I actually showed some restraint at Stitches yesterday–I took Chicken and we both took floor classes, and that was one hour that we didn’t spend buying stuff. But that was not the only strategy in my campaign to not indulge in the excesses that almost ate into our mortgage last year–in fact, I was sort of proud of myself.
Strategy 1: Sign up for a class. They give you free yarn and needles and you spend some of your time off the floor.
Strategy 2: Since you’re going to be on a train for 2-3 hours anyway, bring yarn for three-four different projects. This strategy has two advantages.
A. It reminds you how much yarn you have already
B. It’s frickin’ heavy, so you’re not quite so tempted to buy more stuff to slog around the enormously crowded floor.
Strategy 3: Hit the Socks That Rock booth first, so you can buy your STR and not spend a crapload of money being pissy because you missed out on the best colors.
Strategy 4: Know your LYS inventory–what’s coming and what they don’t have. This was invaluable. If you look at the picture above, you can see some bright fuschia/lavender Jitterbug sportweight sockyarn. I knew Babetta was getting some of this in, so I bought two skeins–it’s Ladybug’s favorite color, and I’m planning a sweater for her. Two skeins at Stitches, two when Babetta gets hers in, and, hullo, it’s actually a plan! This also is what drove me to the Jojoland booth–I know Babetta doesn’t have Jojoland, and I loves it, so instead of getting distracted by all the pretty stuff that I know I’ll have access to soon, I got something really rare. And so gorgeous, I haven’t even used last years skeins, because it would feel like violating some sort of rare, ancient portrait or something. These skeins, I almost broke out on the train back, but I was spending my train time on Strategy 5. It also kept me from going hog-wild on the malabrigo, because I know that sweet, sweet slide into sin is on it’s way. (Babetta isn’t just a small-business owner, she’s an extraordinarily gifted yarn-pusher as well.)
Strategy 5: Prepare for the odd sale too good to pass up. I started another sweater for Ladybug on the train because these skeins of her favorite color were 1/2 off, and so soft and perfect, and probably discontinued, and I could drop another change-chunk on them because I hadn’t lost my mind beforehand.
Strategy 6: Save up more money. Next year, I’m hitting the Interlacement booth for a sweater for myself, and I am showing my checkbook no mercy!
Strategy 7: Buy more than one unbearably cute al-paca al-paca. Chicken bought the one in the picture for herself, and Ladybug actually hissed at Chicken when she tried to reclaim it. Somethings are just meant to be stolen forever and never shared. Especially if you’re two.
Strategy 2 is one I have to remember when I go to Canberra (fibre fair) in a couple of months.
Lady bug looks good enough to eat, (one of my mum’s best friends always said “when they are little they are good enough to eat, and when they grow up you wonder why you didn’t”), its even funnier with a heavy Dutch accent.
hugs
Love the strategies. I wonder if they work at conferences where they are selling books. I always seem to come staggering home with more than I can carry.
It sounds like the two of you had a great time and chose wisely.
wow, your kid hissed?! the strategies sound like they worked.
Reads like you two ladies had a good time.
I’m saving my pennies for a wheel. Yes, I’m on that kick again. But in the middle of March, I might fall down with my credit card.
I want to come with you – I want to learn stuff and roll in yarn and decimate the mortgage!!
But I’m glad you got to go and I got to see the results! (Sigh!)
Brilliant strategising Amy!! Love it. It’s a tough call though and you have to be strong (not all the time though).
Kate and I are waiting for Stitches East this year. If it’s in Baltimore, we can take the train and have our own knit along on the train. We’ll write down your strategies so we don’t get into too much trouble.