Saturday 11 June 2005

SP5, Silkwood, Fame and a Promise

My day started pretty well - had a postcard waiting for me from my secret pal. Hello whoever you are! Will keep an eye on my pal's blog to see how my parcel goes down.

Then the debauchary started. I went to The Yarn House in Caterham www.theyarnhouse.co.uk where Silkwood yarns (the ones Nickerjac dyes for) were having a kind of open day. Sheila, the yarn house owner was there and Jan had made a avictoria sponger and there were biscuits - already my idea of heaven without the inclusion of a tonne of yarn. Debbie Bliss, Rowan and some unusual brands. One was alpaca - so soft. But enough about the stuff I didn't get. Let's get down to what I did. First off some nice sock yarn. Image hosted by Photobucket.com Safe. Nice. Something for when I'm on the move. (Pooch is now complaining that although I am quoting star wars I am only ever saying the one line - "Always on the move". You can not please some people.

Then we come to my first Silkwood purchase....4-ply blue and green 100% wool. Image hosted by Photobucket.com I only bought one skein but that was just to see how much I'd need for a simple jumper. Although that doesn't fit too well with my promise, but more of that later.

Then, I just couldn't help myself. They had all this 100% angora and it was about £20 a skein so way out of budget. But....goddamn them, there were some smaller teeny skeins that were *only* ...um...."only"?.....£7. Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Now look, for someone who has never felt angora I can understand that this will sound insane. But but but but it is soooooooooo soft. Unbelievably soft. So soft. Softness in earthly form. Mmmmmm. (Just don't ask me what I intend to do with it.

And now, ladies, gentlemen and everyone else, here it is. 300g of delicious, sensational, hand dyed, 'aubergine' pure wool boucle. Yeah baby yeah. Image hosted by Photobucket.com

So now I have more yarn, but we'll get to that later. First let us deal with 'fame'. Of a sort. Not really, more like just been deductively recognised. I got to the shop and went inside and a lady asked if I was Alexandra. I was gobsmacked but she was on the UKHandknitters list and had heard I was coming and was someone she didn't know. The later a couple of people asked if I were Lixie - one after seeing my boogle bag or whatever the damn pattern is called. So there you are - the knitting world is smaller than you think, although actually I never thought it was that big. In a reverse of this I hung around especially to meet Nicky of Nickerjac fame. But then I didn't get to say that much too her as that is one popular lady. Is quite cool to think I might have one of the skeins she has dyed though.

And so finally, the promise. You see I have had to cancel my woolfest trip and genoa holiday because I can'r afford them all, and so Silkwood was my 'holiday'. And then during my enforced stay-up-late night last night I got a 1000kg cone of aran weight wool from a scottish company on ebay. And so...my promise is...30 days without buying wool or yarn or anything that I could foolishly try to knit with. Ditto knitting accessories. 30 full days. So until 9pm on 10th July no new yarn shall pass my mitts.

6 comments:

scarletprincess said...

Good heavens! That 'promise' sounds like a death penalty... I was supposed to be doing the same this month but then i bought 6xWool Cotton (2 unused went back) and 8x4-ply Cashcotton (7 went back after failed cardi) but none- the less i still bought wool as well as my Loop-d-Loop book :(
One hopes you are strong with the force!
Good Luck
fi x
btw the stuff you bought looks delish!

Kate said...

Don't do it, Lixie. It'll end in tears. My "I won't buy yarn for X days" always do.

Cyberstalker

Nickerjac said...

it was to meet you sorry I didn't get a chance to sit down and have a chat wasn't on best form hope we get another chance. The only thing to do with your angora is to have it somewhere where you can just pick up and stroke when feeling stressed it works wonders.

Becky said...

Oh - wow - what wondeful yarn - I wish I had known Silkwood were having an open day in Caterham I'd have been there - never mind - saved me some cash I guess. Do they always stock Silkwood bits, or was it a one off ? I feel a little visit coming on to get some bits for my secret pal - and the odd litte number for me make sneek in there !

Be strong with your promise - I'll be willing you on - it's far too hard for words not to buy yarn ! It's a wonder we aren't all bankrupt !

PURLPOWER said...

I totally understand about the angora, it's like what angels would knit with if they could spin clouds into yarn...Such a shame you can't make Woolfest. I have just booked my train (it is not too far from Newcastle but takes longer than a trip to London!) and my B&B for the night. I'll be posting up a full report at the end of the month.
PPx
PS. You kindly asked for my address but I'd rather not post it up online, can you email me: rovingricey@yahoo.co.uk and be sure to include your address too so I can return the favour sometime!

Anonymous said...

Long time since I have been called a lady! I'm the one who came up to you and asked you if you were Alexandra! I hadn't visited your blog before, but I shall do now. I too have a small skein of angora - in palest pink - I don't really want to knit it! Hope to see you again soon.