Naples Knitting – Knitting Is So Fun

Is there anything more fun than visiting new yarn stores??? I personally detest shopping for clothes, shoes, etc. But shopping for yarn… what’s not to like!! There is no trying on and having to look at those extra pounds.

So I am thankful that despite southern Florida’s heat, there is a yarn store in Naples, Castle Creek Fiber Studio, and a yarn store in Fort Meyer, Hooked On Ewe. The Naples store is a 25 minute drive; the Fort Meyer store is a 45 minute drive. I go weekly to the knit night the Naples store. I don’t expect to visit the Fort Meyer store often since it’s pretty far away. I met a Cincinnati knitting friend who is snowbirding in Fort Meyer there before grabbing lunch.

I did see a yarn that I now feel I really need to get. 😆 So in 3 weeks when we take our Cincinnati friends that are spending Feb with us back to the Punta Gorda airport, I’m going to make Tom stop so I can buy the yarn to make a summer top. Gee, one more project to add to my 2021 project plan.😜. My friend is already making the top on display so I feel like I have someone that might help me with questions.

South Florida has turned out to be good for this northern knitter. I’m enjoying the opportunities these LYSs are providing.

One of the things I really was concerned about snowbirding in Florida was missing my knitting friends back in Cincinnati. I love getting together with them every week. We share pattern ideas, favorite podcasts, fun tools, yarn info, etc.

While I do miss them (thankful for our Facebook group page so I can continue to interact with them), I’m happy to say I have found two groups that I’m participating in here in Naples, Fl. One group meets every other Tuesday literally across the street. This group is crocheters so it doesn’t provide pattern or tool sharing that I like but they are certainly friendly and welcoming so it’s an enjoyable evening. I found them through a Ravelry suggestion to find them on Meetup. There are about 8 ladies every week. They are all locals so I’m a bit of the odd man out as a snowbird but they have been accepting.

I am also attending a weekly open knitting session at the yarn shop in Naples, Castle Creek Fiber Studio. They have two sessions a weekly, one every Wednesday morning and one every Thursday evening. The Wednesday morning session is too big for me. There must have been 40 women there!!! Even last Thursday evening’s group was about 15 so getting a bit large. These groups are much more filled with snowbirds and are all knitters. Again they have been welcoming and I enjoy learning from others about various knitting topics such as knitting “conventions”, tools, and techniques.

The net for me is that I’m willing, and even looking forward to, snowbirding again next winter. I had thought I might fly home the end of January if I was miserable in Naples. January came and went with me staying in Florida. I will be glad to reunite with my Cincinnati friends come mid-March but at least I’m not literally counting down the days like I did last year in Miami.