Wooly Adventures

Big Knitters in Cardiff

It’s Day Two of Mr. Trask’s and my jaunt to Cardiff, which has been lovely indeed. After studying intensely all summer, it took me a few days to recover (sleep, read bad-for-me books like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, etc.), and I think today was the first day I really felt myself. After sleeping until 11:30 a.m., of course. [I expect to get no harassment re: P&P&Z. Check out the Onion AV Club review. There, that’s distracted you.]

So, since I was feeling myself, what did I do with myself? Why, I found two yarn sources in one day, of course. First up: Big Knitters in Cardiff, which doesn’t yet seem to have a web presence. But they’ve been open just a few months and they are definitely there! The neighborhood clearly knows about them; several other knitters stopped in while I was there (on a Wednesday afternoon, no less), and a few area bloggers have written them up (see blog_bletherings and Chopped Tomatoes). I splurged on a Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball (see rav lnk) and some local handspun with Shetland fiber. Photos soon… I also splurged on Kim Hargreaves’ Amber (rav lnk), which I’d been unable to find in the States, and a set of KnitPro Symfonie DPNs. Huzzah!

Carolyn of Bulldog Krafts

Then we wandered into the Cardiff Summer Festival, where Bulldog Krafts had a booth. Carolyn Kennington, the owner of the company, was so charming and enthusiastic about seeing us. She stocks yarn that no one else in the UK does, and explained to me that she started out bringing some amazing cotton back (EL D Mouzakis – rav lnk) from Greece for herself (“I’d bring a whole empty suitcase with me every summer!”) and then started her business to share her goodies with the rest of the UK.

I bought some lovely J C Rennie Supersoft Cashmere (rav lnk), which came with a free shawl pattern (we do like free). Carolyn has just started posting her patterns on Ravelry; you can find them here. Watch out; they have an online shop as well. Dangerous!

All in all, a grand day. Cannot wait to start knitting with my finds here. Am carefully not thinking about how I will get all this yarn into my suitcase.