TTC Knit-A-Long Rocks TO!

surreal. totally. the TTC Knit-A-Long rocked! not only did we bring KIP (knitting in public) to great new heights, we made new friends, freaked out a few strangers, picked up some great stitchin' tips and groovy loot, got our pix in the funny pages and learned that sometimes you just have to let things go....

here's the west team grabbin' a bit of a bite and a sip or two of java,
while slippin in a little stitchin', before heading off to our first shop-stop....

our fearless leader,Viviene at PassionKnits

At PassionKnits not only did they have a wonderful selection, but they greeted us with Timbits! now that's some sweet service! I decided to take it super easy on the pocket book at our first stop and only picked up one little skein of Norwegian Lanett Superwash Merino in charcoal.

and then, just when we thought it was safe to get back on the subway....tragedy struck. we were all on the platform getting off at our next stop when we noticed that Jacquie had dropped her ball of yarn and it was still on the train. the doors began to close,we screamed, i panicked and pulled on the yarn with great hopes that it would gingerly hop over the gap and join us on the other side. no such luck -- we watched (in slow motion) as the yarn fell four feet down on to the tracks below. what was i thinking?! the driver poked his head out of his window and told us that he couldn't pull away unless Jaquie cut the yarn. The yarn was cut, the train chugged away and there we stood, 15 knitters with a few moments of silence for a sad lump of green wool on the grimey subway tracks. We waited for a very special TTC lady to come and save the day, but with so many trains having run over it, the yarn was totalled and it was time to move along.

Jacquie and TTC Lady

Next stop, Knit-O-Matic. Never having been before, I didn't know what to expect. I was not disappointed. I felt as tho i had stepped thru some sort of wacky time/space warp. was i in the east coast? or perhaps texas? maybe even uruguay? yes, i know - very strange. lotsa, lotsa awesome stuff, from floor to ceiling and a pet bird (who i've nick-named Kugo, because i can't remember his real name). Haley was wonderful to us, not only did we get 10% off of everything, but the Japanese Noro was 20% off! yabba dabba i had to dabble. i chose a coupla skiens of the Silk Garden. gorgeous!! but i couldn't stop there...while fondling some sock yarn i spotted some crazy colours on one of the top shelves. The Handgefarbt (Hand Painted) Opal #11 called out and spoke to me (i didn't even know i spoke German!). I just had to have it! i also picked up a little quelque chose for the hubs - some awesome New Zealand possom/merino. who could resist! and then some icing for our cake, a gift from Haley -- a loot bag of Lana Grossa sock yarn! kickin'!

did someone say "sale"

we piled back on the TTC and headed south to Kensington Market to meet up with the other teams and for more shopping, fondling and big boys burritos!

I took a nice break at Lettuce Knit and sat at the picnic table knitting and chatting with team mates. and making new friends...

with Bertie the Knit-A-Long Mascott

and then off to the beaches (or the beach, depending) for the grand finale -- The Naked Sheep. cookies and brownies and cashmere. here i picked up the final piece, Fleece Artist's Goldielocks Shawl (a gift for a very special someone). In all of my excitment and exhaustion i neglected to snap a pic of the closing shop-stop. final destination: home....

the loot

If u haven't been on the TTC knit-a-long, i urge u to hop on board for the fall frenzy! There are a coupla great articles on some super fine knitting, from the toronto sun and the toronto star. nice support. my pop can cozy was a big hit with the star's photographer -- it made it into the paper!

Thanks to Viviene, Beryl, Sophie and Jen and all of the volunteers and shops that took part in this most fabulous knit-crawl-a-palooza!!