Thursday, October 1, 2009

Fiber Therapy

It's been a particularly crappy week at work, so this morning I decided to stop at my local yarn shop on the way home for a little bit of much needed fiber therapy. I actually did need some yarn for this black vest I'm working on because I won't have enough yarn to do the ribbing around the arm holes and neckline, so here's my ball of yarn for that.

I've taught some classes here before, so Kristen (the store owner) asked me what classes I wanted to teach this fall and I asked her what was available. She told me I had a choice between socks on circular needles or mittens. Since I've never made socks that way, I chose mittens. We'll be using this pattern where you actually knit a mitten that's sized specifically for your hand and here's what I whipped up this afternoon so Kristen can put it on display in the store to advertise the class. I figured since I was still in "knitting teacher" mode from teaching Lynne a couple weeks ago, I thought it would be fun to teach this class too. So on the first 2 Saturdays in November, I'll be helping some knitters learn something new and probably get some Christmas presents knitted too!

And here's my "therapy" purchase -- this beautiful dark mauve-colored ball of "Sublime," a delicious blend of 80% extra fine merino and 20% angora that's unbelievably soft. I'm going to knit it into a neck warmer for myself.

Kristen brings her sweet little Japanese Chin dog (Lulu) to the store with her every day, so after about an hour sitting in the store with Lulu on my lap and also being able to see and touch all the beautiful yarn, I felt a whole lot better. Pretty cheap therapy, I'd say!


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's been a particularly crappy week at work, so this afternoon I decided to stop at my local bar on the way home for a little bit of much-needed liquid therapy.....



Yours sounds so much more productive. Maybe that's why you're the blogger and I'm just "sissy". LOL

Kelly said...

...very pretty! I like that shade. Sounds like good therapy... sounds like your class would be good therapy too--very cool mitten.

Dawn Fine said...

Awesome Therapy..
so cool you are going to teach..wish i was nearby..would love to learn to knit the mittens!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Heck, your therapy session made me feel better just by reading about it. Love the color of the sweater. That purple neckwarmer will be marvelous too.

Jayne said...

Doing what you love, which brings your blood pressure and heart rate down.... priceless. :c)

RuthieJ said...

Sorry to hear that Sissy. Don't forget you know probably one of the best knitting teachers around, just give me a call when you're ready to start your fiber therapy sessions!

Thanks Kelly. Because I'm an addict, for me knitting is how I relax. I'm guessing it's similar to that first draw on a cigarette that smokers experience (without the negative consequences!)

I hope the class goes well Dawn. In the classes I've taught before there has always been a variety of skill levels and I'll be interested to see what kind of students I have this time. I hope I can inspire them!

Thanks Lisa. I'll post pictures again when I'm done with those 2 projects.

You got that right Jayne! Too bad I don't love housecleaning as much

Mama Pea said...

After reading your post, I almost felt like I had had the therapeutic visit to the yarn shop, too.

A very good friend used to have a yarn shop in our little town and often I would drop in for a therapy session. Most times I didn't buy a thing but just seeing and touching the yarn and sitting and talking were what I needed.

So I know what your yarn shop fix did for you!

RuthieJ said...

Hi Mama Pea,
I was back there again today -- trying to find some matching yarn to finish the PIF project for you, but mostly to see that little Lulu again. Today she was chilly and damp from having to walk in from the rain so I cuddled her inside my jacket and she went to sleep on my lap while I was stroking her silky fur. Ahhhhh, more therapy!

Taos Sunflower said...

What a great idea to knit the mittens to fit (the ones I've done always end up like giant pot holders). What weight is the yarn?