Ball-fondling vs e-Commerce

While I would like to think and write about favourite yarns (or those I hate), right now I need to express my business opinions -

I find it very sad that this region has lost two brick & mortar shops in the last year. I don't worry about the "competition"; we all know there's room for us all, there's always a niche to be filled. After all, one shop cannot carry everything!

But, the world has become a strange place with the advent of the internet. You can buy anything from anywhere, and have it shipped to everywhere, in the blink of an eye. Sight unseen, hand unfelt, quality assured, satisfaction guaranteed! So what happens when it arrives and you hate it? Who helps you when you can't figure out the pattern, chart, gauge...

We have two options -  go back to the internet, to a myriad of sites, spending hours trying to find help or days waiting for one of the three thousand responses to be the "right" one, before losing interest and patience and chucking it to the bottom of the stash pile...

OR, going to the nearest yarn shop and with an apologetic "I know I didn't buy it here, but could you please help me ", where you find a real person with a smile, ready and willing to walk you through your project.

That's when we remember that virtual reality can't replace the finger-tingling of petting and fondling those pretty balls, caressing your neck and holding them to your cheek for perfect colour matching. That's when we remember that knitting (spinning, weaving, crocheting) is a social activity and each one of us in a creative artist in our own right, creating beauty and giving of ourselves in every stitch. We encourage each other, teach each other, learn from each other, share inspiration, appreciation, and experiences. No computer screen can simulate that moment of satisfaction when you've conquered a new technique or the warm glow in your heart when your gift fits perfectly.

Ok, I digressed. I was going to write about business and I see I've gone back to the emotional, tactile, artistic feelings about the business. Better get back on track... let's see, I need to refer to the issue of buying on-line versus at your local yarn shop:

Shipping -  Recently, the United States Postal Service increased international shipping rates and Canadian orders will now cost more. Buying from your LYS means your don't pay those high extra fees.

Substitution: When you can't wear, or don't want THAT particular yarn, we will be glad to suggest an alternative, complete with gauge/yardage/tension calculations to make sure your project works out right!

Colour matching: Aside from the obvious dye lot matching, there are the variables of pixels on your screen versus right-in-your-face, "does this make me look sick" colour-matching, complete with our esthetic opinions freely dispensed.

Size/style conceptualization: No computer will honestly tell you if that particular style will make you look like a turtle. Ok, we may not tell you you look like a turtle either, but at least we'll discuss alternate design options with you.

Technical Issues: There is no wrong way of knitting. You can throw, pick, use left hand or right hand, straight, circs, DPn's or toothpicks. If you want to knit it, we will help. We will not let you knit a wedding shawl with Merino, nor a Cowichan sweater with sock yarn, without explaining the properties/complications of doing so.

Now that I've waxed lyrical, logical and emo'ed all over the place, I'm getting off the computer (yes, I noticed the irony) and getting back to being creative. Looking forward to seeing you in the shop!

Time to buy yarn!

It's cold out there people! Time to visit Knit Knackers, stock up on yarn to keep you and your loved ones warm!

A weird sort of invitation

This year, Christmas seems to be speeding towards us like a train on crack (sorry Krackers, no pun intended). I'm finding it very difficult to get into the mood, although I have bought a gift or two. I have found tears on my face at the oddest moments, not really knowing how they got there, not even realizing that I had had any sad thoughts.

Those who love me have been there, a pat on the back, a hug, a joke or just with a smile. Somehow, I can't seem to shake this. I've been doing a lot of thinking and it hit me that I'm not alone in feeling this way now, just a couple of weeks away from what is supposed to be a time of joy and giving and family. So, in my own weird way, I have decided to go all they way and give in to the sadness, if only for a short time, and not by myself.

My biggest debate with myself (and subsequently with my partner) was the wisdom of implementing my plan in the shop. This is not a business situation, this is a human situation. We need to let off some steam before we ruin someone else's Christmas. Therefore, on Friday December 18th, I will close the shop at the regular time (6pm) and then will welcome anyone who has tears in their heart (between 6 and 9 pm). Whether you've lost someone whom you want to acknowledge, whether you are overcome by stress and can't show it, whatever the cause, please join us.

We'll make it a pot luck evening, bring your knitting (or any other craft) and we'll provide the kleenex. There will be absolutely no business conducted, the candles will be lit (tears are more difficult to see in candlelight), talk if you want to, don't talk if you don't feel like it. Bring along anyone who may need to be there or come alone. The burden may be easier to carry if we share the load.

I guess I could hope that not many people feel as I do but unfortunately that isn't reality. I will gladly share a tear and a smile with anyone who will share them with me. See you then...

Of Endings and Beginnings

It's been a long time since I sat down to write. It seems life happens faster than my fingers can connect with the keyboard.

I want to thank everyone who found out and came to give me a hug when we lost our daughter-in-law and baby granddaughter this past summer (the fire in Kemptville in June). Almost everyone knew Amber, that sweet, chirpy young lady who talked up a storm with every customer and client, knew everyone's name and remembered where all the patterns were.

The pain of this loss has certainly changed me. I find I'm less patient with most situations and this has translated into a move for the business. When the grumbling started about how tightly packed we were, stepping on each others' toes, falling over stock and just general crowded we were feeling, I decided to look around. I found the perfect location, negotiated the lease and started cracking my whip at the contractors to get it all done in time (my time, too short for anyone's liking). I pushed and bitched and pushed some more, wanting it done yesterday.

Of course, there would be glitches - one of the contractors (not hired by me) decided that a 50-year-old urinal in a bathroom had to be preserved because "when you leave, it will be more expensive to put a new one in". So, he built a box around it and siliconed it to the wall.. This was ridiculous, so I ripped it off the wall and had my guys disconnect the old urinal. The other guy then reluctantly proceeded to plaster the wall and refinish that area. The problem was that he then left the drainage pipe sticking out (for when someone would need it, ten years down the road), and it looked like a penis hanging from the wall. I hit the roof on that one and it took him another three days to shove that back into the wall and plaster over it. This is how the whole job has gone.

Not much wonder that I've been a little stressed and trying to stay sane during the process. One day, when I was extremely mad at some contractor and contemplating murder-most-foul, I took a moment to compose my larcenous thoughts and resorted to looking at cute pet pictures on Kijiji. This was my next down-fall. I happened across an ad for a ten-day old "special-needs" Chinese gosling. Without even thinking, I made immediate arrangements to adopt the poor little baby who's legs are deformed and needs constant attention from his family in order to survive (somehow related to real-life needs of a business). This is the story of how Knit-Knackers ended up with a gimpy goose named Krackers. Maybe it's just the story of how I have gone "Krackers".

Either way, we're celebrating ten years in business this week.. We've gotten bigger and hopefully better. We share our joys, our sorrows, our adventures in life and somehow survive the tragedies so we can add another row to the fabric of life.

In that vein, I ask that everyone join in adding a few stitches or rows to a project I'm calling the "Fabric of Life". I will have odd and ends for you to choose from or you can bring in your own left-overs. I know it's just my unreasonable, emotional need for continuity, my own search for a reason to look forward, my sorrow threatening to drown me out, but I figure if we put it all together, it might make us all stronger.

I thank everyone who has supported us, been there through every snowstorm, bus strike and construction woes. If it wasn't for you guys, this wouldn't have been possible.

Of House Rules or biting my tongue...

Somehow, it seems that the week-long deep-freeze we've just been subjected to, on top of the continuing bus strike, recession and general distemper (oops, I think that should have been "bad temper") may have almost caused some mishaps in the yarn shop. Unfortunately, being the "Boss" means I don't get to see these occurences first-hand, since I'm kept busy in other corners. Therefore, I am updated late in the evenings by all my staff members and have the duty of compiling the data and trying to make sense of it all (good luck).

I know my staff is excellent in responding politely to all the questions and comments which come their way, but I thought that some of our customers might like to hear my (the Boss') official answers as well. I've decided to lay them out as "shop rules" -

Rule #1

Everyone is welcome - We do not discriminate based on level of income, mode of dress, tattoos, age, sex, how many kids you bring with you or whether you work for the competition and just want to scope us out.

#2 We're here to help - regardless of where you bought the yarn or the pattern (refer to Rule #1). The only thing I ask is that you actually bring your yarn and pattern in because it is nearly impossible to help you over the phone without seeing it for ourselves. Don't worry, we won't sneer!

#3 Our prices are correct - yes, I know they may be lower than you expect or may have seen elsewhere. We can't help it, we pass any manufacturer's savings on to you.

#4 Expect to compare - (overheard in the shop: "oh, I've seen this in , and this yarn too, and they have this one too!" ) My answer is that of course you will see some overlapping of product lines in all the shops. After all, we do all get our goodies from the same suppliers. This gives you, the customer, a chance to compare prices and may give you some comfort in knowing that you can get something you need right now, closer to home/work, rather than having to travel a greater distance. Each shop also carries a great variety of yarns which others may not have and again, you get the opportunity to compare prices/gauges/qualities, etc. The well-informed shopper shall never suffer from stash-deprivation!

#5 Browsing is encouraged - Let me make this perfectly clear - browsing is encouraged!! Please don't feel like you have to buy something just because you stepped through our doors. We appreciate that you need to refresh/recharge/get inspired/ or just to warm up. You're welcome to sit and knit, look through the books and magazines (don't forget our free lending library), wait for your friends to join you before you go somewhere together or just to gab with us. Don't worry, we can spot scoping from a mile away.

#6 Ask us to hold something for you - we're glad to put a yarn away for you just in case you need to check a pattern at home, or think you might need just one more ball of that dye lot. In fact, while we won't argue with you about whether you'll need it or not when you make your initial purchase (this is where we bite our tongues), we often put it away for you without you knowing!! Like that, when you do discover that you should have bought it, it's here waiting for you.

#7 Working for another shop - please refer to Rule #1. Everyone is welcome . While I don't need to go to another shop if they have the same things I do, I would hope that if I actually had the time to go see something different, I would be welcomed. We're glad to meet, talk, (yes, even shop-talk) and to share inspiration with you.

#8 Ask us about anything - we don't mind looking something up on-line for you, regardless of whether we carry it or not. You may like a particular yarn which isn't available in Canada and want to know what to replace it with, you may want to see a complete colour chart (if we don't have the shade in stock), etc. Please refer to Rule #2.

We work in a retail environment and this carries a whole bunch of rules I don't necessarily like. One of them is that you can't please everyone. There will be customers who don't like our style or the presentation or the fact that they didn't find exactly what they were looking for. Thank goodness there are many other shops in this beautiful city and we'll even call one of them to see if they have what you're looking for before you make the trek.

I've hired (and fired) many employees over the last ten years and I've agonized over each one, but I have to say that the current members of my team are absolutely the best anywhere. They are compassionate, caring, creative, polite, well-spoken (most of the time) and above all, dedicated to the craft and to the business. There is only one rule I won't abide being broken in my shop and I think you can imagine what that one is...

Happy Shopping!!

The Boss

Neither snow, nor bus strikes...

Neither snowstorms, traffic jams, bus strike nor athritic attacks shall get between a knitter and her stash. This was the lesson learned this past week as our wonderful customers graced our doors. My esteem for the hardy Canadian knitter/spinner/felter has risen immeasurably and we had to follow their incredible examples of courage and fortitude.

Despite our own winter battles with Arthur(itis), despite my giving in and having to resort to using my cane while my partner hobbled along beside me fighting her own demons, we resolutely drove to Montreal to (what else?) BUY YARN for the shop. Of course, we made one pit stop along the way, during which I dropped a comb out of my hair. My partner offered to bend down and kindly retrieve it for me, earning herself a knock across her already pained shins when I dropped the cane too! I don't think she's forgiven me for that yet.

Then, to ensure a total lack of forgiveness from anyone who might ever have loved me, we bought sock yarn. We had just finished reorganizing the entire shop to accomodate a forgotten shipment of sock yarn in a new floor-to-almost-ceiling display cabinet, we had been warned by all staff NOT to buy any sock yarn and what did we do? We bought sock yarn . The only good part of this part of the story is that said staff members do not read my blog and the shipment isn't coming for a couple of days, so I have a temporary reprieve. Perhaps the other good part is that I'm still computer-illiterate enough that I can't respond with all my prepared excuses if and when said staff does respond to this blog : ) In this vein, would the writer of a comment on my last post be kind enough to email me personally, please? I simply haven't had the time to figure out how to reply to your kind invitation!

After the sock yarn, we picked and plucked only the ripest, juiciest fruit off that most sinful yarn-tree for another 3 hours. We fully intend to tempt all the most incorruptible of crafters with orgasmic fibres and penny-pinching pickings.

At 4pm, we dragged ourselves back to the car and began our journey home. The light was fading fast and the snow was turning to icy rain. The CD player was blasting our favourite ABBA songs but even that couldn't drown out our thoughts. She, sitting there cringing about how she was going to explain all the sock yarns; me sitting there wondering how I was going to explain 20 more boxes of yarn being delivered this week... both of us revelling in the beauty of all that we had seen, felt and ordered. We, both knowing that after the expected expletives (in the privacy of the staff-room), would be observing that same sense of overwhelming pleasure which we all derive from the first gaze and carress we bestow on our treasures : )

And so, we begin the last couple of weeks of the year, trying desperately to finish all our hand-made gifts and looking forward to making some goodies for ourselves after the festivities. I have to thank all of our wonderful customers for having made the trek, having made us laugh until we cried, for sharing their creativity with us and having encouraged us with kind words, with wisdom and with patience. My personal thanks also to the other shops who have generously sent customers our way!

My heartfelt wishes for Health, Inspiration and Peace go out to you all.

Sex & the single ball.

If I can get through my preamble, the title (SEX) will become apparent and appreciated by any who have come across this phenomenon.

Any time you put a bunch of women together, you can expect the unexpected. We all have very different characters, are of very great age differences, from varied backgrounds and we all have very distinct quirks which need to be tamed in the public forum. Without naming names, there is the shy one, the prude, the extrovert, the eagle-eye, the butterfly, the clown, etc. We try very hard not to let these qualities surface, but sometimes, just sometimes, it becomes very difficult...

We love our customers to pieces, and frankly, can't understand why some shops would turn their noses up at these people. The most impressive are those who don't bother to hide their innermost feelings, especially about sex.

Today, we received a wonderful shipment of our signature niche - the ODD-BALLS. Upon arrival, utter restraint must be maintained not to jump up and hug the Purolator delivery guy (and he knows it, too). Then, with unrestrained anticipation, the scissors are found and the boxes opened. The moaning begins almost immediately, then the rocking back on one's heels, the starry gaze settles on the faces of the beholders, followed immediately by a tentative carress of the uppermost balls. The gentlest of touch as a ball is lifted slowly to the neck, allowing it to slide lovingly along the quivering pulse, comparing the sensation to the last ball to follow the path and already looking forward to the next one ... then, the fantasies truly begin, as the fingers begin to tingle and dreamy pictures of flowing colours swirl into gauzy, lacy, cuddly concoctions to soothe the soul...

We have all been guilty of these actions and thoughts, regardless of our otherwise well-hidden foibles, but the best part has always been - watching the customers do the same thing! There is nothing more enjoyable than sharing our passion with others who feel the same way : )

Sweet dreams...