Loops and Links

I pushed open the heavy wood door into my first local yarn shop. A smiling head bopped up from behind a shelf of yarn and said "Hello!" Loops and Links immediately felt like home.

Painting by a Loops and Links Yarns customer

The owner, Shana, welcomed me — not a needle-knitter, not a crocheter, but a loom-knitter — into her home away from home. I didn't feel embarrassed about going into a "real" yarn shop with my looms. I joined the regulars who knit Wednesdays and Saturdays. Finished objects grew as quickly as the bonds between us.

But after three years of making friends who will last lifetime and buying enough yarn for that same time frame, I say goodbye to the retiring brick-and-mortar shop.

... With arm-fulls of yarn and yarn-y things.

Three decorative dressforms will dress up my own lil online shop and house. A sample scarf made by Meg will remind me of the very talented knitters who I might not see every week now. I purchased my first set of needles that I intend to needle-knit with someday. And I stashed enough yarn for the following and then some ...

• Swing Jacket
• Summertime Top from Loom Knitting Pattern Book
• Knit Lace Shawl (scroll to Show 213)
• some plushy sock pairs
• Mulberry Merino ribbed scarf
• something Christmas-y out of red, green and white alpaca
• a few sets of fingerless mittens
• two living room pillows

Fun buttons and a funny book


Needle-felting kit and roving wool fiber

But I made sure to leave something behind as well. I joined a few other knitty friends in making socks in Shana's favorite color. I knit with Sirdar Escape Chunky for the Adestan socks pattern in the Learn to Knit Cables on Looms.

But that's not the end of this yarn. The remaining fiber, books, needles and hooks — and the comfy green couch — await to be packed. Shana says her new yarn shop venture will share some space with Barbie at her house. Loops' next link will be online soon.

Dear Shana ... Thank you for smiles everyday, hugs for any reason and support for my craft. We hope to see you again soon, needles in hand, in a cozy coffee shop.