What makes your knitting store special?
A lovely customer contacted me through our online chat on last week asking What makes your store special? As she pointed out, all yarn stores offer yarn and needles, so how are we different? I absolutely loved the honesty and candor of this question. I mean, she's absolutely right - all yarn stores carry yarn and needles, and a whole lot more, Many of us even carry some of the same yarns. So how are we different? This was such a wonderful question, and I spent quite a bit of time on my response. She was pleased with my answer (which you can read at the end of this post, if you like) but it was not quite an adequate answer.
What I did not say, but would have, had it not been late at night, was that as much as anything we have or do here at the shop, it is our customers that make Crazy for Ewe special. It is your visit, your smile, your participation in our events. It is your connection to us and to each other that makes us special. There is a tangible sense of connectedness among everyone that is part of Crazy for Ewe. There is a warmth and inclusiveness that new people sense and are drawn to.
I see it in the shop and around the table whether it's in a class or a spontaneous gathering. In Club Crazy for Ewe, although most of us are hundreds, if not thousands, of miles apart, there is a genuine community that transcends the limitations of Zoom. We are connected and genuinely care for one another fat beyond our shared passion for knitting. That is a gift that each of you bring, and it is what really makes Crazy for Ewe special.
I thought it especially appropriate to share this message with you today, and to wish a happy Valentines Day to you, my awesome friends and knitting family. I am so grateful to have you in my life. You are each so very special.
Warmly,
Ellen
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In case you are interested in my response to the lovely customer who asked what made us special:
What a fun question! I think all yarn stores have yarn, needles, accessories, and samples of patterns. What makes any store different is the selection of yarn they carry, the classes they offer, and the expertise of the staff. . Some stores specialize in hand-dyed yarns, some specialize in luxury yarns, others in budget yarns. Some stores are all about baby things, and others focus on accessories. It all depends on the clientele and the taste of the owner.
Our store specializes in creating stylish garments and accessories. Everyone on our team is an expert knitter with a particular area of expertise. If you need a lesson on a special challenging technique, ask for Ginni. If you want to make the best-fitting socks you’ve ever worn, ask for Jenny. If you would like to make a stunning wardrobe of stylish accessories, ask for Mary, and if you want to talk with someone who’s passionate about garment finishing and making sweaters that you’re proud to wear, ask for me, Ellen.
We do not carry every yarn out there, but the yarns we do carry, we stock wide and deep. That means that if we carry a yarn, we have it in every color and we have sweater quantities for a every size. We are a Rowan Flagship store, and we have most all the yarns, in every color and all the current pattern books. We are Noro stockiest, so we have all the current Noro yarns and colors. You will not find more Noro yarn in one place anywhere in the country. We also have a line of yarns hand-dyed exclusively for Crazy for Ewe. We’re very proud of our relationship with this talented fiber artist, her beautiful eye for color, and the consistency of her product. She dyes a limited edition colorway sock yarn set for us every month as well as custom colors for shawls and other projects.
All this being said, we offer yarns and support for knitters who want to make all kinds of things. We have helped with baby blankets, stuffed toys, crocheted hats, and more. We are here to help you create something beautiful, whatever that may be.
Thank you for taking the time to reach out, and I hope this answers your question about what makes us special.
What do you think? Did I miss anything? What do you think makes a yarn store special?
8 Responses
Eveline
February 14, 2023
Ellen and her staff show us knitters that no problem is insurmountable. Covid? Start zoom classes. Live too far to sit around the table at the store? Join the virtual Crazy for Ewe Club. Want in person support and fun? Attend weekend retreats. Experienced knitter? Learn from a Nubie as well as from experts. Beginner? Enjoy patient, supportive guidance. Love yarns, design and fashion? Get inspired by the enthusiasm of Ellen and her staff for constant research in timeless creations that will fit you.