Rug and Yarn Hut
Tuesday January 08th 2008, 8:32 pm
Filed under: Friends,LYS

It was out of the blue–and yet I could see it coming a long way off. My friend Karen calling today, with a stunner: she was closing her yarn store. Oh, Karen, I’m so sorry; when?…

After today.

WHAT?

She’s been doing two fulltime jobs for I think six years; I’ve wondered for a long time when something would have to give. And abruptly, yesterday, she looked at the lease and decided it had, and that was that. She was making lots of phone calls, asking people to spread the word. We did.

Karen and me at the booksigning last summerThe end result was an impromptu get-together party of many an old friend: friends of Karen’s, friends of each other’s, friends of the shop’s, after 20 years. Karen is the friend who taught me to spin and dye, working out of her home for a few years after her first location was destroyed in the Loma Prieta quake. This is the friend who gave me one of just the best stories that didn’t make it past the editors into my first book, for lack of space, but I tell you, her cat that dyed itself green will be in the next one. This is the woman who, when I called her after my car accident, saying, my sister wanted a navy afghan for Christmas and no way no how was I able to drive right now, did she do mail order? Responded with, “Yes, but I can do better than that,” packed her minivan with navy yarns, DROVE TO MY HOUSE 25 minutes away, and then insisted on giving me a discount. Gave me a hug, as I stumbled dizzily, and told me to get better.
This is…was…the store of my friend.

And I will miss it. But now she’ll have time to actually knit for the first time in years, and I hope I’ll actually get to enjoy more time with her, not less, because of the change. It’s hard to let go. But it was clear she was ready.


14 Comments so far
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That is a bummer for your friend. I hope she has a good time in retirement – especially if she is going to get to enjoy knitting more!

Comment by Amanda 01.08.08 @ 9:29 pm

May Karen enjoy many years of more time to do what she loves best :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 01.08.08 @ 9:37 pm

Yes it is sad – I was there for a while yesterday. And they were so convenient too – just a mile from where I work.

It just gives even me more resolve to shop locally and support the little guy!

Comment by no-blog-rachel 01.09.08 @ 7:15 am

It’s true what the Bible says that there is a time for everything under the sun. The time for running a shop has ended and now is your friend’s time to knit. Much happiness to her. Can’t wait for the story of the “green” cat. It reminded me of the time when my two oldest children were small. I was working at my sewing machine when our little black and white cat walked by. It took me a few moments to realize something was not quite right. I looked at “Charlie” again and he had a blue face! My two year old son had found my eyeliner and painted the cat’s face. What surprised me was the cat let him do it.

Comment by Judy 01.09.08 @ 9:32 am

Sorry to hear a great shop is closed, but I hope Karen gets to enjoy all the best of her newly made free time! 🙂

Comment by Amy 01.09.08 @ 9:38 am

Sorry to hear a great shop is closed, but I hope Karen gets to enjoy all the best of her newly made free time!

Comment by Amy 01.09.08 @ 9:39 am

I cant wait for the “green Cat” story either, guess I better get your book along with several others I would like to have. I hope your friend Karen will be able to enjoy her retirement surrounded with friends and Knitting

Comment by Danielle from SW Missouri 01.09.08 @ 9:43 am

I wish Kare only the best. If it is time for this to happen then it is time. She was very brave to say the time has come to stop. Change is difficult.

Comment by Vicki 01.09.08 @ 3:15 pm

The “green cat” story sounds great 🙂 Sorry the shop is closing, but I hope you get to spend more time with Karen.

Comment by Alison 01.10.08 @ 5:57 am

Oh it is so sad when a beloved LYS closes. My favorite just closed Christmas eve. The owner was a doll and I told her she will be greatly missed.

At least you will be able to spend more time with her.

Comment by Qutecowgirl 01.10.08 @ 5:01 pm

I heard about it too late to be able to go and say goodbye, I was working the day that was the last 🙁 I never even made it to the new location! Strange how busy we get sometimes…

Next time you talk to Karen, please tell her I said hello. I live in Santa Cruz, work as Knitting Doctor at Knitting Arts, and wrote the review for the Rug and yarn Hut in Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation. She’ll know me from one or two of those clues, I’m sure.

Comment by Gunilla Leavitt 01.14.08 @ 3:51 am

Sounds like your friend needs a well-deserved break from doing so much! Sad, but needful. 🙂

Comment by Toni 01.14.08 @ 10:00 am

Oh, Alison, we’re out traveling and I just was able to get online. I’m bummed about Karen and sorry I wasn’t around to go and give her a hug. It was a great shop and they were always fun to go and hang out with! It will be missed.

Comment by Nancy 01.14.08 @ 11:22 am

Karen always welcomed people with a smile and an open heart to help. She gave me my first weaving lesson. I finally got to the place were I was trying to design my own piece, she helped me again! Due to my own problems I missed seeing her for some months and went to find she was gone!! Finally, in my searching I have found this site to which I can write. I realize she has retired now, and do wish her every happiness which she fully deserves. Now, selfishly I need to know to whom do I turn?? Might you have any suggestions? Thanks!

Comment by Aprile Johnson 04.17.09 @ 9:02 pm



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