Hill Country Yarn Crawl: Day 1

Yesterday I embarked on the first leg of my very first yarn crawl. There was one in Colorado I eyed a couple times, but didn't ever get to, so when I learned about the Hill Country Yarn Crawl (the best little yarn crawl in Texas, they say) I decided it was time to see what it was all about! I mean, I've heard of pub crawls, and even done one once, in fact, but a yarn crawl? Seems logistically challenging at the least. And perhaps it is. But it's a great way to get to know a little more about the area and, of course, there's all the squishy yarn!

On the first day of my first yarn crawl, I visited four of the 14 shops that are participating this year - the ninth year, in fact. I hear they're doing it up big to celebrate their 10th anniversary next year! My goal is to visit each shop and to select one (yes, just ONE) skein of yarn from each that I will crochet into a blanket commemorating the event. I've told you so now I have to actually do it, right?

My first stop was Happy Ewe in Jonestown - the closest shop to us here by Fort Hood at about an hour away - and by golly, there are actually hills in the Texas Hill Country! I've been skeptical since we moved here... But hills there were and I even spied a tiny bit of fall foliage here and there. I wish I'd stopped at the overlook I saw, but I wasn't prepared and I didn't end up going back past it again. Ah well, perhaps next time.

I ordered my passport through Happy Ewe online last month, so it had to be first on my list and I'm so very glad it was! I collected my passport, bag, tshirt, two free patterns, and my first button pin and then had a delightful little visit with the gals in the store, including Misty, the owner, who was kind enough to pose for a picture with me and one of her regulars.

It was such an eclectic, cozy little place. I loved it! Great atmosphere and I am looking forward to going back soon - hopefully to collect one of those door prizes - just look at all the goodies they have to give away!

I spent way too much time in this first shop, but once I finally hit the road, I got to see a little more of the elusive Texas Hill Country and crossed my old friend, the Colorado River, on my way to Horseshoe Bay, where I found Nan's Needleworks tucked away in a very modern looking office building. In fact, Nan's shop was also a rather mod and orderly little space. Wall to wall cubbies with neatly stacked yarns spanned most of the store and they also have tons of patterns for the yarns they carry.

I also had the pleasure of chatting with a gentleman who used to run the tour van! Can you imagine all those yarn crawlers packed into a van - and trying to get them in and out of a YARN store in a timely fashion so that you could stay on schedule? It must have been like herding cats!

Obligatory yarn crawl selfie here:

Speaking of herding cats, check out the door greeter at stop number three!

This was one of at least four cats that I saw in The Tinsmith's Wife. It was quite unexpected! They were all very well behaved, though. I was quite impressed.

The trek all the way out to Comfort, TX was the longest leg of the trip. Well, not counting driving back home afterwards; THAT took upwards of three hours with all the traffic. But I got to drive through Johnson City, the home of President Lyndon B. Johnson, of course. There's even a National Park! I passed so many wineries that I lost count. There were farms and orchards and apparently lots of peaches... Fredericksburg looks like it would be a fun place to visit! Oh, I also drove by the largest junk ya... ah, I mean, "Auto Salvage Yards" that I have ever seen. The cars stretched away from the road for at least an acre!

Um, I seem to have gotten off track. Sorry about that. So back to The Tinsmith's Wife!

Inside this old timey looking store I found not only cats, but cozy little sitting areas, funky little notions and accessories, and even a room for cross stitch and needlepoint! It was probably the largest shop I visited and I was a little overwhelmed by all the yarn. But luckily they had a table for all of their Shibui yarns, which was the featured yarn for their two free patterns and on sale for 25% off!

This is probably my favorite photo of the trip:

The fourth and final stop on day one of this particular little yarn crawl was actually right across the street from The Tinsmith's Wife.

Probably the most unique shop I visited, The Loom Room is located inside Comfort Crockery, which is in the historical Faltin Building, built in 1879. The pressed tin ceilings, antique cabinetry and architecture made for a great setting and a very rustic atmosphere that was instantly inviting and comforting. How fitting that this store is located in the town of Comfort!

There were all kinds of fibers and fluff and of course, some yarns, although only a small selection. Weaving and spinning is the fiber arts focus here, with many options available from locations like India, Poland, New Zealand, and, naturally, Texas! And oh my gosh, there were looms everywhere!

Big looms and small looms, busy looms and waiting looms - there were even some of those potholder looms like I used as a little girl! I almost bought one, but since my own child isn't even set to arrive until January of 2016, I decided I could wait. A few years, ha ha. But, ah, memories!

We got a fun little demo to tempt us into adding to our fibery obsessions, which I resisted once more. My husband will be grateful, I'm sure!

After that, though, it was time to make the long drive back home. I had to get back to Michaels in Temple for Yarn Night! So back through Fredericksburg and Johnson City and Marble Falls I went, over the river and through the hills! All told I drove about 350 miles yesterday and I was gone for almost exactly twelve hours - three of that was for yarn night, though. It was a long day and I'm still pretty tired, but it was fun and I'm looking forward to Day 2!

Oh, here's my yarn crawl haul for Day 1!

So there's bag, four buttons, tshirt, passport, and booklet! Yarns include:

• Happy Ewe: Classic Elite Yarns Liberty Wool Light in Rainforest

• Nan's Needleworks: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in Intense Green

• The Tinsmith's Wife: Shibui Linen in Cascade

• The Loom Room: Brown Sheep Company Nature Spun in True Blue Navy

Huzzah!

-C

#yarncrawl #crochet #yarn