It's not often I get to go off on a Jaunt these days, it's quite rare in fact. I think that's partly due to no longer having a car, and partly cos Little B ever so slightly limits the type and length of jaunting I can do. He is generally pretty adaptable and will happily accompany me wherever I go, but still. He hampers proceedings a little it has to be said.
Do you get what I mean when I refer to a jaunt? It means a proper little pleasure-trip out and about somewhere. A trip that you know is going to bring happiness and enjoyment. Sounds good eh? And that's because it is!
Jaunting in Good Weather is the best. It's not strictly essential to have blue skies and sunshine, but it really does help elevate the happy feelings above the norm.
Jaunting with Good Friends is also the best. Again it's not strictly essential to have company (I love solo jaunting, as in my occasional shopping trips), but having someone to share the experience with does make it extra special.
I love to plan my Jaunts, I love the happy anticipation it creates for days/weeks in advance. Now in my world there are two types of Jaunt :: you can either Jaunt Freely, or you can Jaunt with Intent. I like both kinds. I like the ambling, spontaneous, take-it-as-it-comes kind of a day, but I also really do enjoy having a sense of Purpose, something specific and exciting to give the day a focus.
On Thursday, I was doing the latter and Jaunting with Intent. I had a definite purpose for being in this beautiful town on a beautiful day with a fab friend. And oh I was super-charged with excitement!!
So what was I up to?
What made my feet skip and my heart boom-boom and my face smile broadly?
It has nothing to do with these pictures of Autumnal trees, plants and beautiful Florists displays.
These were merely distractions as we walked to our Ultimate Destination.
We were walking slowly cos we had Little B out of the pushchair and on his Little Feet.
Plod, plod.
Happy feet and big smiles.
Of course. It was a yarn thing. It was a day of Intentional Yarn Shopping.
This is one wall in a most gorgeous and inspirational shop :: Create in Ilkley. I just love love love this little shop. The moment you step through the door you are warmly welcomed and feel at home. I wish I had taken more photos to show you the inspiring displays and to give you a feel for the warmth and vibrancy that resides here. It's marvelous!
I am not a regular visitor here, but I am well known here, so there is always lots of chat and catching up with yarn-related things. Oh I do like a good yarny chitchat! But as super as it is to pass the time of day with chitchat, I was really there first and foremost to purchase yarn. Blanket Yarn no less.
It's been a surprisingly long while since I had a blanket on the go, I finished up the Sweet Flower Granny blanket at the end of January. Since then I've been umming and ahhhing over what to do next blanket wise, chopping and changing my mind a gazillion times. Blocks or rows? Squares or stripes? Something familiar or something new? Which should it be?
Which yarn to use has been debated a gazillion times too. I finally settled on a yarn I know well and absolutely adore :: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. You may remember I used this yarn to make a couple of blankets for Little B :: the Baby Granny and the Baby ZigZag. It's fabulous stuff to work with, the colours are stunning and once it's hooked up it transforms into the most amazing blanket material. Substantial, warm, and oh-so-soft, everything a snuggle-blanket should be.
This was our lunch time location, a small picnic spot half way up Ilkley moor. We sat there in the glorious afternoon sunshine, my friend and I, and ate a delicious picnic lunch interspersed with some serious yarn-fondling.
Yes my friends, the blanket yarn is In The Bag.
The stash. Has. Landed.
Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After lunch and some seriously giddy yarn appreciation (smoochy smooch), I turned my attention to the surrounding nature.
Such abundance and colour and a serious touch of "Autumn-nosity" (a sweet Heather word that)
The trees were soooo beautiful.
Perfectly Septemberish.
September is a good month to begin hooking a blanket I feel, I can't tell you how hugely excited I am about the prospect. I have really missed not having a big project on the go. Oh the yarn, the yarn, the yarn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is Divine, no other word for it. I can't stop thinking about it.
So I expect you would like to see my divine yarn wouldn't you? Would like to know which colours I've gathered together perhaps? Maybe you might even like to know what sort of blanket I'll be working on too?
Of course you would!
Only I'm not quite ready to reveal it just yet. Soz. You see, it turns out I made a small mistake with my colour choices, and one of the colours simply isn't right and needs to be changed for another. Oddly enough, it was Little Man who spotted it. He totally amazes me with his instinct for colour as he is not particularly arty. Yet he has an amazing feel for what works and what doesn't and it's the most interesting experience asking for his advice. Sweet boy, he really is.
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Thanks for providing, yet another, lovely, vicarious adventure! So glad you had fun! And, thank you for tucking in the best nugget of all, the bit about finding the right color yarn, with some help!
Posted by: Jean | September 20, 2011 at 04:06 AM
Intentional yarn shopping sounds like the perfect jaunt to me! And I, too, love that Debbie Bliss yarn. So soft and lovely.
Posted by: CrochetBlogger | September 20, 2011 at 02:54 AM
Those pictures are absolutely breathtaking.
I also approve of your choice in yarns. That cashmerino is gorgeous stuff. I've knit with the aran version. Sadly, I can't afford so much of the stuff to make a blanket with! I can't wait to see your colours!
Posted by: Dori | September 20, 2011 at 01:16 AM
I hope you remembered to wear a hat whilst on the moor! (On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at)
Posted by: Issy | September 20, 2011 at 12:27 AM
Can I just say that I've been reading your blog for about 3 months now and am steadily becoming a big fan!? (Unfortunately I don't tend to comment because I usually read from my phone - which doesn't allow comments... :( )But I need to ask... where were you 2 years ago when I lived not too far from Ilkley?? We could have met! We could have shared hooky goodness and gone Jaunting with Intent together! You could have gotten me into all things hooky a lot earlier! Now, however, I have to make do with seeing all your gorgeous hooky-ness via your blog and I am definitely green with envy. It's partly down to your blog and party due to a friend of mine that I have now (finally) entered the world of hooky happiness... and I'm loving it!
Keep posting, I'm loving getting your posts direct to my phone to inspire me in this new craft I'm learning! ... and maybe next time I'm down in your part of the country - which does happen occasionally - maybe we can meet up and you can introduce me to that lovely shop??!
Posted by: Anthea Goodman | September 19, 2011 at 11:31 PM
I love how excited you get about this stuff. It rubs off in a good way. Looking forward to seeing your colors- but you are kind of a stinker for teasing us with no revealing! ;)
Posted by: Jennie | September 19, 2011 at 11:23 PM
Jaunting with intent is always good. I'm going on a jaunt myself this Friday with definite intent. My friends and I however call our outings lurking with intent.
Posted by: Karen | September 19, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Oh! You tease! Can't wait to see the stash and hear your plans! X
Posted by: Alison | September 19, 2011 at 10:21 PM
A lovely jolly jaunt! It looks like the weather made it an even lovelier day than it already was. I like jaunts too. It sounds so much better than just a day trip! x
Posted by: PinkCatJo | September 19, 2011 at 10:10 PM
I would be more than thrilled to pop by to go for a jaunt with you any time. You know I'm always up for a good jaunt. Not matter where the jaunt would take us, I'm sure we would have a jaunting good time. However, I may get stuck at that wall of yarn and you would have to drag me away. One can dream, can't we.
Posted by: The Garden Bell - Kate | September 19, 2011 at 09:57 PM
Sounds like the perfect day Lucy! Can't wait to see what you have planned for that lovely baby cashmerino.
Posted by: Ren | September 19, 2011 at 09:52 PM
What a lovely jaunt you had! The weather seems like it was beautiful with those blue skies and you purchased yarn to boot. What could have been better? Can't wait to see your plans for another lovely blankie.
Posted by: Louise | September 19, 2011 at 09:50 PM
A yarn shop that provides buckets to put your yarn in, how wonderful!!!!!! Looking forward to this new project :-)
Posted by: Jennifer sew little | September 19, 2011 at 09:49 PM
Definitely going on a jaunt to ilkley. Been thinking about it for ages but didn't realise there was a great yarn shop!
Posted by: Liz Cumbo | September 19, 2011 at 09:29 PM
Still no Attic24 yarn?! ;)
Posted by: Elle | September 19, 2011 at 09:21 PM
Looking forward to seeing the colours and what you make. You had a lovely day yarn shopping.
Posted by: Kentish Keg-Meg | September 19, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Can't wait to see what you've picked and also what you create :)
Posted by: VintageVicki | September 19, 2011 at 08:58 PM
OMG there is a Betty's and a fabulous yarn shop in Ilkley? Why haven't I figured this out before LOL!!!!! Next visit to the in-laws in the UK - I'll be there! Thanks for the great post - I think I will have to do a "jaunt" myself soon!
Posted by: Anne | September 19, 2011 at 08:57 PM
ohh! Exciting that you're embarking on another blanket adventure - Whoop! I'm looking forward to seeing the colours. Love the fact that Little Man is giving you some tips and advice!
Posted by: Liz-justclickyourheels123 | September 19, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Lovely post and pics,I understand completely; I can leg it to the nearest Phildar shop in ten minutes at a push for a quick hyperventilate!
Posted by: Linda | September 19, 2011 at 08:35 PM
I was very taken by Create when I was in Ilkley - I left my husband in Betty's, stopped off in Duttons for Buttons, and spent so long on the sofa in Create that he thought I must be lost or have met with an accident! Even the cakes at Betty's didn't lead me astray, so intent was I on the totality of the yarn experience! In fact, I am almost surprised that you made it back - I still dream about that place . . .
Pomona x
Posted by: Pomona | September 19, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Oh, dear! Such a tease, this post! Your Autumn pictures are glorious. And that yarn wall: m-m-m-m-m!
Posted by: DebbyMc | September 19, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Lucy! I was practically holding my breath in anticipation of seeing some glorious, squidgy, hooky yarn, but bAm! None there :( Oh deep disappointment abounded. PleeAse don't keep us waiting too long for the yarny reveal, please pleeeaase xx
Posted by: Mo - North East Scotland | September 19, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Sounds lovely, i love the autumn-nosity photos... i was out yesterday taking similar pictures! Look forward to seeing your next crochet creation.
Posted by: louise | September 19, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Sweet post, i have to say i just love wool shops too, its like being in a garden centre, you know you feel like "i could just stay here all day", Wool shops are the same, not to mention the fact they seem to exude warmth & coziness, perfect september shopping. look forward to seeing your new blankie :D
Karen x
Posted by: karen | September 19, 2011 at 08:17 PM