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Well I havent been doing much crafting apart from sock knitting recently, thanks to a wee trip to the capital, but have been to a couple of wool shops in the hour I had child-free today :)

First I went along Broughton Street to Kathy's Knits, a basement shop but cheery and bright, especially on a wet autumn morning :). Lovely welcoming music, bright well stocked shop, choice of needles, patterns, sofa and table, with knitted items and samples everywhere. In fact, the blanket on one end of the sofa led me to buy the pattern, in the book Handmade in the UK (luscious lace and artisan yarns), by Emily Wessel, and some Rennie yarn to go with. Kathy stocks all UK yarns and has some excellent names. Check out her website for a list of some of what's available. She doesnt sell online but will happily take any phone enquiries. (not sure if she does mail order but would be surprised if she doesnt). All in all, a lovely knitting experience.

Then I went here. K1 Yarns is on the Grassmarket, recently moved (within the last 2 years I think) from Glasgow's West End. Location is fantastic, and its surrounded by lovely wee boutiques and specialist shops; cheesemakers, tweed tailors, old books, classy clothes etc. ... I am loathe to diss a wool shop, especially as I know how hard it is to make a wool shop viable, but there is so much wasted potential in that shop. Shelves were half empty, it was too quiet (I personally like but of background in a shop) and although there was a stock order being unpacked, it still wouldnt have gone very far on the shelves.

Perhaps I am being v unfair, maybe it was a slow day and she'd sold loads over the weekend, but.....

It didnt benefit from the comparison. Still. I found a sock yarn for the mitre blanket :) Then I had to hunt for lunch for when the troops came back from the City Tour...

So it was an interesting wee diversion in a busy weekend. Lovely to be back home though!

What have you been up to?