We got to the fabulous Coastal Cottage on New Year's Day (Friday) and I waited until Sunday to make my FIRST trip to Knit 'N Purl. Well, it wasn't really open on New Year's Day and January 2 we were unpacking and getting settled but January 3, I really couldn't wait any longer. Believe it or not they are open from 1-5 on Sundays. I did have somethings in mind which I thought shouldn't wait until Monday. I needed some blue yarn for Knit The Sky. You walk in the front door and are greeted by these two beautiful relatives of Lydia. This gives me an idea that I should dress Lydia before I take pictures of Lydia wearing my knitted treasures. Even though it was Sunday, there were people knitting at the long table, but one things was wrong. Molly wasn't there. After receiving many complements on my Rocks From The Riverbed (really that's why I wore it. I wanted to basked in the attention!) and buying blue yarn for Knit The Sky, I decided to come back when Molly would be there. I walked in the door and immediately heard in this lilting voice, "Well, look who's here!" After a hug, I was enveloped in the charm of Knit 'N Purl under the enchantment of Molly Bruton. I felt like I'd walked through the looking glass and was in a magical land of happiness, joy and fiber. The people at the table were there for the mystery Knit-A-Long which had been posted that morning. They were given directions but no picture and were waiting at the door at 10:00 to participate. As I walked around the store, I listened to the sounds of people doing exactly what they want to do in exactly the place they want to be. Woven in with the laughter and chatter was this wonderfully musical voice of Molly. Knit 'N Purl has even more fiber treasures this year than it did last year. Remember last year when I said the shop had all of these little kiosks and looked like a gallery of fiber? This year there was something more and Molly told me the story. She decided she wanted to dress the mannequins so at the end of the coat season went to stores and bought coats. Just look down this isle. The mannequins are dressed in coats with shawls or scarfs or cardigans. She said originally she thought she wanted navy or gray or navy but then realized the bright colored one were less expensive. What you see all over are splashes of color covered in splashes of color. You know what a sucker I am for color. This effect grabbed me almost as tight as Knit 1 Bead 2 in Jerome, Arizona where is yarn is organized by color. I would be over in one corner and hear, "Well, hello Missy! How are you today?" in that infectious voice that makes me smile. "How long are we going to have you with us this year?" was the question for one of the ladies at the table. So this is a place that not only honors locals but pays homage to the winter people who need a fiber fix while they're away from their LYS back home. This shop the jammed packed with yarn of all kinds from less expensive to more expensive; from wools and cottons to exotic; from plain to exquisite; it's all there. You would think a relatively small shop with all of this yarn would be chaotic and confusing but it isn't. You can distinguish every yarn with most yarns having a sample knit. You know what a sucker I am for a sample. How can Molly be every place at once? She is helping this person, she is answering questions for that person, she is admiring my Rocks From The Riverbed. Everyone feels important and included. What a talent! She said something very profound in that the success of a shop isn't if it succeeds from year to year but from generation to generation. Isn't that beautiful! I think that is why I want to mentor Taylor this year to become one of the next generation of knitters. Look back through my pictures and you'll see on the walls how the yarn is organized; lace, sock, sport, dk, worsted, bulky. I wanted to take a couple more pictures of Lydia's relatives before I said goodbye . . . But I will be back for more yarn, my Molly fix and because I have a 25% discount on my next purchase Who can resist that?!?!?!
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jan parsonThis blog is dedicated to Mary Helen Growt my first knitting teacher and the woman who changed my life. The mission of Knitting: A Love Story is to preserve, share and promote the love of knitting. Archives
April 2021
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