PHOTOS FROM THE YE OLDE YARN CRAWL!

Hello Mates. Been a long time! We just got back from spending the month travelling the UK as well as the "continent." What a fun, fiber-filled journey! As you know, we are always on the lookout for new, cutting edge ideas, trends, and products to bring back to sunny Florida. We sure found them and made some friends along the way. We touched down in London town on the first leg of our tour. Met two great gals at I KNIT LONDON, a cozy shop located behind Waterloo station. The shop, owned by two clever blokes, was well stocked with books and many intricate lace samples. Plus, they serve chilled lagers in there--just like we do! Great minds think alike!!

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS

We took the train to the picturesque beach community of Brighton, located on the English Channel. There, we were delighted to find a knitting nook called PURL. Chock full of luxurious yarns, this store featured fantastic sweaters knitted up in many different high-quality yarns. I stocked up on lots of British knit magazines and enjoyed exchanging ideas with Debbie, the owner, and her adorable mum. Debbie was preparing to teach a group of young schoolboys how to knit, which impressed us. Thanks for the puppy fix, too, Deb!

STASH

We ventured out towards Wimbeldon to make a stop at STASH, located in Putney, a neighborhood in southwest London. My husband and I were most impressed by how well-merchandised this store appeared. Michelle, one of the owners, graciously gave us a tour. She's an American and actually visited our Boca Raton store, which was really cool for us!

These girls, like us, really love the luxurious stuff. The best sample in there, to me, was this fantastic Koigu shawl in the front window. Again, another intricate lace project that was indeed heirloom-quality. Everyone at Stash was super friendly, making this stop worth the train ride!

GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME JOOLS!

Our last stop was at the famed department store, Liberty, located in the bustling shopping district of Regent Street. My sister-in-law and I tore this store apart, as they were having a humongous sale. Even if you don't knit, Liberty is a must-see if you visit London. Great designer clothes, scarves, and oh man the handbags! Wow!

Tucked upstairs is the haberdashery department that Rowan leases. Of course we admire Rowan yarns and their excellent patterns, but the jewel of the store was Miss Jools, who welcomed us with her beautiful smile and effervescent personality. Jools used to work with perhaps the industry's most famed colorist, the great Kaffe Fassett. In fact, she knitted several of the designs in Kaffe Knits Again, pictured here. Come across the pond and see us!