In search of the perfect Fiber-Pittsburgh, day 1

So I've been meaning to post about our trip 2 weeks ago, but hadn't taken the time to do so. I have a minute now, so here goes.

First off, the drive... ugh.. sometimes I hate driving... I really wish we could portal to places. Anyway, normally it's not a bad drive, but it rained like the entire trip which kind of made for a downer. Plus I was super tired. Anyway, we made it there safely, and did ok on time.

We decided to drive into downtown to look for a shop, "Ewe Can Knit" which was harder than heck to find! We drove around and around. The directions from the internet were A. apparently wrong B. written down wrong by me or C. I just can't read signs properly. Who knows?!

We are finally on the right street and we see addresses near the one we need, but don't see the store... anywhere. So we decided to do another drive by. While we are circling, I call my sister, to look the place up and get their phone number. I get that, make the call, find a meter as the lady answers the phone, "Welden's can I help you?" I pull into the space and say, "what was the name?"

She replies, "Weldon's"

Me: "Sorry, I have the wrong number."

Only to look up and realize we were in FRONT of a giant awning that said, WELDON'S and on the window, painted letters, Ewe Can Knit. Seriously people... WTF?! Well, we're here! I look at the sign above the meter and there is no parking from 4-6 on this street and guess what time it is, 3:48. I look at Audra and tell her we have 10 minutes! It better be a quickie!!!

So we run in, quickly peruse the yarn and I find the magazine section. And lo and behold, they have a massive TON of OLD mags. Like 2005, 2006 and 2007.... i'm zipping through them and what do I find, but KNITSCENE-FALL 2006, the issue I've been DYING to find! And of course it's marked down because it's old... BONUS! I am seriously so elated I can't speak.

I look to Audra and say, this was seriously worth this trip. This find made the weekend for me. And it was our FIRST stop! I could have turned around and gone home, that is how excited I was. And for those of you who don't know, this particular issue has a pattern I've been longing for called, Molly Ringwald by Michelle Rose Orne. It's the cutest little sweater and I've really been wanting to make it. And now I can!

After my purchase I ran back to the car, Audra finished up her shopping and we got the heck out of downtown!

The WRONG way of course! And by that I mean, I went down a ONE way street... the WRONG WAY... it wasn't marked where I turned onto it... I have a witness, ask Audra! And then true to pittsburgh hwy form, the road/bridge/whatever split somewhere and I ended up on the wrong hwy. So we went up a bit, turned around back towards downtown, then onto the RIGHT hwy and called Sarah, met her at Ikea (that is like a homing beacon for me). I know everything in relation to Ikea. :)

We waited in the parking lot for a bit, went to dinner and margs at Don Pablos, the marg def better than the dinner... although I still ate too much and was uber full when we left. Damn chips. We walked it off at ikea. I picked up some kitchen stuff and a cute little backpack. And a lazy susan for my mom.

Then to Sarah's for the night.

And to add, one final note about the fabulous magazine... Knitscene, fall 2006. I was perusing it after we were at Sarah's and you will never believe what else is in there.... THE CENTRAL PARK HOODIE!!! SCORE! Another pattern I've been wanting forever... and I know you can purchase it online for only $5 but I just haven't done that yet and now I don't have to! So I got all excited about my little magazine all over again. What a bonus. TOTALLY worth the trip. :)

---pictures to come.

Mitten a month group

So I decided to sign up for a group via Ravelry. Actually I signed up on 2, one is a pair of socks a month and the other is a pair of mittens a month. I decided to go with the pattern Fetching from Knitty.com and it is quite an easy, enjoyable pattern. I had a few gaffs because I wasn't paying attention. My first go round with the thumb gusset was a bit of a disaster, but I eventually figured it out and fixed it. So I finished the Left one in about 4-ish hours maybe. Now I have the right one to do. I could easily finish it today, but I think I keep putting off working on the greenjeans for Joy, which I think I may rename to the REDJEANS for Joy because I'm using a beautiful red yarn. I've gotten quite a few compliments on it.

I really want to get some other things done though. I'm itching to do a hat/beret type of thing and I found some great patterns for sweaters I'd like to get working on. There are these fabulous spring/summer yarns out and I'd love to PLAY! But alas, I MUST finish this sweater. Don't get me wrong I enjoy it, it's just sooooo time consuming, row after row after row. Of course I'm at the cabling point and not boring old St.st. anymore. :)

Well, I supposed I should stop playing on ravelry and swap-bot and get to work!

Happy Sunday!