The lure of a yarn crawl ...

can be over-powering for a Yarn addict like myself. Only buy from two stores I say to myself. Unless I see something I really need of course. But don't buy from every store, I repeat over and over.

And can I stick to that plan?

Well the 2nd annual North Shore Yarn Crawl was this past weekend. A beautiful weekend it was too. All of my knitting and crocheting friends were looking forward to it ... well the enthusiastic yarn shoppers like myself were anyways. A few stronger women stated, "I'm not going this year because I want to save the money for ... " Well that's her mantra, the StitchingNut is going. The crawl is only once a year after all. Right?

So the first store I go to is in Marblehead, MA ... called Yarn Over Marblehead. A very cute little store with a very nice proprietor. Of course she had something I wanted. NORO Silk Garden. And just the project on display that I also had the pattern already at home for. AND she was offering a 20% discount for buying during the yarn crawl. Just how could I say, "no thank you"? ...

Actually, I'm glad I didn't because I not only cast on the next morning for the Sursa Shawl Wrap by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton from Noro: Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Book 2. But but I also cast off on Sunday while sitting at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn before the end of the crawl.

See ...

But I didn't stop there. After making my 1st purchase I then went over to Seed Stitch Fine Yarn in Salem where the organizer of the crawl resides and of course I made a second purchase.[Everbody knows how much I love Courtney & SSFY right? I practically live here!] Yes, it's 16 balls of Rowan All Season Cotton but I clearly intend to knit myself a Summer sweater.

I even cast-on by Saturday night while the Yarn Crawl was still in progress. I figure I better justify all this yarn purchasing since I have an embarrassing amount of yarn in my Stash already. And I did finish Sursa on Sunday ... and I'm truly planning to finish this sweater before the warm weather arrives. I think. I am loving it so far ... so I intend to keep on knitting on it. Honestly, would I lie??

But only if the allure of my other purchases don't overwhelm me ...

From a new store Creative Yarns in Beverly (they just opened 2 days before and have a lot of potential) a supply of knitting markers. (yes, I always NEED 'em) and then to



Yarn in the Farms in Beverly where I found the most luscious yarn called Everlasting by Dream in Color. I also learned a couple of really interesting cast-on tips from the Farms which I have committed to memory and will definitely use. A very fascinating little store!

I promise to use it ... for an interesting shawl maybe. The Springtime Bandit comes to mind in fact. **Here's a picture on Ravelry of the Bandit done in this same yarn, different color.**

The next stop was at the famous Coveted Yarn in Gloucester. Of course I found a yarn that just couldn't be left behind. And while I waited in the parking lot to keep from being overcome from the yarn fumes in the over-abundantly stocked store for my other two "yarn-addict" friends, I met other knitters and crocheters. Such a cheery lot! Always willing to part with their money for more yarn. I certainly can't blame them considering my find of lovely Heather Schaeffer Yarn in the colorway called Eleanor Roosevelt ...

Does it help to know that I got it on discount too?

Of course we had to stop at Cranberry Fiber Arts in S. Hamilton. And the lure of the yarn didn't stop. I was just absolutely taken over by this yarn and the pattern to go with it for a beautiful Wrap with the most gorgeous drape I've ever felt ...


Oooooo, am I going to have the stamina to complete such a large Garter Stitch project with 8 balls of lace weight Silky Alpaca????

I better if I want to justify this purchase huh?



Well last but not least, we only made it to one more store before we had to call-it-a-day and we all collapsed from exhaustion.


And that store was the Village Stitchery in Topsfield. Where I only purchase a sock yarn that's I've never tried, but I did learn a 3 needle bind-off trick that I can't wait to try. And I really do need to make myself some new socks for next Winter. What better time to do it than over the Summer, right?

I might be poorer, but I'm happy!

[And in 3 days I haven't even been able to remove my Yarn Crawl Shawl!!]

To Crochet or not to Crochet ...

Didn't I say I was going to knit for awhile?

Well this Featherbed Beret came off the needles way to fast.



Oh how I love this yarn! The Featherbed Beret is for me so it's not going into the Christmas Basket. Nope, not this time. I love the feel of it and after all ... it goes with my new vest and even the flower scarf, don't you think?




And it did give me a break from crochet after making the Splashy Flowers Scarf. But only a short break. Because I've already started another crochet and plan to do another after that.

After all ... Filatura Di Crosa's Superior came in!



A Neck Lace is in the making even tho I still have Jared Flood's Quincy hat on the needles with Louisa Harding's Thistle Yarn ...



Now Thistle has fast become one of my all time favorite yarns and of course I had to puchase more for another knit ...



And what about that OTHER crochet?



How about I go spectacular this time?

Oops ... another FO off the needles!

Gilded Lilly from Mac & Me, pattern #104




Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool
DK / 8 ply (11 wpi)
How much? about 5 skeins = 960.0 yards
Colorway: 48 ... a Grey Green

I love the looks of this shawl scarf!! It has a nice drape. I absolutely love! BUT ... boy it was a long process as a matter of fact to just knit the last 4 rows and bind off. Took a whole afternoon just for the bind off. Of course, I got interrupted a few time or put it down now and then for a break ...

But I thought it might take "forever"!