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It's a close-knit group
at Knitting Arts
By
Jennifer McBride
Hollywood
stars like Julianne Moore and Brooke Shields agree—knitting is not
just for the elderly, and local Saratogans can take a visit to Big
Basin Way to see for themselves. The staff at Knitting Arts is
making knitting a hip and cool hobby.
Those who walk into the Knitting Arts
store at 14554 Big Basin Way are greeted by modern, cheerful décor,
including comfortable couches, clothing displays, and tables and
cubbyholes piled high with yarn of every color you can imagine.
Visitors who walk farther into the store are likely to see a long
table where customers often gather for what staff members call
"social knitting" or to take a class on a new technique or how to
knit something specific.
Jan Hurwitz is the owner of Knitting
Arts, which celebrated one year of being in business in September.
"I've been a knitter for about 10 to
12 years. I had a career in the high-tech software industry for 25
years before this. Then, knitting was always my therapy. I would
even take it with me on business trips," she recalls. She says she
started knitting with women at work and joined different women's
knitting groups. "I actually taught myself from a book, just the
basics. Then I learned more techniques from other women."
Hurwitz retired from the software
industry around three years ago to spend more time with her son, who
is 8 years old. She says she then started working part time at a
knitting store called Braid Box, which was in business on Big Basin
Way for 35 years.
"I worked there part time and learned
the retail side of the business." She says that Pat Ferguson, who
was the owner for all 35 years, retired in June of last year, so
Hurwitz decided to buy the store from her. She then moved it to a
bigger space on Big Basin Way and changed the name to Knitting Arts.
The rest is history.
Since then, Hurwitz and her staff of
around 29 employees have worked to change the face of knitting. Not
only does the store carry a variety of supplies and yarn from all
over the world, which Hurwitz says is of the finest quality around,
but they provide a series of more than 35 different knitting classes
per week, "social knitting" gatherings, and their staff of Knitting
Doctors.
Classes cover a range of topics. Some
cover basic techniques such as borders and edgings, and some teach
how to knit specific things such as crochet pillows, sweaters,
shawls, socks, handbags, scarves and even hackysacks. Hurwitz says
that Pat Ferguson still comes back to teach Beginning Knitting.
Knitting Arts also provides special
classes for the employees.
"We have continuing education here
all the time so we know how to do everything and can help the
customers with whatever they want to know," says Leigh McRee, the
general manager.
Hurwitz says "social knitting" is one
of the best parts of the hobby—when a group of knitters get together
to knit, share techniques and ideas, and socialize.
"It's a chance to meet other knitters
and knit together. People enjoy each other's company," says Hurwitz.
She explains that social knitting has long been a tradition among
knitters. "Knitting is often passed down, from woman to woman,
through the generations. People often get together like this at
someone's home, but we like to keep the shop open for them, so they
have a well-lit place with plenty of supplies." Social Knitting
gatherings are held at the store every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Knitting Doctors are a unique touch
for the store. If customers are having a particularly challenging
time with one aspect of an item they are knitting, they can make an
appointment with a Knitting Doctor, for no charge. The Knitting
Doctor can then help them through the difficult step and give them
pointers.
The first year of business has been
very successful for Knitting Arts, Hurwitz says.
"It's been a great year. We've had
great word of mouth. Knitters tell their friends, bring their
friends. We've been very successful and have been well supported by
our customers," she says. In fact, word of the store has spread so
widely, Hurwitz says customers come from all over just to visit her
store, including people from San Francisco, the East Bay, Sacramento
and Modesto.
"We just had 40 women on a bus come
for a field trip from Modesto," says Hurwitz.
Hurwitz says they also try and keep
the store open in the evenings on weekdays for knitters who like to
stop by after work. The store is open until 7 p.m. on Mondays, 8
p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 6 p.m. on Fridays. They are also
open on Saturdays until 6 p.m. and Sundays until 5 p.m.
Employees at Knitting Arts appear
very happy with their jobs. In fact, some like it so much, that they
take time out of their careers just to work there part time. McRee
says many of their employees also have high-powered jobs, such as
one staff member who is a human-resources representative at a big
company, another who is a director of physical therapy at a
hospital, and two who are interns from the fashion design studies
program at De Anza College.
"They work here because they so enjoy
the craft. It's such an artistic community," says McRee. She says
she enjoys working at Knitting Arts because of the people who come
in. "The people, the artistic creativity that's around. There's a
lot of creative people that come in."
Knitting Doctor Maggie Wagnon says
she also likes working at Knitting Arts because of the customers.
"I like the people. They're
interesting, enthusiastic. They're eager to learn. You really do
have the feeling you've helped people," she says.
Hurwitz loves the variety that comes
with running Knitting Arts, and figuring out how to inspire people.
"Every day is different. I like being
able to provide a creative, welcoming environment for knitters. I'm
always trying to come up with new and different ways to inspire
women to create that new project," she says. She adds that the
response from customers is rewarding.
"There's this one customer that
always comes in and says, 'It's always a party in here!' "
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