The Sweatshop of Love Blog

I had a 50% off one online purchase at JoAnn.com, so I just assumed that that would probably take care of the shipping and I would be paying close to the $8.99 normal price for the Fishermen’s Wool I needed. Little did I know that shipping is $5.99! So even with my coupon I would still be looking at a total of $10.49 and a 7-14 day waiting period for my yarn. In 14 days I’ll be two days away from going back to Michigan for Labor Day weekend where I can get the yarn at Hobby Lobby, with a 40% coupon, for like $5.

Sometimes it’s hard being Dutch. I know in my head that we are talking about very small amounts of money, but can my heart justify spending an extra $5.49 for a skein of yarn just because I’m inpatient? It’s not even like I’m anywhere near wearing this sweater. It’s AUGUST, for Christ’s sake.

Then I remembered there is now a Michael’s in Chicago! In the South Loop. A quick google maps search and it is 5.2 miles away, a 10.4 round trip on my bike. My legs are coming off an extremely inactive trip in Michigan, and an extremely fatty weekend.

1) $10.49. Possible two week wait time.

2) Like $5.00. Almost three week wait time, get yarn over Labor Day in Michigan.

3) $8.99. 10.4 mile round trip to Michael’s, where they might not even have it.

I go on Michaels.com. If you sign up for their newsletter you get a 50% off one item coupon. Option 3 it is!

I bike down after work. I take it slow; it’s hot, I’m out of shape, but I make it and I’m feeling good! Michael’s is in that new mall with the new Whole Foods (which I shielded my eyes from and ran quickly by).

That is Better!

Upon entering I see Halloween displays! Still kind of ridiculous, but Halloween is two solid holidays and almost two months before Christmas, so I’m cool with it. They are excited about Halloween! I almost am, too.

Suck it, JoAnn.

I find the yarn section which is much smaller than JoAnn’s, so I get a little nervous. I find the Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool and sigh. FOILED AGAIN!

YES!!!

But wait! What is behind those ugly free patterns? MY YARN! It was hiding, but I grab one and run back up to the front of the store like someone is going to steal it from me.

With my 50% coupon? $4.95 baby! I am feeling so good I don’t even feel how much my legs hurt as I climbed the escalator back to my bike.  But oh. Oh did I feel it through the headwind all the way back home. But I had my yarn! I could start working on my sweater again!

GAH! SEED STITCH FOIL!

I get home and realize the next thing I have to do is the seed stitch front panel. The SEED STITCH FRONT PANEL!

I. Hate. Seed. Stitch.

I know I have to do it, I know! I knew I had to do it coming in. And I knit a couple rows. Like, 6.

… and now I’m looking for my next project

Vogue Cropped Jacket Body Finished!

While I work my way through the pictures from this weekend (friend in town=CRAZINESS!), I wanted to pop up and say hi! I don’t think I’ve been away from you this long ever. I miss ya.

I mentioned before that I was getting low on the Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool for my Vogue Cropped Jacket. I worked on it a little bit this weekend, enough to know that once Elizabeth left town I would need to high tail it over to JoAnn and get another skein.

But look how cute! I finished the whole body! I love this sweater, it came together really well. I had a little problem attaching the sleeves and the body for the yoke decreases, and I fudged the numbers and just worked with what I had. So far I’m really happy with it! I even slipped it on despite the heat to see what it looked like. Pieces left? The front panels and neckline.

So I battled the storms this afternoon and made it to JoAnn, where I was met with one of the most painful sights ever:

I Mean, Seriously?

It is August 17th. I feel bad enough scheduling holiday themed classes in September, but to pull out your Christmas yarn on AUGUST 17th?! Something told me that this trip wasn’t going to end well.

I found the Fishermen’s Wool section. I looked up:

Close...

I looked down:

Nope.

Huh. I asked someone and apparently JoAnn doesn’t carry the Maple Tweed I got at Hobby Lobby in Michigan.

So, you have it right. I have to now order a skein of Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in Maple Tweed online.

But at least I don’t have to look at Christmas yarn on JoAnn.com.