Why do I buy my yarn online

Currently, I'm in a phase of life and knitting where my stash is getting smaller... And it's great! The budget was a bit tight and somehow I simply didn't want to buy more, although I guess I still could. But why not make something that was waiting for such a long time.

That would be a gift scarf for Barbara, a very nice lady my husband met at work, a thank you for all the little favors she's been doing all the time. If you're interested in making one yourself, it's a free pattern, here is the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anisette

I'm quite happy with how it turned out, although I probably shouldn't have added more stitches to the central panel. I was a bit afraid of it being too narrow while I was casting on, but as a present it would have been just fine. With the original pattern one skein would have been enough, this way I used about one third of the second. No harm done, those two skeins were waiting for this scarf to happen for more than a year :) Getting new yarn is great, but sometimes it gets in the way of the old and some things are left behind for no reason.

This yarn was bought online, as most of my current stash. Sure, I'm missing out on that lovely feeling you get when you wonder through the yarn store, touching those little fluffy balls of potential. And I still go from time to time... But it simply isn't working for me anymore. Aside from that particular feeling, the rest is not worth much.

When I need small amount of yarn for a hat or scarf, I don't mind the price. But if I want to make a sweater or something similar, I'm looking for a discount. It's hard for me to come home saying: "Darling, I just spent 100 euros on something, it might be a sweater, but I'll keep it hidden under our bed for a while, we'll see how it turns out!" I wouldn't appreciate it if my darling did the same :)

For a good reason, if there's a discount in local yarn shops, I think of two things, either it's a minimal quantity or there is something wrong with the yarn. I have two projects to prove it, beloved and still worn, not deserving the flaws that they have.

This is the first sweater I made for myself, one of my favorite colors and simply what I like wearing with my jeans. The yarn was maybe 10% off, not such a bargain. It was only when I attached the sleeves that I noticed that one of them was darker in color then the rest. It won't stop me from wearing it, but I will always know. You know how men are not suppose to notice anything? Well, Dean noticed it the first time he saw me in it :D

 

The second time I got burned in Innsbruck yarn stores was when I got some rather robust yarn for Dean's sweater. We both liked the rough look and this is the kind of sweater he wears outside without a jacket when it's not terribly cold. Also, I assumed it's some small local manufacturer since the label stated MADE IN AUSTRIA and not much else and it was not expensive, some 40 euros all together.

 Here I was lucky enough that the bad ball of yarn is stretching across his back. Just a bit darker... Terrible...

This happened to me in two, let's say, serious yarn stores in Innsbruck, very disappointing. To be absolutely fair, there is a store in Museumstraße that also sells yarn, this one is quite nice, but they sell many other things. It's mostly good yarn, decent prices, but not much variety. There is a similar store in Sillpark; both are perfect for buying sock yarn, which is not my main interest.

There is one more store that I know of, in Ursulinenpassage, so small that you can hardly enter it :) There, I only bought something when it was displayed outside and I could look around by myself. If you enter, you have to ask for something specific, usually without success.

At least I found an alternative, a great online shop that makes free deliveries in Austria no matter how much yarn you buy, free patterns when you buy the yarn, needles and hooks... There's a chance to buy discontinued yarn for a fine price. The only problem is that they keep sending me free stuff, including cute little brochures, so I end up buying more :) So I miss out on the yarn shop rituals, but I can't risk another shade mismatch, it would be too much...

I have very few regrets in my life...

...but not photographing all of my knitted and crocheted pieces is definitely one of them. Just a few days ago I started adding my projects to my Ravelry page, always wanted to do that :) Then I realized most things I made are out of my reach, I simply gave them away with all the joy it brings without taking photos first and I'm just not the kind of person to start bothering anyone after some time has passed... So all I have is what I kept for myself or maybe some photos of things I made for my closest family. And I was so wrong...

This is me with my husband Dean before it all started. It's September 2011 and just moments before this was taken I got my MSc in Applied Math, yay! 5 days before, we got married, double yay! We were supposed to move to Innsbruck so I could start my PhD that October and things were looking up. Although I learned how to crochet and knit as a child and I made some things here and there, at the time it was far behind me...

And then all the reality and worries came upon us... Moving to Innsbruck was postponed until spring, Dean was unemployed, I got a job that was way over my head... When you're a student, you are going through a lot, but always with a bunch of other guys, coping together; in real life, nobody cares. I had to do something to make it easier... And we all know what kind of a therapy crafting is.

He needed a hat so I made one, nothing much... Then I wanted to try something bigger, since I only made small things before that, so I made a sweater for a friend, it went well and I was hooked :) That was probably the finest and the most appreciated gift I ever made. There is no photo, of course, but who cared back then, I was finally having fun! This guy was wearing it proudly and when the weather got warmer, he came to me and explained how he had washed it carefully and stored it until the next winter to make sure nothing happened to it. I was astonished!

When we did move to Innsbruck, as things got more serious with our life in the new place, my knitting got more serious, too. I've made many things and most of them I gave away, for some I know they are loved, for some I'm not so sure... And it's o.k. One should not give away something that one can't part with. I'm not making big or very expensive gifts anymore. Sometimes it even pays off. In 2014, I wanted to learn how to knit socks, so I tried it all, toe up, top down, different heals, solid or changing colors, lace, cables and such. A big batch of Christmas presents. That time I didn't even care if they don't want their feet to be warm :) Surprisingly enough, that was the only time that I got a spontaneous photo from my brother who loved his pair!

In the end, I understand, understand that most people who don't do it themselves can't estimate the time or the effort, not the mention the price of yarn. 5 years ago I had no idea :) After a while, I don't even ask, if they don't tell about the piece. That way I don't have to imagine it on the bottom of that big pile of things someone is not wearing or using. But I don't understand why I simply forgot to take those photos.

I wish I had taken the photos to let me remember after some time. It's not like it hurts the person who's getting the present, or making you like one of those people who make photos of each meal they have. It adds to those crafting moments you don't forget. Like finishing your first project. Realizing you have a stash. Or that first look in your husband's eyes, not complaining or judging, just trying to understand why you need some more yarn :) Some people, not me, can also go through all those cute photos of all those precious hours that went away to make someone else happy.

The worst thing is, I keep doing it all over again. I made a lovely baby dress with a lacy skirt and satin bow, booties with the same bow and made up a pattern for a matching hat. It was adorable and I didn't even get the chance to ever see the baby since the parents had to move away before she was born. They even believed it was bought in a store (they meant this as a compliment :) And no photo for me... Even made the same pair of booties for another baby I didn't meet in the end. You can guess I didn't take a photo. And the list goes on and on... Damn! I have no idea why I keep on doing that and will I ever change...

Inspiration: Knitting in Innsbruck

Just lately I decided to go back to my blog idea and change it completely. I really wanted to have "photo blog" and I wanted to keep it in German.

But, for the first thing, why not tell a story? I have more time now to occupy my brain with non-mathematics and (just maybe) non-baby stuff.

The reason for switching to English is a bit more complicated and - more like a story. To make it less boring to a knitter, it involves this hat and loop...

I really wanted to have posts in German with a strong hope that in time I'll be able to find a knitting buddy or, better yet, a knitting group. After all, it was in Innsbruck that I remembered how much I loved to knit and crochet, there must be someone nearby just like me...

In the middle of my fever, Autumn 2014, my parents decided to come and visit. A perfect opportunity to make something for my mom, she loves hats, hat it is! I decided for this one in Lana Grossa "Olympia", plus a matching loop.
https://www.filati.cc/lana-grossa-strickmodelle/lana-grossa-modell-muetze-und-loop-olympia-id_12393.html
I headed to the yarn store that was my favourite at the time; I needed the needles, too. After getting the yarn and the long circular needle, this nice lady selling it asked what I was going to make. When I mentioned a hat, she was assuring me that I can't do it without DPs. I started explaining, you know, "magic loop" and so on. I'm not sure who was more amazed after I left the store: seeing her, after hearing my story and not believing it, or me, realizing that she's the one working in a yarn shop.

The knitting part was a success, there was even enough yarn left to make a hat for me, but my hopes in finding a knitmate were sinking.

Last summer, I was all about knitting for the baby. Also in a pregnancy yoga class and from time to time, we had a round of saying a couple of things about ourselves. So I suggested doing some baby knits together or helping someone learn how to knit. After all, it can be very fun and you get to finish things in no time! But still no luck...

By the time Lulu came in November, I found out that it's not that people don't knit in Innsbruck, but most women my age take up sewing as a hobby. Funny thing is, they also have knitting in school. So, maybe it isn't so much fun when they make you do it!

In any case, it doesn't look like I'm going to find a local knitting enthusiast. I'm starting to knit globally!

P. S. Planning to share one of my own patterns soon :)