Stitches West 2018 Part 1

Such a treat for me this year.  I had no intention of going in 2018, yet a friend called and said she might be visiting during this time period.  She loves to knit, so of course Stitches had to be part of our time together.   I booked a hotel months in advance.  Well as life happens, her plans changed and although I knew of this at least 5 months before the event, something in me stopped me from cancelling the reservation....I don't know..you know how it is...waiting cus something may pop up.  I certainly don't need yarn, and the classes sell out so quickly, but I waited.

A few things did pop up!!! It just seemed like it was meant to be.

1.  Stitches West is about 1hr 45min. from my home and I have a doctor I visit in the San Jose area every year. As would have it, my scheduled appointment was the week after Stitches...I figured if I could change that appointment to the week of Stitches..kill two birds with one stone!!  I was able to switch my appointment.

2. Very dear friends live in the Santa Clara area..would they be available to meet for dinner?  YES
Love spending time with these wonderful friends.

3.  I'm going on a Knitting Cruise in a few weeks and as a solo traveler, I needed to be matched up to a room-mate for the voyage.   Well guess what, my room-mate was going to be at Stitches!!! So I got to meet her (I'll share tons about the trip in later posts.)

4. Last but not least, a couple of lovely ladies from home were attending the event.  It was wonderful spending time with them.  We knit together with a group one Thursday a month.

Lucky and grateful me...

San Sebastian--Yarn shop Established in the early 1900"s

What a charming shop.  Our tour guide in San Sebastian took us to all the beautiful sites in this city on the Bay of Biscay.  As we walk to one of the many parks, I asked if she knew of a yarn shop in town.   Well of course Eskerne (eskerne@discoversansebastian.com) did know of a place, she knows all the places to go in San Sebastian.   So we walked to this shop, just around the corner.  Large space with classroom, sitting area and many yarns and notions.   I loved it and I guess I was beaming because in addition to the lovely yarns, gadgets and patterns I purchased, the owner threw a few goodies into my bag.   She was very proud of the shop and of the fact that the shop had been located in the same place and running successfully for the last 110 years!!!!  Wow.   Now all I need to do is return to this beautiful city and find that shop again.   It is near Plaza de Guipuzcoa.  

A little bit a breakfast in San Sebastian

Memories of Spain

So the plan was to make a chevron tube scarf, 

but after knitting 40 or so rows, it just didn't work for me.

The colors represent the beauty of Spain.  The yarn was purchased along my travels in Spain and Portugal during April 2016. All 100% fine cotton, fine gauge. 

Oviedo Spain, Kings, Castile and Cathedrals

Traveling through Northern Spain was a wonderful experience.  Through villages and tall snow capped mountain ranges to the city of Oviedo.   Historically beautiful.   Our Hotel Reconquista was a palace hundreds of years ago.  

Around the corner I found this lovely yarn shop.. so different from what you see in USA.  The shop carried fine children's knit items and socks.   A tiny place but much to choose from. 

Throw Back to 2014:  The Quake

We all have projects waiting in the wings...well my wings got a lot shaken in August when the 6.0 earthquake bounced me around a bit.   I'd like to say it got me out of bed, but the truth is in my attempt to run (who knows where I think I was going?) that shaking pushed my right back in bed.   Living only 6 miles from the epicenter of the quake, I was surprised and thankful, how little was damaged.

I guess living is such a beautiful place is the trade-off for the possibility of disaster.   Even as I sit here typing,  the house did a little creak, my heart jumped, but I wouldn't think it's time to leave.  For a few days after the quake, I went into a state of heighten alertness, cautious and everything seemed to slow down.    I drove over to Napa and saw the real damage a quake can cause.  Again thankful that everyone I know is OK...........and asked myself "what are you waiting for?"    There is so much you want and have to do.


I went into overdrive.   All those projects, all that yarn (and fabric), all the time....must not go to waste.  I finished the quilt top and took it to Broadway Quilts to have in quilted.   Next I took a  look in my stash to prioritize projects.

I pulled out cotton yarn I purchased at Blue Bird Yarns in Sausalito about 4 years ago.  This is a crocheted market bag.....just the prefect bag for my daughter's trips to the Farmer's Market.

I crochet the square together