My 5-Skein Local Yarn Store Rating Scale

I shop for yarn a lot. Not because I have to or I need more yarn. It's part of the crochet/knit hobby.  I go to local yarn shops to wander around and see what piques my interest and I almost always find a yarn shop when I travel.  To my husband’s unbelief, I also almost always buy something.  In considering my shopping experiences (some good, some not-so-good) and chatting with other yarn-ie friends, I’ve come up with a simple, 5-skein rating of yarn shops. Shop owners – take note.

We’ll start with the basics. Neat, clean, bright – without that, we’re not even getting to the rest.  The yarn – it’s got to be yarn-snob worthy. No 100% acrylic, scratchy, I could pick this up at my local craft shop in the aisle over from the paint and glue (although, I have picked up some nice yarns there, too, but that's not what we're looking for in the LYS.)  This is pretty much the low bar of entry to even be considered a yarn shop worth rating.  I.e. this is my house and my yarn stash if I could get a retail license for my basement.  Now, what’s it take to actually get some skeins for my local yarn shop rating?

1 skein – Shops get 1 skein for saying “hi, welcome to my shop, can I help you?”

Doesn’t seem hard right? Given that most shops are only a couple hundred feet square with the check-out desk in eye-sight of the front door, the owner or some key employee generally sees everybody who walks in the place.  And usually, there is not a big crowd in the shop.  Greeting a shop visitor doesn’t seem too much to expect. You’d think.  I’ve been in shops where this doesn’t happen. The owner sees me come in, says nothing, and keeps on stitching or putting up inventory or drinking her tea or whatever. I can tell you how many skeins I have bought when someone, shop owner or employee, has not spoken to me: zero.

1 skein – Shops get 1 skein for being nice to crocheters and having crochet tools. 

No skeins are awarded for knitting needles and row counters, nope. Why? Because, pretty much every yarn shop is designed for knitters. So for this skein on the rating scale, a shop has to stretch and reach out to crocheters.  And having that one ole 1977 Red Heart granny-square, fringed poncho pattern does not count; there’s got to be the newest Interweave Crochet or patterns that have been written within the last year. Even free patterns for a simple scarf, printed really nice with suggested yarn. I’ll take that. And have some crochet hooks and row counters. And don’t roll your eyes when I say I “crochet.”

1 skein – LYS get 1 skein for having other interesting yarn-related stuff. 

Some shops have unique buttons or cute knitting/crochet tote bags, scarf pins or needle cases. I don’t generally buy all that stuff, but every now and then I need a button or a scarf pin. Well, I don’t actually need one, but if there’s a pretty one, I’ll buy it and another skein of yarn to go with it to make a pretty scarf or sweater.

1 skein – Shops get 1 skein for paying some attention to the customers.

This is a different point than the “speak to me when I enter” skein.  When I ask a question, I expect that the shop owner acts like they would like for me to buy some yarn. Perhaps they are doing so well that they really don’t care if I by anything or not, but they could at least pretend like they care.  When I ask what’s this variegated yarn look like when stitched, don’t tell me to look it up on Ravelry. When I ask how to do a particular stitch, in a shop with “ask us for help” signs all over the place, don’t tell me to look it up on YouTube. I can tell you how many skeins of yarn I have bought from shop owners who did not offer any assistance: zero.

1skein – Shops get 1 skein for having a snack or beverage, coffee or wine, I’m not picky.

There aren’t too many yarn shops who would get this point, but I’m holding out. I did go to one shop in London that served wine – there was a cooler in the back of the yarn shop and you could select whichever wine went with your knitting or crocheting project. I’ve never seen this in the U.S., I guess we have some different kind of alcohol license thing that they don’t grant to yarn shops.  I also don’t know that I’ve been to any that serve coffee. Most don’t seem to mind when you wander around with your own cup, but I would probably stick around longer if there was a fresh pot brewing.

There – 5 skeins.  That doesn’t seem so hard, does it? I mean, even in my own basement, I can score a couple of those skeins (I do have wine and coffee), so surely a local yarn shop can do as well as me piddlin’ in my yarn stash.

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

So Much Yarn, Not Enough Time

I made stop number 3 on the #MetroYarnCrawl - WoolWinders in Rockville, MD.  I've been here before, but not since the new owner, Amy, took over a year ago. Hopefully, I'll be back before another year passes or new owner comes in.

WoolWinders in Rockville, MD

When I stopped by it was a buzz of activity. Yes, a bit cliched, but when I walked in, that's what I immediately thought. There were a couple women chatting about yarn for some project and a bunch more at the table, laughing and talking while they were busy knitting.  And Amy and another shop employee were involved in it all - walking around and talking to everybody.

In-store sample - an inspiration for a new scarf

I found three skeins of Emerald green Mountain Top Chateau, a baby alpaca/bamboo blend, braided together.  I've never used this type of yarn before, but it's so soft and at 30% off, I couldn't resist.  They had a sample cowl on display, so that pretty much sold it.

Also - they had a beautiful kidsilk haze stripe in a gorgeous pink and green.  I think this will pair perfectly with a Malabrigo Baby Silkpaca - yes, alpaca and silk. Have I noted before how these are my favorite colors?

My favorite colors - pink & green - together again!

So if you go - WoolWinders is located in the shopping area of a residential development.  There's some street parking out front, if you are lucky (no meters); if not, there's a big shopping center parking lot in the back. And lunch options? There's a Subway next door and a few other restaurants in easy walking distance around the block.  And if you just want to enjoy the sunshine? There's park benches right outside.

My other stop? Second Story Knits in Bethesda, MD.

Happy shopping!

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Stitchin' on the #MetroYarnCrawl

Much like the "bar crawl" most are more familiar with, the #MetroYarnCrawl is the same concept - except with yarn - stretched over a week.  It's a yarn-shopping-a-thon across 12 local yarn shops in Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland.

I've shopped at several of the yarn shops and been wanting to get to a few others that I've heard or read about, so I figured I'd go now - while everything's 20% off with the cutes-y tote bag.  (Did you read my post about FREE tote bags and are thinking I'm going back on my word? Not really because I bought this one. Ha ha!)

Find this little shop in Bethesda MD

My first stop was Second Story Knits in Bethesda, Maryland.  I've shopped there before, back to when it was Knit Stitch Bliss (or something like that, I never could get the name right.)  I like this spot because they are nice to crocheters (you crocheters know what I mean.)  If you go - skip even trying to park in the small adjacent parking lot. You're more likely to hit the lottery than get a spot. Go across the street to the public lot behind the Women's Farmers Co-op (on Fridays - this parking lot has a few food trucks so you can get lunch, too.)  I met Ross, one of the owners, who was wearing a beautiful blue shawl and proudly let me know that she had also knit the gorgeous shawls that were hanging in the stairway leading up to the shop. "Second Story" - get it?  It's above a Starbucks and a restaurant.

While I was selecting yarn, Ross explained that mysterious concept of yards/meters per gram. You'd think as much as I buy yarn and stitch, I'd figured it out by now. But in summary - the more yardage/gram - the thinner and lighter the yarn. So if you are trying to switch the yarn in a pattern (as I was) and can't figure out if your chosen yarn is the right sport weight, fingering weight, chunky weight as called for in the pattern - check the yards/meters per gram and compare.

Okay, so let's get to the good stuff - what did I get?

My yarn picks: Pizzazz Pink Lady & Leaf Green tweed

I got 1 skein of a sparkly pink yarn - because I like pink and I like sparkle - yay! - "Pizzazz Pink Lady" from Crabapple Yarns.  It's a Merino, Nylon, and Stellina (the sparkly bits) blend, 437 yards.   There was a sample shawl hanging up in blue and it was really soft, and the sparkly parts weren't scratchy, so I went with it.

For a light summer sweater, I got 5 skeins of Leaf Green Geilsk Tweed, 100% wool.  I know, wool for the summer? The pattern calls for linen, but I really like the color and feel of this, so we'll see how it works out. If it feels too heavy, I'll wait until fall to put it on.

I also picked up the Summer 2015 Interweave Crochet. I had a subscription but let it go because for a while, I was getting bored of the patterns - it just wasn't a lot of stuff I was going to make. And also, I didn't have as much time to make big projects anyway, even if I did find something I liked. But this summer edition has some nice summer tops and dresses - even a wedding dress. Although I don't know that I'll make a whole dress - definitely not the wedding dress - I like a few tops and I think the dresses could be adapted into a top or skirt.

Thanks to Ross and Joanna (the other co-owner) for a nice visit. Sorry I missed the coffee and donuts, though (it was National Donut Day.) And I'll see you next time - maybe for a knitting lesson!

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Currently...Shopping, Stitching, Pouring and Other Stuff

Hat shopping. I love hats. You can check out my Hats Hats Hats Pinterest page and see that I believe in the bigger and brighter, the better. Through the winter, I probably wear a hat almost every day – nice, bright felt and wool hats, ostensibly because it’s cold, but we know better.  Now – we’ve reached spring hat season, which, of course, kicks off with Easter Sunday.  Then, for me, it’s my sorority’s fashion show luncheon that funds our scholarship fund. It’s ladies who lunch – wearing hats and so much fun.  And then – to the races!  I’m returning to the Virginia Gold Cup this year with my girlfriends, so hat shopping is in a frenzy because now we’re really talking about a Hat (with a capital H, yes.)

Sighing over celebrities who try to act like they are regular folk. Did you hear, Gwyneth Paltrow tried to promote the SNAP program by committing to eating on $29 a week? Yes, read that sentence again. Millionaire actress was going to try to feed herself on food-stamp program budget.  Really? That’s probably what she spends on coffee and a doughnut (because, I’m sure she eats chocolate dipped doughnuts with her coffee, while doing her oh-so-hard job.) She quit by day four.  Message: this is hard, let me stop pretending I’m poor and find an easier cause to uphold.

Picking out my next crochet or knit project. Right now, I’m working on baby blankets for my boom of pregnant friends. I need something for myself, though.  What I’d really like is one of those long long sweaters (dusters, I think they’re called) or maybe a bright summer shawl.  I’m trying not to buy any more yarn and dig through my stash (go ahead and laugh fellow yarn-lovers), but we’ll see. I need something by the time I leave for my sorority convention, because you know I crochet during any long meeting that I can get away with it.

Still researching drivers’ ed. Actually, I haven’t really started other than asking other parents which drivers’ ed their kid is going to because I’m a bit in denial that my kid is old enough to start driving. I took her out and let her drive around the school parking lot the other day. I can’t get her into drivers’ ed soon enough.

Enjoying pineapple vodka and rum.  A couple weeks back we had a luau-themed shindig and had a bunch of pineapples. We could not eat them all and I had to think of something to do with them. So what do you do when life gives you a bunch of pineapples? Slice them, put them in bottles and pour vodka and rum (in separate bottles) over them.  Close, let sit for at least a day, then enjoy in your favorite cocktails.  Keep away from the children.

Enjoying 100,000! Thank you for reading - our little blog has hit over 100,000 views!

Have a good week folks! Keep Piddlin’!

Join the conversation on Facebook & Twitter!

Currently...Springing Forward to Birthdays, My Own Space & Spring Break

Spring forward or fall back - it doesn't matter - I'm thrown off for days trying to figure out what time it is, remembering whether I adjusted this clock or not, and whether I should have another cup of coffee or a glass of wine (such decisions!)

Add that to a whirlwind of weekend activities, running back-to-back and on top of each other, after two no-school snow days and I'm totally out of whack today.  Oh - and I picked up sugar-free coffee creamer.

But the weather seems nice out and I'm in a kinda good mood.  I've got a few projects going on, all of which I need to wrap up in the next two weeks (thus, more coffee, less wine, even less mojitos.)    Other than those, there's a few another things I'm currently working on.

Baby blankets and baby hats.  Still have baby blankets to finish and/or deliver for my pregnant friends.  With this cold snap, I've also added hats to the list because I hate to see a baby outside without a hat.  I've also considered making preemie hats because I have so many little bits of yarn.  That's on my to-do list, but if you know of an organization that needs preemie hats, let me know. That'll get me stitching.

Organizing and decorating my space. A year or so ago, I took over the kids' playroom as my work space.  It still doesn't feel cozy to me, yet. Right now it's functional (sometimes, when it's not a mess), but not "me."  Which I'm not really sure yet what that is since I've not lived alone and had my "own" space since I was in grad school, when it was just me and my dog (not my current dog, another black Cocker Spaniel).  I'm collecting ideas - where else? On Pinterest in "a room of my own."

Planning a Sweet 16. I'm kinda nervous about this. Okay, maybe more about my first child turning 16! than the actual party, although thinking about 50 teens in my house is making me a bit anxious, too.  I'm overwhelmed by all the stuff I still need to teach her (she still doesn't even sort her laundry properly or know how to put on eyeliner) and the limited amount of time before she heads off into the big blue world (of which I'm reminded by the mountain of college info that is stuffed in the mailbox).   And if she turns 16, that means, Lord willing, the next one will too and then the next and then the next. And where will that leave me?  Oh, yeah - on a beach in the Caribbean with an umbrella drink.  (Think positive!)

Thinking about spring break.  It'll be here before we know it and I really really don't want to be near my house when it comes. How far can I drive in a week or maybe we can get on a plane.  What great spring break plans are out there?

Trying to figure out what home project my husband has going on in the basement. You know when your spouse makes multiple trips to Home Depot and you hear sawing and drilling and smell sawdust?  I just stay out of the way.  We could have a built-in pool or a basketball court by the time he's done. Who knows.

Now, let me get back to trying to fix up this coffee. I've got stuff to do.

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Winter of the Super-Scarf

It's cold. And I'm not listening to those "oh, but if its not windy" and "but if we lived in Chicago" and "the cold is refreshing" winter-optimist.  To them I say - I don't care about the wind, why would I go to Chicago in the winter (though I'm looking forward to being there this summer) and Rum Runner's are refreshing. It's cold.  I don't even go get the morning newspaper (yes, I still get a real paper newspaper) without hat and gloves.  Thus this has become the year of super long scarves.

The thing about super-scarves? They really don't take a lot of time to make. Probably less than some of my normal sized scarves. For the super-scarves you need really chunky yarn and a big hook.  Here's my two so far.

Black & White Floral Super Scarf

This black and white with flowers scarf (about 10 feet long) can be made in maybe two hours. It took me a bit longer than that while I played with a design, length, and the looseness of the stitch.  It's key to do the stitches a little loose so that the scarf flows and is soft.  Secret tip - the flowers are already attached to the yarn.

Multi-Green Super Scarf

My WIP at the moment is this multi-green scarf, it's about 8 feet long.  It's working up really quick when I can sit and do it.  Another episode or two of Empire and I should be done. (Which by the way is a hard show to stitch through because you've got to stop and check out Cookie's dress, sing along with Jamal...)

Want to make your own? Here's a few tips.

How long to make our super scarf? Stand up, reach your arm up high. Your stretched out height - that long.

How wide to make your super scarf? Because its so incredibly long, it doesn't have to be that wide, I would say less than or really close to a foot.  Unless you want to go with the Lenny Kravitz crazy-super-scarf, which I think looks so fantastically fun!

Lenny Kravitz & his crazy super-high scarf!

What yarn to use? Obviously, something chunky. But something soft. This thing will be right on your face and neck and shoulders.  And I don't think you can always tell by feeling the yarn in the skein, you might have to stitch a test swatch and check it out, rub it on your arm or against your cheek.  The gauge and looseness of the stitches will also make a difference.

What stitch? Both of these were done in crochet.  The black and white in single crochet; the green in half-doubles, doubles, and singles. But really - whatever you think best shows of your yarn. It doesn't have to be complicated.  As for knit - I only know how to knit, so I would have to go with that.

What color? You could go conservative with a match-your-coat color or go wild! It'll be a cold cold day when you wear it, so maybe a color that folks can find you in a blizzard. I'm thinking a bright bright pink or red for my next one.

Have fun! 

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

Top Just Piddlin' Blogposts of 2014

We’re getting ready to close out another year.  2014 brought more books, travel, cooking, and crafts while raising kids. Shuffling from here to there. Keeping up with homework. Cheering at basketball games, tennis matches, and swim meets. Grocery shopping and cooking meals.  A lot of sorority and PTA meetings.  Trying to squeeze in a little bit of time for my own stuff.  And yes, despite the happy Facebook posts, there were some bad days, but as the old spiritual says, they were outweighed by the good days, so I won’t complain (too much.)

Over the year, these were the readers' favorite posts.  Is your's on the list?

Travel

• Whenin Texas... Finding the Perfect Cowboy Boots - p.s. I love my cowboy boots and ready for a return trip for another pair
• Takingthe Sweet Road - Our Ice Cream Tour - I love ice cream. This was this tasting thru New England
• PackYour Bags: Conferences - the essentials for your next conference

Books & Music

• WhereDoes My African-American Child See Herself in Books?  This one was also very popular on the BlogHer website.
• Books I'm Carrying Around: The Supadupa Kid
• Books I'm Carrying Around: 12 Years a Slave, James McBride, Sue Monk Kidd
• #ColorMyShelf- Diverse Books for All Kids
• MaryJ Blige Heads to London for #TheLondonSessions

For the Kids

• 5 Lessons from Rubber-band Bracelets
• 10 Ways to Avoid an "I'm Bored!" Snow Day
• 10 Things to Do on the Longest Days of the Summer
• Youth Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship: Watching Seeds Grow

For the Home: Cooking & Crafts

• #WIP- #DIY Decorated Clipboards
• Crockpot Cooking Without a Recipe - Perfect for your next busy day to have dinner ready when you (finally) get home.

Thanks for Just Piddlin' with me.  Come on back and join me for piddlin' in 2015!

Follow on Twitter @JustPiddlinBlog

Like on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

And I'm Bringing My Yarn With Me

My husband calls it an addiction. I call it my hands get bored and my mind wanders.  Folks have seen me at sorority conferences, PTA meetings, family gatherings, swim meets, basketball games, school plays, on an airplane and train, waiting for a kid somewhere.  I bring my yarn and will crochet or knit during those hours of sitting still.

Have yarn, will travel. What shall I make next?

I take small on-the-go projects, a pair of gloves, a hat, a scarf, that have a simple pattern so I don't have to keep referring to patterns for meetings or an activity where I need to be paying attention and possibly taking notes.  I save my bigger or more complicated projects, a blanket or a sweater, for sporting events and hanging out with the family, activities that do not require my undivided, undistracted attention.

And I know I'm not the only one.  I've watched one woman work on a beautiful afghan at our PTA meetings.  There's scarves being made in sorority meetings.  At the swim meets, the moms are working on blankets while the kids are in the pool.  And surely, any yarn-y worth their skeins packs up their hooks and needles for an evening or weekend hanging out with the family for the holidays.

On Ravelry (if you crochet or knit, you are on Ravelry, right? Find me as "love2crochet"), there are discussions where folks have noted that their family members actually get upset when they stitch "in public." Really? They say it's distracting and/or rude.

But what about the guy playing Angry Birds or whatever's the newest phone game app or her over there clicking through Facebook?  Or the kids lined up in a row with the headphones on and texting other kids, presumably with headphones on also not talking to the people in their room?  Nobody's bothered by that, but my yarn bothers you? I can still carry on a conversation and make eye contact with you while I'm stitching.  The guys are transfixed watching the game and I'm supposed to what, sit and watch them?

I've got a stash of yarn, a list of projects to do, and my to-go kit for my hooks and needles.  I'm always ready for sitting around somewhere for hours. AND I will have a new pair of gloves by the time the evening's over.

Do you stitch while at family gatherings? Or some other crafty activity?

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances

It's Cold: The Case for Fingerless Gloves (or Mittens)

Why wear gloves without fingers when it's cold outside?  

This was my thought when I first came across this concept of fingerless gloves a few years ago.  (And as an aside, I'm not sure why they are considered gloves, rather than mittens; since they are fingerless, how do you know which they are?  Something to think about over coffee.)  It didn't make a whole lot of sense, but since I found a pretty easy pattern for a pair and I could use some practice in making things in the round, I gave it a try.  And now, as it's getting cold, I'm making another pair (probably my 3rd or 4th.)

As for the yarn - don't you just love this natural color?  It's the actual color of the sheep that is was shorn from.  I bought these skeins last year in a little needlepoint shop in Middleburg, Virginia when I went out there for dinner at Salamander Inn (oh, you didn't know I can find a yarn shop anywhere, anytime?)  Gum Tree Farm is located nearby.

So, back to the gloves - why fingerless?

Because gloves with fingers are great, but sometimes they get in the way of doing stuff.  You have to stop, pull them off to push buttons on the ATM, sign the little credit card screen, count on your money, dial the phone.

When you go inside somewhere - the store, the school, the library - you look like a bank robber if you keep your gloves on, as if you are being careful not to leave fingerprints.  But with fingerless gloves, nobody cares.

Sometimes it's cold inside, too.  I was at school all last week and my hands were freezing. I don't know how the teachers and kids can stand it.  I wanted to put on another layer of socks and cursed the days I forgot my gloves.  But I was working the book fair, so I did need access to my fingers to write, ring up books, count money.  In my own home office space, sometimes its cold, too, 'til the heat kicks in.

There's a theory that you only need to keep your wrists warm to keep your whole hands warm.  Something about keeping that pulse point in your wrist covered, keeps the blood going to your fingers warm.  I'm not sure I agree with that yet, but I'll throw it on the list for now, in case it works for someone.

And most important for a crocheter or knitter - they are quick and easy to make!  There's gazillion patterns out there and you can make them as simple or as fancy as you want.  Simply - it's a long tube with a hole for your thumb.  If you are an experienced crocheter/knitter, you might be able to figure this out on your own.  If you need help, of course you can check Ravelry and Pinterest for ideas.

(Note, I also have a pair of toeless socks for the primary purpose of getting a pedicure in the winter, not messing up my nail polish, but keeping the rest of my feet warm.)

Join the conversation on Facebook: Just Piddlin' with Frances