oh, it’s great to be visiting a city—i love being able to walk everywhere, enjoy street activity, the parks, and the people watching. and don’t even get me started on the food
one yummy treat followed by another all weekend long. i’m trying not to overindulge, but i have to say, it’s difficult to resist. from breakfast to dinner, there are delicious things to sample that we don’t see enough of at home. good thing i’m just here for the weekend and there’s a lot of walking to do.
the trip in on friday was easy and quick. i worked on my neon sock while i traveled, which i had barely got going before i left.
and right from the airport waiting area, it has been a conversation starter throughout my weekend. i got a few inches done on the plane trip (which was very short).
my friend hope picked me up when i arrived and after we had some breakfast, we had a nice day walking around downtown philly, visiting yarn shops and talking. after a bit we settled in for coffee and knitting
hope wound her yarn (i so want to make a joke about her balls, but i can’t think of anything clever. let’s just say they speak for themselves). i worked on the sock some more
look at it grow. i’m trying to finish it so we have two whole socks to photograph pictures for the pattern release on wednesday (the day i leave for sock camp).
in the evening, i had a yummy korean meal and good conversation with with craig and mark, followed by a gelato stop (see top photo) to top off the evening.
on saturday i didn’t have class til the afternoon, so after an excursion to use the gym and secure coffee, i lounged a little in my room and knit for a while on my lace scarf. unfortunately, the light in my room does not make for good photos so i’ll have to show you that when i get home.
just before noon i set out to explore rittenhouse square a little and then headed to the ethical society, where one of my needlework heroes just happened to be speaking that day
how lucky can a girl get?? i just love kaffe fassett’s work and books. though not much of a color knitter (or maybe because i’m not), i’ve learned and been so inspired by his work. philly is the first stop on a tour he is undertaking to promote his newest book (it’s a quilting book, but a lot like his stitch pattern library—very inspirational). i feel so lucky to have been able to catch his talk.
i worked on the sock while i listened to him speak and got all the way through the heel and the pickup for the gusset. once again, it was an attention whore—almost no one walked by without commenting on the colorway (who knew??)
the event was organized by craig and laura, through their new shop, spool, which focuses on quilting and is located just next door to loop (where i’m teaching this weekend).
actually, i was lucky enough to be teaching in a space at spool—it was such a bright, inspiring room to work in with beatuiful light and fabrics all around
we had a really fun class, too—i taught advanced lace knitting for the afternoon, a class we added sort-of at the last minute that worked out really well, drawing a full house
we talked about all things lacy—well, actually, maybe not all, but a lot. every class is just a little different and afterward, i realize that oooh, we didn’t ever get to this or that point of topic, but we covered this other one more in-depth.
this group was actually pretty experienced already, so there was not a lot of new skills teaching to do, but we still managed to be surprised when the clock hit 5 pm. we worked some provisional cast-ons and some applied edging
and then we started the class project, which is a mini triangle shawl. we talked a LOT about yarn.
and of course, the sock.
i feel REALLY bad—this lady got so excited about my neon sock and even more excited about holding it up for the camera and i had such a nice conversation with her (plus, she’s an awesome knitter) but darned if her name will come back to me (really, i’m just awful, my apologies!)
but i do know this woman’s name—this is michelle, who came up from DC. she signed up for the beginning lace class, which we had to cancel (it was too last-minute for a good turnout). but she was really cool about that and gamely decided to go for the afternoon session instead and look at her—she’s knitting a triangle shawl and mastered applied edging and everything. i think she surprised herself a little yesterday.
our good friend rachael was there as well (left) with her friend susan—you all know rachael as an intrepid test knitter. i finally got to meet her in person.
which is a very odd experience, heh—we email so much that i feel i know her very well, when actually, we’ve never met in the flesh. but anyway, now we have.
in fact, after class, i met rachael and her lovely husband scott for dinner at zahav for an incredible israeli meal. mmm. (i have to confess, i have a bit of a food hangover this morning. i’m sure i’ll be over it by lunch . . .)
anyway, getting to the restaurant presented an opportunity for more city walking and my route took me through the historic district this time—and at sunset, no less
i saw america’s first theatre, juxtaposed with a very modern sculpture just across the street
(i think this is in front of the neurological research society? ack, i know it’s something like that).
and cherry trees—they are everywhere in full bloom, heavily laden with floral decadence.
i like the pink cherry blossoms; most of the ones at home are white, but i prefer these darker trees. there are pear trees all busting out too, but honestly, they really pale next to the cherry trees . . .
and finally, independence square. i wish i had thought to leave more time to take pictures there, but as it was, i ran a tad late.
speaking of which, i have to stop soon—gotta get ready to check out of the hotel and make my way to today’s class (sweater fitness, i think it will be fun).
i have a full day of teaching ahead and then dinner with hope (indian—how spoiled am i this weekend?) and then, i’m flying home; i’m looking forward to that too; i miss david when i’m away.
see you back in ohio.
31 thoughts on “she’s a fine philly indeed”
Wow! Philly is treating you right! Nineteen years ago I spent three weeks in Philly, helping a friend get ready for her wedding. What a wonderfully diverse and walkable city.
I see you became acquainted with my favorite gelato place. 🙂
Philly is a fun town, and Spool (those fabrics make me drool!) and Loop are so cool! I wish I could have been there for the lace class.
Enjoy your indian dinner! We like Karma down at second and chestnut.
I can’t wait to hear about your London trip! I lived there for two summers back in the day and it was magical! Even knitted on an Aran sweater with Bainin wool on the train from London to Edinburgh and back. You’ll have a wonderful time! Great city!
An AMAZING post! Such an incredibly fun vicarious trip – thank you! Makes me want to pack my knits and head for SOMEWHERE!!!! Loved every section – seeing Kaffe must have been great. LOVE those polka dots at Spool and your neon sock is to die for. Many thanks –
Oh, that gelato looks gooood!! What a wonderful trip, and so cool to hear Kaffe Fassett speak. I have a few of his needlepoint kits that one day I will tempt to complete. I found I needed better light during the evenings. Everything is blooming here after our week of global warming. I’m very partial to the crab apple blossoms. I’m inspired to go take a walk to the BBG now!
I love that neon sock!
Sounds like you had a great time 🙂 Thanks for the post!
What a great post and a great sounding trip! I love the look of Spool – fun name for a quilting shop. Safe travels!
Oh, how I love that you miss David while you are gone. You two are so sweet together from what I see on the blog.
And you trip to Philly looks so lovely. Enjoy the rest of your time!
How can I get a pattern for the incredible neon sock….It truly is bright and fun to look at. “-)
ok, great neon sock, what is the yarn, pls respond to email if possible, thanks so much
What a great trip! Philly is so awesome! Check out Yogorino in Rittenhouse Square (20th and Locust) for dessert after your Indian food. It’s Italian frozen yogurt – tart and delicious and healthy too.
Safe travels home!
Wow! Looks like you had a great time! Your descriptions make me wish I could be there knitting and eating too.
Anne,
It was a great class and I enjoyed talking to the ladies at my table! I’m glad that it worked out that I could join the afternoon session. I’m looking forward to the pattern for the neon sock!
Michelle
i love seeing travel pictures, and the top one is especially delicious – so many wonderful spots could wait down that path. i also love seeing the pictures from the quilt store – so bright and colorful. i’ve been craving color lately, i think the gloom of february really took it’s toll this year, and i’m still not quite sated by spring.
I loved watching the sock’s progression through your post! It looks like you’ve had just an amazing trip (any travel that includes gelato gets an A+ in my book).
Awesome 🙂
I am oh so very jealous! A lace class from my favorite knitter? Do you think you will ever come to Californis(Northern)?
Also- question- I seem to be unable to read charts. Maybe I’m missing a gene…The local teacher just seems to push me to use them.
Am I limiting myself by following symbols instead.
And thank you, by the way for publishing your patterns using both.
Looks like so much fun. I definitely will attend one of your class one day or maybe you would like to do one here?
Nice trip! And… I love your sock! Very nice colors!
What a great field trip Anne–it sounds like you had a great time. I love the neon sock! I’m not at all surprised that it generated so many comments. I had some yummy gelato this weekend too–coconut (my fav) and lemon basil. Very refreshing. Safe travels!
Fantastic trip and loved the photos. We were in Philly in January. I stoppedin at Loop but missed the special guest author who was coming the following day. The neon sock is so fun.
I second Michelle’s comment above and hope you might come to Northern California for a lace class.
Oh isnt the gelato amazing??? Great pics!
I recognized your pic from Capogiro right away – best gelato I’ve ever had, and that includes during my trip to Italy! Sigh – Philly was only my home for 5 yrs, but sometimes I really miss it…
I’m so glad you had a great time!
PS – the sculpture is in front of the Willis Eye Institute 🙂
Anne- What could be better? Gelato, knitting and Kaffe Fassett. I am a huge fan of his.
I am so jealous of folks who got to go to your class in Philly! Philly is my hometown but I’m living in the midwest these days (central IL). I love Loop; it’s such a great LYS.
I agree that Philly is a very beautiful, very walkable city, with amazing food. You definitely did it up my style!
It looks like a wonderful weekend! I wish I could have been there — I love Philadelphia, and I love the good company there (and I’d like to try that Israeli place, too). Welcome home!!
Lovely photos, as always, but one thing I really must know–what is that delicious-looking puddingy stuff in the second photo? Gelato? That looks worth a trip to Philly, all by itself! Yumyumyumyum….
I love quilts! Even though I’m not much of a seamstress, I love being around them, and I would really enjoy hearing Kaffe Fassett talk about quilting, I believe.
I haven’t seen many matches between yarn and pattern as effective as that sock. Really smashing!
What a great weekend you had ……. when you are teaching a sock class how do you recommend eliminating nasty “ladders” …I didn’t used to have this problem but am having it right now …. thx, Jill
What luck to be there at the same time as Kaffe Fassett! His sense of color and line just blow me away.
I hope you at least ressured Hope that it’s not at all unusual to have assymetrical balls? You know… some people are sensitive that way…
Ahem. Sorry. I’m just not as… classy as you
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