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.
