The shop “Yarn” making sure “Life’s a Stitch” in Durango

DURANGO, Colo. – Kara Walecki never set out to be the proprietor of a yarn shop, though it had been the dream of her friend Joanna Lewis. Their knitting group was no longer inspired by the “old school” yarn offerings in the region, so why not do something better?

The timing did indeed seem right as a new knitting “craze” was in full swing, with creative yarn shops popping up throughout the country. It seemed everyone was picking up needles to create scarves out of the fabulous, fun and fashionable yarns that had come to market.

“I was in transition with work and so I said I’d help her out,” said Walecki referencing 2004 when Lewis began planning the shop. “We were about halfway there and then she got really sick with cancer and died. For some reason I just couldn’t let go of the plan, it had so much momentum.”

Though Walecki was only a novice knitter, and had no retail experience, she did indeed forge on and opened her store Yarn in 2005 across from the La Plata County Courthouse. Since that time the scarf craze has faded somewhat, but Yarn is still alive and well and in a new location at 755 E. Second Ave., just down the street from the original shop. The slogan reminds, “Life’s a stitch.”

“Some days I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, what am I doing?’” said Walecki of opening Yarn. “It’s a really challenging business to run. It’s not just selling a product. You’re creating community.”

But creating community is in Walecki’s proverbial genes. Her family – notably mother Diane Wildfang and brother Kirk Komick – are known for initiating the renaissance of E. Second Ave. by bringing the Leland House and Rochester Hotel back to life. Beyond embracing a philosophy of community sustainability, (and honored in return for their commitment), they have used creative vision with their successful and unique bed and breakfast hotel operation.

Walecki’s mind works the same way, and thus Yarn is far from a typical or “old school” yarn shop with solid color, chunky yarns for sweaters, and plenty of skeins of pinks and baby blues for booties and blankets. Part art gallery, part tea shop, part classroom, Yarn is fulfilling its mission “to provide an inviting place of inspiration and education for fiber artists around the Four Corners area.”

“You have to be creative all the time,” said Walecki, acknowledging the steady, committed knitting community in Durango. “People don’t want to look at the same thing over and over.”

And, thus, Yarn is an ever-changing gem for locals. As Yarn’s buyer, Walecki has attends the industry’s yarn show, which she noted is larger than the “gift” show.

“If I bought every yarn I loved, it would be out of control,” assured Walecki.

Inventory arrives almost daily, including “alternative” fibers (beyond wool, cotton and silk) such as bamboo, linen, hemp – and Walecki even considered a yarn woven from the fibrous membranes of milk. Anything fibrous can be spun into material that can be knitted, crocheted, felted or woven. Walecki has also begun working with local spinner Pam Dyer to create a Durango “yarn.” Whenever possible, Walecki is shopping local.

“It’s all sustainable,” said Walecki of what has been called “value-added” agriculture, helping local ranchers enhance the worth of their livestock. “Sheep don’t have to get slaughtered to get their hair cut. And there are llamas and alpacas… their fur is just sitting around with nothing to do. So we’re going to buy it up and send it off to mill. We can help ranchers keep their sheep.”

When purchasing yarns from throughout the world, Walecki tends to stay away from the “mass producers” from countries such as China, opting instead for yarns generated by women’s cooperatives (fair trade operations) in Peru or South Africa. She pays attention to the processing as well, and is now carrying a growing number of organic fibers.

Beyond yarn, Walecki stocks all the tools and toys for every level of knitter. Books and patterns abound, and Walecki and her staff will assemble complete “kits” upon request. Walecki’s also getting the word out for folks to begin knitting now for holiday gifts.

“Christmas knitting takes longer than people think,” said Walecki. “If you start thinking about it at Thanksgiving, it’s too late.”

A variety of classes, suitable to all skill levels, are held at the shop. The new location features a larger, dedicated classroom, and Walecki endeavors to “mix up” the days and times to accommodate the schedules of a wide variety of people. Currently, all instructors are local, but Walecki is exploring options to bring in nationally known teachers. Such events might take the form of special knitting workshops or conferences.

“I’m trying to work with the local knitting guilds to perhaps put together some kind of fundraisers where we can use that money to bring in these teachers and keep the cost down,” said Walecki adding that the door could be opened for a new tourist niche.  “This is a great destination for a knitting retreat. Come to Durango, we can knit on the train, we can do workshops at the Rochester. We can have a slumber party. There’s a lot we can build around it.”

For non-knitters, Walecki is expanding Yarn’s gift line – but all items will be fiber related – be they woven rugs from Turkey, or ready-to-wear hand knit scarves, hats, sweaters and more. A shopping experience is further enhanced by Yarn’s tea bar, which features a variety of specialty loose teas, including teas from local grower Dragonfly Farms. Fresh baked goods are delivered daily to accompany the tea.

“We’re also starting this year with a consignment sale,” said Walecki, referencing the event “Hand Made in Durango” that will kick off the “knitting season,” or what Walecki calls a “winter sport.” “We’ll sell our models that we don’t need anymore, and we also have a lot of knitters who are prolific, and they’re knitting way too many sweaters.”

A minimum of 10 percent of each item sold will benefit the Yes Ma’am campaign raising funds for the Breast Care Center at Mercy Regional Medical Center. Any type of fiber craft (in good condition) can be brought by Yarn for consideration. The sale is set for Oct. 2-5 (to coincide with Durango Fashion Week), and will kick-off on Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. with a special reception.

Yarn’s regular hours are currently 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. The new store location doesn’t offer off-street, free parking, so Walecki does encourage locals to visit the store on Sunday afternoons when they can park for free in adjacent parking lots.

“I find the community is great,” said Walecki. “Everywhere I go, people ask, ‘How do you like your new store?’ Everybody seems to know. It’s not like I’m invisible. I just have to continue to keep people inspired. It’s just a matter of getting them to pick up those needles and knit.”

For further information on classes, yarn offerings, events and more, visit www.yarndurango.com.

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