Before I have written in KR Forum that it is quite difficult to get sock yarn in Japan. Recently I confirmed it again and I feel a little sad. Here is my story:
I dropped by at a yarn shop a few days ago after work before picking up my son. It is located between my office and the day nursery, I have never been this shop because I didnt know it existed. Other day the shop owner of my LYS mentioned it, so I was waiting to steal a bit of time to visit there. The shop is actually well hidden and tiny, though it has full range of many imported yarns. Yes, it is another one of old distinguished shop for imported yarn. The shop lady aged around 50-60s comes immediately to me and asked what I am looking for. I told her I was just looking. While I was watching carefully the shelves, she approached me time to time to indicate items here and there. And, when I found an Italian sock yarn (Diana collection, which I put at Todays stash corner at first), I asked her if she had any "sock yarn" other than that. She didnt understand what I said, so I repeated again. And I noticed that she didnt KNOW about "sock yarn". The one I found at her shop, is the one with which we have auto-stripe (which you can find at my first photo of this blog). So I mentioned stripe and composition of fiber, with sock trend of other county. She looked shocked, shaken, and immediately guarded against me. She has already tried this yarn a bit as inserted stripes on the sweater, which we could see in the shop, and
she didnt notice the color pattern of the yarn, she thought it was simply "variegated" fingering yarn. No idea about sock. She said she had no other yarn like that, and I could feel her embarrassment. We felt unconfortable each other.

I am sure 200 % that she is well-advanced and knowledgable knitter, much more than me. I could see it easily with her comments, showed her WIP, and on their items displayed all over the shop, and I guess I hurt her feeling and self-confidence of knowledge about imported yarn. I should not do that.

Besides it is an interesting episode to know the current knitters environment in Japan. That it looks we are surrounded by this kind of LYS which cannot get any new information about overseas yarn trend, which is streaming daily on the net. Their knowledge source might be only from importing whole sellers. And how these whole sellers could obtain the global yarn trend...?

Today I tried to put my stash which is expanding with the speed of light in order. It was quite a challenge...a difficult puzzle of limited space and yarn. I desparately forced to push wooly yarn into the box though they were popping out here and there. Sigh. I could fix them little. But I settled knitting books neatly, so I am a bit happy about it. And this reminded me my forgotten collection of yarn, it is not bad. I found 5 balls of Rowan Chunky soft in grey, I am wondering to make a small throw for lap, with soft big cable on....

For those who are interested in recipe of Yogurt dish, I have to say it was simple mix of fruits, yogurt and powder sugar. The very yogurt is special, with special species of lactic acid bacilli. The recipe is not special, but you can try anyway.... My recommendation for fruit is, strawberry, apple, and blueberry. Perfect for Sunday branch!

The photo is one of my swatch. It is made by 2 strand of fingering weight yarn. I have them in many colors but each 2-3 balls, I then thought I can make some pillow case with warm color shade. It is put at wall as reminder...

I am so happy many people visited here and gave me warm comments! Well, I myself am very enjoying to be here, I feel I am lucky enough to be alive in this planet. Really.

This is my second preemie cap and a sock. I have to make another one but I made it without memo of stitches, so lazy Trico postpone to do it.... These are made by acrylic yarn. I hope it could make their sanitizing process. Now I will make one another by cotton yarn. Then, I will bring them.

Last Saturday morning, DH made us a special yogurt dish with fresh strawberry, apple and banana. He has gotten this from one of his colleagues, who is vesitalian and loves natural foods. This yogurt can be made at home easily, mixing with normal milk. Species of lac+tic acid bacilli is different from general ones, as a result, the consistency is more strong, and veeeeeery delicious.

I dont know why, but this Saturday afternoon I felt very lazy, I didnt work a lot for my project. Instead on Sunday, I decided to finish second sleeve of my last project of this winter, brown wool sweater, to finish this, and did it. But I now have no interest any more to sew them. I will do it at the end of summer....

My preemie set which I have left other day at hospital. The vest was a little too small, but the cap was good size.

Finally spring comes Tokyo. It is really warm day today, 25C is expected at the highest, although the cherry blossoms have already finished.
Last Tuesday, I met a person at the hospital. In my surprise, he was Chief of NICU department. He looked serious, busy, but friendly and warm person. We discussed about the needs for preemie goods at hospital, he asked me why I want to volunteer to make goods. I explained that, I loved knitting, and noticed this kind of charity was found very easily everywhere in knitters community in US, many knitters are joining naturally, I just thought why not in Japan? He said the charity idea was not so general yet among Japanese hospitals, but it was good idea. After, he brought me directly into NICU. Wow!! I changed my shoes, put a sanitized apron, washed hands carefully with soap. There were 10-15 plastic transparent boxes with tons of tubes, in each, I could see stunningly tiny preemies, mostly sleeping, some were actively moved their tiny hands and legs. It was really impressive.
Now I could estimate their approximate head size and foot size. I am trying to figure out to create patterns for them, struggling to make 5cm size socks! We have to find out too about fiber, which can resist the sanitization process. Pure wool cannot make it. Washables are in doubt. Perhaps I have to get some blends.

I start this alone. But to share this urge with other knitters in the future, (it is my wish) I think it deserves to make it now.

This is my first tiny preemie cap. I made an appointment with the person mentioned, tomorrow. I will bring this and vest tomorrow. Maybe I could meet some tiny preemies in NICU there...

I finished a vest for preemies. I have already made a preemie cap last weekend. These are for chality purpose at NICU of a local hospital. I made them as sample, so as next step, I will contact the person who has opened the window of this chality possibility for me, and make an appointment to visit there. Might be next weekend....I am happy about it. Will put the photos of these soon....

Today is sunny beautiful day. At lunchtime, I slipped out of office to go to LYS. This is located one station away from my office and the nearest of my living environment. But it is a special shop. They only sell imported and luxury yarn, the shop owner says they have made the first importation of yarn in Japan. Thus it is a yarn shop with distinguished history in Tokyo. They are proud of it, and for the first time visitor this shop is neither so friendly nor cozy. When I found this shop, I was stunned by the quality of the yarn on sale in front of shop. So from time to time I drop by there to sneak the sale corner. Now they are friendly with me, although I always take only some odd balls on sale. Anyway I have no choice for LYS, since I am living in central Tokyo. Today I went there to get a ball of Jawoll Lang for DH?fs socks just in case (he wants it long enough), and #6 circular needles for the afghan project-in-the-future. As a result, I came back with 6 balls of Jaegar Pure Cotton DK, bright sunflower yellow in addition to the planned purchases. I thought it is nice for my 3-yrs son?fs cotton sweater, and of course it was good bargain, Y200 (US$ 1.66 approx.) a ball!!

Although it is quite a challenge for me, to have a blog, in English, about knitting, I am excited to do it! I don't know when I first learned to knit, perhaps when I was at highschool. My knitting career has been on and off until last year, and suddenly, a strong urge for knitting hit me. Almost at the same moment, the addiction to yarn broke out inside me. If you are knitter, you can imagine what I am now......

Here is now under the construction. Meanwhile, please look my first sock with Italian sock yarn.