Continuing Showers of Yarn

Since I didn’t arrive until about fifteen to nine, I was very surprised to find myself only third in the line waiting for a nearby Catholic Church’s rummage sale to start! Whoo-hee!

Once inside the gym I quickly scanned the goody-laden tables, which are arranged in the same way year and year: bake sale on the right, bric-a-brac on the back wall, toys/books far left, and soft goods in the center. I, of course, was looking for yarn. The closest I got was this beautiful autumn-hued cotton granny stripe afghan, which I’ll give to the foster care program. It’s Big, 52″ x 65″, and Beautiful, yet I think they only charged me $4.00!

The only price signs were on the clothing racks, so I didn’t know what I’d be charged for anything else until I got to check-out, where they keep a softly audible running tally as they bagged my treasures. Even though I had a large overflowing box, I still felt a small shock when they announced my grand total. In my head I was saying, Twenty-five Dollars?!, really? I don’t know what I was expecting. . .  fifteen?, Ten?, how about five, would Five have been low enough? ROFL!

I also got four wool skirts for rug hooking, pretty blue ones which have been rare at the thrifts, $2.00 each, so $8.00.

A long-sleeved tee for DH, two cds and a light brown cashmere sweater for me, $2.50.

A lovely mother of pearl necklace also for me, me, me, $1.00!! – photographed on the cashmere sweater I just mentioned.

Interesting how it changes color according to what it’s laying on.

I noticed a display of Mother of Pearl jewelry in a gift shop not too long ago. I hope they have some simple earrings that will look good with my ‘new’ necklace!

A bunny candy mold for recycling crayons, four fresh cans of playdoh, four beanie babies and two reels of grosgrain ribbon to freshen up teddy bears for foster kids. . . oh, let’s say $4.50 for all that.

Imagine light brown ‘milk chocolate’ crayon bunnies with a few striped Easter egg crayons. . . too cute!

Punch embroidery needles in three sizes (original tag, $9.99) and some purple crochet cotton, perhaps for experimenting with the needles,

plus this crochet pattern leaflet, all for $1.00.

I laughed out loud when I first saw the afghan on the cover. I thought it was a v-stitch pattern very similar to the Express V-Stitch Ripple that Mara and I worked so hard on! Once I got home I discovered there’s not a single v-stitch in Sr. Mary F. Strecker’s ‘Lacy Chevron’ pattern. It refers several times to shells instead. I’m intrigued!

As I was finally walking toward the check-out, I couldn’t help but notice the large clear plastic bag filled with yarn – in plain view behind the cashier’s chair! I gasped, pointing at it, and said I couldn’t imagine how I had missed seeing it earlier, that I’m always looking for yarn to crochet into charity afghans for foster kids. Without a second’s hesitation she said I could have it! I reacted, What!?! She explained that she’d set the yarn aside for the church’s prayer shawl ministry, but thought it could just as well be sold to me! This way the donated yarn will do twice the good; the church will get some money and the kids will get some blankets. It’s a win-win!

I paid $4.00 for the bag, which also held a little embroidery floss and three new sets of knitting needles. The #9 needles will go to my sister who teaches kids at her church how to knit and crochet, but I get to play with the interesting mix of Seven Pounds of yarn! I estimate that about three pounds of it is suitable for my charity blankets.

There are very few labels. The multiple balls of Royale are 100% mercerized cotton Fashion Crochet Thread #3.

Although this yarn does have labels, they show no brand name, only “SAMPLE, 85 gm, 51% Pamuk/49% Ackrilik”, which means cotton/acrylic. I wasn’t able to find it in the Ravelry yarn data base.  Maybe you recognize it? I think it’s dk weight.