Don’t know if Elizabeth and I will make it (Tuesday afternoon is reserved for naps), but it sounds like fun!

We love it when the shelves are stuffed full of yarn because it means almost everyone can find the color they want in the quantity they need. But y’all keep buying stuff and that keeps us very busy reordering!

We got four enormous cartons of yarn yesterday from Berroco and three smaller ones from Knitting Fever. More Malabrigo is en route, too, as well as some colors of Peace Fleece.

This is our busiest time of year and we are grateful to you for keeping us on our toes!

I was driving home from Raleigh, listening to one of my favorite podcasts, “You’re Wrong About” with Sarah Marshall.

The first one I picked was about the D&D Satanic Panic of the 1980s, which I remember well. The second one was about the rise of the tradwife trend. This one really resonated with me. There were several years back when we lived in Brooklyn when I was a stay-at-home dad, grinding wheat I had shipped in from Kansas to make my own flour to bake bread, getting meat and veggies from a CSA, canning vegetables from our backyard garden. It’s never been possible to actually opt out of capitalism, but it’s always tempting to try.

But there’s something equally toxic about the impulse to try to do it all yourself. We progress together, by making connections and building community. While we joke (not really a joke) about starting a commune, it would never succeed by retreating from society. Some days working retail is exhausting, but engaging with the public and living in the world (and displaying our values publicly) is so, so important.

Anyway, if you have an hour or so, listen to this podcast. I think Sarah Marshall is really smart and funny; I learned a lot about the history of kitchens; and I was reminded that while I love crafting and history, going backwards in time is never a good thing.

So many charts left in order to get to the next stage of my cape. Why do there have to be so many stars???

At least here at the shop I’m not fighting to keep the cats from clawing at my papers and pencils. Last night we were having our own little Star Wars.

I keep telling myself it will be worth it in the end.

The Handknitted Scarf/Shawl/Wrap with Commercial Yarn Category was dominated by our Purl’s knitters. 1st was Ruth’s wedding-ring cobweb lace shawl. 2nd was Kim’s double knit Halloween kitty scarf. 3rd was Sara’s steeked stranded woodland creatures colorwork wrap. Amazing work all around! Ruth’s piece also took Best in Show.

Karen submitted her fire dragon sweater and was absolutely robbed not to win an award. We think it’s her best work yet!

Congratulations all, and remember that no matter what your craft or skill level, we’d love to have you with us. Nobody starts out creating this kind of ridiculously intricate work without a lot of practice and a lot of support.

We’ve been so busy making stuff for SAFF we have neglected posting, but we got a big Malabrigo shipment in this week. See you soon!

Our murder-mystery detective themed yarn is coming back with new colors and a new mystery to solve! It all starts SAFF weekend. Join us at the Ag Center October 24-26.

The Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair is October 24-26 at the WNC Ag Center. We’ve been super busy making new stuff to bring to the show!