HK Handknits is in a list of one, when it comes to naming good Edinburgh yarn shops. It’s small and intelligently stocked. Jeanette, who was in charge yesterday and is, I think, a co-owner, is pleasant and knowledgeable and was happy to leave us alone to browse. And the shop was busy, I’m delighted to say.
Earlier in the day I had lit upon a website which at once reassured me that I’m not the world’s worst and frightened me with its reminder that even so pleasant an activity as yarn-buying can become pathological. Despite the warning, I bought this:
I’ve never knit with Opal. The promise is that that one ball will make a little stripey sweater all by itself.
And I’ve resisted Paton’s Tapestry again and again. Yesterday I didn’t bother. It’ll have to be another little-boy sweater, and it’ll have to be knit soon, while boys are still little.
The big news from Jeanette is that Noro is bringing out a DK version of Silk Garden – due in September. No longer will a Silk Garden sweater be so bulky that you never get a chance to wear it – and, of course, it will be cheaper to knit.
Back at the ranch
I finished the melon scarf. I hope to offer before-and-after blocking measurements and pictures tomorrow. I carefully garter-stitch grafted the two ends of the edging together and then discovered a hideous misalignment. I can’t imagine how it happened. I took it apart and straightened it out, but in the final version there is a distinct line across the edging, marking the join.
Politics
I spent a while at Cafepress yesterday. I looked at Barack Obama designs (there are 6060 of them, on 126,000 products – Dolores has some catching up to do). There are many good ones, but nothing thrilled me. It’s too soon, anyway. I hope an Obama tee shirt will be appropriate for Games Day ’08.
Then I looked at the Hillary Clintons. She has 9160 designs on 206,000 products – but a significant portion of hers are hostile. I’d be a bit worried, if I were a Boy in a Back Room. “Anyone but Hillary”, “A Woman for President – But Not That One”, “pre-impeach Hillary”, “Life is a bitch Don’t vote for one” and many others. I’m afraid I fell for this one.
The designer sounds like the lunatic right; he may even have meant it in full seriousness. I’m sorry to put sixpence in his pocket, but I couldn’t resist. It’s on its way to Edinburgh.
i think i am notorious at my local postoffice because every week it seems i pick up a new package of yarn sent from england or the us. sometimes the colours that are never properly reproduced on the internet are a pleasant surprise and sometimes just a surprise. and the only good thing about this summer is probably that i don't think there will be a moth galore. or at least i hope so.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful stash that link leads to. I'll know where to point the next person who says, 'Is that all wool?'
ReplyDeleteTapestry was the yarn that the Harlot's publishers supplied to the lucky knitters who attended her NYC book launch--it was really neat to see all the different squares that were produced during the course of the evening from all the pretty colourways. I hope you enjoy it too!
ReplyDeleteThat Hilary t-shirt: LOL!
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