If something happens twice does that make it a new tradition? Rosemary and I shopped Wool & Co’s post Christmas sale for the second year in a row. She was bad and I was worse! This year the sale was back to how it apparently was in previous years other than the last: if you were in line by 8 a.m. yarn was 40% off (with a few exceptions), by 9 a.m. 30% off then after 10 a.m. it was 20% off for the rest of the day. The store opened at 7 a.m. for the sale.

For all my scoffing of people lining up in the cold and dark just to buy things they don’t need….I’d say guess where we were at ten minutes til seven, but I don’t have to. You know.

Free coffee and chocolate and donuts were laid out for the sustenance of hungry cold knitters.

They tried to keep around 25 people at a time in the store. As it was I don’t think Rosemary and I got in til around 7:30ish. I headed straight for the sock yarn and nabbed some Claudia’s (sport and fingering), Fleece Artist, Mountain Colors and Nature’s Palette. (They have Koigu but it wasn’t on sale, and none of the on-hand colorways grabbed me enough to tempt me.)

I also got some Blackberry Ridge crimson mohair for a scarf/stole, Misti Alpaca in lavender and cream for Eunny Jang’s Anemoi mittens, some not-on-sale Malabrigo for a scarf for a friend, and some gorgeous evergreen colored alpaca/silk laceweight for a stole/shawl.

I also picked up some Crystal Palace dpn’s in sizes I didn’t have, a GORGEOUS Della Q tote in chocolate stripe, and Janet Szabo’s finishing book — all on sale as well.

After getting home, and storing all my new yarn, I revisited my stash. I’m thinking twice about going to Stitches West in February. I really don’t need any more temptation, and anyways, the friend I went with last year is due with her first baby in March, so I can’t really see her being able to come with me. Her company, more than the fun of shopping the marketplace, was the real reason for the trip.

On a different note, I ordered Janet Szabo’s Aran Sweater Design book — it came earlier this week in the mail, with a very nice personalized message. I can see this book being very, very useful. It’s logically and clearly laid out and jam-packed with information –I think enough to help me dig myself out of whatever hole I get into trying stuff that’s over my head (3 cliches, 1 sentence — that was on purpose).