Stashaholic's Definition of a Yarn Crawl:

"Enthusiastic knitters (and crocheters) gather early in the morning to meet each other and shop at far flung yarn store. Progress across city using public transportation (pointy sticks and driving don't mix) to other yarn stores where much oohing and ahhing takes place. Rampant fondling and groping of wools leads to sensory overload and budgetary deficits. Lack of food and caffeine begins to take toll on group and momentary lapses in judgement occur. Once refortified at Big Fat Burrito, the crawling from shop to shop continues until the point where a) the merry band decides that the TTC has a plot against them, and b) several calls are made to the last store begging them to stay open so they can have one more fix."

Repeated calls of "Knitter's Ho" was the rallying cry for us to get on and off the streetcar and proceed to stampede said yarn stores. I think it's safe to say that a good time was had by all. We had crawlers from as far flung locations as Montreal, Kingston, Peterborough, Lansing Michigan, Ohio and Eglinton and Bathurst. We even had a pre-crawler (a babe in arms) who was better behaved at times than I was.

So here is the day in pictures.

Stop 1: The Naked Sheep  (map)

 


 


People with Pointy Sticks on the TTC. There was a definite gap between us and the muggles. They were totally afraid to come near us. (could have been the decibel level too).



Stop 2: Americo Original (map)

Americo is a really different store. Featuring South American textiles and some scrumptious silks and Lama wools, along with the funkiest edgings I've ever seen. I have totally fallen for the wooden ball winder - definitely on my list of Things I Must Have.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 


  


Stop 3: Romni Wools (map)

A Yarn Crawl in Toronto is just not complete without a trip to Romni. This is where I started to loose it. I had managed only to buy one set of knitting needles at the Naked Sheep, pacing myself because I knew what was ahead of me....

There were a lot of what I call "Romni Virgins" in the group. There is nothing more fun than watching the expression on their face when they walk into the store for the first time. It is the look of stunned disbelief that is worth every penny I spend when I go there.

 


 


Stop 4: Lettuce Knit (map)

This is really my favourite yarn store in the city. It's small but it's so packed with fibery goodness that I just keep going back. Megan and Denny were wonderful hostesses again and this store feels like home for a lot of us. It's also the location of the infamous Wednesday night Knit Night that the Toronto Knitterati attend. I had a hard time pulling myself away from the Alpaca. It's so soft that one stroke instantly puts me in my Happy Place. I just don't understand why The Boy won't let me have one for a pet.




 

 
Ummmmmm Alpaca

 

 

 


Joey (from Ohio) asked: How many knitters can you fit in a TTC shelter? Since we waited 20 freakin' minutes for a streetcar (and two went by without picking us up), we had a lot of time to figure it out.

The answer? 22 (Stephanie and I were taking pictures, but you could have fit us in.

 




Stop 5: alterknit (map)

Some desperately needed caffeine and chocolate rounded out our day. Never underestimate the mysterious powers of sacred black water and chewie chocolate cookies (not to mention more alpaca) to revive the flagging spirits of a tired Stashaholic.





 



   



The last class picture of the day.


So my haul from the day? Sore sides from laughing so much and a very sore MasterCard from buying so much!


(I forgot to add the two DVD's - Lucy Neatby's Sock Techniques 1 and 2 and am just too lazy to retake the photo)

Cost of a weekend spent with Yarn Harlot...don't ask
Memories that will last a lifetime....priceless.