I started this post over a week ago but I never could quite finish it. I hope you find it was worth waiting for!
So, Thursday night the market place was open for students only. The line was a bit long... apparently extending into classrooms at the other end of the market place.
I've done the line at Stitches West. No thanks. So I ate the rest of my Thai food that I'd picked up at a cart. I will say, I noticed the people in line at Sock Summit were nicer than those waiting at Stiches West. My only guess is that Stitches is almost exclusively about buying while Sock Summit includes classes. Are we more cerebral? Or are people just afraid to cut off someone that may end up being in their classes the next day?
But I doubt you're here for my thoughts on line etiquette!
My goal on Thursday was to walk through the entire market place without buying any yarn. Money is tight right now (Sock Summit itself being a poorly-timed event, pocket-wise) and I have an enormous stash already so it seems silly to buy too much.
I made it almost two rows before I broke that promise.
But there is a perfectly reasonable explanation (nods her head).

Enough yarn for socks, a little mini skein (should I ever do colorwork), a couple stitch markers, various natural lotions and creams inspired for knitters, two free patterns (afghan - kind of blah; mittens - hurray).

I'm really not sure which yarn is in the picture above. I put two tags there because they were loose in the bag. Story book yarn or Happy Fuzzy yarn, maybe. But it also looks like Pico Accuardi yarn. Mystery yarn.
But, the real reason (wink, nudge) is that included in the packet was a number for a drawing for a free iPad. About six months ago, almost immediately after finally getting a computer to replace mine that died a year ago, I managed to tip an entire mug of coffee on Partner's MacBook. Ruined. And we're back to one computer again. I didn't win. But I had to try. And I got yarn.
Two more rows and I found a great booth. As you may know, I try not to buy anything from China and so I always try to find the source for the indie dyer's base yarn. I'd just had a mildly annoying experience with a booth operator that told me that it was a big trade secret where someone's yarn comes from. I told her I wanted to know china/not china not the name of the mill. She was a bit suspicious and said I'd have to wait and talk to the dyer who might tell me. I'm going to pretend she didn't quite understand my intentions.
But I walked into this next booth and asked where her yarn came from. And her response (paraphrased)?
"I don't know! But the person I get my yarn from is over there and you can go ask them. Tell them it's me and they can tell you which base yarn it is and where it comes from."
I guess someone forgot to tell her about the secret.
I found out her yarn doesn't come from China. And, since this colorway kept selling, and she'd been so sweet, I just could help but [justify as completely rationale and within my guideline to] buy yarn.
Wonderland Dyeworks, Ocean Cliff colorway. Isn't that a perfect name?

A couple rows later I met Karin from the Periwinkle Sheep. After chatting with her, I only made it half way before the market place closed - I guess two hours isn't enough time for me!
Friday was the day of my migraine and the thought of completing a transaction was too much.
So Saturday and I had only bought three skeins of yarn! A bit addled from my Lithuanian heels and toes class, I still managed to finally finish the second half of the market place. Working my way back through, I found this great little company, Hanks in the Hood (or Etsy). The cost is exceptional because they have a mill and so have lower costs.
As an aside, I've spent too much time in cities - I assumed it was a dying team from the inner city (hood), but it's actually because they are near Mt Hood. Of course.
I saw this yarn, saw the name - Starry Night - and thought it was a perfect capture of Vincent Van Gogh's colors. Ironically, when I mentioned it to the dyer, she seemed very confused and admitted it wasn't her inspiration at all. Ha!

I also bought some mohair/cashmere/merino mill ends for my sister-in-law's birthday. They are already gifted and I forgot to get a picture. Again, time flew past and the market place closed before I could get back to Karin's booth.
Sunday. I discovered in class that the market place was closing before our class was over in the afternoon. What?! Lunch time I'm at Karin's booth and ready to buy. I'd spied this little guy the first night:

tree frog
And then I spy that Karin is having a sale. Buy 2, get 1 free. Perfect! I'm going to make a much larger shawl out of some of her yarn!
Oxblood Lily - I love the way the orange radiates from under the purple.
I'm ready to check out and waiting in line when I spy a sample sweater. I remembered when Karin had started a little KAL with her yarn to make Mythos. Frankly, at the time I thought the sweater was interesting but not that attractive. But worked up in Sweet Plum, it looked wonderful. Three skeins and I'd have a sweater.
But what is a girl to do? Put back the Tree Frog and do the sweater in 3 skeins of Oxblood Lily? Or ignore the sweater and buy what I intended? Or, just buy the 4th skein?
Ugh! Decisions. Back to class I went and thought about it.
Some of us snuck away for a break from knitting to shop. Two women from my class beat me to Karin's and were buying yarn, which made me extremely happy.
I am helpless to resist yarn and sweet people. Karin is sweet too - she was rocking my yarn while I was hemming and hawing - it was very cute. There was only one thing to do...

And then round out the purchases with two more... Because, if you're going to buy one more, you might as well buy 2 more and get another free skein. Right??

on the left - Suits Him and right, Crack in the Sidewalk
To prove I wasn't the only city dweller at the marketplace, one of Karin's helpers (from Portland) thought the colorway was Crack on the Sidewalk.
Here are all my lovelies from Karin's booth. Don't you want some too?
What's that you say? You see a seventh skein? Ah, well, the sweet Karin snuck an extra skein of Sweet Plum into my bag after I bought the yarn. I have plans for that sweet gift....
A wonderful and nearly almost kind-of reasonable haul from four days of yarn shopping. Now, does anyone know where I can buy some free time to knit it all???