Saturday, September 17, 2005

Somewhere in My Youth or Childhood . . .

. . . I must have done something good.

My name is listed as a contact on the main Houston SnB webpage. So, I occasionally get knitting related emails from people who I don't know. But the email I received on Thursday was a bit different (with some edits):

Hi Laura,
...I'm not interested in joining [your] knitting group, since unfortunately, after knitting for 50 years I'm unable to do so anymore I'm contacting you, because I have "tons" of german yarn that I've accumulated over the years and I would like to give it to someone that is capable of using it the way it should be. There is not cost involved (other than you having to pick it up at my house). Please let me know if you're interested.
(signed) Complete Stranger
Hello! Am I interested? You betcha! I emailed Mrs. Stranger to set up a pick up time. In her return email she mentioned that she also had a "ton" of knitting books, some in German. Did I know any knitter who could read German? she asked. Well, because I am an American-born Chinese-Filipino, naturally the only other language that I know is German. Weee!

Peter and I drove over to Mrs. Stranger's house the morning and came home with this:

Peter's worst nightmare

And this:

Patterns galore!
(The biggest prize: Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns)
And this:

Do you have a spare needle?
Straights, DPN, circulars including some Addis and Inox needles.

Most of the yarn are full balls, complete with ball bands. A lot of cotton blends, lots of mohair blends, acrylic stuff, stuff with lurex, and a some novelty yarns. I found ten balls of a lovely 55%cotton/45% tussah silk yarn, a heck of a lot of orange Regia sock yarn, some delicious 55% cotton/45% wool yarn, interesting looking novelty yarn, bags of cotton/linen yarn still in its original packaging, and some gigantic balls of fuzzy blue mystery yarn (Scout used for scale):

What are these? says Scout

I have no idea what I'm going to do with it all. I'll probably trade or give a lot of it away. Maybe I will get it organized and invite the people in my SnB to paw through it and take what they want. Maybe I will send boxes of random yarn to people I know. Right now I'm just completely overwhelmed!

20 comments:

goodkarma said...

Holy shnikey, Batman! What a haul! In a way, that kind of windfall could be a bit overwhelming... but fun!

Pumpkinmama said...

Holy cow! What a score.

Anonymous said...

I need smelling salts. Incredible.

amylovie said...

OH....MY....STARS! I must pull in my tongue before someone steps on it.

Amy

SoberHope said...

Oh my goodness! What a wonderful offer! Good for you :)

Jennifer said...

That is so awesome!!! I am amazed and awed by the yarny goodness. I think I need to sit down...

jpknits said...

How lovely that you are able to help her know her yarns will be used as they were meant to be!

Shar said...

Oh my, you hit the jackpot. Enjoy!!

Anonymous said...

Oh merciful Cthulhu! Even Scout looks overwhelmed.

Anonymous said...

Holy. Freakin'. Moley. And thumbs up to the Sound of Music reference.

Mintyfresh said...

You lucky dog!!

I think you should add "bounties of yarn" to your list of favorite things. You know, raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens . . .

Anonymous said...

It's always sad when someone has to stop knitting, but the sadness is helped by such a generous gift. My aunt is knitting less and less (92 years old). She let me paw thru her stash, but I couldn't bring myself to take much. I got a sense she was ambivalent, as it wasn't a "here, take it all" kind of pawing. She has been giving me pattern books up the wazoo though.....

Karen said...

Holey smokes!! That is SOME haul!

If you're sending yarn to random people...I'd take some of the sock yarn. :)

Helen said...

WOW Laura! i am sure your stranger would love to hear what you do with all the yarn. fantastic. i really like the looks of that linen/cotton stuff

reluctantMANGO said...

Oh my goodness! All that yarn makes my eyes water... Congratulations on your jackpot!

Anonymous said...

WOW! Talk about good karma hitting you on the head! The yarn found it's way to a great home.

GretchenX said...

Wow, you've got the payout for some good Knitting Karma!!! Have fun with it (and maybe make the girls some luxury kitty beds, too?)!!

:)
Gretchen

Anonymous said...

Oh.
My.
GOSH.

That is the coolest.
Ever.
Even better than a completed lace shawl.

luvs2knit said...

It's like you won the lottery!!! Congrats with all your new goodies.

Dana S. Whitney said...

Lucky you! those turquoisey looking mohair/angora balls are inspiring...
I looked at your FO's... If you remember clues about interpreting IW's Koigu Heart Sachets, I'd be most appreciative... The way I'm reading the pattern, I have stitch holders all over the place like warts. :-(
Hope you are well out of Rita's way....