Knit 1, purl 2, point and click
Not too long ago yarn shops were popping up in fashionable neighborhoods. But the fad has passed. Those still minding their knitting are buying most of their wares online, and that has some stores spinning a sad tale. Carolyn Adolph reports.
A knitting lesson video posted by Jimmy Beans Wool on YouTube. (JimmyBeansWool / YouTube)
More on Retail, Odds And Ends
TEXT OF STORY
KAI RYSSDAL: Not too long ago you could find young hipsters in coffee bars knitting away at shawls and berets. Yarn shops were popping up in fashionable neighborhoods, and 20-somethings were organizing knitting circles. But it looks like the fad has passed, because those still in the market for needles and yarn are buying most of their wares online.
Carolyn Adolph reports that has some of those knitting stores spinning a sad tale.
CAROLYN ADOLPH: Davis, Calif., had two yarn shops. They were stacked to the rafters with quality yarn. Three years ago shops like these were full of knitters. Now they're gone.
Maria Inglesby closed her Davis yarn shop last September.
Maria Inglesby: So this is one that's more . . . but do you see the colors?
ADOLPH: Can you spin that?
Inglesby: Yes, you can spin that.
Now she sells yarn from her house. She says she knew knitting would fall out of fashion, but not this fast.
Inglesby: The sales were dropping rather rapidly, and when we're sitting in an area where we have an economic contraction and where people are facing debt that they need to take care of, they're not going to invest in yarn. They're not going to invest into a hobby.
- Jimmy Beans Wool knitting lesson
- (Jimmy Beans Wool / YouTube)
The irony is, knitting's boom was actually born in a recession, the one after 9/11. Worried women knit. The National Needleworkers Association says yarn sales grew by 40 percent a year -- unheard-of. That run-up peaked in 2005. At first there was business for everyone. A lot of neighborhood stores opened up. And a quarter of sales moved to the Internet.
Then customers lost interest.
Some yarn shops are finding a way to survive. Laura and Doug Zander will tell you it's a lot of work. They own Jimmy Beans Wool, a shop in a strip mall in Reno, Nev.
Eighty percent of their business is now online. Jimmy Beans Wool isn't just another Internet retailer. It's a virtual knitting shop, with online tutorials and a toll-free number for human advice. Now they have reviews of knitting gear on YouTube.
[AUDIO FROM JIMMY BEANS WOOL VIDEO:]
LAURA ZANDER Hi, I'm Laura from Jimmy Beans Wool, and I am reviewing the Offhand Designs Zhivago Weekend bag.
Laura Zander says her online customers are busy people. No time for knitting lessons and no time to shop.
Laura Zander: How many people are doing video reviews of products? We have people who just said "It makes you feel like you're in the store."
Zander says she pulls Internet clients from New York City and Chicago, where women have big jobs and no time.
ZANDER: If they order it on Saturday, they'll get it on Monday. You know, and the shipping is flat-rate: $4. And then no sales tax. Once they see all of those benefits, then we've got a returning customer.
That's the go-big formula. But are there small-scale business models that work?
Maria Inglesby is trying something new. She travels to where the customers are by running knitting circles. She still tracks down quality yarn for her clients. Now she's paid for her expertise as well.
At a cafe in Davis a dozen women gather around her. And one entire table wants to know how to stitch the end of a sock.
In Davis, Calif., I'm Carolyn Adolph for Marketplace.
Comments
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From St. Paul, MN, 08/19/2008
Well, if nothing else, all these responses prove one thing: don't mess with knitters.
From Laurel, MD, 08/14/2008
"worried women knit"? what do worried men do? and who says knitting is a woman's hobby? seriously, this story was badly slanted and poorly researched. I have knitted for over 50 years, and my husband and both daughters knit, also.
as to the LYS thing, I agree that some were poorly managed and/or located - but on the whole, the good ones are doing OK. yes, on-line stores are a great resource, but nothing beats being able to "pet" the yarn, have questions answered, and being shown a technique in person.
and knitting is not just a hobby - it is an art and a craft.
if you think it is a fad, go to some of the gatherings (Stitches East, Stitches West, etc) even local events like the Maryland Sheep and Wool or New York's Rhinebeck - and see how many folks turn up.
and of course, there are on-line communities like Ravelry - which has been mentioned
I am dissapointed in this segment. hope you revisit the issue and present a more accurate picture.
From MI, 08/01/2008
Great heavens, now I'm questioning all the rest of the Marketplace stories.
Last August knitting brought a charter busload of shoppers from Chicago in search of yarn to the Michigan Fiber Festival. This summer I have a new local yarn store opening.
Therefore (following the reporting principles apparently used in this story), knitting is undergoing a huge boom in a slack economy, right?
And it's purl, p-u-r-l. Cripes, a good proofreader should know her knit from her purl. Maybe it was pearl or seam stitch in the 1840's, but not in 2008.
08/01/2008
How come your article didn't even mention ravelry.com and it's huge waitlist.
Knitting isn't falling out of favor.
Online shopping might account for brick and mortar stores closing, and the high prices of fuel can help contribute to that.
Knit Cafe had to shut down it's brick and mortar because of all the high priced designer boutiques moving into the neighborhood driving prices of rent way up high.
There are many reasons why a knit shop would close that don't involve a love of the art waning in any way. We young hip knitters are still at it.
From Murphy, NC, 07/30/2008
I invite you to come and see how our business, YARN CIRCLE is fairing in these tough times. We have not seen a decline but an increase in sales in our area of western North Carolina. Our community as well as the craft school, John C. Campbell Folk School, helps to keep us very busy with sales and classes. I personally think it has to do with location, reputation, and inventory. There are no dull days at Yarn Circle!
From Silver Spring, MD, 07/29/2008
I agree with the vast majority, this was a poorly researched article. I expect more from Marketplace, and not as this piece would have you believe that what happening to one LYS and one online store is indicative of the entire yarn shop market. Knitting and crochet are still growing in popularity. It's fairly inexpensive activity with a bonus of a handmade article at the end. Can you say that about the night at the movies?
From La Crosse, WI, 07/28/2008
Though my local yarn stores have only certain yarns they carry, and therefore I do (and have for years) buy a fair amount of yarn online, I never go into a locally owned yarn store without buying something. I want to support local businesses whenever possible. And there is absolutely no substitute for touching and feeling yarn.
I believe that stores that opened up to jump on the 'fad' bandwagon may well have overexpanded and will suffer the consequences, especially if they are all selling the same brands of pricey yarns. But internet-savvy local yarn stores that welcome browsers are thriving, based on my experiences here and when travelling.
From Minneapolis, MN, 07/28/2008
As any trend builds (coffee shops anyone?) there will be a number of shops that open that arent' suited to the area or don't know the business as well. Yes those will close, but the remaining ones will quality shops.
The reporter should broaden her research to other cities besides Davis, CA. Try Minneapolis or New York to get a real feel for the knitters on the street.
My knitting circle gains new people all the time and includes a lawyer, a couple professors, and other professionals as well as the grandmas and students. We're all busy women who like the local human interaction over internet sales.
From Torrance, CA, 07/28/2008
"The National Needleworkers Association says yarn sales grew by 40 percent a year -- unheard-of. That run-up peaked in 2005."
The only way to judge whether knitting (and crocheting) is actually increasing or decreasing is to look at wholesale sales. Are yarn producers going out of business? Are people buying more or less yarn overall? Looking at individual local stores could be entirely misleading. Between 2001 and now, the internet basically came into existence! I'd love to hear a follow-up to this story, which had actual facts, rather than anecdotes, as support.
From Elizabeth, NJ, 07/28/2008
I agree with all the above. Next time, please make sure your reporters do their RESEARCH. Just that one thing would have revealed so much to your reporter. Yes, even the spelling error could have been avoided. A simple google search would have revealed TONS of blogs, pictures, online magazines, free (and for sale) patttern sites, sellers, podcasts, video podcasts, tons of video tutorials on youtube and on other sites, and, though I also belong to ravelry, there are other fiber communities out there, too. One in mind is Crochetville.com.
A simple trip to the Barnes and Noble magazine rack would have revealed several knitting, crochet, and spinning magazines for sale. B&N and Borders are slowly shrinking their craft sections, but this is due to the fact that people can buy the same books for cheaper online... NOT because they're not reading them at all.
Knitting groups are meeting all over the place. Check out Meetup.com. Check out the myriad of yahoo groups dedicated to knitting/crochet... just fiber in general. AND the craft is expanding, young people are integrating their ideas. People are knitting and crocheting with a variety of materials. Plastic bags, fabric strips, hemp, wire, anything you can wrap around hooks and needles.
How a reporter can report on something without doing research is amazing... maybe she doesn't get paid enough to give 100% of herself. Hey, she didn't even need to be a knitter... just to give us a little credit and respect by looking into the background of her subject. We are no different than any other culture out there. We're not all grandmothers. We are not all women! Plenty of men out there. Plenty of KIDS out there that knit and crochet.
Time to take a breath... Oh and the only thing we are worrying about is whether we can meet a deadline we set for ourselves!
From Seattle, WA, 07/27/2008
Can we get some actual data other than two stores closing and a lot of people are shopping online to back up this theory? I live in Seattle and have 19 yarn stores within 10 miles from my house 2 of which have opened in the last 3 years. None have closed. I just checked and Ravelry has 157,149 users currently and probably not entirely made up of "worried women". Oh and by the way I don't think yarn shops are the
only brick and mortar establishments losing sales to online retailers.
From Kingston, PA, 07/25/2008
I'm confused - why didn't the report do a comparison of statistics of the success rate of small businesses overall to the recent rate of LYS closings? LYS are small businesses subject to the same factors that plague other small companies. I buy both online and at my LYS and my area just opened up a new LYS that I think will be well patronized. I expect better reporting, Marketplace, don't let me down next time!!
From San Diego, CA, 07/24/2008
Support you LYS or it won't be there when you need a new touch, feel and see fix.
Liz Walters
LYS owner, San Diego, CA
From Spartanburg, SC, 07/24/2008
The bottom line does not say everything. It's like judging the economy by the GNP as the only measure (it does not take into account the work of volunteers and all those very necessary workers like mothers, grand-parents, poets, monks, etc.. who contribute to the physical and spiritual health of the nation). On top of this most hobbyists are like eaters at a smorgasbord _considering the choice of products people have in America_ they usually buy more than they can knit. After a while, they have to reevaluate and curb their spending habits. It would be interesting for market place to do a survey of hobbyists' stashes (and please include the "masculine" types too).
From Richlands, NC, 07/23/2008
To begin, I agree with all previous comments! You obviously did not do your homework.
To add to what has already been said... knitting and crochet are not "fads"! They are works of art! Do you realize how many thousands of stitches it takes to create a sweater, or even a sock? - Let's get real! This is one of the oldest art forms, and it is everyone's heritage...
As for purchasing online... yes, they are doing it... but you can "feel" the yarn in a local shop, and you can get the instuction and special attention that you do not get online!
07/23/2008
When I heard that NPR/Market place was doing a report on the knitting world I thought great but now that I've listen to it I just canâ??t believe how wrong and off the mark the report was. The fiber arts, knitting, crocheting, spinning, are alive and well. Just ask the folks at XRX Publishing. They are the folks who publish Knitter magazine. They have three large conferences, Stitches East, Midwest and West. I attend Stitches West and it is always packed affair. Yes as knitters we have more choices as to where we spend our money and I believe there is a lot more competition for those dollars. For example I was in Portland not to long ago and the Portland Metro Area has 25 yarn shops. I managed to visit 5 of them, and bought in each shop. Each shop I visited was doing a brisk business. Each shop has a different feel and if you read the reviews in Ravelry a very loyal following. Itâ??s is truly amazing the wonderful array of choices that we as fiber artists have now. From the large tried and true manufactures to the smaller hand crafted selections. Knitting is not dying. We just have more choices of where to buy. I am very disappointed that you story was so narrowly focused. The 150,000 + members of Ravelry canâ??t be wrong, nor the thousand of blog writers or the millions of knitters who knit daily for the love of the craft, the love of their families and the love of their communities. Shame on you NPR
From Durham, NC, 07/23/2008
I realize I'm just echoing what everyone else has said:
I started a knitting group a year ago and we have about 50 members! Recently we went to a couple of larger public events and met up with a bunch of other local knitting groups - I'd had no idea so many were right in my own area! The ages range from grandparents to teens, and it's not all women, either.
Plus, two yarn stores in our area just went out of business... but both were bought up *by other yarn store owners* and a brand new location just opened up in the last 6 months. The new place is right down the street from me and it's always full of people knitting, teaching each other, and just hanging out. Lots of knitting groups also meet in - and are a reliable customer base for - local coffee shops, bookstores, and even bars.
We spend time in the online world too, but it's not a substitute for the real world. In fact, Ravelry, one of the biggest knitting sites, really supports small local yarn stores.
As far as "trendy" goes, it's not that people aren't knitting! As far as I can see, the current trends are for magic-loop socks, eco-friendly fibers, needlefelting, and (in my area at least) spinning. All the cool kids have drop-spindles right now. (I've heard online that "needlepoint is the new knitting" but I couldn't swear it's true.)
The fiber arts are certainly not dead, nor is the small local business.
From Vincennes, IN, 07/23/2008
I love it, California and NY are the only two states in the country. Great reporting. Especially PEARL. Pearl is a jewel, not a knitting term.
Knitting stores are like all small businesses, there rate of sucess and failure is probably about the same. First and foremost, knitting is not an inexpensive hobby, I started knitting when I was 18 and am still knitting in my fifties. I pay for quality yarns and do not go along with a lot of trendy yarns. I want good quality cotton and wool blends. Too many small yarn stores fall into the trap of "trendy" fashions and forget to stock the good yarn. They forget the steady knitters and go for the flash in the pan. The life span of a small business depends on how long a business owner wants to devote their life to the choas of a long hour job with little time off. Steady knitters keep buying, but they want their regular yarns, with perhaps a novelty yarn thrown in here and there.
I was president of a Knitting Guild in TN and I was much older than 20 and it was before 9/11. Where do you get your information. Obviously not from the Yarn Council of the Knitting Guild. You get an F- on this report. Sent her back to school. The only yarn store in my small town is operated out of a house, but it is still a store as it is not where the person lives although it is on the property of the owner.
From Venice, CA, 07/23/2008
NPR, you've really missed the mark on this one. Yes, shops have closed, but it was due to oversaturation of the market. Remember cigar salons cropping up on every corner? This is a customer service industry. People still come into stores to get help, to get away from naysayers like you and to network with women and men without a barage of electronics and media in their face. Knitting together is now and always has been about community. Stores can now use the internet and work with it. The web can never replace the feeling of having a bad day and knowing there is a creative group there to support you.
From Portland, ME, 07/23/2008
Your story looks at a VERY small part of the country (California) and a VERY small segment of the population (20somethings). You ignore the other 49 states and the majority of the population who is not in their 20's. Knitting is still very popular with baby-boomers, the former media sweethearts. I think the only people leaving knitting are the ones who weren’t true knitters in the first place but only “dabbling” because it was “cool”. Thanks to discount on-line merchants, ebay and even Ravelry’s network, people can still purchase yarn inexpensively. The overpriced yarns will not sell but quality yarn priced fairly and competitively will always appeal. Local yarn stores will have to attract knitters by offering services not available on the internet, as well as fairly priced yarn. Some of these services might include hosting knitting groups (space is always an issue), providing knowledgeable assistance in selecting patterns, yarn and equipment, offering advice or lessons for a reasonable fee (or even free with purchases) and developing relationships with their customers. I saw one posting on ravelry about some local yarn stores who use Ravelry right in the store to help customers find patterns, determine whether they own the right needles for a project and even help them decide on projects based on their current stash. Now THAT’s service!!
From Chepachet, RI, 07/23/2008
Yarn marketing companies --Reynolds, Berocco, Tahki -- are single proprietor businesses that import nearly everything because the big spinning companies went out of business in the 1980s. Remember Brunswick and Bernat? For many of us who worked in these industries and who still knit, the focus of knitting has become Europe and Japan, from which most yarns are now imported and where knitting is not a fad but a tradition.
From Westmont, IL, 07/23/2008
Kai,
I'm disappointed with this story greatly. It only portrays one side of the story.
Knitting/crocheting/looming had a TON of hipsters into it. These people are what we'd call the "one scarf" people. They did it because everyone else was doing it, because Julia Roberts and others were doing it.
These people are now being weeded out as they move onto the next trend.
What's left is a large number of diehard fiber users who are extremely loyal to their favorite stores and are prolific in their output of knitted/crocheted/loomed stuff. Obviously, sites like Ravelry (over 150,000 members) would not be able to subsist without them.
I find it disappointing that your story chose to only speak with an online knitting store and not other local stores. I know my favorite stores are packed most of the time - and the price of yarn is not cheap - so you know they must be doing something right!
There are, however, many people who got into business because they loved the products, not because they knew anything about business nor cared to run their businesses like businesses and not like their own personal hobby-land.
That's why, in many cases, I'm going online to shop. Before I found the stores that I love, there was no other source other than the big chains.
I will pay the extra premium to go into a store, actually feel the product and get it immediately. Thousands of posts on Ravelry agree with this - there are too many instances of people ordering stuff online and its not exactly what it was supposed to be.
I'm saddened and disappointed that you painted all knitters/crocheters/loomers into one group - "worried" and "online shoppers". I'm neither of those.
Further, Marketplace had to fix the spelling of the story since no one checked it prior to its initial posting. That's just sad that you guys can't be bothered to report correctly, and then have a human edit the stories.
From Warren, RI, 07/23/2008
I don’t know if this is a story about knitters shopping online or a downturn in the knitting industry and frankly, you got both parts wrong. Yes, lots of knitters go online for their yarn and knitting supplies, and with internet video getting easier and faster a lot of sites are providing great content online for their customers. But it’s 25% of yarn sales per year, that’s hardly most knitters doing most of their shopping. Further, this isn’t news to the owners of small yarn shops. The smart local yarn shop owner is already online so customers can reach them both ways, in person and online.
As for the downturn in the industry, while our sales are still not as strong as in 2003 when we opened, we’re seeing stronger sales this year because of the economic downturn. Two years ago it was news that the industry was shrinking again, but knitting is popular in a recession. It’s an affordable luxury that keeps you busy and entertained while you spend more time at home. While there have been some stores closing in my area in the past couple of years none of them closed for economic reasons, and a new shop just opened last summer. Even more shocking, my knitting classes have never been this full. No downturn here!
It’s sad that I finally hear a story about my industry on Marketplace and it’s so off the mark, especially with such a vocal and passionate customer base online! A few minutes googling knitting and you could find Knitty, Ravelry, Yarn Market News, Knitter’s Review, let alone the thousands of personal knitting blogs. A couple of stores closing in Davis is definitely sad, but next time dig a little deeper and you’ll find a vibrant and thriving community!
Kim Conterio
owner, Bella Yarns Warren, RI
From Chapel Hill, NC, 07/22/2008
Normally I am big NPR fan. I usually trust their stories and agree with their thoughful commentary. But the recent non-news story on Marketplace got my blood going. The story claims that knitting has peaked and is no longer hip because one store closed. Give me a break. Do you think that one store closing is indicative of a trend? Maybe is was not financed appropriately? Maybe it was not managed appropriately? Or, maybe the 155,000+ members of Ravelry just found other places to shop. People do flit in and out of hobbies. I tried scrapbooking but hated it. No offense to the croppers, I just prefer to knit. I have knit for decades and will continue until I am unable to. (God knows I have the yarn stash already!) http://knitfix.livejournal.com/
From State College, PA, 07/22/2008
It's interesting that at the same time you say that Local Yarn Shops are in trouble (which I am not so certain is true--I would like to see statistics from TNNA to support that claim), the only shop you promoted with a website was the online dealer. How about a place such as www.localyarnstore.com?
From Lake Ariel, PA, 07/22/2008
I completely disagree with these statements and as a 33 year old, I can tell you that knitting is alive and well. Someone needs to clue these women in on www.ravelry.com to see how many users there are or www.etsy.com to see how many crafters there are and how not only is this beautiful craft alive and well, but people are making "cottage industry" profits with it! Knitting/crocheting is still going strong. I find the statement, "Worried women knit" to be ridiculous. Women knit to turn string into fabric-to make something with their hands-to give something hand-made to someone they love. The knitting world may have seen a surge post 9/11, but it wasn't b/c "worried women knit." It was b/c that horrible event brought us all back into our homes, thinking about our loved ones and what really matters. And we wanted to make something to show this. Whoever wrote this needs to go to a knitters meetup to experience the knitting community in full swing and how things really are, not someone's swan song about their failing business.
From Teaneck, NJ, 07/22/2008
Jocelyn Grayson, right on! The headline made me twitch, too. I am disgusted that NPR's editors let such a glaring spelling error slip by.
From tivoli, NY, 07/22/2008
Umm, not sure what planet your on, but just like every area in the world, the web is where people shop - it has nothing to do with YARN, or knitting, it has to do with THE WEB.
I grow, and I continue to grow - and don't see any end in sight.
Judy@fabulousyarn.com
From Rochester, MN, 07/22/2008
Umm, two stores in one town do not a trend make. Did you consider you may have the answer right there in your story? "A lot of neighborhood stores opened up." All kinds of stores come and go, especially if there is a saturation in a small area. Look at Starbucks; do we really need four of those in a four block area? No, and they are closing shops due to over-exposure, but people are still drinking fancy coffee. I believe I have heard you mention on your show that success in business has a lot to do with customer service and that is a big thing in the Local Yarn Store world. I (and a lot of my friends) will still be buying yarn from our LYS and the internet for years to come, no matter what happens to the economy. We will just be more choosy about what we buy and what kind of service we get where.
From ME, 07/22/2008
I have been knitting for 60+ years and I will continue to do so to my last breath.Knit for the family, nit for friends and sell my knits. I wonder how much research you did. Did not hear anything about www.ravelry.com; a community for which 150.000+ knitters signed up for in one year. And though one yarnstore closed another one whith more business savvy has openend and is doing just fine. May be people are not buying the $50.00 skeins anymore but good quality yarn can be bought for less.
From Dillwyn, VA, 07/22/2008
Sad your story was so limited in content. I have had a yarn store for 37 years and can tell you that the industry runs in cycles of 7-10 years of ups and downs. During the growth years many stores get on the band wagon, but they don't know about the normaly industry cycle and when the downturn come they find the didn't have their bills paid, expanded too fast and are facing the crunch of fewer customers and end up going out of business. If they had a bit of business sense and ran a tight ship, they could weather the down times and be ready for the next peak. Our industry is great in a weak economy as more people are staying home and want something to do. With the state of the economy and the cost of heating our homes this winter, this is the perfect time to get those needles clicking so you can lower the thermostat and still be comfey this winter. As far as the internet goes, yes internet sale are great for my store. However in the past there were also businesses that took away businesses from the local yarn shop, this is not a new thing. As lys owners we need to grow with the times and use the best business practices. We are no different than any other mom and pop stores out there competing with all the big boys, so we need to learn to play the game better.
From DC, 07/22/2008
I think it's that once people understand the yarn, feel it in the stores, get to know the brands that they like, then they switch to on-line sources for that yarn. I've started doing that myself. I saw some sock yarn in a knitting shop, bought it, knit it, liked it. Now I'd like more. I love the yarn store and will definitely go back. But if I can't get there soon, I'll go on-line and buy more yarn there. To me, this is the natural evolution of shopping nowadays -- start in person and move to on-line when you get the feel for the products.
From League City, TX, 07/21/2008
I find it amusing that you associate the fact that some knitting stores going out of business with knitting going out of style. Our knitting group meets every Monday and has grown from 6 - 10 people to 12 - 20 people in the last 4 months. Knitters may be buying more from online stores that comes from several reasons. 1) they are less expensive, 2) they are closer (Can't get any closer than your PC) and 3) They get reviews from the ever growing online community.
Speaking of growing online communities. If you think knitting and crocheting are dead... perhaps you should check out the Online community called Ravelry. Multi thousands (as of November Ravelry had 35,500 members with an average of 700 invitiations going out each day) of knitting/crocheting members belong to it. Sounds like a dying hobby eh?
From Carefree, AZ, 07/21/2008
I'm not surprised to hear that the "trendy" knitting stores are disappearing. As an avid knitter of over 40 years, I shop where I can find good yarns, and great knitters. I agree with Amy from Shinglehouse, PA. that knitting will remain a hobby. Knitting has been around for centuries, it's the trendy stores that stock expensive yarns , in expensive locations, that most knitters don't use except once in awhile..it's not good business sense. No profit margins...It is a shame that these stores are disappearing since it made it more convenient to touch and feel different yarns and to meet other knitters. However, the internet has a huge selection of knitting blogs that I keep up to date with patterns, knitting guilds and supplies.
It was an interesting report, it just left me thinking. Thanks for reporting! I look forward everyday on my drive home.
Regards,
Jayne
From Coudersport, PA, 07/21/2008
I wholeheartedly agree with Amy's comment. Plus Amy is fortunate to have a well-stocked yarn shop just down the road from Shinglehouse in Coudersport--Olga's living with Art www.eggdecorator.com. For what it's worth Coudersport is a town of less than 3,000. Being able to see and FEEL the fiber makes a big difference when selecting some. Keep on knitting!
From Shinglehouse, PA, 07/21/2008
Knitting may have "fallen out of favor" with the trendy set, but there is a strong cadre of us who will never give up our hobby. We do use it to get through stress, we do it to make gifts for our friends and families, we do it to make great socks for ourselves. In the book "No Idle Hands: A Social History of Knitting in America," author Anne L. MacDonald illustrates that women have been knitting for their families, and to make a little coin on the side, for centuries. It may come and go as a fad for some, but knitting will always be here to stay for those of us who love it.
From CA, 07/21/2008
Next time, hire a knitter to do your reporting! It's P-U-R-L.
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