As the weather starts to turn, you’ll need to keep warm.
And Let’s Knit, a quaint knitting store nestled in the heart of Qualicum Beach, might be a good place to start.
The cozy little shop is lined with colorful skeins of yarn, handmade scarves and knitting needles.
It’s welcoming and warm.
And owner Jennie O’Connor is just the same.
“I love coming in here every morning,” she told The NEWS Saturday morning.
O’Connor opened Let’s Knit on Second Avenue in 2012 — this is her first business venture and so far she’s enjoying it.
“I have a passion for creativity,” said the new entrepreneur. “I’ve always been interested in handwork.”
Opening Let’s Knit seemed like a natural fit.
O’Connor said she’s been knitting since she can remember. Back in the 1970s, she recalls “listening to James Taylor and embroidering all things denim.”
O’Connor, a mother of two, said she used to sew dresses and matching scrunchies for her daughters.
And now that her children are grown up, she’s had the opportunity to invest in her creative passion: knitting.
“The whole process is just so exciting and lovely,” she said brightly, about her interest in knitting. “There are all these great patterns out there and the yarn these days is incredible.”
O’Connor has stocked the store with tons of natural fibers like merino, silk, cotton, mohair, llama and alpaca in various different weights. The store also carries what she calls “family-friendly yarn” which is machine washable.
“I want my shop to offer a good selection of materials to satisfy a variety of different prices and qualities,” she said. “We’re constantly getting in new yarns throughout the year.”
Additionally, O’Connor hosts a “knitting social” every Wednesday night from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. She said the weekly evening event is drop-in style and free of charge.
“Anyone who wants to come can come,” she said. “This is a collaborative shop and the good thing about knitters is they all want to help you.”
O’Connor said she wants her shop to be a hub for knitters — to exchange ideas, suggest different strategies, meet friends and of course shop.
“Knitting is just good for you,” said O’Connor. “It’s good for your brain, it’s relaxing and it’s exciting on so many levels.”
Let’s Knit is an active supporter of many Qualicum Beach initiatives and regularly makes donations to to different organizations including Haven House, Aldeamaya and Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness.
“The donations Let’s Knit makes are dependent on the generosity of the knitters in Oceanside,” said O’Connor. “Many people will drop off yarn to be used, squares they have knit ready to be stitched into a throw or winter warmwear. Knitters are very giving with their knowledge, time and skills.”
Let’s Knit is located at 211 Second Avenue West in Qualicum Beach. The store is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For more information stop by or call 250-594-3608 or e-mail yarn@letsknit.ca. Visit the website at www.letsknit.ca.
