Alexia Bautista » yarn

New sweater: “WOOF”!

Lex — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:34:52 +0000

Just added another fun sweater to my Etsy shop, Knit Purl Geek Girl. It’s a bit big for our Bella, but it’ll definitely be a great sweater for a dog of a larger breed or maybe just a little pudgy. :)

New sweater: “Belly Bones”

Lex — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:03:34 +0000

Just added this little sweater to Knit Purl Geek Girl. It’s pretty simple, with just a repeating bone motif around the sweater, but still fun and cozy nonetheless. :)
Next up: I started a medium blue sweater last night, doubled up on a lightweight yarn. I haven’t decided on what pattern or motif to do on it yet. I was thinking of perhaps doing a large snowflake or maybe a few small ones. Or maybe something else altogether like a small flock of white birds flying away. Hmm.

My New Etsy Store is Now Open!

Lex — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:11:56 +0000

With temperature starting to dip below 10C, it’s definitely time to bring out the sweaters. Doggie sweaters, that is. :)

Knit Purl Geek Girl, my new Etsy shop, is now open! Right now, there are only four sweaters listed, but I have another two in the wings that just need those last finishing details.

If you think you’re experiencing déja vu, you’re pretty close. Yep, around this time last year, I opened “Knick Knack Pack”, my first Etsy store. After taking a break from knitting during the summer and after an inspired new, catchier shop name, I felt like starting fresh. And why not? All the previous sweaters were sold, so there wasn’t even any old stock to carry over. A new products for a new season! Feel free to stop by, maybe pick up a sweater or just tell your friends about it. :)

Also featured on these blogs:
Oh I Love That (Thanks, Jenny!) and Bara Litten (Thanks, Katharine!)

Take Your Yarn and Shove It

Lex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:23:05 +0000

Okay, so it’s not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but right now, I’m kinda irked at the local yarn shop, The Purple Purl.

The short version of my problem with them is that they wouldn’t let me bring my dog in the store or even let me carry her because they are now considered a “cafe”. Wow. Apparently, a coffee maker you bought in Wal-Mart, tucked in the corner of your shop makes you a cafe. My beef with them is that not only did no one stop me when I first walked into the store and peruse for a good 3-4 minutes (it’s not a big shop, by any means), there was also no indication anywhere on their door or front window that pets are not allowed, you know, like how other REAL businesses have them up. Also, there’s no indication on their web site either, which would’ve been nice, but granted, that’s not something you’d normally see on a website anyway.

Living in the downtown core now, finding yarn places is a bit of a bitch and without a car, it’s even more of a hassle. And without a Metropass, wasting round-trip cash (and time!) when you’re already low on funds just adds more fuel to the fire. I purposely didn’t go to The Knit Cafe (which is technically a shorter streetcar ride) because I know pets are not allowed in any store that has food. Had I known pets weren’t allowed in The Purple Purl, I would’ve left Bella at home, no hesitation, no big whoop. I only brought her because I thought she’d enjoy an outing. I could’ve left her outside for a few minutes, but it had also rained during the day and it was fairly gross and chilly to leave her there. And frankly, I would’ve done it, regardless of Bella’s whimpering, but I chose not to, just to spite them.

I was planning to spend a good chunk of money on pricier wool yarns because I got a customer request for a specific kind of doggie sweater, but I’m taking my business elsewhere.

the purple purl

Lex — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:40:38 +0000

Okay, so I stand corrected.
There is another yarn store in the downtown(ish) area: The Purple Purl, over on Queen Street East. It’s probably just as far from me as going to Lettuce Knit in Kensington Market, but I passed it recently on a streetcar and in a quick glance, it looks like a great place to shop or even just hang out. Nice and spacious, full of crafty bits. It looks almost like a Loomis and Toles, but with yarn everywhere. I’d like to go visit sometime soon. I just need a new project in mind. Hmm, what can I make? :)

a fruitless afternoon

Lex — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:39:28 +0000

Just days ago, the city braced for a snowstorm, which didn’t seem as bad as I expected. Today was fairly mild in temperature, so I ventured out in search of some crocheting/knitting supplies. I can’t believe how hard it is to find the simplest of crafts supplies in the downtown core. After looking online for what’s in the area, I decided to walk, um, about 6-7 big city blocks to where I thought all my supply needs would be fulfilled. I left there with only a 3mm crochet hook and wasn’t able to get the other things I had hoped to find there.

Bah.

Why are there no longer any kind of crafts store in the Eaton Centre? Does the world really need that many clothing stores and food courts (some eateries are even duplicated in different areas of the mall)? And why is the closest “Michael’s” in Etobicoke? Are you frikkin‘ kidding me? I swear, if I had the money, I’d open up a shop right on the first floor of my condo – which coincidentally enough, is currently available retail space. Hmm, intriguing thought.