Farewell Tribute To The Marvelous Mary Hoffman And Her Yarn Quest

One of my favorite stops on our visits to Traverse City has always been my stop at Yarn Quest.  I have shared my feelings about and purchases from Yarn Quest several times.  It saddens me to share with you the email I received from Mary Hoffman the wonderful owner. 

Dick and I were in Traverse City August 3 through the 6 waiting for Dick's poison ivy to clear up so we could get on with his heart surgery.  I didn't go to Yarn Quest thinking there would always be a next time.  Little did I know, there wasn't even a "this time" as the car had already smashed through that amazing little shop.  Take a peak at the picture above again.  This is what Yarn Quest looked liked after the accident. . .

I get teary every time I look at these pictures.  So much was lost on July 29 for patrons, staff and the marvelous Mary.  After working at Ann's By Design, I know that a yarn shop is more than a a job or a business for the owner.  It is a labor of love.  It is your vision put into practice.  I remember the first time I met Mary.  I was in the middle of my Survivor Shawl addiction.  I came up to the counter with this basket filled with beautiful, exquisite, yummy, high end pink yarns.  This little lady behind the counter asked me what I was doing since I had just one ball of each yarn.  I told her about my Survival Shawl project and she gave me a discount.  She also said she would never forget me because I wasn't picking out cheap yarns for my project but the very best.  Many stores asked me about my purchase of pink yarn but nobody gave a me discount like Mary.  After that when I would go to the store or call, Mary always knew it was me.  Here are a couple of the beautiful pink yarns I bought at Yarn Quest.

Yarn Quest was also instrumental in coloring my sky in my Knit The Sky project.  One of the wonderful things about Knit the Sky is looking at it and remembering with fondness the LYS who helped me Knit the Sky.

These were my first yarns for Knit The Sky but they weren't the last Knit The Sky yarns I bought at Yarn Quest.  These beautiful yarn ultimately became this. . . 

Every time I went to Yarn Quest, I felt like Mary had filled the store just for me.  All of my favorite yarns were there AND some new ones I had never seen before.  Yarn Quest introduced me in Interlacement yarn.  I love them so much, they are part of my collection and might never be used.  Because "what if I use them, can't replace them, and then find the perfect pattern."  That's in quotes because I know you've heard it before.  

These are my first Interlacement yarns.  They are much more beautiful than they photographed.  SOMEDAY I will knit a Knit Swirl sweater for me using this fabulous yarn.

This is a fabulous Blue Heron Yarn I bought at Yarn Quest.  It sparkles and shines and I love it.  Whenever I was in Yarn Quest, I would also see a colorway of Blue Heron I had never seen before.  Of course, I had to buy it because Blue Heron is the perfect yarn for the Olga Jazzy pleated scarf.  

I do believe a good share of my button collections originated at Yarn Quest.  I can make something, go to the Stash Studio and pick out the perfect button thanks to Yarn Quest.

I am very sad about the closure of Yarn Quest for many reasons.  If this was paper, I think you could see my tear drops on the page.  I am sad I will never be greeted by the friendly staff of Yarn Quest again.  I am sad that I will never find the "most beautiful yarn I've ever seen" at Yarn Quest again.  I am sad I will never squeal with delight when I see a button that is beyond description.  But most of all I am sad I will never see Mary Hoffman again who's vision brought so much joy into my life.  Mary, thank you for all of the delight you brought to me.  I wish you the best.