I am busy these days.
I’m working on some knitting that is taking far longer than I’d expected, but must be completed in a certain amount of time, so I’m monogamous with it.
I’ve been work-working more hours. And I’ve been doing some blogging for work that fills up that little writing time and space brain-hole that usually gets stuffed here.
But I’ve also been away due to both work and pleasure. Recently, we had a nice long weekend in my old city visiting our old haunts.
We bought lots of delicious (and cheap) Italian foodstuffs.
Basked in the warmth of radiators (I haven’t yet mentioned how I entirely [and somewhat irrationally] abhor forced-air heat).
Had properly made espresso drinks at our old neighborhood cafe.
Visited the lovely WPA mural in the post office again – it even has a spinner!
And though I didn’t [cannot] visit my old LYS [due to potential uncontrollable purchasing] I did pop in another shop just out of town. It was one of those tiny places where you’re the only one there and suddenly face-to-face with the owner who seems hopeful and maybe slightly desperate, and either way she’s friendly and helpful and you feel obligated to buy a little something.
So I did.
(I’m tempted to make another Honey Cowl with it, but I know it will be an oh-so-soft, but pill-crazy yarn, so I’ll either mix it up with something more durable, felt/full it, or most likely, just sit on it for awhile… The color is more in the forest berries/cranberry range and less purple and pink than it appears – I think the colorway is “currant.”)
And what trip isn’t complete without a thrift store stop?
This is such an entirely uncharacteristic garment for me in terms of color, but it’s a great vintage find.
I bought it to re-sell, but I just might keep it since it fits… winter greys be damned!
(It kinda hurts the eyes though).
(I got it in a small chain of regional thrift stores that absolutely have their heads up their asses when it comes to pricing. Something that is a “better” department store or preppy shop brand will be priced astronomically, while vintage and actual high-quality label things are often a steal – which is often a happy coup, but lousy when you find a holey and felt-able or harvest-able sweater and it’s priced at $19.99 but should be no more than $2.99. The coat above was only $4.99, handmade in wool, in perfect condition, and from a fancy downtown shop that no longer exists…)
ASTITCHMATISM 