You’ve heard all about the wonderful time Bruce had at C2E2 in Chicago earlier this month. I did tag along but my experience was much different than Bruce’s! The comic did show generally what I did while in Chicago – went geocaching, spent time reading, and visited an amazing knitting shop in the Loop!
I finished a very large project at the office on Thursday so I was really ready for a break by the time we left for Chicago. Geocaching was a great way to get back outside for a bit after being cooped up at my desk! Found about 10 on Friday afternoon including making a stop at the place where the Chicago Fire started. It’s interesting that the Chicago Fire Department Training Academy is now at the site!
Kicking back was my primary goal so, thanks to the nice people at Hyatt McCormick Place, we had a corner room with an amazing view of the skyline. It was a great place to catch up on some reading and knitting!
But, while Bruce was tremendously excited about the copies of Mouse Guard he bought, I was excited to visit Loopy Yarns – in the Loop, of course! The shop is about 4 blocks from the Hilton on Michigan Ave. in the Printer’s Row area.
When I walked in the shop was packed – no, not crowded, PACKED! I asked the woman at the counter what was up and she told me it was a crochet group doing a tour of Chicago area yarn shops called, “Chain on the Train.” Fortunately they were making purchases and then heading off to lunch so the shop did clear out.
The shop itself is small but has a full basement. I did the basement first while the group did their thing upstairs – it was all classrooms and sale yarns. Bummer. In looking around I noticed they had Koigu sock yarns 50% off! I have a scarf made of this gorgeous yarn so spent quite a bit of time selecting some colors to add to my stash.
Back upstairs, they had a fair number of interesting things I’d not seen before including a very, very thick alpaca yarn (rope?) that is knit with knitting needles that could double as broomsticks! Also there were fibers I’d not seen before including one made of mink! Make Mine Mink by Jade Sapphire is actually made by combing the little critters and then spinning the yarn. I was sorely tempted but resisted – this time.
So, in all, I purchased five skeins of Koigu, a skein of Tosh Marino wool in Tomato, a button for a jacket I recently bought but didn’t care for the button it came with, and a sock monkey project bag. All around not too bad.
Oh, and that comic event, I think Bruce had a good time, too!