Tuesday, July 15, 2008

busty seattle: one car, two girls, ten yarn stores

i recently joined carrie on a trip up north. we drove all day on tuesday and stopped in ashland, oregon just long enough to stop in at Web-sters yarns. a good yarn store with a great book selection. then we drove on up past portland to kelso and found a place to sleep. the drive was great. we took turns driving. the passenger got to knit and we listened to brenda dayne of cast on for many hours, with breaks to talk about boys (nothing to report). it was great and a totally acceptable way to spend 12 hours in a car. good company, a good podcast and knitting.

i made the above sign and was holding it when carrie picked me up, just in case she missed me with all my bags, standing on the sidewalk with a big smile on my face.
we put the sign in the back on the window of the car and i guess it should have said 'kelso or bust'. but who knows anything about kelso?
we do now. we got coffee at the starbuck's that is inside the brand new and huge safeway there.
we made it to seattle and then got in line for the ferry to bainsbridge. carrie had a appointment at churchmouse yarns and tea, which is a very sweet store. we then drove to poulsbo to our hotel.
this is the marina in poulsbo, which is a very cute touristy town. it has a two or three block long main street that has two yarn stores on it! and the below senior center. ain't it cute? oh i forgot to mention that the town has a norweigan flavor to it.
all the guide books said that we had to try the bakery. and try we did.
that is called a 'viking donut' i guess due to its size. it was big alright. we took the ferry back to seattle and spent the next two days going to many more stores, some touristy spots, and doing a bit of knitting in the hotel.

this is the original starbuck's location, across the street from pike's market.
the necklace i am wearing in the first picture was a birthday present from firegirlpj and love it. she got it in columbus at knitter's connection. you can get one from dream weaver's.
if you are going to seattle and only have time for one yarn store, i would make it weaving works. they have tons of yarn for knitting, but also spinning supplies and weaving supplies. and enough books to open their own little fiber related book store. we sat there for awhile just looking at books. it was relaxing. i bought more than enough yarn to make some yet to be determined sweater. it is locally grown and naturally dyed worsted weight wool. i will take some pictures and post about it. and i am calling on my EZ muse to come to me in my sleep and help me dream up something good to knit with it! carrie found something good from sweaters from camp.
so we ended up hitting 10 yarn stores. it was great. check out little knits too. its an online store- but you can visit it. its out of a house in west seattle, run by a nice woman who employs friendly and helpful people.
on the plane ride home, i started a little cardigan out of debbie bliss cashmerino superchunky, a pattern i got for 75% off at hilltop yarns in seattle. they had a fire recently and had to get rid off everything! i finished the sweater over the 4th of july weekend and will post pictures in my next update.

7 comments:

Carrie Vermazen said...

OMG - we are so cute!

Unknown said...

You sure are! - Kathy & Mom

Kath said...

Luckies! I'm so jealous of your funness.

Kristine said...

These ladies are seriously adorable and compentent travelers. Thanks for nailing the pacific northwest Carrie! Thanks for accompanying her and being a flexible travel companion Kate! xoxoKristine

Sonya said...

You two are so ADORABLE that I cannot even stand it. I'm heading up a similar route (not all the way to Seattle though) but I'll have children and animals, no way I'll get to listen to any knitting podcasts.

xtina said...

long time no post, yo. Bring it!

Frances said...

If you wish to get one of the used cars Seattle has to offer, you should have a brand and model in mind so that you won't get overwhelmed with the number of available choices.