This was a very exciting stop for me. I have drooled over the photos in the shop's newsletters and on the website. Now I finally visited in person! When I knew I was making the trip, I reached out ahead of time and did some homework. With Kari's help I found a great sweater pattern and a skein of yarn to try it out (aka gauge check). I've never knit with this yarn before and here's why:
Their yarn is 100% made in America; the sheep that are raised for their wool, the fiber that is spun into workable formats and the dyes used to create colorful yarn. That doesn't just happen. It's very mindful and specific and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!
With swatches (think knit test patches) in hand, I came in to find the skeins for my sweater. Kari gave me a hand with measurements, helped me pick some well-matched skeins (remember, hand dyed means there are subtle variations with unique characteristics) and even found a sample of the sweater so I could double-check sleeve length. I left the store with the confidence to knit my first sweater and - hopefully - start a love affair with these amazing fibers.
Everyone on staff was super friendly, offering tips and sharing their knitting adventures, as well as some local lore and weather chat. I'd be here for weekly knit night if I lived near by. As it is, I have a fabulous reason to pull off the highway and visit with my new crafty friends. read more