Dear Jan,
I’ll spare everyone all the shots I took of Munich and Freising and surrounds, but hey, this is a knitting blog and I’m allowed to post gratuitous shots of knitting, right?
Just around the corner from my hotel I found a shop selling yarn from Bavarian mountain sheep (blended with wool from Spain and New Zealand). Local wool always excites me, and I bought enough to let me replicate one of the traditional jackets. Horn buttons are a requirement, so I bought 9 of those, as well. Add in a skein of a chocolate brown and a skein of grey-brown sock yarn, and I’m set for some serious Bavarian stitching.
I lucked out in my walks through town to come upon shops selling traditional garments. Nice embroidery detail around the edges of the jackets and also along the kneesocks worn with lederhosen.
And even better luck when in an evening of Bavarian entertainment at the conference I was attending in Freising, one of the musicians allowed me to photograph his sock. He was very amused. I kinneared the other socks, truth be told.
Less traditional, but as amusing or more, was this knit chair cover in a Freising LYS. Fortunately for my budget and my suitcase zipper, they saved me from myself by being closed on the day I had free for roaming the city.
The towers, the statuary, the shop windows of the city dressed for Easter - all were enchanting. But the yarn stores were what made me open my wallet (and struggle to close my suitcase!). It would be fun to go back there with you and increase the US trade deficit a bit more.
Tschuss!
Ellen
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
April 19th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
What gorgeous knitting - so fun to be in a place with a knit culture that is shown off in the streets! (I’m impressed that such lovely socks were available for Kinnearing.) I can’t wait to see what you decide to knit with your yarn - have you made any plans for it yet?
April 19th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
It’s so interesting that you managed to find so much knitting in Bavaria. I hardly saw any in the time we were in Germany! (Except for the historical festival on the first day.) Looks like you got some beautiful wool to remind you of the trip. Can’t wait to see some of it knit up. =)
April 19th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
OK, it is official, I have been handling the lack of trips back to Germany for quite some time now, but after your post…. I am so totally missing it!!!!!!
I love Phoenix, but when Rick and I have to name our two dream places to live it is Phoenix and Bavaria. One day when we are rich and famous we shall spend part of the year there, and part here - the challenge will be which parts where - they both have such great advantages.
April 19th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Kinneared the socks. Love it. Have fun playing with your new toys!
April 20th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Oh, such beautiful gratuity!
April 20th, 2011 at 10:35 am
Oh, that jacket. Jealous.
April 20th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
What, no binking?
April 20th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
I only count 5…buttons, that is. If I find any antlers, I will make you 4 more.
I was thinking how much fun it will be one day to travel together…we’d be fearless. And think of the gratitude of those economies benefiting from the good fortune we have had!
April 20th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
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I was amused.