This weekend I drove up to San Francisco for a wedding for one of my oldest friends.  Coming from LA we finally arrived after a nice long six hour drive.  We went to the Mission District and had dinner at Malai Thai (yum, yum) and then headed to Dalva (a whisky bar) a block away where they make a pretty good Whisky Mule.

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On Saturday we had a little time to kill so we went walking around in the Castro District where I grabbed a coffee and went over to <a href="http://www.imagiknit.com/">ImagiKnit</a>.  It really is a lovely store with a great selection of yarns.  I didn't have much time when I was there but I did manage to do a good amount of damage.

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[caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Me shopping :) happy as ever."]<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=545" rel="attachment wp-att-545"><img class="size-medium wp-image-545" title="DSC_0344" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0344-500x417.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="417" /></a>[/caption]

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These are the four hanks of <a href="http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns.html">Madelinetosh</a> Tosh Bulky.  This is a test yarn only available at <a href="http://www.imagiknit.com/">ImagiKnit</a>... for now.  I got two hanks in Winter Wheat and Two in Teddy Bear.  I think they might become some sort of scarfy necky thingy in the near future. <em>Watch out, here comes the yarn porn.</em>

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=537" rel="attachment wp-att-537"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-537" title="DSC_0414" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0414-334x500.jpg" alt="" width="428" height="640" /></a>

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This yarn immediately caught my attention because well, first the colors and I've never seen anything like it before.  The name of the yarn is called Twirl (colors or natural colors).  I got one skein of a gorgeous color "twirling grass green" (love it!)  and the other "wild mint" - dyed with natural wild mint growing in the pastures.  How special!  The yarns are both 100% CVM wool blend.  It's not the softest but it definitely has a place in my stash.  I think it will become a market bag... we'll see.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=538" rel="attachment wp-att-538"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-538" title="DSC_0423" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0423-334x500.jpg" alt="" width="431" height="645" /></a>

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Then of course I showed absolutely no restraint and bought a hank of <a href="http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/tosh-sock.html">Madelinetosh Tosh Sock</a> in Dried Rose.  This yarn has no plan.... but I'm almost sure it will be knit up very soon.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=539" rel="attachment wp-att-539"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-539" title="DSC_0431" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0431-334x500.jpg" alt="" width="432" height="653" /></a>

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And my very last proof of "yes, I have a problem" I bought a hank of a yarn by a local dyer called Elsewhere Fibers - the yarn is hand-dyed with natural fibers using lac, fusticwood and sandalwood. The worsted weight wool that I bought is called Mission St. Merino.  How very San Francisco appropriate.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=540" rel="attachment wp-att-540"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-540" title="DSC_0434" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0434-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a>

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As we were about to leave I caught a glimpse of a stack of magazines by the door on a table.  And there it was! My cover.  The newest issue from <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Magazines/Interweave-Knits-Holiday-Gifts-2011.html">Interweave Press Knits Holiday Gifts</a> is out and my Peace Tree Hat made it on the cover.  I used a wonderful <a href="http://www.shibuiknits.com/Yarn/Detail.php?Yarn=Merino%20Alpaca&amp;Color=Ivory">merino/alpaca</a> blend from <a href="http://www.shibuiknits.com/Yarn/Detail.php?Yarn=Merino%20Alpaca&amp;Color=Ivory">ShiBui Knits</a>. A pleasure to knit with.  It reminds me a lot of the <a href="http://blueskyalpacas.com/yarns/worsted-hand-dyes/">Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand-Dyes</a>, which I love.  But the <a href="http://www.shibuiknits.com/Yarn/Colorways.php?Yarn=Merino%20Alpaca">ShiBui Merino Alpaca</a> yarn is a true worsted weight.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=544" rel="attachment wp-att-544"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-544" title="DSC_0348" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0348-500x334.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="334" /></a>

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Here are a couple of photos of Rory (the bf) and me in front of the shop.

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=543" rel="attachment wp-att-543"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-543" title="DSC_0350" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0350-334x500.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /></a>

<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=542" rel="attachment wp-att-542"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-542" title="rory strangling mt" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/rory-strangling-mt-500x486.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="486" /></a>

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Then we headed over to Height Street for lunch.  We walked up the street a bit and stopped to eat at <a href="http://www.thegrindcafe.com/">The Grind Cafe</a>.  We happened to just stumble upon this place, but it was very lively and right after we ordered a huge wave of hungry people came in.  Now- I'm no food critic, but I do like to eat and I must say, they make a pretty good chicken Cesar Salad.  Rory got the pulled pork sandwich, I snuck in a bite and that was pretty good too.  AND THE FRIES! YUUUUM!!!!  On the walk from the car we cam across this.  It just made things a little more special.

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<a href="http://graceakhrem.com/?attachment_id=541" rel="attachment wp-att-541"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-541" title="DSC_0405" src="http://graceakhrem.com/wpdev/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_0405-334x500.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /></a>

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After lunch we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding.  We had a lot to drink and a great time.  Then slept it off and drove another six hours to get home.  Whew!  What a jam packed weekend.  It was great.  Next time I think we might go for a little bit longer.