Fibermania

Feeling Better Now

It turns out what I needed was a little retail therapy. I went to Chattanooga, on my own, armed with maps printed out from Google, to three yarn shops and found two and a half. One had closed,and one was both a yarn shop and gallery and had quilts hanging on the walls!! Walking into Yarnworks, I immediately felt a wave of wonderfulness cascading over me.

I planned ahead and wore this sweater, lest anyone mistake me for a civilian.

In less than 3 seconds I recognized a quilt I know, and actually have a photo of it in my studio. Instant connection. What is with the quilts in a yarn shop? Well, this is not just a yarn shop, in fact it is a gallery of fiber arts. I kid you not. O...my...It turns out that it is a co-op and one of the semi-owners is the daughter of Jacqueline Nouveau (who I knew before she changed her name to Nouveau) This daughter was not present at the time, but I am destined to meet her.

I bought two skeins of this yarn, 90% wool 10% silk. Very Noro Kureyon-like, only a bit finer, not so slubby and coarse. And less expensive by like $2 a skein. Never seen it before.

There were several students knitting at the table and a teacher from Rockford IL doing a sock class. 4 needles. We had a lovely visit and I know I will return often. It's only an hour away...

Then I went to my next yarn shop on the list Genuine Purl. All I could want in a LYS.

Again a group of gals were knitting at a table when I walked in and my sweater was my introduction. I browsed. I fondled, I chatted, I purchased. I forgot my pledge not to buy yarn.

I found this red red red cotton wool, and it leaped into my hands. Potholders. Yes, I want hand knit doubly, potholders. After burning my thumb the other day, I decided I can't use my silicone ones as easily as I could a nice fabric one.

And they had the new Kaffe Fasset line of sock yarn. Not that I need any sock yarn. But the colors are so fabu, and so me.
My day also consisted of four gallery stops where I saw really super high end art, and got a shot of inspiration for painting again, and then I also perused several girly shoppes. The kind that makes Dave want to wait for me in the car. I revisited The Knitting Factory which is all antiques and Greenlife the new grocery store that has such lovely wholesome overpriced food.

Going by myself, and finding my way around is what I must do to feel at home in this place. And connecting with art and knitters and quilters who make original work...the perfect tonic.