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Stephanie Stratton, owner of A Tangled Yarn and a long-time knitter, displayed some of the many squares she has received from all over the United States for her Love Squares Project. The squares are pieced together to make afghans for tornado victims. (Photo by Benjamin S. Rossi / April 11, 2012) |
A Tangled Yarn is a fairly new specialty shop in the process of opening with the goal of weaving together a community of knitters and spinners unlike ever before in Nicholasville.
“Everyone is invited and welcome,” owner and long-time knitter Stephanie Stratton said. “Everyone — knitters, crocheters, felters and spinners.”
The new business is the little red barn located at 605 N. Main St. right behind Tickled Pink on High Street.
The quaint shop specializes in all the knit, spin, crochet, felt and fiber arts one might need, Stratton said. She has even started one-on-one lessons for beginners interested in the craft and said there are plans to have group workshops in the near future.
“The doors are open from noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday,” Stratton said. “Everyone should come by and see what it’s about.”
Upon entering the cozy business, the first thing to notice, beyond the alluring incense, is the walls are lined with every color of yarn available, along with the books and tools needed to complete almost any knitting project.
All of the merchandise is protected by a large but friendly gray cat named Fred who watches over the yarns and customers.
Stratton said she is opening her shop for several reasons, the most important being the need for a knitting shop in Nicholasville.
“Nicholasville needed a yarn shop,” Stratton said. “We have a lot of knitters and a lot of crocheters, but we didn’t have any place for them to come and spin and knit and find good yarns.”
Stratton first got interested in knitting in 1997. On a plane ride home from Scotland, the passenger sitting next to her was knitting, and she just fell in love. As soon as she got home, she said she just started knitting and hasn’t stopped since.
Stratton eventually started in the business by dying and selling yarn out of her home on her website, LunabudKnit.com, in 2007. The unique name comes from a combination of two of her dogs who have since passed away.
Originally, it was just a way for her to pay for her knitting passion that soon blossomed into something much bigger. It wasn’t long before she started traveling to shows all over Kentucky and even out of state to sell her wares.
“The shows are a lot of fun,” she said, “but a lot of work, which is another reason to open up here.”
It may be a small shop, but it has big ambitions and has teamed up with Sarabees Little Yarn Shop in Winchester in an effort to create multiple afghans to send out to people devastated by tornadoes — not only in Kentucky but also Indiana and Tennessee.
The pairing started the Love Squares Project and posted the call on Facebook to all knitters for 7-inch-by-9-inch acrylic knit or crochet blocks that the two businesses will piece together to make afghans.
So far, dozens of squares of all different colors from all across the county have come in, and they’ve already began making several afghans. If people still want to help but don’t know how to knit, they can also donate $2 for the yarn to make a square.
“It’s a project that won’t just end with tornado victims,” Stratton said. “We hope to keep it going for anyone who needs warmth and a little extra love.”
