Apr 22 2007
NYC Yarns
I came back with a full bag of souvenirs from New York. The city is truly a yarn destination: the Fashion District, boutique spinneries, little shops in the Village. So much to see! So much to fit in the suitcase on the way home!
Click for details about each yarn
A small disclaimer: two of the cones are not for me. The rest of it is.
The first stop was Purl in Greenwich Village. Kris and I were in the neighborhood on Thursday morning, and stopped in.
This shop is small and sweet. It can get a little crowded in the small space, but it is worth a perusal: they have many lovely high-end yarns, and some wonderful staples as well. (Their window display is very springy too!)
I bought these four hanks for my International Scarf Exchange pal. Her favorite color is blue, and she lives in Southeast Asia, so I thought a nice cotton would be ideal for her climate. I am planning a bias-cut striped scarf. It will look like the ocean! I also picked up two skeins of chocolate brown Koigu KPPPM.
With fiber in mind, I headed uptown towards Habu Textiles. Habu is located near the Fashion District. I did some research online before heading into the shop and it was good that I did! Several boxes were packed up to send items to a show, but the ladies were very helpful and I came home with some beautiful and unique yarns that are not widely available.
Yarn Wall
It is a lovely and tranquil space with woven textiles displayed on the studio walls, and the whir of the spinning machines in the back rooms. Natural fibers and non-traditional fibers are Habu’s specialty. I came home with some lovely silks, bamboo tape, a sampler kit of raffia and paper yarns, and wool/linen blends. [See this photo for pictures of the other Habu yarns].
Naturally dyed wool linen blend
On Friday, I took in some museums (blogged about here) before hitting the fiber trail again. Gotta have some variety! Late Friday afternoon, I went to School Products, a shop owned by the proprietors of Karabella yarns (and the author of the new book, Runway Knits
Friday night fibery fun at The Point, a combined cafe and yarn shop. Sipping a cup of chamomile tea, I chat with some of the Spiders knitting group: Virginia, Lisa, Carrie, Katy, Marie, Courtney, Nancy, and Melissa. It was a nice evening! The Point is a cute shop with some nice variety. I loved their displays!
And I bought some kid mohair there too… all for this little beret number.
Mmmm mohair
After knitting group, I headed out to dinner with Carrie and Katy. We went to Dragonfly, an Asian fusion place (with some interesting “soul food” plates thrown into the mix) They have a lot of vegetarian food. I was happy to catch up with Carrie – such a sweety! – and to get to know Katy better through our conversations. It was lots of fun!
Goodness me, it wasn’t until I put it all in one place that I realized how much I acquired on this trip. It barely fit in my suitcase. New York was wonderful – I guess it is a good thing that I only go once a year… now I must start knitting from the stash.
Beautiful choices!
Beautiful stuff! Sounds like someone had a blast. I can’t wait to go back to NYC. I didn’t make it to Habu last time.
Isn’t Purl great? Everybody was so nice there.
Oh. My. Gosh. Its yarn heaven! droooool
Yum! I haven’t been to NYC since I started knitting seriously – your post makes me feel a large need to go soon.
Wow, looks like you had fun!
AAARGH!!! You’re killing me!! Why did I come back when I knew this would be posted soon!? I guess I really like torturing myself…
No seriously, that is some lovely yarn! How did you manage to behave yourself around all that goodness? I would have been skipping around the room and drooling over the displays. Fondling skeins in very suspicious ways and talking baby-talk to them. Or acting all Gollum-like… “My preeeecioooous….”
I really need to visit my LYS soon. I’m having withdrawal symptoms here!!!
The great thing about yarn is its squishability–you can tuck it in all the little crevices in your luggage.
Nice haul, Lauren!
The last time I was in NYC I missed going to Habu and School Products–darn. I can imagine what Purl must look like, as their Costa Mesa warehouse is amazing.
We are going to NYC on Thursday!! I hope I can fit in some time to visit some of these stores. I’ll be with my hubby and daughter as well as another family, but hopefully I can get to one of the stores.
it was so, so, so great to see you — i only feel bad that i was so out of sorts. not my finest hour. i hope i don’t have to wait another year to see you again!
Those are some gorgeous yarns! They look sooo yummy…I’d be drooling in the store if I ever get to visit NYC
Absolutely gorgeous. I’m very interested to see what you’ll do with the Habu yarns. Did you buy any fabric from there? Sorry, I’m not sure if you sew. Even if you don’t, you could just drape it over a wall, or window…
That is exactly why we opted not to go to New York on vacation. I’d be yarn browsing and he would be hanging out with his friend in the area. Though I do think there will be a trip sometime in the future.
You made quite a yarn haul in NYC! It was lovely to meet and knit with you. Sorry I missed Dragonfly – I love that place!
How fun! I am quite jealous. I especially love the idea of a knit cafe. By the way, last night I cast on for my own Sesame sweater — inspired by yours.
Leslie
Sounds like the perfect trip! Your pictures of the yarn are very enticing!
Lovely yarn! Sounds like you both had a wonderful trip.
Wow! Looks like you had a blast. I’m so jealous! I love NYC and all the great yarn shops.
You have got some *stamina* girl! That’s some serious shopping!
(& thanks taking time to write such thoughtful shop reviews — I’m bookmarking this page for my next trip to NYC.)
Lolly – what gorgeous additions to your stash. I have not been to NYC since I learned to knit, but now I want to go just because I knit! Can’t wait to see what becomes of the lovely yarns.
I just wound up my own chocolate brown koigu, actually! i can’t quite believe all you got. you mentioned it was tough to fit in your suitcase, but now i know why.
as a New Yorker, I’m so pleased that you enjoyed the yarn here
Point and Purl are two of my favorite places in the whole city… I am moving to the Midwest and will be sad to leave them! 
[but look forward to new yarn adventures]….
An interesting note of geography: Purl is _technically_ in “SoHo” because it is literally about a block below SoHo, but that’s me being totally annoying
Never been to NYC but seeing all the wonderful yarn makes me want to go even more! BTW: you are looking even thinner…how is the weight loss going? You look FABULOUS!
Marly
knitthing.blogspot.com
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i missed you again!! argh! glad you had a great time though
that is quite the haul! looks like you’ll be busy for a while!!!! all great fibers and textures though – beautiful!
I am GREEN with jealousy about your Habu buys…(which is a wonderfully good color coincidence!)
The yarn and the trip looks like it was beautiful and relaxing.
Well, someone was a busy bee! I am going to have to use some of your itinerary for a trip to NYC, very helpful, thanks! And your yarn acquisitions? Enviable.
holy crap in a can!
what a haul..looks like it was a fab trip!!!!
I must get me some of that Habu wool/linen blend!
Mmm-mm! Lovely yarns! The shops look so bright and beautiful too. Someday, someday.
Are the two smallest cones the ones for somone else? Heh, heh.
Wait, did that all _really_ fit in the Stash-Limit Tote? Hmmmm…
Great to meet you–you broke me out of my sock slump!
That is some wonderful stash enhancement you did. Your trip to NY sounds wonderful. It’s making me feel the need to go.
Now that is a perfect day in New York!
Wow – what an awesome haul! I need to get back up to NYC soon. Amazing yarn, shopping, good food, and theatre – all in one place!
Yum yum yum! Great haul! Your post is making me want to do some yarn shopping~
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Nice swag, Lolly! Habu is a particularly fascinating place, isn’t it? Glad you had fun…
Hi Lolly,
What a GREAT haul. I absolutely love Dragonfly. Has to be my 2nd or 3rd favorite restaurant in NYC.
Necia
What lovely finds. I’m glad to hear your trip was a success!
It was so nice to finally meet in person! I just wished I didn’t have to run off to drive back to Jersey and we could have chatted longer! Oh well, I’m sure we’ll cross paths again sometime soon.
Here’s a helpful hint for those of us who shop at our destinations. I figured this out after using the services that ship conference proceedings home for attendees.
Before you leave home, stop by UPS and pick up a couple of their plastic shipping bags and some waybills (don’t forget the waybill holders). Put this stuff in the bottom of your suitcase. When your shopping starts accumulating, fill a bag, stick a label on it (you can charge it to a credit card), and drop it into a pickup bin. A lot of hotels have the pickup points in the lobby.
If you time this right, your purchases will get to you a day or two after you get home. Or, if you couldn’t bear to be parted from your purchases, the laundry you sent instead will.
I miss my jaunts to NYC, but your post was a fun virtual visit! Looks like you had a great time. Can’t wait to see your projects develop from those lovely yarn selections.
Oh wow, you picked up some really beautiful yarns! I hope to visit Habu myself one of these days. Their yarns look so awesome! The picture of the yarn display at The Point looks just like a candy display.
I love the yarn stores in NYC, especially Seaport Yarn. Can’t wait to see that beret. Do you have a pattern?
[...] came home with quite a lovely batch after my recent trip to Habu Textiles in New York City. What I didn’t come home with was a backordered kit that arrived on my [...]
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