Is it too much?

Seriously my good readers, do I blog too often?  Should I restrain myself and just compose a draft at work and then add the other stuff at home, rather than often having two-post days?  Personally, I like little blasts, and you know I get work ADD and need your blogs and Ravelry bits to distract me, but that’s just me.

Anyhoo, aside from wondering if I bother you with my babbles, I was honored with another award today.   

Along with the award, Ashley and her mom have a fun contest.  They just want to know what we think about yarn and yarn shops.  When you stop in, be sure to drop my name.  It won’t open any doors for you, but it might help me win.  I liked the questions so much that I thought I’d share the questions and my very long answers here.  This subject is near and dear to my heart, as you know, since I have no LYS I hold dear…  So, sign up and let them know I sent you!

1. What yarn do you like to buy? What weights/fiber content/colors?

If you follow my blog at all, you know I’ll buy anything.  I say I hate yellow, but I did a lovely baby blankie last summer in yellow acrylic.  Every yarn out there has a purpose.  I’m not crazy about cotton, but it makes great cloths for dishes, bathing and babies.  I am learning that I love blends.  Right now, silk and alpaca rock, but mohair, silk and wool was fun too (save the boulce). 

Weights.  Good question.  I’m not much on bulky, but once in a while, it’s fun to whip out something in a jiffy.  (Hence, the run on FOs of late?)  I love wee skinny sock yarns, and even laceweights, but gee, it takes forever and a day to finish.

2. What type of atmosphere do you look for in a yarn shop?

Go to Knitting Addiction.  It remains the PERFECT shop in my book.  It’s not the largest shop in the world, but it is big enough for a great variety, from Blue Sky Cotton to that elegant mohair blend I used in Omega.  When you walk in the door, there’s almost always someone knitting on one of the sofas to the left, and Jeanne and Brittany are attentive and great at helping you figure out what you want without being at all pushy. 

3. What makes you come back to a yarn shop?

In the end, it’s the people.  I can find the yarn I desire online, and often, that’s just what I do.  The Loopy Ewe has me so loyal that I rarely buy anything I know they carry from anyone else. 

4. What classes would you be interested in taking?

It would be easier to say what doesn’t interest me.  I am looking for a two socks class, be it Magic Loop or two circs.  There’s something very simple eluding me and making it impossible for me to pull off a technique other knitters do with ease. 

I also want a lace class, because I’m sure there are things I could do better there.  I would enjoy a crochet class too, because I’m still very new to that version of yarn sticking.  I would need a class to do respectable color work, but with all the great variegated yarns and self-striping stuff, I’m not the least bit interested right now.

5. What don’t you like in a yarn shop?

I could name names here too, but my Daddy taught me to keep my trap shut if I couldn’t say something nice.  Instead, I’ll say that I don’t like pushy sales people.  I don’t like snooty sales folks, you know, when you feel as though you were supposed to dress up to come into their store?  I don’t like stores where the staff suddenly become engaging and helpful after I’ve spent a wad of dough on their loot.  

Most of all, I despise the practice of “free lessons with purchase.”  I’ve learned what that really means is “if you didn’t buy it here, you might have to pay me to help you.”  Hello?  How does that make me want to come back? 

6. Would you only buy brands that you are familiar with?

Heck no.  On a yarn crawl, I seek out the new and different.  I have no loyalties brand-wise, save Tofutsies and my friends who crank out quality yarns and are willing to indulge me.  

7. Is there anything besides yarn and spinning supplies that you are interested in purchasing when you go into a store of this nature?

Here’s the deal.  Don’t spin.  Don’t dye.  Don’t wanna’.  I *MIGHT* take a class on one or both, just because I’m a curious bird, but I keep saying it; knitting is my passion.  My world is most Zen when I have my knitting, Mugsy and Sissy all on the sofa with me.  I like magazines, patterns, books, notions… Especially the local, indie notions.  I like things I can’t find anywhere else, that make me want to come back, again and again, often, and always with a generous budget to spend.

8. How do you go about looking for a LYS, online/yellow pages/yarn store listings/etc?

Google.  Word of mouth.  Make me consider you a friend, and I’m very loyal.

9. What days/hours are you likely to visit a yarn store?

Well, I like to shop in my pajamas, so to speak, but in person, really weekends are best for me.  For the local shops who can’t seem to endear me to them, evening, weeknight hours when you’re *NOT* hosting your cozy knit group and ignoring me would be nice.  I also resent having to call to see if you’re going to be operating your business when I want to shop.

As a reward for plowing through my drivel, here’s the Omega in action… er… in person?

(photo by MJ)

My hair looked cute earlier today, before a dozen Sissy walks in the wind.  There really is a green in the wrap that matches my sweater.  I’m going to try contacts again soon…