Ewe & Company

… and we truly & sincerely thank you for your support.

Folks often ask me, “why did you open a yarn shop in Kingston Springs?” (well, you grow where you’re planted). 

(Everything in italics I’ve written previously in one form or another … just so you know!)

“Actually, I really never thought of owning a yarn shop. I’ve been knitting, sewing, crocheting, rug hooking, quilting … always (or at least since I was about 8…I’m 64 now). When my husband had heart surgery (with complications) in 2008, knitting was my primary comfort. I would duck into Haus of Yarn for a quick yarn fix (thank you, Shayron & Erin & Carolyn), then sit & knit in his ICU and hope for him to wake up, knowing that when he did and I was knitting, he would know that all was good. Four months of ICU & rehab makes for a lot of knitting, folks, but it was good therapy for both of us. It worked for that time.

In late February & early March of 2010, we took an extended work/vacation to Northern California. Sam attended an ALI/ABA seminar in San Francisco, and then we spent three weeks on the Mendocino Coast … basically healing. I spent so many pleasant hours (and dollars) in The Mendocino Yarn Shop and truthfully never wanted to leave. That shop gave me the inspiration for my shop; the courage came driving back to SF in blinding fog on Highway 1 when I screamed out, “if we ever get home I’m having a ####ing yarn shop”.  And Sam said, “OK, babe… just get us off this G##d####M##### f###### road alive.” (He was a word man – all expletives were deleted to protect your sensibilities; you get my point).“

Really … that was truly just about all the conversation we had. Mostly. OK, there were a few money things that came up. It’s all good. Mostly.

So … we had a ‘soft opening’ (is that even a thing) on June 12, 2010. (Our first yarn sale was actually May 18, 2010 … yep, I looked that up!). This little shop looked like a dang Cracker Barrel with all the apple baskets, and Mom & I worked so hard to get it looking that way … before I learned that the expense of shelving & fixtures was money well spent. We never did have a Grand Opening … and that’s just fine!

Our first stocking orders arrived on Friday, April 30, 2010. The shop wasn’t in place, no insurance, just boxes & boxes of yarn. I remember it was raining that afternoon. Then the rains continued with a vengeance. It rained, and rained, and rained. Biblical rains. Homes were washed off their foundations, businesses flooded. Middle Tennessee was hit with one of the worst floods in over 100 years. All the roads were closed to the shop, power & phone gone, internet was intermittent. My thoughts during those days were rather dark, to say the least. I was certain that this was the universe’s rather harsh way of telling me this was a really bad idea. Plus I had no insurance (did I mention that?), so it would just be a major cash loss & I’d be back on the job market. Oh the joy.

When the bridge to Main Street was finally okayed for pedestrians, I cried all the way from City Park to the railroad tracks, knowing everything would be ruined … that there would be bags & bags of Cascade 220 (read as: thousands & thousands of $$$) floating in 3 feet of water. Amazingly, there was the front porch all sweet & dry, virtually untouched. I cried the rest of the way to the shop. Not even the candles were disturbed. And then I sat down on the floor of the shop-to-be & cried some more.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Several years ago we were offered an ‘opportunity’ by a yarn shop in our old neighborhood wishing to sell their location. We rolled that around for a bit & decided to pass, we’re just snug as bugs here in Kingston Springs. I had absolutely no interest in running two shops, and I just love this remarkable community.

My goal was to have an inclusive, welcoming yarn shop that gave as much comfort as I had received. Hopefully I have done that, it has surely been a solace for me.

Just keep sharing the love. I hear so many stories of yarn shops being snobbish, rude, overpriced … and that is just (mostly) wrong, there is a lot of love in a LYS. I have always found such comfort from simply making fiber things … from clothes to sheets to quilts to blankets and afghans to socks and sweaters … we just need to keep passing this on as best we can.

What say we take another trip around the sun, boys & girls?

The precious thing happened in the shop this week, and I just wanted to share. 

First thing Tuesday morning, I answered the phone to a gruff, older (than me) man …
He: “Is this EVE & Company”
Me: “No, sir, this is Ewe & Company”
He: “Are you the knitting shop?”
Me: “Yes, sir.”
He: “Are you Eve?”
Me: “No, sir, I’m Glenna. There is no Eve here.”
He: (chuckle) “Well, I’m coming to see see you.”
Then we had a little conversation about hours, directions …

Thinking he was bringing me another ‘repair project’, I agonized over how I was just going to say “No”. (I cannot bring myself to repair one more acrylic ‘precious’ blanket that some dog has chewed, cigarettes and/or candles have melted, used as a rug .. not again this year, and perhaps never ever again. Boundaries. Can you tell I already had my attitude going?!)

He came in with a gift bag, something all wrapped in tissue, and pulled out an exquisite vintage hand-knit dress his late wife had made. He didn’t want me to repair it, or sell it, he just wanted me to help to find it a proper home. He said that he couldn’t bring himself to donate it to a charity/thrift shop … wanted it to go to someone who would wear it. Then he handed me his ‘calling card’ (a true gentleman!), thanked me, and left. Simply wanted to find this dress the proper home to respect his late wife.

After he left, I buried my face in that dress and cried. It was so similar to the shirt-waist dresses my Nana always sewed. But to knit this ~ I cannot even imagine.

This is one precious handknit … I’m guessing worked on US #1 or #2 needles … and it’s practically pretty perfect, even the seams appear to be hand-sewn. Circa 1960, some kind of cotton blend? It’s teeny … maybe a size 4/6. This needs to be worn again.

If you’re interested, it is available simply for the gifting … please get in touch; just be aware that this piece may require a personal interview (IMO, it is that special).

And … this photo doesn’t really do it justice; it is a pale pink/taupe color blend, presents as pink. And it has a covered buckle belt as well. It will need the perfect buttons! (He did tell me she would remove buttons before sending her garments for dry-cleaning so they wouldn’t be broken, then sew them back on after the cleaning ~ that in itself speaks volumes for this piece & its maker!)

It’s baaaaack! Time for “The Three Shop Shawl, The Sequel”! 

You hopefully recall that in 2020 Ewe & Company, Haus of Yarn & Bliss Yarns collaborated in a three-skein project, the objective being to purchase a skein of yarn from each shop for your project. This proved to be a rousing success, and we had such a good time we’ve decided to do it again! 

We selected the Interlude Shawl by Lisa Hannes … 3 skeins of worsted weight, with just enough pattern to keep it interesting!

Our shop models are posted below:

Ewe & Company (first pic) used Bad Sheep’s Vivant from E&CO for the mesh work, Plymouth Super Merino in Natural from Haus of Yarn, and Malabrigo Rios in Almond Blossom from Bliss;

Bliss Yarns (second pic) used their Haute Knit Trevor Morgan (DK) in Cinnabar Peacock, Haus of Yarn’s Malabrigo Rios in Teal Feather, and E&CO’s Bad Sheep Rebasserie;

Haus of Yarn (third pic) used their Camelia Rainbow Sprinkles, Malabrigo Rios in Valentina from Bliss, and Dream in Color’s Smooshy with Cashmere (fingering held double) in Mint Drop.

It’s kinda your own personal yarn crawl ~ just visit each of the shops and we’ll get you going (the pattern is our treat, just ask when you purchase your first skein)! Bring your friends and make a day trip!

Here’s the pattern link if you’d like to peruse the project pages for some other color combination ideas, as well. (We particularly liked this one, she added more of the mesh & a picot bindoff … fancy! Frankly, I wish I’d seen that one before completing mine ~ but I’ve moved on!)

The 1st Annual Deep South Yarn Hop starts this week! This nine-day event is November 8 to 16 – all participants are encouraged to purchase a passport, visit each participating shop, and receive special deals & sales available only to them. At Ewe & Company, you’ll receive 20% off your regular priced purchases and be entered in our daily door prize drawing! Passport are $5 each (we have them in the shop) ~ you’ll want to present yours at each shop to receive the discounts and be entered in the drawings!

Most of the participating shops will have extended hours for the Yarn Hop, some are in the link at the end of this post. At Ewe, we’ll be open all nine days ~ you can stop by & shop every day! Yarn Hop hours are: Monday through Friday, 11-4; Saturday, 10-2; Sunday, Noon-3.

If you visit each of the participating Hop shops, you’ll be entered into a grand prize drawing for over $1000 of yarnie goodness ~ simply turn in your fully stamped passport at your last shop stop! And remember, we’ll be drawing for a door prize daily as well!)

https://www.deepsouthyarnhop.com/

On Saturday, October 12 from 10am until 4pm, Sharon Lewis will be setting up shop in our knitting parlor! Sharon is one of my favorite yarn reps, and I’d love for you to meet her. Forbidden Fibers and Zen Yarn Garden will be featured (cash & carry!) as well as a variety of notions from Bryson Distributing. 

Forbidden Fiber Co. is a small but growing every day indie dyer originally based in California and now based in Brighton, TN. LeeAnn’s mantra is to provide “an exquisite color experience.” Her mission statement is: “to create beautiful colors in scrumptious yarns and fibers for the world to enjoy.” I would say, “well done, girlfriend, mission accomplished!” These yarns are delicious! [and home of the (most local) Harry Potter Yarn Club!] You’ll also have the opportunity to reserve your “12 Days of Harry Potter,Year One” box, as well as Forbidden Fiber’s “2019 Advent Calendar: Christmas Movies”. (These are limited, so it is first come-first served!)

Zen Yarn Garden is the art of a husband and wife team, Roxanne and Neville, based in Ontario, Canada. To paraphrase their comments … they take pride in providing the most luxurious fibers available for their yarns and dyeing them in a range of beautiful semi-solid, one-of-a-kind and splatter colourways. We have had a smattering of Zen in the shop off and on for years, this is your chance to dig deeper! “Create something unique. Everyday.” Who can’t love that?

Sharon will also be bringing a curated selection of fun notions and gadgets that Bryson Distributing has to offer (and which we all love). This won’t be cash & carry, but if you see something you like we can normally have it in the shop within the week, because Bryson is just that good!

Shop early for the best selection, as this will be a “cash & carry” event … meaning come prepared to purchase! You’ll be voting with your dollars to help us decide what we are bringing into the shop … and as always, we thank you for your support.

P.S.  and yes, we’ll have cookies.

The second annual Local Yarn Shop Day (sponsored by TNNA) is coming up this Saturday, April 27. This is the day we ask all of you yarnies to come out and show your yarn shop love! We have several new vendors, as well as special colorways and patterns just for the occasion, And, we’ll have …. COOKIES! (You know, those chewy  thick delicious old fashioned ginger molasses cookies Sue makes for us … those cookies!)

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new in the shop this week … any day now we are expecting our first shipment of Brew City Yarns! Located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, this mother and daughters team produces lovely colorways in yarns humanely sourced from the UK and South America. Their first ‘brewski of the month’ installment is scheduled to arrive just in time for LYSD ~ we’ve selected their YakYak sock (70/20/10 Merino/Yak/nylon blend), the colorway is a rich jewel tone blend aptly named ‘Heart Sisters’ …

Next up is Dream in Color ~ their LYS colorway is called ‘Grand Canyon’; this yarn commemorates the centennial of the Grand Canyon’s declaration as one of our most treasured National Monuments, and 10% of the proceeds from the sale of this yarn will be donated (by Dream in Color) to the maintenance and preservation of this national treasure. Also, they have paired up kits and offer a free pattern on LYSDay …. we have these in Smooshy with Cashmere. Because who doesn’t love cashmere!

Koigu … love working with this Canadian mother-daughter team ~ they sent a door prize! We selected ‘Deep South’ as our club selection this month, and it is lovely … I do believe this would make a beautiful fade combined with their ‘Vitamin D’ and ‘Ocean’ colorways! Plus, we have all the new LYS Pencil Box combos (Don’t love this collage, it’s like a storyboard of how they came up with the color combos!)

Mountain Colors is introducing their new tweed yarn, and we’ll have their LYS Appreciation kits for you to enjoy (and they’re sending us a door prize)! And we still have a good selection of their Wildberries sock (their sprinkle yarn) and Twizzlefoot!

 Madelintosh is in! This is not just for LYSDay, but I did want to tell you about it. We’re pretty excited to add this label … we have started with Tosh Merino and Tosh Merino Light. These are single ply yarns (which we just love) – we have a shop model of the Goramus shawl that is lovely!

Old Soul Fibers is another new addition. Samantha is an indie dyer in Greenville, SC  with a real eye for color! We have 10 colorways of her Old Soul Classic … you really need to try this one!

Knitting Fever adds a little spice to the mix … any of their pdf patterns published on their site will be FREE with your yarn purchase on Saturday! So give them a browse … knittingfever.com. They are one of the (if not the) largest yarn distributors in the country, bringing us Noro, Mirasol, Elsbeth Lavold, Juniper Moon …. really too many yarn labels to list here.

Whew.

And … BinkWaffle, Laurel Burch, LePapillon bags! Private label candles from Southern Elegance (Ewe & Company, Main Street, Kingston Springs, Nashville). NumNum’s Goat Milk Soap. Solemate socks. In2Green wraps and blankets. Fair trade baskets. More things that I’m sure I’ve forgotten to mention but this is enough for now.

Also, Jan Quarles is conducting an Indigo Dye Workshop this Saturday from 9-2, pop over to our Facebook page for the details. And she is bringing some of her indigo pieces (scarves, leggings, tops) for your shopping pleasure!

We are always glad to see you, and we particularly look forward to your support this week for LYS Day (week?)! We’ll be open Wednesday through Thursday from 11-4, and Saturday from 9-3. (Saturday is cookie day, and we’ll draw for door prizes after closing … your $25 purchase any time this week automatically gets you entered!)