Always a cause for celebration

is the opening of another New England LYS.  Eneri Knits is in Oak Harbour Village shopping plaza, Exeter, Rhode Island. September 4th is the "soft" opening; Columbus Day Weekend is the grand opening. 

Owner Irene DeVerna may be familiar to patrons of Country Corner Yarns in Charlestown, having worked there prior to setting up her own shop. Much thought, energy, and dedication have gone into this endeavor, and Irene's vision of how she wants it to develop is already apparent. There's a distinctive feel--of serenity, peace, and friendship--no accident, as Irene wants Eneri Knits "to provide a support system for knitters." Besides many wonderful yarns, tools, and accessories, Eneri Knits will offer classes and problem-solving sessions on a regular basis. Check the website for schedules, business hours, contact info, and directions.  Below, the workshop area.

We will keep an eye on the evolution of this lovely place. It's a leap of faith to open a new business in difficult economic times, but then again, interest in knitting has historically surged when the outside world seems bleak. "Peace, relaxation, and tranquility to all who join us in knitting" is what Eneri Knits hopes to convey to its patrons. What's not to like? We wish Irene and Eneri Knits much success.

Forward, march...

Ever curious, I asked my friends about their knitting resolutions for 2010. Mine is simple and practical: I must finish my works in progress (WIPs) before beginning anything else. That would be three at the moment--a dinosaur-themed sweater birthday present for Cy, who turns two in February; a pair of striped fingerless mitts from a crude pattern of my own devising; and a pair of pop-top mitts from a crude pattern of someone else's devising (on this, see my post of December 17th, 2009).

Deborah Newton says she's going to "try to be more original and not repeat myself....That is harder than you think, when you've been designing for as many years as I have!"

Anne and Denise, members of the Langworthy Library Knitting Association, offered the following resolutions:

Denise: I think I will resolve to work on only one project at a time...not to begin another until I've completed the one I'm working on. I'm a great starter, but a poor finisher!!! AND...to learn a new technique--like knitting in the continental style.

Anne: I'm resolving not to buy yarn I'm not ready to use. [She told me this shortly after having purchased some new yarn at Country Corner Yarns.]

This evening I sashayed over to Country Corners in Charlestown, Rhode Island (countrycorneryarns.com/), for a noteworthy knitting event (and Anne and Denise were there, among the assembled), and I managed within a few minutes of my arrival to grill everyone on their new year's knitting resolutions:

Irene:

• to learn new knitting patterns and increase my skill-level. Mirja gave me the 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar, which we sell in the shop, and I can learn a new pattern every day!
• Another resolution that I have is to try to persuade some of my close friends and family members to learn how to knit. I have managed to pique their interest so far by letting them borrow some of the many knitting novels that I've recently collected.
• To have a knitting novel library available in the shop by the summer for our seasonal customers to checkout, or encourage their non-knitting friends to think about knitting

Mirja: to finish everything I've started before I start a new project.

Barbara: to take out eight rows and re-do them before I finish the shrug I'm making.

Kathy: I plan to knit more [this year] than I have been.

Sue: To perfect at least one pattern, like mittens. And by next year to have knitted one item for each of my family members.

Nancy: to learn to knit...after I refinish six chairs.

***

Those who shared their new year's resolutions were gathered at Country Corner Yarns for an interesting reason--we were about to teleconference with Kate Jacobs, author of Knit the Season and several other knitterly novels. I was impressed by the genuine, thoughtful quality of the Ms. Jacobs's ruminations about writing fiction, how she tries to reach her audience, and what it's like to write books that carry characters from one volume to the next. She struck me as a writer who's as sensitive to her characters' situations and issues as she is to the concerns and interests of her readership. In the photos you can see her novel on the table in the foreground, and the telephone in the center.

(Note, please, the deep concentration as everyone listens to Kate Jacobs.)

Once upon a time...

there was a wee little yarn shop, at the edge of a beautiful forest....

It's hard to imagine a more adorable, more welcoming LYS than Country Corner Yarns in Charlestown, Rhode Island, situated next to the Millpond nature preserve, at the junction of Routes 2 and 1. While it might be the smallest LYS I've ever seen, its proprietor, Mirja Hanslin, has created an ambiance that's exceedingly comfortable, warm, and relaxing. And the diminutive size of Country Corners belies its rich selection of fine yarns, including many from Europe and the U.K., like the Bergere de France and Rowan lines (and companion pattern books).

The appeal of Country Corner (www.countrycorneryarns.com) is immediate--the building's natural wood exterior is matched inside by the rustic wood walls. One's initial focus, though, is the four big red armchairs in the center of the first room. (Regular readers of this blog know that one of my important criteria for loving a yarn store is seating and work-area placement. I am highly partial to up-front access.) Here knitters can ply their craft, peruse knitting magazines and pattern books, get project advice from Mirja, Irene, and Claudia, and chat with others. To enhance the coziness, there's also a fireplace. Sizable windows let in enough light so that the shop feels bright without glare, and you can see the yarn colors accurately. (Another bonus: classical music plays softly in the background.)

Color and warmth are everywhere. Cubbies of beautiful yarns line the walls, and yarns are ingeniously stored in cabinet-height shelving that also acts as room dividers. In the rear there's a large table at which one can spread out a knitting project or participate in a class (the shop offers several every season). The beauty of the layout is its openness to the rest of the shop, so there's no feeling of separation. This place is all about flow.

Irene DeVerna, Mirja's right-hand helper, told me she began visiting Country Corner when she was in a stressful period and needed knit therapy. It's easy to understand why she found the shop so beneficial. The sweet ambiance, the wonderful colors, and Mirja's calming presence have created a fairy-tale sanctuary for anyone who finds peace in fiber crafts.

Country Corner Yarns celebrated its third anniversary last weekend. May it flourish for many years more!