Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

Four years ago, our family moved back to Metro Atlanta to be closer to family and the Southeast's cultural crossroads. At that time, my son Luke and I forecast that within 5 years we would open our own local yarn shop in the historic district of Duluth, Georgia. We began studying the yarn industry in earnest and morphed my love of yarn and his business prowess into a plan for a brick and mortar store. To be honest, there were times when our dream seemed a bit ambitious, especially when the economy took such a steep turn for the worse. An internet shop seemed far more practical and attainable, so Luke began Rare Purls as a "dot com" venture. But fate seemed to have a different plan for the Mather family. When a charming retail suite became available at the Knox House in Duluth's historic district in 2008, I peered through the French doors every time I met friends for lunch at the Park Cafe, my favorite local bistro. It seemed such a perfect space! We also became regulars at the Atlanta Knitting Guild and Gwinnett's own local group, the Noble Knitters. We saw that needle arts were alive and well in the Southeast and made plans to participate in the first Stitches South. By winter 2008, our inventory of luxury yarns was beginning to overflow our storage facility and it became apparent that we had enough yarn to fill that shop space on West Lawrenceville Street. We figuratively held hands and made the leap. In May 2009, Luke signed the lease for my beloved shop space and we began the creation affectionately named Rare Purls Yarn Boutique and Knitterie.

On opening day in June 2009, many friends and well wishers came to see the newest yarn shop in Greater Atlanta. In the weeks that followed, knitters from all over the Northeast Atlanta area visited our shop and some have already become repeat customers. I have to chuckle when the nonknitting naysayers peek in and just don't understand such things as fiber lust and yarn addiction. "A yarn shop? You're so brave!" or "Is yarn ALL you sell?" Then the second glance, often followed with "Do you give classes?" Ah, yes, the power of gorgeous fiber! I grab some needles and show them how easy this creative craft using simple tools is to begin.

Absolutely, this is my dream job. Surrounded by elegant fibers from around the globe, inspiration is nestled in every nook. Old friends and new friends come by to chat and cast on. We always welcome visitors to come in and just relax. Whether we are working through the latest lace knit along or finishing up the last few rows of a prayer shawl, the 110-year-old wood floors, walls, and ceilings are the perfect backdrop for an hour (or two) of creative bliss. There is a lovely view through the original old glass in the huge front window overlooking the enclosed porch. Our knitterie is the perfect place to experience the zen of knitting.

Of course, there is somewhat of a formula when opening a yarn shop. A large selection of good wool worsteds, DK yarns in a number of fibers and blends, their bulky cousins for quick and cuddly knits, and sock yarns in exciting patterning and colorways are the basics. Add to that a selection of uber lux yarns and unusual fiber blends, plus an exciting array of designer patterns and you have a good start up inventory. To keep up with trends, new yarns, and the latest in hand knit design, I personally read every issue of seven knitting magazines from cover to cover. I enjoy the meetings with our suppliers when they come by with new yarns and new colors of old favorites. Most importantly, I listen to the feed back from local knitters. It is the best guide as to what yarns we should order.

As Luke handles the paperwork and all the finances, I find the only drawback to working at Rare Purls is that I have less time for my own personal knitting, but I must admit I love teaching and our customer's creative pursuits, a kind of vicarious knitting. On Monday, our one day off, I find myself missing the shop and its inspiring atmosphere. This is when I catch on on paperwork, correspondence, and work my new designs. I give my own house a lick and a promise, then sit in front of the TV, the TIVO filled with simple plot programming, and work on projects that require little concentration, using the pause feature if something begs a bit more attention. This multitasking allows me to enjoy what I otherwise consider a guilty pleasure. It is a good life.

Yes, this is truly my dream job. The fact that our Yarn Boutique is a family business is a joy. I am able to work with both Luke and my husband, Bill. Bill took an early retirement from anesthesiology, and he has not only helped Luke build all our fixtures, but also works in our separate office space. As we rework the retail section of the website, Bill is assuming the responsibility of new listings and filling orders. Each of us are a key figure in the operation of Rare Purls.

We do want to thank all of our fellow yarn lovers for the encouragement and support that helped us to make that leap. The Mathers have begun a new phase in life, new job titles, new challenges, but best of all, a bevy of knitters as new friends.

Happy Knitting!!