Giant Cones of Yarn

Weekend before last my friend Barb and I drove up to the cities to attend the annual Garage Sale at the Textile Center. I went last year, it was the same day as Yarnover, to see how it worked. I learned that the best way of doing it is to pay the 25 dollars and go to the preview. And that is just what we did.

We got to the cities where I immediately made a wrong turn and drove away from our destination. Fortunately, I realized this after about a mile (or 3) and drove back and snagged a parking space about a block away. I love the neighborhood up there.

It was a little cold and windy, but we were prepared for an hour in line. People were already lining up.

We are in the middle of that line. We met up with a friend of Barb’s. Her name is Celeste and she was all about the Garage Sale. Gave us some pointers.

Me, Celeste and Barb.

We got in early and this is what we saw-

Panorama. You need to click to make bigger.That is one big room full of fiber and notions.

Last year I went on opening day and this place was so packed you couldn’t get through the aisles. Totally worth the 25 to get in early.

I was sure I couldn’t shop from 5:45 to 8, but I did.

We took our fiber booty back to Celeste’s to check it out.

Celeste got several giant cones of yarn. Seriously giant.

That blue one is the most giant of all

It takes up it’s own seat on the bench. I think it’s wool and it was about 6 bucks. Really.

She also got this UFO. It isn’t much of UFO-the whole thing is done except for one sleeve. It’s a cardigan, fair isle sweater which we believe to be Alice Starmore.

We have  a photocopied pattern, and a picture but the picture doesn’t seem to go with the pattern. Barb and I have spent hours trying to figure out which pattern it is. I think it’s from the Hebrides collection. Which, by the way, is a gazillion dollar book on e-bay.

It is beautiful.

I got some Jo Sharpe yarn, which was complimented by my elephant friend and glass of vino. We needed a little wine to recover from the sale.

Here’s another smaller cone of yarn with my wine.

We also got Jamison’s Yarn, Alpaca and silk roving, a bagful of zippers, 2 skeins of sock yarns, 10 patterns for a dollar and lots of other great stuff. So worth the effort. Can’t wait until next year. The deals were great.

Celeste had some really cool stuff at her house. These masks on the wall and the woman on the bowl were very impressive.

 

Celeste and Barb’s friend Pam came by with this trellis which was perfect for displaying finished fiber works.

It was meant to be. I wish I could decorate like this.

The next day I awoke to this

 

That would be snow. In the middle of April. And this isn’t even the last snow-we had more last week!

Anyhow, it didn’t stick to the road so off we went, back to Roch. I had to be back by noon so I could get to Racine, because they were having an event-an 830 event.

 

This is Kevin Conley, and he is about the best Bernina educator ever. He really makes it a lot of fun. This afternoon was for people who already owned 8’s. This picture is totally Kevin.

Busy busy weekend.

Today I was at another 830 learning event. Next weekend-Yarnover. Bring it!

And, big plans in the works for Sock Summit, and maybe even Stitches Midwest. I don’t know how I’ll keep up with it all!