AuburnChick's Adventures

We’re spending the weekend in Metairie, Louisiana.  Soccer Chick has an ODP (Olympic Development Program) regional tournament.

I drove her over on Friday after school, stopping to pick up a teammate along the way.  We had a pleasant drive.  I dropped off the girls at the team’s hotel and made my way two exits down to my own hotel, spending the night by myself.  I must admit that although it felt odd at first, I quickly grew to appreciate being totally alone.

Chicky woke me up from a sound sleep by sending me a text message to remind me to take my sneakers to her hotel…long story not worth telling.

Once I was out and about, I figured that I might as well go exploring.  I mean, I had the GPS, so why not!

Metairie is just north of New Orleans…an easy drive…especially when you’re looking for a certain type of store.

Getting my drift???

As I drove, I saw the Super Dome (famous site of Hurricane Katrina victims):

I also saw this lovely church:

The streets in New Orleans are very quaint:

And then I parked the car and made my way down the street to this place:

I consider it my mission to inspect yarn stores across the country and give you a review of them.  Can you tell that I’m trying to justify my latest adventure??

Here’s the view you get when you walk in:

To your right is the “Sale Room.”

Everything in the Sale Room was 50% off.  Here’s another picture of it, so you can see all of the lovelies in the room:

As you continue further in the store, you see, to the right, shelving with lots of books and magazines:

As you pass the shelving, you see the following, along the left side of the store, extending towards the back:

This is just one section of that wall on the left:

And on the right side:

The right side of the store is a sock knitter’s paradise.  This is an entire section dedicated to Koigu sock yarn:

And here’s a section of various other sock yarns.  The right section of this wall is all Tofutsies…the most colors I’ve ever seen in one store:

Here’s a couple of gals I spent time talking to.  The lady in front was learning how to knit in the round.  Her ribbing looked amazing for a first-time knitter!  The gal behind her works at the store and was providing instruction and encouragement to the other gal.  She was quite knowledgeable, friendly, and enabled me in my purchase (you’ll see later in this post).  Her blog is here.

So, with all of that fabulous yarn, whatever was I going to do?  It would have been rude to walk out without getting anything.  Especially after everyone had been helping me pick my jaw off the floor.  I mean, I’m from a small town where such delicious yummies do not exist!

Here’s what I got:

And here are close-ups of the yarn.  I have to say that the Misti Alpaca was a total splurge.  Once I touched it, I knew I had to have it.  I am already feeling it around my neck.  I will cast on for a scarf tomorrow when I get home from LA.

Misti Alpaca - Colorway is "Marvelous"

The Koigu was too much to pass up.  All of the Koigu was beautiful!  The colors are vibrant.  I selected a solid color to give me more leeway in pattern selection:

Koigu

And the last purchase is Boomerang.  The colorway is White Zifandel.  I bought it because it’s worsted weight, and I am going to use it when my friend Christina (Rabbitrescuer) and I make socks.  I’m going to walk her through her first sock pattern, and she wants to use worsted weight.  I wanted to make my life easier and not have to adjust the pattern for thinner yarn.  Sure, whatever excuse works, eh?  And besides that, because it’s worsted weight, I’ll be able to get two pairs of socks out of the 320 yard skein.  Ha!  Two for the price of one, eh?

Boomerang - White Zifandel

Now, I have to tell you that after I left the store, my head felt like it was in a fog…in a good way.  I have never gotten to visit such a fabulous yarn store.  The assortment of goodies was vast.

I called a friend and shared my giddiness.  She totally understood.

Yarn shopping is a sensory experience, as many of you know.  First, you experience visual satisfaction as your eyes lay sight of vibrant colors.  It’s like a mosaic, with all of the colors combining to form a masterpiece.

Yarn shopping is also about touch.  As you roll the yarn between your fingers, you envision yet-to-be-worked projects.  Will this make a good scarf, you wonder to yourself.  What about a pair of socks?  How will this feel on my feet? Your mind starts working overtime as it tries to process the visions placed before it.  Will a hat be warm if I use this yarn?

Yes, shopping for yarn is an uplifting experience.  It’s as if you are transported to a time of innocence and wonder, much like that of a child’s when something is brand new.  If leaves you filled with joy that’s difficult to explain to a non-yarney.

Filed under: soccer | Tagged: boomerang, fiesta, Knitting, koigu, misty alpaca, new orleans, shopping, yarn | 4 Comments »