Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Occasionally

What happened to spring? I'm prostrate from the shock of renewed unseasonal heat, a visit to my dentist, and the news that The Point in the West Village is closing tomorrow. Here's what the store looked like this afternoon.

The Point

While there I picked up a lone skein of Alchemy Juniper, some patterns, and a copy of Carol's book, Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn. I also eavesdropped on the lamentations of the regulars. I was only an occasional customer, but I can empathize with those who loved it, and also am sad to see it go.

Loot

Current public health admonitions to practice good hygiene while in crowds, particularly frequent hand-washing, seem strangely timely for MDS&W. Fiber festivals are such celebrations of the tactile – one is constantly feeling yarn, fiber, animals, fabrics, not to mention greeting people (or squeezing by them) and then eating – and I only occasionally wash my hands. Hm....

Hand wipes and sanitizer

All the animal barns are equipped with gel dispensers, but this year I'm toting my own stash of wipes and sanitizer (minimum 60% alcohol – read why). After all, new occasions teach new duties.

4 comments:

Cindy G said...

I also considered the irony of timing. I'm flying (airport, enclosed plane) to see my sister - scheduled specifically to allow visit to MD S&W (huge crowds). Think I'd better add hand sanitizer to the packing list.

Bezzie said...

Yes, if it were Sheep Flu sweeping the nation--would we stop knitting? Hmm.

I can't believe how fast The Point closed. So sad. That was the first NYC YS I ever visited.

Kim said...

I was sad to hear about the Point closing. I've only been there a handful of times but I always had a good time sitting & knitting. The sock book you bought is an excellent one and nice firey yarn too. I am currently knitting the Rib Fantastic sock pattern from that book.

Nancy said...

Sorry to hear that the Point has closed. I love the yarn you purchased and would like to buy the sock book this weekend at MDSW -- and the Cookie A. book if it's there.

Purell is my hand sanitizer of choice...62% alcohol ;o)