Woodland Shawl

It is hard to remember to post on the blog when Ravelry has everything a knitter can need.

It took 10 days to complete. Yarns purchased on the road at different shops when we were on vacation.

I'm thinking it is time to knit some socks.

Day 13: Knitting Across America

On the road, moving closer to home. I started the Woodland Shawl this morning. I can actually crochet and watch how the Mister is driving. Amazing.

First stop, Salt Lake City, Utah. The Mister has been great about letting me stop at all of these shops, how can I really complain about his driving. Oh, but I can. :)
This was a lovely shop and I was the only one shopping at the time. It is in a lovely area, next to a bakery and upstairs in the building. Light and airy. I purchased a skein of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino for the edging of the Woodland Shawl. A welcoming shop to visit.

Black Sheep Wool Co.
430 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah



An inside view of Black Sheep Wool Co. The Mister: "Didn't you already visit Black Sheep?"
Me: "No, that was Brown Sheep." Geez, the things I need to teach this man. :)

Next stop in Salt Lake City, Utah. Blazing Needles! What a fantastic shop for those that live in the area. I am sad to say I did not purchase a thing, but did get to chat with the nice young lady that was working the shop while I was there. Again, early in the morning, just after opening, so I was the only one there.

A great room for knitting classes, beautiful samples, outstanding yarns.

Oh, but look at those buttons. There were two areas like this. The young lady said they had purchased the buttons from a local shop owner that was retiring. There were some amazing buttons that I would have loved to purchase...but needed a little bit of a plan first. Oh well, maybe next time.

If you are in the area, stop by:

Blazing Needles
1365 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, Utah


We did end up back in Twin Falls, Idaho for a late lunch. The traffic was horrific, so not to push my luck, I did not utter a peep about the two yarn shops that was listed as being there. I mentioned them last week.

Well, knitters, crafters, blog-stalkers, tomorrow I will be home and will have completed my two week journey of Knitting across America (half-way) and thank you all for your comments while you took the time to read my blog.

It has been fun, but I am ready to be home, in my own bed, with my craft loft, garden, knitting friends, and the farm family (Max, Greta, the chickens, and kitties).

Day 12: Knitting Across America

This little shop was a dream for me...not only for knitting, but on the other side of the large, airy room were bolts of Amy Butler fabrics and Amy Butler patterns. Had the Mister not been hanging around in the doorway, and the Daughter within a whisper-shot of me, I would have spent more time in that section. I purchased five skeins of a Berroco Comfort DK in a Grape colorway. What will I be making with this...the Woodland Shawl as shown on the cover of Interweave Crochet Fall 2008.

Tangle
525 Main St.
Grand Junction, Colorado

Inside the Tangle shop. I also purchased one of the needle gauge pendants. The daughter picked out a light, seafoam green color for the pendant.

This was the first stop in Grand Junction, Colorado. I had a nice chat with two ladies in the store. I purchased three skeins of Brown Sheep Nature Spun in a Tornado Teal colorway.

The Yarn Store
2692 Hwy 50 Ste J
Grand Junction, Colorado

Day 11: Knitting Across America

Monday night we stayed at my in-laws house before we started our trek back to Washington State.

Lucky for me, there are still yarn shops to see and visit.

Last week, Monday, we had stopped in North Platte, Nebraska and found Prairie Hand Knits to be closed.

Lucky for me, we were heading back on a Tuesday, so I was able to, once again, swing in to see the shop. A tad bit early though, so the Mister took a picture for the blog. Shucks!

Prairie Hand Knits
109 E 5th St
North Platte, Nebraska

I have been thinking I will be sending a note to all the shops I have visited, inside or out, to let them know I will most likely be chatting about them on a future podcast episode.

Knitting News on the Road

I do not have a picture at the moment, but I managed to finish Sprout.

Day 10: Knitting Across America

Monday, June 29th landed me in Hastings, Nebraska. I had two knit shops on my list to visit:

First up,

ImagiKnit Yarn Shop
223 N Lincoln Ave
Hastings, Nebraska

but closed.

Bummer

We also looked for:

The Plum Nelly
113 N Hastings Ave
Hastings, Nebraska

But....we think we may have had an old address and they had moved.

Oh well. No purchases made, but I did get a chance to see where the shop was located.

Day 9: Knitting Across America

No pictures for today, but I did get A LOT of knitting done today.

Up at 7:30 a.m. to knit for 1 1/2 hours till I could run over to the local Walmart for some face soap and a quick haircut. Haircut? Yep, I was feeling the need.

I have finished the body of the cropped version of Sprout, just doing the EZ stretchy bindoff, that always seems to take me forever to do. Then on to the sleeves and button band. I hope to have this completed by tomorrow...we are just hanging around the house tomorrow, so lots of knitting time before other members of the family come over for a BBQ.

Today so far, as it is only 4:30 p.m. central time, we have visited the nephew's work, drove past some old family homes, went to lunch, and hit Best Buy.

Best Buy was calling our names and I walked out with a new laptop. The Mister spoils me in this way. I have wanted a new one for sometime and came across one just like the current one I have, but with a ten-key pad, double the memory and speed. Yah.

Now to move my patterns and podcast episodes over to a jump drive before the girls fight over the old laptop. Not that old....but who's counting.

Everyone is downstairs watching a scary movie before we head over to the local baseball stadium here in Lincoln, Nebraska.

As for me, I am catching up on Ravelry.

Day 8: Knitting Across America

As we arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, the first stop was at The Yarn Shop.

The Yarn Shop
5221 S 48th St
Lincoln, Nebraska


Great shop and the owner was very nice. I was invited back to sit and knit if I had time. Not a huge purchase, a Interweave Crochet magazine, Fall 2008, and a Berroco knitting booklet.

Also went to the University of Nebraska for a tour of the stadium where the Nebraska Cornhusker's play.

We head back to Ravenna, Nebraska on Monday morning, stay a night with the folks and then we start to head back towards home. I will be on the look-out for more yarn shops.

I have been working on Sprout. Down into the body now, hope to have it down with in the week.

Day 5 - 7: Knitting Across America

Landed in Ravenna, Nebraska on Monday, June 22.

Stayed until Friday morning, June 26, then we headed to Lincoln, Nebraska.

Lots and lots of lightening storms. Rain and thunder too!

No wireless internet service available at the folks' home...that's okay, a little break from all of the technology never hurts anyone.

Day 4: Knitting Across America

On the road, really early, as we leave from Cheyenne, WY. Boy, am I a happy knitter. Why?

We made it. The Brown Sheep Co in Mitchell, Nebraska. Awesome!

The store manager was fantastic and let me take pictures of the shop. Pictures are not allowed in the mill.

Everything a knitter could need, and the yarn is all "seconds". No problem at all for me.

The store manager of the Brown Sheep Company. Great lady and suggested the Ravelry group for Brown Sheep yarn lovers. Now to remember the name of it.

Day 3: Knitting Across America

Up bright and early, heading to Cheyenne, Wyoming.
After a quick continental breakfast at the hotel, we were on the road very early, so I did not get to stop at either of these two shops.

Sheep to Shawl
851 Blue Lakes Blvd
Twin Falls, ID

Tiffany Square
132 Main Ave N
Twin Falls, ID

Have you been to either of these shops? Let me know.

The Mister has been great about letting me stop at a yarn shop or two. By mid-day, we were in Ogden, Utah. We drove to Knit Craft Studio, which happened to be closed on a Sunday.
We still took pictures. It would have been an "interesting" time to see what was in the shop...from what I could see in the windows, not sure what to expect.

Knit Craft Studio
432 27th St
Ogden, Utah

Being Father's Day, I have to say the Mister was very good to stop to take a photo of me in front of the shop.

An old, 1900's style home, with vines clinging and climbing on the front. Maybe the next time I travel through Ogden I will stop by again.

We drove through Laramie, Wyoming and did not stop. At this point, on a Sunday, very unlikely that either of the two knit shops would have been open.

In Sheep's Clothing
115 Ivinson
Laramie, Wyoming

Woolbee Knit Shop
10 Knoll Dr
Laramie, Wyoming

Tomorrow we head to Mitchell, Nebraska where the Brown Sheep Company is located. That has been my number one goal, to get there to buy some yarn from their retail shop. Cotton Fleece will be lovely for so many of the top down sweaters. Just enough cotton with a bit of wool to keep it's shape.

Day 2: Knitting across America

Up at 5:20 am and on the road within the hour. Ah...coffee!

First stop of the day, Pendleton Woolen Mills.

I so wanted to take this guy home with me...I opted for a small black sheep the size of Greta.

Michelle, this picture is for you. A huge commercial laundry cart of lace weight wool as used in the mill. Price, $8.99 a cone, though I did not buy any.

LaDonna's Fiber Arts
2036 Main Street
Baker City, OR

We stopped in Baker City, Oregon as planned. A bicycle race was going on and a few blocks on Main Street were blocked off, but I braved the sidewalks, leaving the Mister and DD #2 back in the car. I knew what I wanted, but did not know if she had it. Sure enough, I found an Ashford drop spindle to play with on the trip, 4 oz. of alpaca roving in a natural brown, an embroidery pattern, and a Lucy Neatby video on some awesome finishing techniques. I did ask the owner if I could take some pictures and she had said yes.


Wheels, looms, wool, and yarn...what more could a girl ask for on vacation.

The other side of the shop carried sewing and quilting supplies.

It was a long day, but no panic attacks and DD#2 even drove for over an hour. Of course, when she got behind the wheel, we hit all of this construction that took us down to one lane, curved and winding roads that made me nervous, but I survived. I took over just as we crossed into Idaho and the speed limit turned to 75. Yikes.

This morning I was able to get a few hours of knitting done. Luckily, it is a mindless, no need to look at pattern so I can keep an eye on the road while the Mister is driving. He is such a lookie-lou.

Tomorrow, I am not sure where we will stop.