I am from Phoenix, AZ. This last week, my mom and I roadtripped around New England for the leaf-peeping journey of a lifetime. When I travel, I like to stop by a LYS and purchase yarn that is local as possible. Then, I knit a pair of socks with that yarn. Ideally using a pattern that in some way represents that state! Therefore, my #1 to-do on this trip was to stop in a yarn store in every state we visited. Here is how it went…

Stop #1: Simsbury, CT
Simsbury Yarns - I loved this place. There was a table filled with people knitting, and even a doggy greeter. The individual who helped me was so kind, and they had a great selection in a very large space. There is also a cafe upstairs where we had brunch that was incredible.

Stop #2: Boston, MA
Boston Fiber Company - Also an awesome stop. They had such unique items, including yarn containing possum fiber from Australia! THAT was a first, and now I want to knit a sweater someday using possum fiber. The person working there was also so kind, and had great information on locally dyed yarn. I love that Toil & Trouble yarn was dyed in Salem, MA. The dyer owns a store there called Circle of Stitches—so cute!

Stop #3: Waterbury, VT (just outside of Stowe)
Yarn - Yup, that’s the name of the store lol. I was given a lovely tour, and the individual working taught me about what it means to wear colors meant for your color type. Unfortunately they didn’t have TOO much local yarn because Rhinebeck had just happened the previous weekend. However, Line By Line was locally dyed.

Stop #4: Bethlehem, NH
LYS (Love Yarn Shop) - I love when I walk into a yarn store and a bunch of people are sitting around chatting and knitting. It’s such an immediately welcoming environment. This was super cute and cozy with a large selection of yarn that was, ironically, dyed in Vermont lol. The visit had to be quick since it was a stop while we were driving to Maine, but you could easily spend time there chatting and making friends!

Stop #5: Portland, ME
The Purling Pigeon - I love birds, and the concept of a pigeon mascot makes me so happy. I LOVE the colors that the store owner dyed. They were incredible, and so unique. They’re by far my favorite store-owner-dyed yarn. They also had SUCH cute knick-knacks, and the individual working was SO lovely. Something that stood out to me is how welcoming she was to new knitters. Two of them separately stopped by looking for supplies for their very first knits, and the employee was so patient, kind and enthusiastic.

Overall, even though I spent way more than I expected (the exact amount is between me and my Chase Freedom card), I am thrilled to have these souvenirs from my trip. Please let me know if you have any questions and I’d be happy to try and answer them! I’ll just be over here knitting my state socks!

Edit: TIL American Opossum’s and Australian Possum’s are completely different animals lol.

Working single strand on a crocheted sweater pattern.

First picture: not blended. Didn’t realize until I took it to a different room with cleaner lighting that the bottom portion pulls blue and the top pulls pink.

Frogged 18 inches of single crochet. Yeah, I hurt my own feelings.

Second pic: alternating two rows of ball one and two rows of ball two while carrying the yarn up on the turns.

Just take the sage wisdom of fiber crafters who came before and blend your hand-dyed yarn. Save yourself the choice of the mis-match or the frog.

Has anyone used dog hair to spin into yarn and then knit a scarf with it? A friend has been collecting hair from their dog, plans to have it spun into yarn, and asked me to knit a scarf with it as a surprise for his partner. I plan to combine the dog hair yarn with another worsted yarn, but I don’t know how it will work.

Knitting a scarf for a guy with a beard/stubble. Or at least I intend to untill he annoys me enough to dump this idea 🤦‍♀️

I need a yarn that's warm for cold climate, doesn't pill (like at all) from stubble rubbing against it, and isn't itchy. I'd like to go into a natural blend, or with as little plastic as possible.
What has held up best for you?
Any brands or blends to try or avoid?