A Good Yarn

For a good time visit A Good Yarn

After spending a weekend in Sarasota, a friend came home raving about this awesome yarn shop she visited.   This Friday, on our way to Fort Myers for the weekend, Hubby & T2 (T1 had dog duty) graciously acceded to my request that we make a side trip on this purported yarn heaven.

Friend Kerri did not exaggerate in any way.   As soon as I walked into A Good Yarn I was nearly overwhelmed with the eye candy presented by so many luscious colors and textures.   Visually, this is a lovely shop.   The people (staff and customers) were warm and welcoming.    I absolutely love when a shop's staff is knowledgeable and willing to help without hovering.    A Good Yarn hit that balance perfectly.   I know that we all have our favorite yarns.  For me, the offerings were perfect (Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Habu, Claudia Hand-paints, Handmaiden, Louet, Koigu and a lot more).   It was like having all of my favorite NY/NJ/Philly shops in one place.  I want to move to Sarasota.  At the very least we will have to visit my Godmother more often.

I did ask about online ordering and was assured that they are working on a new website (in the mean time you can give them a call to order).   If their online service is as good as their in-person shopping experience,  A Good Yarn could easily become my next go-to knitting source.

In addition to yarn, and needles (a pick up for Kerri), I could not resist another set of Namaste snap bags (they come in a set of three but I am already using two of them in my knitting bag), these really neat stitch markers called "Floops", and a pair of earrings made from sliced knitting needles (I am wearing those right now).   Sadly I got so excited that I forgot to take pictures of the shop itself (the one above is of my purchases).   You will have to pay A Good Yarn a visit to see for yourself just how awesome it is.

Design: The Start of Something Wonderful

Sometimes my design process begins with something I want for myself or someone else.   Unable to find just the right thing, I come up with something on my own.    This time, I am letting myself be inspired by a particular yarn.

So, what do you know about seaweed?  According to my research, it is believed that seaweeds offer a wide range of internal an external health benefits.   Dietary seaweeds can offer all essential minerals the most important of which is iodine.  If dietary seaweed does not excite you, then you may be happy to note that iodine passes readily through the skin and into the body.  Seaweed wraps are said to help with arthritis, eczema, sore muscles, as well as bringing a feeling of peace and tranquility to the wrapee.  Not excited by eating or wrapping?   How about knitting?

I was first introduced to seaweed as a knitting fiber a few years ago when a friend sent me a hank of Handmaidens Yarn Sea Silk.   This luscious yarn (composed of silk and SeaCell, a fiber containing seaweed) called to both my love of odd knitting fibers (remind me to tell you about my crab socks sometime) and my ongoing search for peace and calm.

Theoretically, those knitting and/or wearing a garment with SeaCell in it experience that same feelings of peace and tranquility as the seaweed spa devotee.  Having knit with it, I can tell you that it sure brought me those peaceful feelings.   Was that the seaweed, the knitting, the rich color (sangria), the lovely sheen, the luscious feel, or the good wishes of the friend who sent the gift, I could not tell you.

In any case, I have ordered a single hank in Glacier (the 437yd put-up goes a long way).   Right now I am thinking of a lace (of course) cowl or scarf but reserve the right to go somewhere else with it once I start playing with it.