yarn pilgrimage

I have to admit that I haven't been very inspired by the yarn store options I've found so far in Munich.  Most of them carry all the same big-name brands of mostly spongy merino yarn with not a whole lot of variety to choose from in terms of color, fiber or texture.  I am really missing the handdyes and independent yarns that took up the majority of shelves in my little Brooklyn yarn stores. 

However, If you become desperate and begin to investigate the ravelry projects of other local Müncheners, you'll find over and over again the name Wollmeise  and their charming shop in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm.  Pfaffenhofen (don't you love that name?!) is a little town about 50 kilometers outside of Munich where apparently people flood to from all directions in search of their infamous handdyed sock yarn.

And so I got myself to the train station

 

and about half an hour later arrived in the (now infamous) Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm.

 

After a brief wander into the center of town, I found the most wonderful color oasis imaginable. 

This store is just overflowing with the most delicious colorways and unique dyes imaginable.  (sorry that my iphone pictures don't do them justice at all)

 

The impossible part is picking which colorways to take home or stopping yourself from taking home more than you can carry on the train.  I settled on these three lovelies

and then whipped up a horseshoe lace cowl for my mother-in-law's birthday.

Three cheers for Wollmeise and yarn pilgrimages!  (now if I can only figure out a way to take a yarn pilrimage back to my Brooklyn yarn stores....)

-cmvs

Comments

[melissa]

hooray for finding a fabulous yarn store!!
and only a half-hour by train? perfect! you can knit on the way there and back!

i'm loving the yarn you bought - especially the one on the top with the purple, olive, and magenta.

the cowl looks completely lovely!! did your mother-in-law love it? i'm sure she did! how could she not?

[Kathy]

Oh my goodness!!! I am so jealous. You've probably made it to the junior Mecca (after the Shetlands) for knitters. So cool. I would not have been able to leave with just three, I am quite certain.

[Ellen Billman]

Beautiful!! The store, the yarn, and YOU!

[Cheryl]

I love the detective work. The cowl is absolutely gorgeous. Makes me want to knit one. I love, love the colour. Ahh! Another one for my list.

[Michelle]

Omg, that store is so amazing! I love the colorway on the top of that picture- I'm always a sucker for purples.

[Kylie]

Love the look of the store...very nice! Gorgeous colour you have used for the cowl too :)

[Lindsey]

Wow, what a store! I am impressed with your restraint at just going home with three. Your selections are impeccable. I especially like that greeny blue business. It looks so good on you, do you have enough to make one for you too?

[kate]

Gorgeous cowl!

And I've been in that Munchen train station ....

[quirkygranolagirl]

pretty yarn to pet and gaze at. you look lovely in that cowl. maybe you need to keep it to snuggle with?

[josiekitten]

Love the cowl you knit, I too admire your restraint!!