My husband went down to Austin earlier this week for business. Eva, Ella, and I tagged along. We stayed in the Holiday Inn at Town Lake, and I would recommend it if you’re planning a visit to Austin. Go ahead and pay $10 extra for a lake-view room. It’s worth the extra money. It is practically downtown and, more importantly, it is within quick driving distance to Hill Country Weavers, a knitter’s paradise.
I am proud to say I have been a customer from the 1980s. Then, weaving and spinning supplies were much more in evidence. Now, knitting yarn has taken over the store. And what a wonderful selection! Words won’t do justice to the hundreds of yarn choices: imports, domestic yarns, novelty yarns, all colors of the rainbow and more. Hand-painted furniture doubles for yarn display, and there are some wonderful finished scarves for sale.
Luckily, Eva and Ella distracted me from spending hundreds of dollars. But I’ll be back! I spotted a pile of Manos del Uruguay yarn in one room. That yarn has always appealed to me, and I can still hear it calling my name, even though we have been at home for two days. One color-way in particular will draw me back—rich, dark autumn shades and black, with flashes of brilliant color.
Last time I was at Hill Country Weavers, over a year ago, it was a weekend, and this porch had knitters draped all over it. The store was full of them, too. This time, on a hot Tuesday afternoon, the store was moderately busy, but there was room on the porch for these two beauties.
If you’re in Austin, make time for a trip to Hill Country Weavers.