Sunday, August 06, 2006

A Fiberous Trip

Ah, vacation! Yet another short one these past few days - I visited my (non-knitting, can you imagine?) friend Nancy up on Lake Winipesaukee in New Hampshire. Lots of laughing, lots of food (Nancy actually cooks!), wandering around here and there, a good time was had by all. A representative pic by Nancy:


The Linnet investigating the supply of highbush blueberries along Heron Pond, also known for its view of Mt. Chocorua in the background and the hundreds of damselflies along its shores.

But you didn't come here to hear about the luscious steaks and the wanderings after rare plants, you came for the fiber. Well, be assured, there was fiber indeed.

First, a boast: I am probably the only knitter who has ever perused Patternworks in Center Harbor without buying a thing.

As for the other three fiber shops I managed to pack into a three day trip, let's just say I can boast all right, but not about my self-restraint.

First, on the way up, I hit the Elegant Ewe in Concord, just before a killer thunderstorm let loose. I couldn't drive in that kind of rain, so I shopped, coming away with some pencil roving and some multicolor Ashland Bay merino roving, plus Deb Menz's Color in Spinning.

On the way home, I spotted by the Fiber Studio in Henniker and somehow acquired a couple of silk hankies, some hand-dyed rayon boucle, an enormous hank of laceweight hand-dyed rayon/silk, which I could not resist winding into balls the evening I came home, and various and sundry rovings. And I was utterly charmed by the Wool Room in Antrim (no website), where I chatted with the lovely owner and bought yet more rovings. Alas, Blogger won't let me load those photos - maybe tomorrow.

Finally, when I got home, look what was waiting for me. Three different rovings from Spunky Eclectic, on sale, no less.

I think I'd better go on a low-fiber diet for a month or two. The stuff is beginning to impede walking through this house, not to mention what it's doing to my bank account.

5 comments :

Elizabeth said...

I was up in NH on Lake Winnepesaukee last week, too! I didn't make it out of Patternworks unscathed this time, but have in the past. Sometimes there just isn't anything that catches my eye. Unfortunately, the stuff on the sale table outside has never been too appealing, as much as I search through it.

Abigale said...

Just think of all the fun you're going to have spinning up the new stash! I also find that when I've got new goodies, I usually find some old goodies to mix/blend/ply with the new stuff...

I'm also on a low fiber diet for the time being, but I have so much stuff to play with that I'm not going to be feeling too bad about it.

The Spunky Eclectic stuff is absolutely gorgeous! You didn't mention what type of roving it is though. Please don't say it's bfl - I'll have to break my diet!

Abi

Anonymous said...

I love spunky eclectic's roving. It's wonderful stuff. As for staying on a fiber diet, I found that by joining SE's fiber of the month club I don't spend alot because I have an awesome fiber delivered to me on the 20th of the month or so.

I love Elegant Ewe's pencil rovings. I just recently (ok, last month) spun up a cheese of them.

Elizabeth said...

Isn't The Wool Room wonderful?? I went there two years ago while visiting my folks in NH. I didn't make it over there on my recent trip, but it's definitely one of the most special yarn/fiber stores, largely because of the wonderful owner.

Seeing as how I grew up in Henniker, and my folks still live there, I did go to the Fiber Studio. Always a fun excursion.

velmalikevelvet said...

good luck w/ that fiber diet; have you seen the enormity that is my fiber stash? it resulted in a fiber diet for me, but that just made me buy more yarn!! ha. i love the kool-aid dying you did; i've been meaning to try that.

thanks for the visit to Velma's World. stop by again! i love your blog, and will be back. cheers!