Crochet Summer Butterflies Shawlette, Vancouver yarn shops and recent acquisitions

 I bought yarn to knit and crochet a variety of patterns promoted by the Wine Country Yarn Hop.  

 

Because I wanted some relative instant gratification, I completed a crochet pattern first.  

After knitting so much, I sometimes forget how quick and mindless most crochet is in comparison.

 

I was informed by Purls of Joy that the Summer Butterflies Shawlette was designed by someone's mother so maybe it was just mis-transcribed but there were a TON of errors throughout.

 

The recommended yarn (which I used) was 463 yds of Comfort and Joy Yarn Co. 75% SWM/25% nylon Fingering weight yarn with a F hook.

I crochet loose and even after using almost the entire hank, adding 5 additional rows to the edge and aggressively blocking the shawl for nearly a week, it was still only big enough to fit my 4 y.o.  I get that a shawlette is just a mini-version of a shawl but this isn't even large enough to cover both of my shoulders.  So I definitely recommend crocheting this pattern with DK or Worsted weight yarn and using a G or H hook if you're making it for an adult.

I've already communicated my revisions to the shop.

 

I am thankful that I learned to crochet lace patterns at a very young age.  At this point in my fiber arts journey, there is no lace pattern that has ever stumped me.  Overall, this was a fun and beautifully simplistic pattern made even more flattering with indie-dyed yarn.

Mommy's little helper. <3

 

This past weekend I travelled to Vancouver, BC, Canada to visit some friends/penpals of mine and escort my friend Sankari to visit her son who lives there.  She's in her 60s and rarely ever travels alone.  This was her first time seeing her son in 3 yrs.  I hadn't been to Vancouver in like 1ike 15 yrs and it was such a joy to revisit this wonderfully green city!

This is Baaad Anna's, a yarn store that I was really impressed with.  They carried a lot of Canadian yarn I've never seen before and also some incredibly vibrant German yarn.

Another cute shop I visited was Three Bags Full.

 

I was really impressed with their Koigu and Jamieson's of Shetland selections.

I really wanted to buy this bulky Canadian wool but there was literally no more room in my backpack.

 

Above are photos of a few recent acquisitions of yarn I bought in Canada, through the mail and purchased locally.  The photo on the right is the yarn I've selected to use for my #Alpenglow Rhinebeck sweater which I may or may not even have time to start/finish before Rhinebeck.  Trying to finish projects for Xena's back to school wardrobe is my main priority right now.

My penpal, Claire, who is also one of my IRL BFF's is an incredibly talented sewist and she made me this project bag with THEE most perfect themed fabric for a knitting philatelist!