Woo Woo, All Aboard!

For the last few months I have been absolutely looking forward to one special event and it has nothing to do with the baby (OK, I'm looking forward to that too but still have about 5 months left). Quite a few months ago I learned that a local knitter's guild puts on an annual event called "Yarn Train". Do you see where I'm going here? Good.

So the organizers get a group ticket on Amtrak and then plan a walking tour of yarn stores in Portland including arranging for discounts with the store owners (sweet!). So my friend Jennifer and I stayed Friday night in Seattle so we didn't have the long drive to the city in the morning. We took the city bus to the train station, what an adventure for us "country bumpkins", arriving at 6:30 in the morning. The train ride to Portland took about 3 hours which of course we spent chatting and knitting. Once in Portland we found a place to have lunch and OH MY, it was good! Based on a recommendation of a fellow Yarn Trainer (the organizer no less) we hit The Tea Zone. I got the falafel and a Hot Cinnamon Latte, I could seriously be happy with a cup of THAT in my hand 24/7.

Our first stop was Knit Knot Studio where I found the absolute softest yarn for a blanket for this new little one I'm growing. I'm so bummed that I've got some projects I have to finish first, I canNOT wait to cast this blanky on and get it finished. The picture does not do the colors, or softness, justice. It's so beautiful!

Next we wander off to Knit Purl where I end up getting the majority of my new stash. Oh. My. Word. That place was so awesome. Wall to wall colors and textures. I don't understand why everyone doesn't knit (or crochet) just to have a reason to go into a place like this. Who could be depressed swimming in color like that. I picked up 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden to knit a striped scarf (it's about 25% done right now), another skein of Noro for a Clapotis (a type of scarf), a skein of black lace yarn for Jamae's Christmas present - a jewelry frame, and another skein that was just so beautiful (and on clearance) but I haven't figured out what to make with yet - it will come. It's been a couple of months since I have really been actively knitting. I had developed pregnancy induced carpal tunnel that I thought would plague me the whole pregnancy but God blessed me with pain free hands for the last week or so. I'm hoping that for whatever reason I had it for a while it is gone for good as it was interfering with so much.

After leaving Knit Purl we decided to hit up Powell's Books. Big book stores aren't that unusual anymore thanks to the ginormous chains but Powell's is special. It's, oh, about a city block long, and multiple stories and just CRAMMED from top to bottom with new and used books of every sort. It's really awesome. I got a shawls, ponchos, and scarves book that is used and I can't wait to make something from. Oo, that gives me an idea for that multi-colored yarn. *smile*

By this point my stamina was rock bottom so we decided that we would pass on the last yarn store we could have visited but luckily it was also time for dinner. I suggested that The Tea Zone was so good we should go back for dinner so we did. hee hee. I got another Hot Cinnamon Latte - again (I wonder if they'd ship me a gallon or two). After that back to the train for another 3-hour knit session, another bus ride and another night in Seattle. *sigh* Pure bliss.

Were we done? Not quite. In no rush to get back home we decided to extend our little trip a bit and stopped at Seattle Yarn on the way back. Had I known how amazingly awesome their store was I might have held back a little of my trip budget. Wow. Wow. Wow! If I thought Knit Purl was color heaven, this place really knocked my socks off! Skeins and skeins just stacked and shoved in every nook and cranny and every one of them just gorgeous (should have taken pictures). I somehow managed to walk away with only one skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in Aquos. I don't knit socks (yet) but found a pattern for a spiral scarf that it will work for, it's going to be smashing!

After a quick bite for lunch at a yummy pub down the block (they always have the best fish and chips) we head for home. Two tired mommies excited to wrap their arms around their babies again - and cast on their next project! I'm already dreaming about doing the trip again next year.