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Debbie Macomber's A Good Yarn Shop
Do you remember Lydia Hoffman’s yarn shop in Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street collection of books, A Good Yarn? Well, that is now a real yarn shop; only it’s called Debbie Macomber’s A Good Yarn Shop. I was there to cover the grand opening celebration of this lovely yarn shop in Port Orchard Washington last month. In Debbie’s new book Twenty Wishes, she states that she wanted to own a yarn shop some day…..well, she made her own wish come true.
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 Debbie isn’t in this venture by herself, she has partners; Lisa Ellis, Joyce Greenfield, Sandy Payne and Toni Morgan-Peterson. These five ladies make up a dream team of sorts; Lisa & Sandy are both designers and teach at the store, and you can find them in “Debbie’s Knit Along Book: Debbie’s Favorites”. Joyce is friend to Sandy and Lisa and manages the office part of things and Toni is silent partner out of Michigan and is also sister to Sandy and a beginning knitter.
The new store opened its doors Friday September 19th, 2008. Knitters were waiting for the store to open and the shop was well received by the small town of Port Orchard. The store carries lines such as Louet, Noro, Cascade, Dale of Norway, Brown Sheep, Mission Falls, Universal, Muench, Trendsetter, Mongolian Cashmere, Rowan, Regia, Frog Tree, and Malabrigo. Debbie says that she doesn’t want to compete with the other yarn shops, but compliment them by carrying different things. One thing you’ll see in the store are kits. One of Debbie’s favorites is a scarf kit with designer beads.
When I asked Debbie how it feels to have her own yarn shop…..she told me in one word FABULOUS. She is so excited! Let me paint you a picture – two Victorian looking buildings; one blue, one pink…..the pink one – The Victorian Rose Tea Room and Gift Shop…..the blue one – Debbie Macomber’s A Good Yarn Shop; both are her businesses. Before the “special guest grand opening”, I had tea with Debbie over at her tea room. When you walk in, you see all of Debbie’s books. You can be seated for tea on the left, or walk into the gift shop on the right. Right now, the gift shop is FULL of Christmas things with four decked out trees. Debbie’s daughter Jody runs and manages this business. Debbie does sit in on staff meetings and helps with major decisions. Then we went across the parking lot to the blue victorian building where her yarn shop is. When you walk in, you can go into the business on right…..it’s a pizza and ice cream shop or go into the yarn shop on the left. There was quite a few people attending the opening and it was an evening affair with appetizers and Champagne. I was able to get some pictures, and meet all the owners; I was even able to squeeze in a little shopping.
Debbie told me that she is mostly a silent partner of sorts. She spends half of the year in Florida and her writing keeps her plenty busy. She has put the best team together and has surrounded herself with very capable and wonderful people. The ladies are all different and really offer some spice and variety to the store. The store kicked things off with a fun fashion show over at the Tea Room with all things Louet and the event sold out as you can imagine. The store also wants to make a difference in the community and has big plans to introduce tweens to knitting and will also have a kids knitting group.
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Like I had mentioned earlier, Port Orchard is a small town. It sits at the south end of Kitsap County in Washington state. Port Orchard is the country seat…..but I think Debbie’s about to really put Port Orchard on the map. You’d think that their farmers market, Fathoms O Fun Days, and annual Seagull Calling Contest down at the waterfront (don’t laugh, the winner one year was on the Jay Leno show) would be enough, but now, Cedar Cove Days. Yes, you heard it right…..if you are familiar with Debbie’s Cedar Cove series of books, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Apparently the local book store and the Chamber of Commerce got tired of drawing a map up to Debbie’s Tea Room, as people from all over the world, came to visit.
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The idea of Cedar Cove Days was born and is now an event that is planned with 35 different functions, from a poker tournament, a sock hop, an excursion over to Blake Island, to a dinner at the Kiana Lodge. Port Orchard will be turned upside down next year in August of 2009.
Debbie is currently knitting her grandson James a sweater out of the Classic Knits For All The Family book by Sally Harding. The store has a mission statement: “Where Friendships are formed and Traditions are Taught”. Debbie Macomber, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, author, business woman, and yarn shop owner…..what’s next? I loved the store girls and I can’t wait to come and visit again soon!
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