MY INDIAN YARN HAUL

It has only taken me about six months to figure out how to get these pictures uploaded, but here they are! I was in India in November, 2009, for a brief visit to accompany my mother in law back home to Chennai (Madras). It’s a city I love and have spent many months in over the years. However, most of that time was either before I learned to crochet or when the children were young enough that I was kept busy trying to be sure they got to visit every sight and see every relative possible – so little time to spend pursuing my own interests.

This trip, it was just my MIL, my SIL, and me. So, I got to spend four days shopping and visiting, foregoing any sightseeing (I’ve seen all the sights, I think), and pretending that I had all the rupees in the world to spend on yarn and gifts! It was fun!

One goal I had for this trip was to meet my online friend, Viji, who lives and crochets in Chennia. She and her husband, Victor, were wonderful hosts. My SIL and I hired a car and followed Victor’s directions to their flat. We got lost and used up way too much of our afternoon finding our way! But, it was worth it. Viji had planned to take me to a store that sells yarn and other craft supplies. We agreed to save that for another trip.

Instead, Viji showed me her huge collection of yarn and hooks, her many FO’s, and some WIP’s. Her work is positively exquisite. In the photo showing the balls of yarn, you’ll see a picture of an abandoned project she was making with this yarn, which she so kindly gifted to me. No labels on it, so I can’t tell you much about it except that it’s a chain mesh type of yarn, rather heavy, some sort of synthetic material, and glitzy. I’ve made a few tree ornaments with it, but I’m saving it the bulk of this batch of yarn til some project reveals itself to me.

These small cones of yarn are silk.  My SIL purchased them for me at a shop in Adyar, a suburb of Chennia.  This stuff is quite slippery and I’m not sure what to make with it – but it’s lovely.  I had purchased numerous cones of it for gifts in my last trip to Chennai and my SIL remembered.  She always does!  She bought some of almost every color they had in stock.  I’ve tried to show a snap of the labels in case anyone is interested in purchasing it.  I’ve never seen it in the U.S.  Too bad.  It’s exquisite stuff.  Lucky me!

I was so happy to finally meet Viji after all our emails back and forth, sharing our common love of crochet.  She has a beautiful flat and a husband who is fantastically supportive of her crochet and other crafts.  I can’t wait to return to Chennai, to family, friends, and yarn shopping!