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Local listservs are a wonderful thing. Thanks to the Logan Square knitting listserv, I heard about YarnCon Chicago taking place on Saturday, October 13th. It seemed like there were a million things going on this last weekend, as if all Chicagoans were racing to get in one last gasp of activity before the weather turned cold and hibernation set in. Did anyone catch Around the Coyote? I just couldn’t do it all this year.

But I did squeeze in a short visit to YarnCon Chicago!

A trip to the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse full of yarn was something I couldn’t pass up. Even though I am up to my eyeballs in yarn and projects waiting to be knit, I wanted to support the local yarn folk. Even if it only meant paying the $3 admission fee. OK so I bought a t-shirt, too (despite the eye-roll from my husband). The logo was just too cool. If you missed YarnCon Chicago, check it out next year!

My favorite was the mobile ATM outside the building. Brilliant!

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I am humbled by all those blogs that feature prolific knitting. Well, this blog post is about how much I haven’t knit. It’s September already and *this* is all I have to show for it. I have picked up the green sweater every once in awhile, but I’ve been sort of bored with 20-some inches of stockinette stitch in the round. I figured I couldn’t start something else until I at least finished the body of the sweater. Now that we are getting settled in Chicago and Autumn is upon us (with winter seemingly right around the corner) maybe I’ll get my hands in gear. I wanted to say “get my ass in gear,” but usually my ass does the sitting while knitting, so that seemed like a poor choice of words.

I am so disappointed in my utter lack of knitting that I realize buying new yarn just isn’t acceptable. While on a trip to Galena, IL this weekend, I was able to visit a new to me yarn store. It’s called Fiber Wild, and honey, they know how to tempt a girl:

They were even giving away free kittens!

I didn’t even buy a thing, *pat on the back*. But it was inspiring to visit the store. My husband even seemed interested in spinning. We have enough hobbies we never get around to, so that probably won’t happen (and we really don’t need to buy all that equipment).

The Berroco “Joyella” sweater they had in the store was fantastic. It was knit in “Jasper” merino wool in the color copper silk. So soft and such purty colors. If you like the book Knitting Nature, you should check it out.

Fiber Wild is also going online, so I’ll let you know if I hear anything. I signed up for the newsletter. Since I visit Galena regularly, I’m sure I will also be visiting the store again soon.

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Saturday I attended Stitches West in Santa Clara, California. I guess you would call it a knitter’s conference. They had classes and a very large knitter’s marketplace vendor hall.

I’ll say it, as I’m sure many other knitters have before me:

“I’ve never seen so much yarn in one place!”

And I mean good yarn, too. Unfortunately I couldn’t take any pictures for you, because they don’t allow photographs inside the marketplace. I suppose that’s to protect people’s designs, etc. If you really want to see some of the action, you can click here to see a 2005 quicktime movie from the website. You can see knitters in all their glory.

I took copious notes with yarn and pattern ideas:

A few observations. Upon entering the building, I was visually assaulted by a bunch of people on the escalator in succession all wearing the same… what do you call those things.. capelets? You know, one of those things on the cover of “Wrap Style” except it was striped. For a brief moment I thought it might be an acceptable thing to wear, but then I came to my senses. *shiver*
We did see a beautiful Koigu Oriental Jacket that we discovered was knitted and worn by a yarn store owner. I mean, who else could afford that much Koigu?? Here are a few pictures I could find of the pattern on the web: Pic1 Pic2 Pic3. Although it’s beautiful, I probably shouldn’t wear one of those either. There were quite a few people with carry-on sized rolling suitcases, I assume to tote around their yarn purchases.

I was pretty good. I only purchased a book and a bag-o-yarn. Here is the book that I had signed by the author, Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush:

And then I was able to check that “orangey yarn” off the list when I found this Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk at a very affordable price:

I’m thinking of the wrap cardigan or shaped cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple. Unfortunately, the Blue Moon Fiber Arts “Socks That Rock” booth was basically sold out of their wool sock yarn by the time I got there. I knew I should have found it earlier! Oh well, I don’t really need *more* sock yarn right now.

Here are some websites of vendors I liked that you might want to check out:

http://www.pickupsticksonline.com/
http://lisaknit.com/
http://stores.ceallachdyes.com/StoreFront.bok
http://www.twistedsistersknitting.com/
http://www.curiouscreek.com/
http://www.cherryyarn.com/
http://www.claudiaco.com/
http://www.hempforknitting.com/
http://www.soysilk.com/
http://www.pagewoodfarm.com/robinmain.html
http://www.yarndogs.com/
http://interlacementsyarns.com/
http://www.terilynneedleart.com/

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(do you watch 30 Rock?)

A Valentine’s Day bouquet doesn’t get any better than this.
It must be love!