Category: Knitting

I know. I know. Where have I been. That is a very legitimate question; one that I should know the answer to. To be short and to the point, I’ve been at the shop. If I’m not actually at the shop, I’m either going to the shop, leaving the shop, or thinking about the shop.

Now ask me what I’ve knit lately. That is a very legitimate question, too. I remember when I first thought about opening a yarn shop. A friend (who also owns a shop) warned me that if I was getting into owning a shop with the idea that I would be able to knit to my heart’s content, I should reconsider. I laughingly agreed that I would most likely be too busy, but inside I knew it would be different for me. Why? I love knitting. I love yarn. I love the gadgets and the needles and the textures and the patterns. I knew I could never let a day go by without picking up my needles and at least getting a few stitches on. Never!

At what age do we finally stop believing that “It’ll be different for me”? I had a recent conversation with a girlfriend regarding the tough lessons kids have to go through instead of learning from someone else’s mistakes. “Why do they think they’re different?” I asked.

So here I am, taking a break at 10:00 p.m., to tell you why I haven’t been here. I am ashamedly admitting to anyone who happens by that she was right. And while she would never come right out and say, “I told you so,” I’m doing it for her. She told me so.

I did it. WE did it. WE OPENED OUR DOORS AT IMAGIKNIT! Oh, I can chuckle now. Now it’s 5:00 o’clock and my shoes are off and my feet are tingling from standing on them all day. But at 5:30 this morning, chuckling was the last sound you would have heard from me.

Two nights ago, my dad was taken to the ER and admitted to ICU for what turned out to be a heart attack. Since he’d had a stroke a year and a half ago, this was serious. The doc didn’t hold out much hope for him. While my 10 siblings gathered with mom at the hospital, I had to make the decision whether to open as scheduled or post a notice on the door and join the others.

At 6:45 Saturday morning, I headed up to see how dad was doing. I was surprised and relieved to see him sitting up in bed watching the news waiting for his breakfast. The nurse called him their miracle patient! Dad and I chatted about the shop, and he encouraged me to go for it. And so I did.

I quickly ran through WalMart for some last-minute items, then I headed for opening day. (Not the grand opening day, mind you. That’s next Saturday, the 17th.) My wonderful and priceless knitting friends came early to help me get ready.  10:00 o’clock came, and the first customer arrived.

[Note to self: Whenever opening a new shop, make sure the cash register works, receipts print, and cash drawer opens.]

How fun! How exciting! How stressful!

[Note to self: Whenever opening a new shop, make sure to have cash for change in the till.]

Thank goodness knitters are what they are. It’s what makes them knitters. They’re generous. They’re understanding. They’re helpful. They seem to have a good sense of humor.

The really beautiful thing about starting out the way I did this morning is, honestly, things could only improve. And they did. While I did have a few other glitches (credit cards wouldn’t work, checks would prove a bit of a challenge), mostly it was just fun. It was fun to listen to the “oooh’s” and “ahhh’s” when people saw what we carried. It was fun to see women in the social area sitting and knitting and spinning. It was fun to help people pick yarns and find what they wanted. And yes, it was even fun realizing my mistakes, big and small, and having everyone laughing at with me!

So tomorrow being Sunday, we’re closed. Thank goodness! I have to go see my dad, I have to visit with my wonderful sibs (thanks, guys, for stopping by the shop so I didn’t feel so left out!), and I have to go get ready for the week ahead, including — egad! — a GRAND opening!

[Note to self:  I think we’re in for a wonderful ride!]