Spinning a Yarn
The News has a hilarious interview with the owner of The Flying Sheep yarn store. “Her educational background wouldn’t immediately make you think of yarn or sheep, however — she’s a trained historical preservationist.” Actually, that’s exactly the kind of background that would immediately make us think of yarn and sheep.
I kinda liked the interview. I’m amazed that anyone can make a living with that sort of business, and if she’s actually profitable, all the more power to her. It’s too bad there isn’t more work for historic preservationists.
posted by Anna on January 15th, 2007 at 6:52 pmThere is, it’s called “waitress.”
This is coming from someone with a history degree…I’ve been in the same boat
posted by OFWinsurgent on January 15th, 2007 at 8:58 pmThat’s a pretty cheesy title, aaio, but it’s also the natural pun given the subject matter.
This is what we call a “serious creative dilemma”.
(In completely unrelated news: happy Martin Luther King Day! Cf. brief post of mine on matter, only if interested…)
posted by David Boyle on January 15th, 2007 at 11:37 pmInstead of mocking her for her past educational path, how about praising her for running a tight, profitable ship. Staff at FS are smart and helpful; prices are market-reasonable; hours of operation acknowledge that some knitters hold down day jobs and can’t necessarily shop between 10 and 2 M-F. I don’t get there as often as I’d like, but when I do I leave confident in my purchase and comfortable with the amount paid. Neither is a common event with many AA stores/boutiques.
posted by annarborite on January 15th, 2007 at 11:38 pmAAIO, what do you mean? I don’t perceive an apparent connection between historic preservation and sheep/yarn.
posted by Emily on January 16th, 2007 at 1:19 pmOpening up a boutique yarn store, for someone with a background in historic preservation, is like opening up a comic book store for someone with a background in computer science. You don’t need to know anything about computers to read comic books, but…
posted by ann arbor is overrated on January 16th, 2007 at 2:27 pmNo, it’s like opening up an adult book store if you have a background in political science.
posted by Nitro on January 16th, 2007 at 3:42 pmNo, it’s like opening a donut shop if you’ve got a background in law enforcement.
posted by Nitro on January 16th, 2007 at 3:49 pmNo, it’s like opening a day care center if you’re a defrocked Catholic priest.
posted by Nitro on January 16th, 2007 at 3:50 pmI get it — it’s like starting a blog if you’re a grad student.
posted by Emily on January 16th, 2007 at 4:20 pmNo, a grad student starting a blog is more like a cop sticking up a donut shop, i.e., a harmless interest metastasizes into a complete sabotage of the original enterprise.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on January 16th, 2007 at 4:27 pmYou’re right — I shouldn’t try to be witty while I’m at work
posted by Emily on January 16th, 2007 at 4:32 pmQ: What was the first thing you ever knitted?
Flying Sheep owner’s answer: The first thing I ever knitted was a Aran knit cable sweater for my boyfriend and after three inches, I thought ‘forget that, I’m keeping it.’ It took me three years to knit but it came out well. I learned you don’t knit a sweater for your boyfriend.
My answer: The first of two things I ever knit was a brassiere. There was little danger of keeping it for myself.
Others’?
posted by HD on January 16th, 2007 at 5:04 pmHD, I hope you felted that brassiere. Because otherwise… chafing.
posted by Parking Structure Dude! on January 16th, 2007 at 5:15 pmUh… knitting? First thing?
…still waiting for that one.
posted by Dave on January 16th, 2007 at 5:16 pmfirst … and last: a headband.
i have a short attention span so it had to be fewer than 10 stitches side to side.
but lordy lordy lordy it was (eventually) a looooong headband.
posted by peter honeyman on January 16th, 2007 at 10:05 pmway out!
posted by knit wit on January 16th, 2007 at 10:28 pmDoes macrame count? I made a plant hanger in 1977, and I think yarn was involved.
posted by Nitro on January 17th, 2007 at 9:46 amKnitting rocks. I’m glad that Ann Arbor has a couple of good yarn shops.
posted by LittleB on January 17th, 2007 at 9:31 pmno:
it’s like opening a brassiere shop (all bras made of organic wool) for a cosmetic surgeon (trained in ann arbor by comitted feminists)
posted by toasty on January 21st, 2007 at 3:38 amdid i say nice and scratchy wool?
posted by toasty on January 21st, 2007 at 3:39 amWhy can’t AA have a decent donut shop? We don’t need anymore fluffy shops like this wooly place…
posted by Chapina on February 9th, 2007 at 3:57 amWashtenaw Dairy not good enough for ya?
posted by Chris on February 9th, 2007 at 11:20 am