Avoca
Warning:
If you get weak at the knees when viewing yarn (or you are my husband working on another continent at the moment), click away…now.
Annual Avoca yarn sale—a rather hit-or-miss proposition for buying discontinued yarn from this handweaving mill. Occasionally good deals to be had for the knitter, more options for weavers though. And they weave such lovely stuff, surely using their yarns will enhance my own weaving, right? Besides, extraordinarily good prices make the journey worthwhile…that and great craic when going with friends.
Thursday, 14 February
At Isobel’s suggestion—she, Holly and I, along with two daughters pile into the car, and I came away with this.
dark plum nubby yarn, gray wool, red cotton
Quite reasonable I’d say. A tour of the mill, however, inspires a quick dash for a few more cones.
gold chenille, orange-red nubby, red wool
Still, for lower-than-bargain-basement prices, it was a rather harmless day.
Sunday, 17 February
We find ourselves, along with Sara, traveling south to Wexford to visit Sharon.
‘Erm, how much of a diversion would it be to pop into Avoca?’
‘Think Sharon would mind us being a wee bit late?’
‘Probably not if we bring her something!’
cream and duck egg bouclé
A mental calculation of two days’ worth of purchases still gives me the green light of satisfaction.
Tuesday, 19 February
Ahem…recurring flashbacks to cones of yarn that got away continue to gnaw.
‘What if I’m not around next year for the sale?’
‘Why didn’t I pick up that chocolatey brown chenille?’
‘Wonder if they’ve added anything new?’
‘When is the sale over?’
So, fastening on mental skis to make the journey down the slippery slope more comfortable, I give up the fight, hop in the car for my third journey over the mountains. And without any need for external enabling, I shamelessly add this…
um, everything else…a nice weaving palette of wool, chenille, bouclé and yummy alpaca
Shall we have a (gulp) group picture of the purchases?
That’s it. All done. (For this year at least.)
I really like the orange-red nubby one! I am glad I am too busy at the moment to take the trip down to Avoca, because as you know I don’t need any more yarn, as I probably have enough to keep me weaving for the next ten years!!! Looking forward to seeing what you weave with these lovely yarns.
20 Feb 2008 at 12:11 am
I should have heeded your warning–I’m feeling very woozy!
20 Feb 2008 at 1:01 am
Wow. Just wow, I don’t think I need to add anything more then that.
20 Feb 2008 at 1:27 am
Oh My - What a lovely addition to your George*
* explaination here http://donyale.wordpress.com/2008/01/31/quick-fix/
20 Feb 2008 at 1:34 am
absolutely worth it! all of it! really lovely! have fun with it!
20 Feb 2008 at 2:24 am
wow..what fun! But honey it was “on sale” smile!
20 Feb 2008 at 2:28 am
I’m with the “wow”’s! Wow! May I move to your part of the globe?
20 Feb 2008 at 2:42 am
I love it!!!! I scrolled down to the group photo and couldn’t help but throw my head back and laugh with joy in the middle of the coffee shop!
My question for you is, where do all those cones go to roost in your home?
20 Feb 2008 at 4:06 am
last Sunday, we went for a short trip in the Wicklow mountains…and passed this place. I remember this word “Avoca”. I didn’t know it was a great place for knitters and weavers. Now tell me : is it still worth going there ? I’m not sure I understand every thing in your post. Is the sale still on ?
20 Feb 2008 at 8:35 am
I am excited for you. I bet you are just itching to jump into nice project with all of those staring at you. Look at the money you saved had you bought those at retail prices. Great Job! But did you get that chocolatey brown chenille?
20 Feb 2008 at 10:57 am
Lovely!
20 Feb 2008 at 1:44 pm
LOL! I can’t believe you went back a third time!!!!! Tee hee, just as well your husband is the understanding type. Sounds like you really enjoyed it.
20 Feb 2008 at 2:11 pm
OMG, did you leave anything behind you in the shop? Bet you got carry out to car service after buying all of that!!!
Well worth it!
20 Feb 2008 at 6:58 pm
I had a similar experience at a sale. Thankfully it was a one day sale, but I was “working the door” so that we could pay for the venue, and I just kept going back to pick up one more thing.
A good sale on yarn is hard to resist.
21 Feb 2008 at 12:25 pm
I’ve never seen avoca - but it seems to me that staying away might help me keep my sanity - and some space to move around the house:)) but never mind - enjoy what you found and find the time to use it!
21 Feb 2008 at 6:17 pm
oh.my.god. look at all that yummy yarn!! that must have been so much fun!
21 Feb 2008 at 11:00 pm
after seeing the photos, i’m hypoglycemic as a result of this *&*%^$& yarn diet!! I don’t know how much longer I can go without buying any yarn….
23 Feb 2008 at 12:26 am
Avoca! What fond memories I have of there. I wasn’t aware of a yearly sale, however, when I saw your cones I couldn’t stop laughing. I work at a college that is in the garment district and have access to some fiber. In my office I have about three areas with cones of fiber and I can’t tell you what I have at home aside from my yarn stash. It’s fiber madness! Good for you, the colors are grand.
28 Feb 2008 at 4:09 am
Thought you would make it too. I got some of the grey wool and it is simply delicious. I also got some of the nobby stuff of the ‘little old Lady pink variety’. I know a lot of little old ladies, like!
The autumn sale is usually better but then again, I suppose you don’t need yarn for a while!
02 Mar 2008 at 1:54 am