M: Did you get the mail?
Me: I’ll just go and get it.
A minute or so later:
M: Was there anything good? (M sees me clutching a small priority mail box to my chest.) What’s that?
Me: It’s for me! It’s for me! It’s for me! It’s the Blue Faced Leicester sock yarn I ordered.
I rip open the box and peek inside.
Me: Why is it pink? I thought the yarn I ordered was mostly blue.
I pull out ziptop bag.
Me: Ah, she wrapped the yarn in pink tissue paper.
Opening the bag and tissue paper:
Me: Ooooo! It’s so pretty! I love the colors! Look at the luster! Blue Faced Leicester sheep rock! And Aimee’s dye job is fabulous!
M: I’ll go get a mailer so you can return it.
Me: What???
M: Well, you clearly don’t like it.
Me: You’re not funny. You think you’re funny, but you’re not.
M: Then why are you laughing?
Me: I’m not laughing. This is a grimace of pain because you think you are funny.
M: Is that what that is?
Me: Go away! (talking to the yarn) Come, my pretty! You’ll look stunning posed on the leather chair arm. All must see you and weep that you are mine. Mine! Mine! Mine!
M: I think you need help.
Me: HA! (Never let it be said that I can’t deliver a cutting setdown when required!)
I have always been smitten with the name “Blue Faced Leicester” and have wanted some BFL yarn. In my woeful ignorance, I hadn’t realized that it makes excellent sock yarn. I have Kristy of Eleven Stitches to thank for pointing that out. She got some from as a gift from her grandmother. I followed her link, but the only BFL sock yarn left was in colors I just don’t use. However, I was determined (I hadn’t bought any yarn since early November) and quite capable of using etsy’s search engine. And at Little Dog Designs, I found the perfect skein for me. Poseidon went into my cart and I placed the order right quick on a Friday evening before a three-day National Holiday weekend (curses!). But first thing Tuesday, Aimee had it shipped out to me, and wonder of wonders, the postal service got it here Thursday afternoon (maybe that three day weekend did them some good–I worked).
The last thing I need is more sock yarn. But this is research! I needed to find out for myself if BFL yarn is as good as merino in my book. I think it might be. It has a lovely sheen and a nice tight twist. The colors are intense yet soft. As soon as Febrach’s socks are done; I’m knitting up the BFL. I’ll take it to work tomorrow for my friend LC to see and pet. I hope she gives it back; she knows and appreciates fine fiber. LC just had her wisdom teeth out and she got two dry sockets, which having had one myself, I know are quite painful. But if she tries to abscond with my yarn, a right hook to the jaw might be forthcoming.
One last look…
Not much.
“She’s done only TWO rounds of gusset decreases! What’s a first sock gotta do to get a second?!” The First Pink Cable-Rib Sock.
But the first Oak Ribbed Sock (with heel mods) in lovely blue stripes is coming along famously.
No excuse.
And what’s happened here?!
The Shame!
The start of a leg in Pennant Stitch from More Sensational Knitted Socks in Sundara’s Lenten Rose yarn.
Oh, no.
The Temptation.
Habu Tsumugi 100% silk yarn (color 33). 450 yd.
Must. Knit. Pink. Sock.
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Three couch-cushions and your scarf is complete! 3.5 cushions makes a shawl!
Almost 2 complete sofa cushions of Aran Pocket Shawl knit! The chevron scarf isn’t so far along, but it is much narrower, so it may catch up. Can we stand the suspense?! Has putting in 12 hours of work today made me silly?! Is the damage permanent?! Can I relearn ending a sentence with only one punctuation mark?!
Tune in later this week…!
]]>Me: that is I
M: 6’4″ of curly-headed manliness
Rebecca: Proprietress of LYS
LatBTs: Ladies at the Big Table (four of them)
Setting
A dark and stormy lunch hour at the LYS
Scene 1:
Me and M enter LYS.
Rebecca: Hi again! How are you?
Me: Great. I’m here to look at sock yarn.
Rebecca: Let me know if you have any questions.
Me spots the Tofutsies yarn and completely ignores Rebecca. Rebecca doesn’t seem to mind.
M: Is that the yarn you were looking for?
Me: Yes, it has soy silk fiber mixed with the wool so it will make a lighter sock for the warmer spring weather.
LatBT: Do you knit?
M: No, I’m just the cheerleader.
Me: Oh, look Panda Cotton! (Me moves around the display)
LatBT (holding a big sweater and advancing on M): Would you try this on for me please?
M: Umm…
LatBT: I want to see if my repair is invisible when the sweater is worn.
M: OK (starts putting the sweater on).
LatBT: You’re much larger than the sweater’s owner (eyes M quite thoroughly), but I think you’ll do. Yes, I can’t see the mistake at all. Thanks, Rebecca, for your help.
Rebecca: No problem. You did a great job.
M suddenly crouches down by Me sans sweater. He sticks to Me like glue.
M: The colors are really pretty. Which ones do you want?
Me: I really want the pink and white one, but I can’t decide between these two.
M: Why don’t you get both?
Me: I shouldn’t…
M (still glued to Me): Sure, you should.
Rebecca: Here’s a sock I knit with the Tofutsies. (holds out a sock to Me)
Me (taking the sock): Very nice. What size needles did you use?
Rebecca: I used twos for the cuff and size ones for the foot.
M: Do you need any size one dpns? (school-girlish sighs are heard from the LatBTs)
Rebecca, Me and M move to the front counter, where Rebecca starts ringing up the yarn.
M reaching for his wallet: My treat. (More sighes from LatBTs.)
Me: Oh! You don’t have to!
M: My pleasure!
Rebecca: You’ve earned 10% off today.
M (signing receipt): Great! Have a good afternoon!
Rebecca: Thank you! You too!
Me and M leave LYS.
Scene 2
A few minutes later in Me and M’s pick-up.
M (starting the engine): I thought for a few minutes that I would have some serious explaining to do back there.
Me (looking up confused from yarn bag): What would you have to explain in a yarn store?
M: That NO means NO!
Suddenly Me understands M’s glue-like behavior in the LYS. A chilling image of Rebecca restrained at the counter by Addi Turbo cables and Me with a size 10 Brittany Birch needle sticking out of her chest as the LatBTs drag a protesting M into the back room of the LYS where all the Jaeggerspun Zephyr, Classic Elite Lush, and Frog Tree alpaca yarn is kept. Me silently resolves that if M ever accompanies her to the LYS again, she will be sure to have armed herself with her size 17 Bryspun needles in order to protect M’s virtue. She pats M’s knee in sympathy. They drive off into the lunch hour rain.
Finis.
M has recovered from his ordeal. And the yarn is beautiful:
Three cheers for M!
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