Yarn Train

Someone just invited me to join the Yarn Train ... this sounds awesome!  Take the Amtrak to Portland and knit along the way, check out some yarn sites there, and either stay overnight or return the same day.  Initially started by a group of knitters to spend time together knitting and yarn shopping, it has now grown to 200+ knitters!  Wish I could go.

http://www.snohomishknittersguild.org/seattle-to-portland-yarn-train1.html

a mother lode of acrylic

I went to Glen Ellyn for the first time a few days ago, because the only dealer for knitting machines for hours around lives there (more on that later!).  Stopped by the LYS (of course), String Theory.  Cute shop founded after 9/11, sells a lot of yarns with eco-friendly and people-friendly labels.  For example, they were featuring some Afghanistan cashmere that was really nice.  Soft and light, like the usual cashmere;  but with a bit more rugged feel.  Would have totally picked some up, except the cost was $24/skein, and 3 skeins required for just a pair of fingerless gloves.  Yikes.

Next door was an awesome vintage store.  I picked up a couple of watercolors for less than $10.  They had a shelf in the back that was full of crocheted and quilted afghans!  

i've a lot of affection for this color

This is 3 skeins of gorgeous sock yarn twisted together.  This booth at Stitches had a bunch of colors pre-selected to do the Color Affection shawl, and this is the one that Pat selected.  Yummy!!  Can't wait to see this knitted up!