Mar 14 2006
Big Apple Adventures
Back from NYC (more on that below!) and I am playing major catch up! Loads of Project Spectrum admin, a few dozen emails, and the hundreds of new blog updates I missed while I was away…
I whet your appetite for this super secret sister knit last week…
Sissy Sarah’s One Skein Wonder
Pattern: Glampyre Stefanie
Yarn: Dancing Leaf Farm handspun / hand dyed wool
Notes: An ingenious pattern! Knit from the top-down in the round, the shrug’s shape magically appears.
Alternative view: back and shoulders
A super quick knit, and it seems to fit Sarah perfectly. This was an early birthday present - her birthday is this Friday on St. Patrick’s Day - but since she was in town for spring break, she got it early! and she even got to wear it that day, because the weather was so mild. (Isn’t she a cutie?)
Mom helped me when I started this knit - she measured one of Sarah’s looser t-shirts from shoulder to shoulder and gave me the measurement. I think this measurement may have helped the most in getting the proper fit.
I did not modify the pattern, although there were many opportunities to add personal touches or slight changes. I have some ideas for more OSWs that I am bound to make… Stef’s pattern is really great on its own - simple, fun, and very flattering. The yarn was beautiful and unique - it was a gift from my friend, Donna. Thanks D! 
Our New York excursion was short and sweet - of course, there are a million billion things to do in the city, and we were only there for 2.5 days, and one day was sloppy rainy slush… but we managed to have fun anyway!The absolute highlight of the trip was the amazing opportunity to meet three blogger friends on Monday. Although the time was short, we packed it with fun!
I met Carrie at Grand Central Terminal before lunch, and we walked over to meet Marie at her workplace. When given the choice of fiber or food, we chose fiber - and swiftly headed over to School Products on Broadway. Their prices were so reasonable and I was tempted by many cones of lovely wool, alpaca, and silk, but without a definitive project in mind, I decided to take the high road and resist the cones… but resistance did not work on the sock yarn. New stash enhancements photos are forthcoming.
Marie and Carrie are “ewwing” the tank top made out of ladder yarn - I guess it was not quite our style, although the other tanks were very cute!
We grabbed a quick lunch, and unfortunately, Marie had to head back to work (she took her lunch break to come and meet us - how sweet is that?) Carrie still had some free time before heading off to investigate the late-breaking NYC news stories, so we headed over to another yarn shop in Manhattan. Cozy and cute with a lot of yarn packed into a small space - the Yarn Connection on Madison. The service was wonderful - each of the employees spoke and were very approachable. I came out with some yarn - I consider it a NYC souvienier
*You will know us by our hand knit scarves*
Thank you so much Carrie and Marie for taking the time out of your busy day to show me around and hang out for awhile - I am so grateful! Not only are they both wonderfully kind and hospitable people, but they are fantastic crafters - Marie spins and dyes extraordinary yarns (remember Chocolate Covered Cherries? That’s her handiwork!) and Carrie churns out beautiful knit and crochet pieces left and right. She is working on Wendy’s Somewhat Cowl now. (and both are in Project Spectrum!)
Hold on, because the fun does not end there! After parting ways with Carrie and Marie, I headed back to the hotel to drop off my loot, and turned right back around to meet up with Jessica, who was just getting off from her job at an illustrious institution.
She was kind enough to take a later train (she has a 2-hour commute home to CT!) and meet me for some delicious fruit smoothies and some talk about all things library, hockey, and crafty. Yes, we have that much in common! Jessica is a *real* librarian after graduating last year - a true hockey fan - and an extraordinary knitter and crocheter. Plus, she is taller than me (that never happens, I swear!) I recognized her right away (I think I have “knitdar”!) In the past month alone, Jessica has finished two cabled sweaters and a beautiful Fair Isle bag - that deserves major kudos!!
Busy and extremely rewarding day - I was worn out from “pounding the pavement” (my pedometer measured 6.7 miles yesterday!) and worth every step!! I loved meeting all of you and hope we can see each other again - I know another NYC trip is in order - I did not even make a dent in the list of NYC yarn shops!
What else did we do?
Well, I will show you…
View from our hotel room - Times Square facing north
New York Rangers v. Atlanta Thrashers (ATL won 3-2)
New York Public Library Main Branch
Many pictures and some great memories! It’s amazing what you can pack into a short time period. I got some quality knitting time on the train, and a few new purchases that I just have to share!
I also finished my postcard for my pal, Ashley. If you are participating in the March Project Spectrum Postcard Swap, please try to finish and mail your card by tomorrow (March 15th)! I want your pal to receive it in time (I am talking to myself on this one as well - the card is done but not yet mailed!)
One last thing - this news is just too exciting to wait until the next post!! The wonderful people at Hill Country Yarns have decided to join Project Spectrum in their own way - every month they will release Project Spectrum themed yarns in that color for knitters, crocheters, and other crafters to purchase!
They just released the pink and red combination in DK and Fingering Weight (the colorway’s name is Project Spectrum March!) - as well as a great pink/white combination that donates a portion of their proceedings to Breast Cancer research. The DK and the fingering/sock weight yarns come in self-striping and variegated options.
They are supporting Project Spectrum in this extraordinary way and I plan on supporting them in return!** Remember you can make many things with these weights of yarn - you are not limited to socks. Self-striping yarns make fun hats, wristlets, gloves, legwarmers, and baby items.
wow, it seems like tons of knitbloggers were in NYC this past weekend!
Love that a yarn company is joining in Project Spectrum!! Very, very cool and I’m happy to support anyone who donates to breast cancer research!
How fun! I want to make it back to NYC, but it’s not that easy when you’re on the left coast. Looks like you had a blast.
Well you are having way too much fun! Keep it up!
And the sister knit turned out darling. She looks so cute in it!
oh, thanks for saying such sweet things! it was so wonderful to meet you, and i hope i can see you again very soon. it looks like you and kris saw all the sights.
i always end up drooling over lovely yarn after stopping by your blog.
Looks like you had a fun trip! The OSW is very pretty and your sister looks awesome in it! What a lovely gift.
How cool is it to have yarn company joining in on your project! So cool. It sounds like you had a great trip and a well deserved break.
That OSW is so cute too.
I hope you don’t mind me leaving you such a personal comment, but you have been very frank about your weight loss programme. You are looking fabber than ever in those photos, and the hard work is paying off.
How cool is that project spectrum yarn!
Wow! What a trip! Looks like you had a great time (and I’m glad you made it to some of the lys…I kept thinking after you left “I forgot to tell her about the Yarn Connection!”) I had so much fun meeting you and I really hope we can get together again soon!
The OSW looks awesome and congrats on the success of PS too!
Whoa! So much fun…while I have to go to work!?!? Not fair, Lolly!
Your sis is looking fab in her one skein wonder.
Like your trip, you crammed A LOT into your post. The shrug is adorable and so is the birthday girl! New York sounds like a blast and I love those yarns. I’ve been searching for yarn for April, now I know where to look.
Lol, You are amazing! I am enjoying your blog since I haven’t been able to speak with you about your trip to NY. I can’t believe you squeezed so much into 2 1/2 days!
The new yarn is lovely and reminds me of a candy store. Can’t wait to talk to you! XXOO
I am glad you had such a great time in NYC. You sister is definitely a cutie! I recently got some sock yarn from Marie and love it. She makes pretty yarn! Thanks for telling us about her.
Sounds like a great trip - getting to meet 3 bloggers = very cool! And the Project Spectrum-themed yarn is so fun.
wow! what an awesome trip…knitbloggers, hockey and project spectrum omy!
you look great in the pics!
next time you come up we should meet up Ms lolly
What a wonderful trip to NYC! How fun to meet up with other bloggers.
(If you ever come to Chicago…)
Hill Country Yarns was on my list of “soon” purchases - I’ll definitely have to check out the PS themed yarns. Isn’t it amazing how Project Spectrum is spreading?
What a great trip. You got the LYS and the typical sites of NYC. I was at a hockey game on Monday night in Dallas - I took my knitting - inspired by a picture of you knitting some time back at a game! Love the shrug you made for your sister.
I’m so jealous of your trip to NYC! I haven’t been there since I started knitting — and I think I need to go for a weekend just to check out all of the yarn shops…
The Project Spectrum yarn is so cool! I’ve got the Instant Gratification yarn on my List of Yarn to Buy.
Whoa, that is one mega post - a beautiful FO, a vacation, knit bloggers AND a big yarn announcment. Crazy! I think you have one very full life, my dear
I’m glad that you had fun and were able to cruise the NYC yarn scene. It looks faboo!
Your trip sounds like it was lots of fun. I had to chuckle at the “knitdar” reference. I wonder if it is an acquired skill? And the news about the Hill Country Yarns? Have mercy!
What a fun trip that looked like!
And that is really cool that they are doing PS colors! If I didn’t already have a huge stash of sockyarn I’d get some!
You need to go check out my Mama-E Supergirl socks. They are so cute and kind of hit this month and next month for PS!
Wow Lolly, you packed alot into your trip, huh?! Looks like lots of fun. Can’t wait to see the stash. And the OSW turned out great and does fit your sis fabulous! So glad you used the yarn ; ) Hey, I’m go to NYC in a few weeks, so we gotta chat, about the yarn shops of course! Gos I love that pink/white and pink/red yarn..yummy!
Oh golly, I miss NYC! What a fun time you had!
WOW! That sums up everything!!! WOW!
Lolly! It looks like you had a FAB time in NYC, I am a little jealous even:)
So exciting that you now have a yarn company participating in you Project spectrum!
I just love NYC. I’ve only been there the once, but seeing your photo of Times Square has just brought it all back.
Great to see tha tthe Great country Yarns are supporting your Project Spectrum. Excellent.
Looks like you had one amazing trip!! Your sister got one cool b-day present! Lucky her! : D
What a fun trip you had! I’ve driven through NY but haven’t had the opportunity to stop & shop. Love your OSW! Your sis is so pretty!
What fun you had! Every time I go to NYC I try to hit a different yarn store. I think Schoolhouse should be next on my list! And to meet fellow knit bloggers! Bonus!
Hey lolly! Next time you’re in NY (or NJ) let me know! I’d love to GTG!
Thanks for the postcard swap reminder…I have to make mine tonight…I’m runnin behind everywhere these days!
How awesome that you got to meet up with Carrie, Marie and Jessica!! It looks like you all had an amazing time! It must have been so fun chatting and checking out yarn stores.
I can’t believe how much you managed to squeeze into such a short time!! Your NY pics are incredible- I’d love to visit there someday. Sarah’s OSW looks wonderful!! She looks so cute in it, too. It’s not fair- all 3 of you are so darned good looking! 
I love the handpainted yarn you used- it’s beautiful. And what exciting news about Hill Country Yarns!! The March yarns look gorgeous- my credit card is worried, but I’m going to click the link anyway. 
Thank you so much for all your hard work hostessing Project Spectrum!! Take care, Lolly! 
Much love xo, c.
you’ll totally have to come back to NYC - though you did hit two of my most favorite lunch time hangouts! i wish i would have known you guys would have been around there yesterday, I could have come over to meet ya real quick - I only work a couple blocks away from both places. Oh well, maybe next time.
there are so many wonderful things to see and knit shops to go! i’ve been here for 7 years and I haven’t even been to them all!
What a great trip! When are you coming to Portland? Huh? Huh? This town is a fiber junky’s dream!
Lolly,
The shrug is adorable and looks really nice on Sarah. I’d love to make one but I’d never be able to put it on & then take it off…I know I’d get stuck in it!
And congrats on the “Project Spectrum March” colorway. So cute!
How funny, my husband Jeff was at that Rangers game too! I’m so glad to hear you and Kris had a fun time here in NYC. Next time you’ll have to check out the Brooklyn yarn stores - they are my faves.
I think it’s so neat that Hill Country Yarns is contributing to Project Spectrum - it really demonstrates the power of the internet and how it has erased so many barriers of getting one’s voice heard. No agents and publishers needed! I was already planning on getting their yellow-orange colorway for March, but now I am tempted to get the March colorway too!
Your sister is such a cutey! And the OSW looks great!
Yeah on more ProjSpec support. Looks like you had a wonderful time in NYC!!
So seriously is everyone born in March. Sissy Sarah, My boss is, her daughter is, I am, a girl down the hall is, Life’s a Stitch Is, Margene’s is. Our parents must have been bored in the fall I think.
I went to NYC a few years ago and was just thinking that it’s sad I wasn’t connected to the knit blogging world at that time and now, here you go rubbing it in that you got to hang out with those great NYC gals! I’m glad you had a good time and your sis’s shrug is so cute! The colors are great.
i have to agree with jess you are looking great! i love the fact that you have a little yarn co. making a colorway for project spectrum! too cool!
are you ever not out and about having tons of fun??? I think I’m a little jealous. New York looks like a blast, and how fun that you get to see so much of your sisters. I love the project spectrum sock yarn - if only I could knit a pair of socks in les than a year…
Great pictures from your NYC trip!! Love the shrug, totally cute!
Sigh . . . someday I will get to NYC. Haven’t been there to really look around since college and that was double-digits years ago.
Wow, what a fantastic trip you had. I particularly liked the part where you say you had “knitdar”! That is just too funny!
I’m so bummed I missed you!!! We’ll definitely have to try to meet up again . . . perhaps in DC someday. Unfortunately, I just found out I can’t go to MS&W because I have a wedding to go to that same weekend - darn!!!
It looks like you had a wonderful trip. Too bad the weather wasn’t cooperating. But you sure did pack a lot into 2 1/2 days. I’m so glad you got to go to School Products. That is one hidden NYC gem that all out-of-town knitters must see! And wow, what a prime view from your hotel room! You must have been a few blocks away from me in Central Park - my office is near the southeast corner of the park.
*laughs* Maybe it is just me, but everytime I see a picture of that lion in front of the NY Public Library I instantly think “Ghostbusters.”
I loved seeing your pcitures… how fabulous! And how wonderful to meet other bloggers! Your pictures have put a huge smile on my face.
And that stripey yarn… oh heavens! Now I only hope my tax return comes in time to get some of that!
What a fantastic trip! It sounded like the perfect day. The Hill Country yarn is wonderful. How cool is it that you inspired a line of yarn?!?
Amy
Oh, NY - sounds nice… Well, someday I will go too.. It was nice to see the picture of Central Park and the tiny leaves on the trees…Springtime… sounds very distant here in Stockholm, BUT the snow has started to melt…
Awsome post. Thanks for sharing your trip to NY. Looks like a lot of fun. I am excited about the Hill Country Yarns new monthly colors. How cool is that?
Oh, I am really bummed that I didn’t get to see you. I would totally have come down from CT just to meet you (Jessica and I used to be commuting buddies until I got laid off). I guess that’s my punishment for being so behind on my blog reading that I didn’t even know you were going to *be* in NYC. I’m glad you had a great trip, though, and that Project Spectrum is going so well. I love your OSW, by the way. I have read other people’s blogs who had a much harder time getting them to fit. What was your secret? Or is Sarah just very petite?
Your NYC weekend looks like tons of fun! I have been thinking that I would love to make a trip there, but I doubt it’s in the cards for me for awhile. So I can live vicariously through you and Olga!
That is so cool about Hill Country Yarns. When those blue and green months come along I will be seriously tempted!
ohhhh NEW YORK! Sounds like you had a great time and got to do alot in the little time you were there. I LOVE your sis’s OSW, that yarn is beautiful, lucky girl she is.
I love the Project Spectrum yarn!! I’m headed over there to buy some right away!! So cool that a yarn company is joining in the fun…and how cool to have a year of sock yarn if they are doing it every month!! Fun, fun!!!
What?! You were in NYC and you didn’t call me? Alright. I’ll forgive you. I think I was in Philly anyway. But next time - I WANT TO KNOW! Glad you had a good time.
What a wonderful trip!! I love the view of Times Square from your hotel - I’ve stood in that Tkts line many times.
The library is always a favorite too. Love the yarn Hill Country is making for Project Spectrum - I just ordered a lovely yellow colorway for April (I think it’s an older colorway though - if I knew they might have April Project Spectrum yarn I would have waited!!)
Looks like you had a great time, Lolly. Youe OSW is really pretty. I love the color.
That’s pretty cool about the yarn!
You must be very proud that your idea has inspired so many people!! A Project Spectrum yarn… I am amazed.
I love the PS March yarn! How fun!
WOW Project Spectrum yarn!! very exciting. Welcome back from NYC, looks like you had a great time.
I love the colors in your sister’s OSW!
Your sister looks great in her OSW. Sounds like you had a fun trip.
Sissy Sarah’s OSW is just gorgeous. I’m so happy you and Kris had a good visit in NYC. Getting to meet bloggers is definitely icing on the cake! I love the new yarns that are dyed in Project Spectrum colors. That is so awesome! I will have to buy some!!
Loving that Project Specturm yarn!!!
And, the sister gift is lovely
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