Ok, so yesterday was the big opening day of the Webs yearly tent sale. I had never been to this sale – which is a shameful admission, I realize! But 2019 would be the year to finally bite the bullet and do it. My friend Tom, ever the enabler of all things fiber related AND of my brief forays into the world beyond, INSISTED that he would drive me to the sale and back and encourage any and all purchases. With such a trusty guide, I really had no choice but to take the plunge!
We braved the traffic and arrived just as the store opened on a magnificent, warm sunny spring Saturday. We had to park in an adjacent overflow lot and thread our way through cars to a narrow hole in the fence between the lots. Much like Dante, after having completed his infernal journey, I was met with this wondrous and ethereal sight on the other side:
Virgil…er, Tom hung back to defend our shopping cart to the teeth while I plunged into the melee, grabbing hanks willy-nilly out of the $3.50 bins, scuffling and bantering with my fellow sinners, and generally having a heck of a good time. We then entered the second and third circles, these within the warehouse, and piled weight into our already overburdened shopping cart.
Finally, after many hours spent on the ever-spiraling path, the sea of all wisdom (that’s Tom) guided me toward the long line of fellow penitents waiting to purchase their goods. The rather brusque and exasperated angel at the register took one look at my haul and raised her eyebrow in a knowing way. Yes, we did fill seven large bags with yarn. It can’t be helped.
I made the trip and lived to tell the tale, and now I hope to make the Webs Tent Sale a yearly adventure. Tom has offered to guide me once again next May. In the meantime, I must start knitting my way to salvation. Yes, it will take an eternity of labor and repentance. I know the journey will be worth it.
Your words,dulcet and descriptive as they are, do not include the joy and reward found watching your face as it betrays your mind analyzing a newfound hank, and then working it into a myriad of possibilites and projects with but a moment to assess. Then a minute fraction of time to HESItate (never big enough to be a pause…) and into the cart or back to ‘the shelf of eternity.’ To know how many faces will smile, how many times Bridget will go “oh, wait, no.. do this…” is to double the afterglow of such a delightful day. It is also to wonder why there is not a “Ring of Craftery” to confront those of this world so afflicted. Anywhere, anytime dear Bridget. And thanks.
Perhaps the desperate and all-consuming need to craft is punishment (and fulfillment) enough! Thank you to you, my sage guide!
HI Bridget,
I missed seeing you but I too had fun. My friend and I get a later start (she works until past midnight every night). So we got there at noon. There was a huge line at the check out but not so much at the sale bins. They continue to fill the bins all day so I don’t think we missed much. I got 4 sweaters worth of yarn plus a few extras for smaller things. I only got one walmart reusable bag full this year, but I still have 5 sweaters worth of yarn from last year (out of 7 purchased). We checked out about 2 with no line, had lunch, then realized that we had miss calculated how much we needed of one yarn and went back (that was when I found the 4th sweater worth of yarn). Checked out again with no line and on the road by 4. Have you been to Rhinebeck yet?
Hi Elizabeth! Ooh, it sounds like you did extremely well for yourself! Four sweaters worth is a great haul! I really only planned out and purchased one sweater worth of yarn, and then just let the inspiration take me where it willed for the rest! Lots of smaller projects and one-skein wonders and fill-ins for yarn already in my stash. And it STILL added up to a giant cart full! I have NOT been to Rhinebeck, but that shall be next on the list!