After wandering around a few blocks, we found a nice little knitting shop in a walk-up. If you'd like to know more, check out Gotta Knit!. They ladies were really nice. They "helped" me pick out several yarns, but I still ended up with the yarn I wanted.
They asked me to pick my preferred size needles and knit up a swatch so they could make up the pattern for me. Silly, silly. I could have told them how many it would be. It is the single most common needle/weight I work with (primarily because I'm lazy). So, after about three inches of stockinette, over 16 stitches, I handed in my swatch. It was promptly pulled from the needle and measured. Guess what? She got 4.92 stitches to the inch. I said they were silly. So she filled in the blanks on the pattern and asked if I needed needles. Every knitter needs more needles. Especially when she's only packed the 16" 6 and 8's she needs for the current project. I settled on a nice Addi-Turbo, size 8, 24" length.
Then she rang me up. I paid way too much for the needles and a little too much for the fiber. I'm still happy about the purchase, though. It's not every day you get to go shopping in NYC (well, if you don't live there, that is).
The yarn is Trendsetter Yarn, Tonilita, in color Mossy Tree (2371). Check out more of their yarn at Trendsetter Yarns. I liked the greens and they match my vest I have for not-so-cold days. There really isn't a pattern to the color change. I really like that. It is just a tube, about 20" long and probably 21" around. Pull it over your head and use it to make a fashion statement while keeping your noggin, ears and neck warm. Better than a hoodie.... probably would go great WITH a hoodie. Layers, must have layers for New England winters.
One of the ladies also showed us her poncho knit up in beaver and rabbit fur. If you are interested in this, check out FurYarn.com. It was absolutely beautiful. I would not have been surprised to see it in the fur district. The price tag wasn't that different from what you'd see in the fur district, either. (Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of the young man wearing an orange fur coat IN the fur district. I think we're all lucky I forgot my camera.)
I have survived NYC. I survived the subway, I survived several cab rides (although it was close a few times) and I ate dinner in the Empire State Building (there is a Chipotle on the ground level). I shopped at most of the shoe stores on 34th Street, but purchased nothing. I'd never want to live there, but it was neat to visit.
