Local Yarn Store - Goes out of Business

One of the local stores has a split personality.  Downstairs is a store dedicated to all things embroidery; patterns, floss, lights, frames (you get the idea).  Upstairs was a lovely yarn store for those among us who knit and crochet.  This store was a pricey but had lovely things to look at and was well organized.  It was not the kind of place you can sit and knit and drink a cuppa coffee like my two favorite places (Blazing Needles in Salt Lake and Knit Wits in Sedona), but a good place to find that special yarn.

Well as the economic turn of events would have it... the owners decided to discontinue the yarn store part of the business and concentrate on the embroidery part.  This is sad  news in some way... but brought out a feeding frenzy of yarn buyers!  Word got out on the psychic yarn buying news that this store was going out of business, and the first week the yarn was 70% off!  Now, I have a stash of yarn, there is no NEED for anything.  In fact I recently bought more storage to keep my yarn organized; but I thought I would go check it out.  (of course)

At 70% off the prices of the really nice yarn were in my budget.  I found some lovely silk and wool blend that I'll be able to use someday, and some baby alpaca that I'll use for handwarmers.  It was a bit overwhelming shopping without a project in mind, but after an hour I managed to escape spending only a bit over a hundred dollars (discounted price). 

While shopping I saw three friends who also got the psychic newsflash... then while checking out  I found 2 more people I knew.  One was a lady who had joined my bookclub the week before who is a snow bird from Chicago (she had come down to get away from the cold weather, but had left all her knitting supplies behind - she didn't know if she could take her stuff on the plane!) I had invited her to find the store! No knitter should go without yarn and kneedles.  It's inhuman!!!  Anyway, the other was another member of my knitting group.  Ahead of me in the check out was a guy who it seems had also been there the day before, buying for his wife's stash as a present.  Now that is true love!  The cost of his purchase before the discount???? $4,600.00  -- after $1,200.00.  

One of the ladies who had come to the shop because I had passed on the info, was a brand new knitter.  She didn't even have a stash -- but she does now!  She's been back at least 2 more times.  The store had a "fill the bag" day for $100.00 then a few days later the "fill the bag" day was $50.00 a few days later "fill the bag" for $25.00.  You can see how the buying frenzy exacerbates! 

Yesterday, one of the ladies at my local libary came to ask me about spare knitting needles.  Our library knitting group accepts donations of yarn and knitting needles that we use to help new knitters get started.  I went into the kneedle stash to get her some starter needles.   She doesn't knit (yet), but it seems that she had already been to the going out of business yarn sale ---- gotten some yarn to get started and was going back to get needles... but wanted something to start learning to knit with. 

The yarn sisterhood continuing to expand. One of us has learned that she loved making yarn animals for kids, one is getting certified as a crochet teacher.  Some of us just love touching the new yarn we have.  Our stashes are all bursting at the seams now.  I am sad to see the store close down, but glad that the lovely yarns have been spread out all over the community.  Helping new and experienced yarn people all over town!

Knitting, hospitals & ME

My last post was August last year, just before my great Aunt Winnie's 100th birthday. The birthday girl from my last post made it to her 100th birthday!

She was so pleased to have her many friends and family come to her party. She had been in the hospital for two weeks prior to her party with pnumonia. We were worried she might not make it to the party, but she was determined to have the party. She had to leave her home of 30 years and stay in a nursing home for the last few months of her life.  We made a scrap book for her and the cover says it all.  We miss you!

Right after the party for my great aunt Winnie, my mother turned 80.

We had a smaller party for her just a few close friends, my aunt Jeanie her daughter Jamie, me and my sister Tory and a surprise guest Jim. It was just perfect.

She did not want a BIG party but one where she could sit and really have time to have a conversation with those who were there. She was feeling good and enjoyed her time with friends and family. We didn't know in August of 2009 that she would not see her 81st birthday.

Fortunately, I had retired in 2008. I spent most of 2009 taking care of my mom - either at her home or mine, or while she was hospitalized. I used my knitting to keep my hands busy and my mind quiet. Working on my knitting allowed me to focus on something I COULD do while not being able to change the ongoing decline of my mother's health. I worked on a shrug for her to wear to keep warm.

I am proud to say she loved it - and it was the one thing she wanted with her at the hospital - she called it her security blanket. How wonderful for me to have made something that she kept with her until she died. Since then I have made a few more. Some for other people's mothers and some for friends, but each made with love!

Knitting has become a passion for me. Now I make things for friends and strangers. Chemo Caps and Hand warmers for those undergoing cancer treatments and need something to keep them warm, or to raise money for cancer research and awareness. Something for hospice.

I've found this is something I CAN do! It warms my heart to be able to bring even a small smile to someone.

Knitting has also helped me deal with the stress of planning a funeral, and now dealing the details of my mother's estate. When things are difficult or a bit more stressful, I can pull out something soft or a color that makes me smile and brings me back to a moment of peace. Now I find enjoyment in spending time with friends locally - we call it a meet up! Lots of wonderful women who have helped me during this last year.

Thank you ladies - for introducing me to the joy of knitting with friends.

Learning the knots and the knits

July 4th 2009 - I retired one year ago after 35 years in the banking business. What to do - What to do - What to do? Everyone has a plan for me - even me!

I'm not all that crafty, but I had crocheted for years, had done macrame in the 70s (Didn't everyone?) and was ready for something new.


I am also an avid reader -- why is that important? Well, I started reading a Debbie Macomber book about a woman who opened a knitting store "on Blossom Street" and how the women in the book met other women who learned to knit and became friends. .... I was hooked... I had to try knitting!!! What a great way to meet women in my community and to learn something new! Additionally, I had a family situation come up - where I was going to be spending a few weeks staying with an elderly family member - I could knit and talk - or knit quietly if my family member nodded off! Of course I have an MP3 player with some books on tape or music to listen to - while knitting. A long drive in the car or on a plane - and I would have something to keep me busy while traveling. Sounds perfect doesn't it?
The part I wasn't counting on -- I LOVE knitting! After practicing my basic stitches with some inexpensive yarn - I was buying other yarns and decided my first project would be some fingerless mittens for my mom. She seems to always be cold - so these mittens would be a nice present for her 80th birthday and she would be able to wear them when reading a book or doing her crochet work. I found a pattern on line at Ravelry.com and then headed off to the local Michael's store to pick our the perfect yarn. I found Simply Soft in a pale blue - washable yarn - and made up the mitts. I was a bit challenged - as there were new stitches - Cable - Moss, but I struggled through the right hand (the way the pattern is listed) and then had to figure how to reverse the pattern so the thumb ended up in the correct place on the left hand. A few trys -- and the use of some pattern markers - and they turned out OK!

So what is next - more mitts? Probably... but now I want to try socks -- double pointed needles! YIKES! I've started my practicing - which means I work it and tear it out a few times and I am learning to handle all those needles at one time. My plan is to make 2 socks (1 pair) by the end of July. I 'll check in again in August and let you know how I'm doing!