So, I'm off to Tucson today for the weekend. First time in the desert Southwest, first time in the desert. Las Vegas does NOT count, eh. Unfortunately, and as I expected, all but one of the shops that carry yarn or are outright knitting shops are closed on Sunday. Got time for a mini-rant? WTF, yarn shop owners?!!! You're all women (mostly) and you have a life to run, families, etc. Saturdays are for accomplishing errands so do your clientele and yourselves (hello? sales? profits?) a favor and hire some staff to open on Sunday and how about some evening hours, too? Unless your target market is the ladies-who-lunch WE CAN'T GET TO YOUR STORE ON ALL THOSE WEEKDAY HOURS. Duh. End of rant. For now.
So the lovely knitshops of Tucson will not get the contents of my bank account and I'll not get to see the lovely selections of yarn I cannot get in Miami. One bead store with yarn (?) does have Sunday hours so I'll likely stop by.
I picked up a guidebook on Arizona to read on the flight out, and a great if unwieldy map. I like to have an internal visual of where I'm going so I can wander and get 'lost' deliberately when I'm meandering up dirt roads etc. I have a feeling I'll be going back once I can find some cheaper fares as the heat of summer approaches.
So. Knitting for the plane? The Endless Hourglass Sweater, and two bulky and quick Irish Hiking Modified scarves, one for the hostess of Endicott West and one for me to wear at night. Though it really isn't that cold, only down to 45 or 50 degrees (F) at night. And Annie Lamott's new book, Plan B to finish.
The Katia Alba in a light periwinkle blue arrived this week from Elann and will become a zig-zag patterned pullover from a back issue of Sandra, the German knitting magazine. Pictures when I return. It requires that I use the German twisted cast on technique which is confusing to say the least. Will go after this when I return.
Have a great weekend, peeps. Blog atcha next week.
Be safe, have fun and hydrate...oh yea, I hate that about shops, too.
Posted by: Margene | March 11, 2005 at 12:58 PM
That cast-on is a cinch if you are sure to read the words along with looking at the pics. If you just look at the pics - no way.
Have fun on your trip! I hear you about those weird hours.
Posted by: Susan | March 11, 2005 at 01:00 PM
have a fabulous trip. i could use some southwest right about now. it's snowing. again.
along with hydrating yourself, keep that gas tank full, sometimes it's a ways between stations.
Posted by: corine | March 11, 2005 at 01:48 PM
Mmmm... wanderlust. Enjoy.
Posted by: Mari | March 12, 2005 at 02:54 PM
German Twisted Cast-on is my new, all-time favorite cast-on. Requires only one additional twist of the wrist over the usual long-tail (or slingshot) cast-on, and the results are soooo worth it! Much more elastic than long-tail. And German Twisted Cast-on does not roll. Now that I've got the hang of it, I can't even remember how to do the usual long-tail . . . here's wishing the same will be true for you!
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by: Karen | March 13, 2005 at 12:42 AM
Hey! I totally agree with you on the non-Sunday/non-evening hours of the LYS. I don't get it either.
At least Hobby Lobby (ugh) puts it out there as some kind of religious reason to be closed on Sundays.
Posted by: Heidi | March 14, 2005 at 02:34 PM