Yesterday, I journeyed north to Ogden, Utah, for a day of knitting and shopping with Margene, Susan, Laurie, and Larisa. Much fun! We went to The Needlepoint Joint, Rooster's, Knit Craft, and Shepherd's Bush.
When we walked in to The Needlepoint Joint, I think my jaw actually dropped to the ground. So much yarn! needles! tools! space! buttons! books! It was all too, too much. I need to go back up, maybe with my mom and sister during an upcoming visit. I guess I thought that it would be almost all needlepoint, with a little bit of knitting. Wrong-o. It is an amazing, well-organized, fully staffed shop with lots of stock. Yes, I was quite impressed. I found (was shown) several sweater books that I now need, but nothing that I could only get there. I was able to restrain myself and spent nothing.
Next it was next door to Rooster's for a great lunch and some birthday cake. We sat on a glass-enclosed patio--all the sun, none of the wind.
After lunch, we swung by the Ogden synagogue which Margene's husband's family helped establish. It is a darling building, smaller than I expected, but a tall presence. It was rebuilt after being firebombed in the 1970s or 1980s. It is still unbelievable (inconceivable, if you will), the power of hate and fear that exists in this world. But I digress...
On to Knit Craft, the Haunted House of Yarn! When I was in North Carolina last Thanksgiving, I went to a great shop (Shuttles Needles & Hooks). It was as if someone hads opened the roof and dropped yarn into the house. Knit Craft is even more so! It has been a family business for years and some of the yarn we found was decades old. Plus, they get in new yarn that no one else can. Bags and bags of Noro--Silk Garden, Kureyon, and more. Yarn and needlepoint everywhere.
In one room, the transom over the door was opened (swung down and parallel to the floor) and stacked with yarn. I walked away with a bag of beautiful Silk Garden (number 86 on this chart) and a bag of old Reynolds Grizzli. The Noro will be a sweater for moi and the Grizzli will make a great felted bag. The shop was not set up for credit cards and I never carry my checkbook, so the owner just asked me to send her a check. She gave me an addressed envelope and a pen, my skeins and skeins of yarn, and sent me on my way. I will send her check on Monday, but I was overwhelmed with her trust.
The last stop was Shepherd's Bush, a needlework shop. They have great project bags, and I can see that it would be a great place to shop if you were a needleworker. Like The Needlepoint Joint, it was a well-lit shop with much inventory.
The shops were great, lunch was delicious, but the best part was spending a sunny Saturday with the girls. Are we going again soon?
Sounds like an AWESOME stash enhancement trip! Glad you grrls had such fun!
Posted by: Anne | April 10, 2005 at 10:55 AM
That project bag I bought was identical to the one I had at home--same size and everything.
Doh!
I had a blast yesterday. It was just what I needed!
Posted by: Laurie | April 10, 2005 at 04:42 PM
Pictures on my blog tomorrow of the outside and inside of our haunted treasure chest. It was just too much fun and we must do it again soon!!
Posted by: margene | April 10, 2005 at 05:55 PM
Sounds like a fun trip! :)
Posted by: Heather | April 11, 2005 at 02:27 PM
Sounds like you guys had so much fun! I love that part of Ogden. Lots of fun little shops and places to go!
Posted by: Kimi | April 11, 2005 at 08:10 PM
ooo, your basket is cute!
Posted by: Shannon | April 25, 2005 at 08:40 PM