the big news
I’m opening up a yarn store!
My boss at the store I’ve been working for has decided to close the store. And this just makes it the perfect opportunity for me to open up my own store. I will be staying in the same place (a block from the house baybee!) ordering in a whole new stock, and yeah… owning a yarn store. I’ve got things all worked out so the kids are only away from me for two days a week (like it is now) and I’ll still be at the store as much as I need to be. And of course this means FREE YARN. What could be better than that?
Needless to say, things have been crazy around here. I haven’t even looked at Bloglines for over a week. But everything is falling into place. I’m still a little scared, but mostly excited. I’ll have a lot more details to come, but in the meantime, I could use your help. I want to know:
What would your ideal yarn store be like?
What are some cool things you’ve seen your local yarn store do?
What are things you’ve disliked in a yarn store?
What is your favorite yarn? Your favorite needle? Favorite book/pattern?
eeee!!
THANKS!
Category: daily, yarn store 23 comments »
June 26th, 2006 at 2:16 pm
You’ll be brilliant.
I know you’ll do the thing that I wish my LYS would do. They don’t know what knitty.com is :)
June 26th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Oh I am sooo excited for you! How awesome!
Knitting sleeves from Lantern Moon are very nice. Sublime Stitching stuff is great.
One of the things that makes my yarn store great is that it is a place of community. There are couches, and people just hanging out, knitting there. because of this, there is always someone there to help you with your project, even if staff are busy.
She also offers people tea and cookies usually, if they are hanging around. That is very nice.
So what are you going to call your place!? I bet you will have a very fabulous website for it!
June 26th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
OH WOW! This is fantastic! I haven’t actually visited any local yarn stores so I can’t give you feedback, but I love that you’re doing this! Can’t wait to hear/see more!
June 26th, 2006 at 2:31 pm
How exciting!!! Let me know if you have any specific questions. I work at http:www.villagewools.com and love it.
June 26th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Don’t forget us crocheters! Girl, you are living my dream. I’ve been wanting to open a yarn store for years. Please, please keep me updated! I’m so excited for you!
June 26th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Congratulations! That is so exciting, I can’t wait to read all about it!
June 26th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
I’m so so happy for you!
My favorite yarn store is Beehive in Victoria, BC: http://www.beehivewool.com/about.htm
June 26th, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Oh, Alison — congratulations! This is so exciting.
We don’t have any small yarn shops where I live–only big chain stores, like Michael’s and Tall Mouse–but if we did I would rate classes (for beginners, like me), comfort (cozy couches and good background music), and staff friendliness among the most important things that would keep me coming back again and again.
Best of luck in your new adventure!
June 26th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
YAY! I already commented on g* but wanted to give you a little w00t w00t here too!
-T
June 26th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
Holy mother cows of yarn. That is so exciting. I dream of opening a yarn store.
My ideal yarn store is friendly, not snooty. It has couches and chairs and good light. It has classes and a knitter’s group and a little shelf of good buttons. It lets you poke at the yarn and tells you what they’ve tried knitting with it and what has worked.
You can’t miss. Can I come by and visit when you’re open?
June 26th, 2006 at 6:45 pm
BIG CONGRATS GIRL!!!!
i so wish that i was closer so i could be a regular customer. make sure that you post lots of pics when you get it up and running :)
June 27th, 2006 at 6:34 am
Yowza!! Fabulous news!
Things i like in a yarn store are a classic look (that doesn’t date), comfortable, friendly, good quality products. I’m sure whatever you do it’ll be fab.
June 27th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Wow! Congratulations! It will be a lot of work, but I know you will make it great.
I like plain old Clover bamboo circs for knitting needles. They are smooth and not too expensive, in case (read: when) I loose one. For dpn, I like Clover, Fiddlesticks, and I like Pony for smaller sizes. Bryson (sp?) makes a good plastic dpn, which is nicer in the smaller size as well.
I’ve been knitting with a Classic Elite yarn–Renaissance–that is nice. Of course everyone loves that Malabingo (or whatever). Rowan makes good yarn, but it’s very expensive. Really–I like a good wool that won’t bankrupt me for everyday knitting. Stork is a nice fingering weight cotton that I’ve used for baby hats and booties. I’m still looking for a good Shetland wool. There is a Bartlett yarn on yarnzilla.com that is inexpensive and looks nice, but I’ve yet to try it. If you decide to carry it, let me know, I’ll order some from you.
If you do an online service, I like yarnzilla’s flat $5.00 shipping fee.
My yarn shop has “clinics” twice a week where they arrange to have their experienced knitters there to help people with their projects. It’s a time for people to come and knit together, too. Couches would be nice for people to come in and knit, but the store is VERY small and there simply isn’t room for anything more that a table or two. They have a small basket of toys for kids to play with. Even though the Man-Cub would never stay and play by himself there, it still sends the message to me, as a parent, that my small child is welcome there with me.
Anyway, sorry this is such a long comment!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:51 am
I think every knitting store should have a “test drive” spot- a place with some needles and various yarns you sell, so they can sit and knit a little bit with the yarn before deciding if they want to buy it or not.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Makes me wish I knew all about this stuff. =) How about I learn and you can hire me part time?
June 27th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Congratulations! What a dream!
My LYS stocks old issues of Rebecca with all the english patterns, which ROCKS!
I love Weekend Knittng and Loop De Loop as far as books go.
Also, if you set up some deals with local breeders, you might get some cheap local wool, which would be so great to carry.
I think anything that fosters a helpful, inclusive environment (classes, free help, cheap finishing services, etc) can make your store something really special.
Again, congrats on your entrpreneurial start!
June 27th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Congratulations! I have no idea how to answer the questions, I’ve never been to “domestic” with knitting & all so I have never bought yarn or been in a yarn store.
I am sure you will do great! I am curious what you will name it??? Knowing your style, I bet it will be a catchy name. Hey, if you have coffee or tea like the one suggestion, I may just stop by sometime to have a look around & a cup of coffee!
Maybe you should do some of your baking & have cookies too! Best of blessings to ya!
June 27th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Congrats! I think you’ll do great!! When I was a beginner knitter, I always felt a little intimidated by the ladies at my LYS. I think clinics and how to classes would be fun as well as email newsletters – I just love those!My favorite needles are Clover bamboo.
Again, congrats – I wish you the best of luck!!!
June 27th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Hmmmm… Let’s see…
In no particular order:
-Audi Turbo and Inox Express circs
-Susan Bates and Brittany dpns
-Yarns arranged by weight (I cannot adequately express how much I love this)
-Friendly, approachable, and attitude free staff (a must and, often, a rare thing IME)
-Integrated coffee shop… mayble not so realistic but a lovely feature when I’ve run into it.
-A comfortable place to sit and knit
-A ‘test drive corner” as someone else mentioned
-A frequent buyer card (similar to the coffee cards you find at many cafes, a reward for your regular customers) offering a percentage off the next purchase once a customer has spent a certain amount.
-Yarns… too many to mention here.
Good luck!
June 28th, 2006 at 7:14 am
How funny is it that I typed Audi Turbo instead of Addi Turbo? Very different things. Talk about a mind fart. I was, of course, talking about the knitting needles, not the car.
June 28th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!
My dream yarn store would not forget that yarn was used for crochet as well and would have a complete stock of crochet accessories and patterns that rival their knitting patterns.
I know you don’t plan to be exclusively knit…but sometimes we feel like we are being shoved into the back room to secretly buy our hooks.
Girl, i am so incredibly excited for you!!!
June 28th, 2006 at 8:29 am
CONGRATS! On opening up your own yarn store. That is so exciting! I know I don’t actually “know you”, but I “blog know you” and from what I know this is perfect for you.
As per the questions, I wish I could be of more help to you, but I have never done anything with yarn in my life! I sew and quilt, but anything involving yarn and needles, I have not yet attempted. But I love seeing all of the awesome things you make, you are so good.
Best of luck with the store, I can’t wait to hear more!
June 28th, 2006 at 8:53 am
Wow! Congratulations Allison.
I’m sure that you will do very well at your new career as a business owner and “Professional Knitter”!
The best of luck,
Ginny