The Loot

I haven't talked about anything yarn related in the previous post for one simple reason: It needs it's own post.

While Fukuyama has a couple of actual local yarn stores and a general craft store (think Jo-Ann or Michael's), the variety of yarn seems quite limited. Most of the available yarn (about 90-95%) has a least a considerable amount of acrylic in it, if it's not completely it, and the colors are quite muted and simple. Good, natural yarns that have no acrylic in them are limited to merino wool, alpaca, and maybe cotton. These actually wouldn't be bad choices if there were more vibrant colors available. (I actually found a 50% wool/50% alpaca yarn that's really nice and warm, but the colors are limited to cream, brown, gray, and black. That's...it.)

All in all my point is that I'm yarn/color/inspiration-starved and have been making all kinds of yarn related plans for our NYC trip for weeeeeks in advance. Since I knew our funds were limited, I concentrated on future baby projects only. I searched for patterns, possible yarn combinations, and made notes. I even made a list of LYSs I planned on visiting while I was there, which ended up as a yarn crawl with my friend, Lexie. We hit a handful of stores, like Annie & Company, Knitty City, Purl Soho, Loopy Mango, and La Casita Yarn Shop and Cafe. Purl Soho and Loopy Mango were new to me, but the rest were old favorites that I couldn't wait to visit and enjoyed browsing through their shops immensely! Here are a couple of pictures I took in Annie & Company:

Look at this wall of pure cashmere!

Despite being a Japanese yarn, it's almost impossible to find Noro in Japan.

Malabrigo... How I missed you so!

So gorgeous! One day (within the next 10-15 years) I'll have a store like this. ....I'm serious! (>.<)v

Anyways... After a whole afternoon of visiting all these yarn stores, this is what I ended up buying:

Please excuse the bad picture quality...

There's madelinetosh tosh merino light, madelinetosh tosh vintage, Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted, Brooklyn Tweed SHELTER, and even Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 2-ply, but that was a gift from one of my favorite yarn stores. These, along with a few additions from my stash, will be used for various baby knits.

Speaking of yarns I got as a gift, there are two more that I must talk about:

Look at that Jade Sapphire, sneaking into this picture too... (^.^)

Juniper Moon Farm Findley and Briar Rose Fibers Fourth of July both came from Lexie, who is generous beyond words! Fourth of July is a yarn she got me from Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival (will I ever be able to visit?) and it's soft and puffy, with beautiful colors reminiscent of forests. No idea just yet what I'd make out of this, but I'll keep looking.
As for Findley, with its 800 yards a skein of 50% merino wool and 50% silk for less than $30, it's an absolute must have! Lexie and I found this gem in Loopy Mango and were fortunate to hold a sample stockinette stitch stole that was made from this yarn by holding two strands together. Not even the word "luscious" can describe what we held in our hands! And the colors! Unfortunately my picture doesn't do it justice... it's so shiny and beautiful! (*.*) I left this yarn behind that day with a very heavy heart, knowing full well I could not justify such a purchase just now. Then Lexie sent these to me as a last-minute surprise present, and as soon as I saw them I was on Ravelry looking for possible patterns that were worthy of such an amazing yarn. And the winner is.... the February Lady Sweater (which really is a cardigan, but whatever...), with short sleeves, if the yarn doesn't last (I'm planning on holding two strands together just like in that sample stole we saw).

I have two more days left of my four-day-post-vacation vacation, and all I'll be doing is swatching for this sweater and for the Betty Lou Lace Cardigan I'm planning on making with the Jade Sapphire cashmere yarn for the baby. A good plan, no?