double take*

Please don't tell New York this but Boston is making a run at being my favorite city.  Maybe it was the gorgeous weather we had last Saturday that made me feel like Alice walking through the Public Garden.  Maybe it was the bountiful selection at Windor Button that happily got me on track for Project Spectrum!  Or it definitely could have been the cup of Oreo ice cream from JP Licks which is close-your-eyes-lick-your-spoon-until-it's-dry good! 

Yes, I just can't think of a better city right now than Boston.  (Granted, they do have that whole Red Sox Nation thing... gah, there's no way I'm crossing over to that! GO YANKEES! ;-))  Sure this bias has been growing since my four fantastic years there in that little University called College in Chestnut Hill.  It just solidified itself as my top city this weekend when I was introduced to a beautiful yarn, Handmaiden Sea Silk.

The photograph makes the yarn a bit darker than it is in real life but it still has that lovely luminesence to it! Just the perfect yarn for Project Spectrum!  I've been playing around with what to make with one skein of this luxurious yarn.  I started making the Ribbon Lace Scarf in Knitty (seen above) but felt that the pattern was just a bit too much for the color change.  It needed to be simpler.  At the moment it's in the first stages of a clapois (scarf size!) but am worried that I don't have enough yardage for what I truly want.  I also picked up a skein of the color Mineral, too!  I think I am finding a new yarn obsession.

There is also a row of shops in Newton Centre that my mother and I always visit when we go to Boston.  One of my favorites is Folklorica.  They carry the most beautiful jewlery pieces. The owner has such a great eye for artisans. 

On the way there we popped into a clothing store called Betsy's.  Typically we find smaller jewlery pieces or scarves we like but it was the cones of yarn in their window display that caught my eye this time around.  I thought how clever is this?  My mother of course walks in and announces to the owner how much she likes their yarn display and let's them know her daughter is an advid knitter.  I sheepishly smile and just look around the shop to see they have a huge shelf of these cones and realized it wasn't a display at all!

The shop had a sweater knitting division that they were ending and were left with a good amount of coned yarn.  It was obvious the owner wanted to move it and offered to throw in a cone if I bought at least two.  I bought four.

The yarn is from Silk City Fibers.  I bought 3 cones of the Wool Crepe Deluxe and another cone of a thicker red yarn that was simply labeled "Bulky".  You can imagine my happiness when I went over to Ravelry and saw it listed in a few people's stashes!  The wool crepe is a fingering weight yarn.  I am thinking a few shawls or scarves may come from this cone. Looking back it probably was a little nuts to get so much fingering weight but my mom really loved the colors and you cannot say No to mom!

I found it so amusing how you can find knitting anywhere you go! The owner did say she was plesantly surprised at how easy it has been so far moving the cones.  Us knitters just love getting yarn and I find it fun when it's in an unexpected place!

*Speaking of double take - Parikha is modeling in the new Interweave magazine!  I knew I recognized that face from somewhere when I saw the preview.  I also think that as I was downing my JP Licks that I saw my old IK fav - the curly Redhead - walk by me in the street!!  I nearly stopped her but couldn't get the spoon out of my mouth.

Comments

[stacey]

sounds like you had a perfect time - the weather, ice cream and yarn - what could be better!

[trek]

That yarn makes me think of knitted precious metals.

[nova]

I am glad you bought 4 cones, if for no other purpose than my seeing it on your blog. Seriously.

Also, that clapotis is going to be amazing. But I am sure, you already know this.

[lolly]

i was drooling over your flickr photos - WOW! i love them all!

isn't that exciting about parikha?

[KIm]

I can't help it -

go eagles!

From a much older double eagle

[Heather]

What a fantastic choice for the Ribbon Lace scarf!!

[Michele]

Loooooove Boston! It is my favorite city hands down. I used to live in Cambridge ( I live in NY now) and I miss it all the time. It was a really lovely place to live.

Your clapotis is beautiful!

[tiennie]

I love Boston! That sea silk is gorgeous!

[mai]

oohhh what a find! that yarn is awesome!

[lola]

Get the 'eff' outta here! The Red-Head?! I think I would have chased her down & begged her to sign my boob. Ok maybe not my boob, but at least my t-shirt. I wouldn't have known what to do. God help her if Ava & I were together. She would have begged us to leave her alone.

[Nonnahs]

OMG, look at your yarn haul! Take me with you next time, willya? ;) xo-s.

[Amy]

Oooh, JP Licks. One of the places I'm most looking forward to visiting when we move back. YUM!

I just love the thought of a mini-clapotis scarf out of the sea silk, which is lustrous. Keep us posted on whether you have enough, kay?

[Kate]

Holy cow! I have live right across the street from Betsy's! I am SO heading over after work tonight to see if there is any yarn left!

I have lived in Newton Centre for four years and have always lamented that there really ought to be a yarn shop in that great strip near Folklorica. Luckily, I work a few blocks from Windsor Button, so I'm not hurting for an LYS.

Anyway, I'm glad you are coming to your senses on the Boston v. New York debate ;) And thank you for the tip!

[Michaela]

That yarn is BEAUTIFUL! I love it!