Crazy for Ewe
Why is Noro important now?
Okay, let me start by saying that I am not an expert in Japanese art or even a student of Japanese culture and aesthetic. I am, however, a big fan and an obsessive collector of Japanese textiles in the form of yarn. I’ve carried Noro in the shop for 15+ years and have knit literally dozens of garments with Noro. When I look at my handknit collection, it is Noro garments and accessories that have stood the test of time. Noro sweaters remain in my closet, year after year. What is it about Noro that makes it so fascinating? I have thought about it and written about it many times on the blog, each time uncovering some new aspect that deepens my love and respect for the yarn, the company, and
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What we miss most--our knitting community of women
Happy Mother’s Day. I like to think about Mothers' Day not just as a day to remember our own mothers, but a day to recognize and honor all the influential women in our lives. Certainly, our mothers are the first to love us, but there are so many strong women who have nurtured us—been there for us. These are the women who give us the opportunity to try, comfort us if we fail, and support us as we try again.
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What is it about Shibui?
I remember the first time I saw Shibui at the trade show. So beautifully displayed – different fibers lined up in rows of coordinating colors against a black backdrop. I loved it all so much, but to be honest, I was a little intimidated, and I just moved on. I told Mary and Ginni about this yarn line I had seen, and they were intrigued, and when we were all at the show together, I decided to make an appointment in the Shibui booth – just to talk to the owner and the designer. Well,
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Why take time for yourself
I get it. It’s hard with all the demands on our time. Working moms at home with the kids, stay at home moms without a break, working women doing more than your share, and all of us trying to figure out how to navigate this new normal. It is ok to sit for a moment and notice without judgment what you are feeling. Taking a moment to calm and renew makes us all better at what we do and more ready to face whatever lies ahead.
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Knitting with practiced hands
Quarantined at our house, Bill and I have the Katie and Johnny (the twins), Katie's sorority sister, Augustine, and our youngest, Colton. It's quite a houseful. I spend an inordinate amount of time cooking, but it's okay--I feel a little bit guilty admitting that I kinda like having everyone home again for a bit.
The other night Augustine wanted to see pictures of when Katie and the rest were little. We spent hours looking at albums and scrolling through the photos on my phone. I ran across a picture of Colton at the beach last summer, and posted it to Instagram yesterday morning. I look at the old pictures of my sweet boy, my
Developing our mental core
For the last 20 years or so, fitness experts have talked about the importance of our core. As you probably know, our core refers to a collection of muscles in our midsection and, with the exception of the coveted six-pack, are decidedly unglamorous. Core muscles don’t show when we flex them, and they don’t make our butts look awesome in jeans, but they are, possibly, the most important muscles in our body. These are the muscles that hold our internal organs in place and allow us to stand and walk upright. A strong core is what gives us balance, stabilizes us, and keep us from being blown over by the wind.
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Comfort in the familiar
I talked to my Seattle daughter, Elizabeth, Sunday. It was her fiancé’s birthday, and she’d been asking me for suggestions on what to make for his birthday dinner. They’re both foodies and Elizabeth is a particularly good cook, so the options are pretty much endless. I texted her Sunday afternoon to see what she had decided on. She laughed, “I am making homemade mac & cheese and eggplant Parmesan. Andrew wanted comfort food.”
Comfort food. I love it. What we call comfort food depends, in large part, on more
5 keys to happiness
Such a strange and unprecedented time we are experiencing. So much is unknown, and what we think we know changes daily. As I’m sure you have heard, Governor Hogan has closed non-essential Maryland businesses. You and I probably consider yarn stores essential businesses, but sadly, the Governor does not, so Crazy for Ewe was officially closed to customers yesterday evening. While it’s frustrating more
Knitter's Quarantine Survival Guide
As I said in yesterday’s newsletter, the specter of COVID-19 is upon us, and it is like nothing any of us have ever seen. Frightened and unsure, we are worried for ourselves, our family, and our friends. We are already practicing social distancing, and most of us had already self-quarantined to some extent, but. yesterday’s message from Maryland Governor Hogan closing restaurants, bars, and gyms, and limiting religious and social gatherings to under 50 people, reminded us that, as he said, “We are not fooling around”. It’s kind of scary, but it’s the right thing to do for ourselves and our fellow humans. Kind of scary, I know, but we knitters have an advantage. more
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Handling COVID-19 at Crazy for Ewe
The COVID-19 is changing the landscape for all of us. Here at Crazy for Ewe, we are taking precautions to ensure that our space is clean and safe, being vigilant about washing hands, avoiding physical contact, and keeping a safe social distance. I took this selfie Sunday as Ginni and I spent the day together wiping and disinfecting tables, doors, handles, chairs, literally, every hard surface in the shop.
As a small business, we are struggling to balance everyone’s health and safety, with our desire to serve and support our customers. To that end, we are remaining more
Our friend Ann
We lost a dear friend at Crazy for Ewe last week. Sweet Ann Hoover passed away Wednesday morning. For about as long as I can remember, Ann has been part of the shop. Looking over years of pictures, I tried to remember exactly when I first met Ann, but I could not. I cannot remember any particular day or event heralding her arrival at the shop. She didn’t announcer herself. She wouldn’t have. It wasn’t her way. Ann was an unassuming woman, comfortable with more
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