too many. But it was fun, anyway!

WorstedKnitt said...

How lovely! I love the sheep in the front of that last (or first?) shop!

craft-chick said...

LOVE THIS POST!!! Makes me wish I needed/had money to buy more yarn just so I could see some great new shops myself!! Thanks for sharing!