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March 07, 2006
A KNITTING TALE: a farse
[Setting: Scottsdale, Arizona, a small yarn shop]
[Dramatis Personae:
a Knitter, in search of needles for the knitting of socks
a Yarn Shop Owner, with definite ideas about needles for the knitting of socks]
Knitter: Hello, do you sell any needles for the knitting of socks?
Yarn Shop Owner [smiles broadly]: Yes, we sell these birch double-pointed needles for the knitting of socks. Do you desire to purchase a set?
K: Thank you, but I am sorry that I cannot use that type of needle for the knitting of socks because I find they break too easily.
YSO [smile fadies slightly]: Very well then, what you require are these metal double-pointed needles.
K: Thank you again, but I find that I cannot use that type of needle for the knitting of socks because they cause pain in my hands. Do you sell any bamboo needles for the knitting of socks?
YSO [scowls]: No we do not sell bamboo needles for the knitting of socks; they break too easily and must be replaced.
K [stares blankly at YSO]
YSO [turns and walks away without further comment]
THE END.
05:13 PM | Permalink
Comments
Oh dear. Have you other LYSs to choose from who may meet your knitterly needs?
Posted by: Lissa at Mar 8, 2006 7:10:28 AM
Why are yarn store owners so crusty? Of course, not all yarn store owners are this way, but I've come across quite a few who are. What's there to be so cranky about? I'd love to sit around all day in a yarn store. Personally, I like to knit socks with plastic DPN's because they don't break easily, they're light, and they're flexible, but that's just me.
Posted by: Courtney at Mar 8, 2006 2:36:58 PM
The first and last time I went into a new yarn shop in our area and asked for something the new snooty owner did not have, she gave me the old "most people prefer to use...." I was outta there.
I have pretty good luck with Brittany needles, the really short ones. They do bend, but feel good in my hands. I broke one in the car door and sanded it down for a cable needle.
Posted by: Anne at Mar 8, 2006 2:43:22 PM
I'm sure YSO acted like that cos she doesn't sell what you want. Oh well, I use bamboo all the time and they never snap.
Posted by: marjorie at Mar 8, 2006 11:42:28 PM
I'd bet I know that yarn store!
Visited there last year when I needed another set of Crystal Palace bamboo sock needles (no, I've never broken one in use but I wanted to start another pair of socks) and didn't get the time of day from the owner until I asked if I could pay for my purchase. She was much too busy with the table full of ladies knitting foofy scarves of outrageously expensive muppet fur!
Thank goodness I don't live there!
Posted by: Diann at Mar 9, 2006 8:38:05 AM
Do you live in Scottsdale? I grew up there! Hoping to move back in a few years, now I'm in upstate NY where we never see the sun. Do you have a favorite phoenix area yarn store?
Posted by: Nancy at Mar 9, 2006 5:31:25 PM
No bamboo? Obviously the woman has never done any sock knitting!
Posted by: Kim at Mar 10, 2006 5:21:44 AM
I understand that LYSs need to limit their stock, for financial reasons, but I'm with you -- why turn that into a so-called "knitting rule"? I snap #1 Brittany needles like toothpicks, and so I use Addi Turbo circs for socks, but I have never broken a bamboo Crystal Palace. When I discovered my LYS did not carry Crystal Palace, I appreciate my LYSO's candor -- she "hates those things."
Posted by: Rob at Mar 10, 2006 8:52:31 AM
master magic loop and addi circ all the way
its the only way forward and worth the month I had to wait for the unnamed rubbish online seller to send me my 2mm's
Posted by: alice at Mar 10, 2006 12:52:34 PM
Is that the one right by the gun shop? I've been there. I got treated like crap there, and my husband went to the gun shop and was treated like crap there, so it as just a bad customer service day.
That doesn't sound too bad though--she had dpns in metal and birch, and maybe you weren't too happy with the way it played out, but...so they didn't have bamboo. She offered two options and you wanted the one she didn't have. Sigh. A bummer, and not much to be done about it.
Have you tried the new ChiaoGoos? They've got quite a nice feel, and I dig the laser etching.
Posted by: spaazlicious at Mar 11, 2006 2:48:52 AM
She shouldn't have scowled at you. But next time, why not start out by asking whether they stock bamboo dpns, and avoid the angst all around?
Posted by: Rebecca at Mar 11, 2006 6:00:56 AM
Oh, I think you should've gone for more angst. "Do you sell any twigs for the knitting of socks?" Yank that chain, baby! teehee
Posted by: Kerstin at Mar 11, 2006 8:49:55 AM
Depending how small your needles need to be, buy bamboo skewers and sandpaper them. Then you can rub them with candles, then rub off excess wax with a washcloth. Bingo: size 2 or 3 dpns any length you like. And if they get all splintery, you can make more and more and more!
Posted by: isabel at Mar 11, 2006 12:09:30 PM
I love my Crystal Palace bamboo double pointed needles for knitting socks. I forget where I got mine, but Patternworks has them (I just double checked). No relation, just a happy customer...
www.patternworks.com
HTH
Posted by: Laura at Mar 12, 2006 3:47:15 AM
Was it the little yellow house next to the gun shop and the Oregano's pizza shop? If so, I totally understnad your frustration - most of my knitting friends won't set foot in that shop!
Posted by: Kate Lathrop at Mar 24, 2006 1:50:16 PM
