One of the charms about living in Lewis County is the small-town connection. It sometimes feels like everybody knows everybody. That’s why when Kathy Green and Meg Gregory, co-owners of Ewe and I, met at a festival in Oregon, it was somewhat of a surprise when they realized that they lived only a few miles from each other.
Kathy shares, “We were at the festival. I saw their sign and noticed they were from the
area. I went up to the book and told Meg that we were basically neighbors.” Through that meeting Meg invited Kathy out to the farm for shearing. And as they say, the rest is history.
Meg and her husband Brad own Black Sheep Creamery, and Kathy and Meg are business partners in Ewe and I. Kathy shares with a laugh, “Meg and I have completely different tastes in yarn and color. And that is a good thing for our store.”
You can find nearly any color, weight, and texture of yarn that you’re looking for. Kathy shares, “We are proud that the indie-dyed yarns we sell are local to the West Coast.” Then consider that you can find yarn made by the same sheep that are milked for the cheese sold in the store and it’s pure bliss.
Don’t be fooled by the shelves filled with endless yards of yarn, Ewe and I is undoubtedly about needle crafting, but it is a shop that is just as much about cheese and yarn as it is about customers. Kathy shares, “I love meeting the people who come in the door. I’ve made a lot of friendships since we’ve opened.”
Kathy shares that she and Meg visited many different yarn stores to gather ideas while they were planning their own retail space.
And one thing that they both value is having a place where customers can be a part of their shop.
With a space entirely devoted to inviting customers to stay and knit a while in comfy chairs, creative inspiration and amazing company follow. As Kathy describes, it’s an ongoing open-knit that customers keep coming back for. “I’ve grown so attached to people I didn’t know six months ago. I cry with them. I cheer with them,” Kathy shares.
“What’s not to love here? There’s coffee, cheese, and yarn,” laughs Kathy.
Needle crafting, drinking coffee, or enjoying scrumptious snacks, the comfortable and welcoming atmosphere found at Ewe and I is reminiscent of visiting a dear friend.
Ewe and I is also a hot spot for finding a variety of class offerings from knitting and crochet to spinning, or most recently a natural dye class. Classes cover a range of abilities and ages, including workshops for kids.
Kathy shares, “I know a lot of people who like to have their hands all the way through the process of what they’re making.” An added benefit to dying and spinning your own yarn, is that you end up creating a totally original and unique product.
Kathy and Meg do recommend private classes for beginners. Kathy explains, “It’s really nice because you can go at their own pace. And once you get the basics, you can do anything.” One of the best parts about teaching, in Kathy’s opinion, is helping customers find their confidence in whichever form of needle crafting they choose.
She says, “I love to see that spark – to convince them they can do it. I tell them it’s just one stitch at a time.”
Kathy and Meg are excitedly planning ways to add to their already impressive offerings.
Currently the menu includes cheese and salami plates, a daily soup and biscuit offering, and Caffe D’arte coffee. Kathy shares that she and Meg are planning wine and cheese tastings, hosting trunk shows, and expanding their menu.
Kathy and Meg also place a high value on giving back to the community, both locally and the world community abroad. Kathy explains, “This year we are working with three charities—a local, a national, and an international one. It is important to give back.”
Working with the homeless connection, knitted or crocheted hats are donated to help locals in need. Nationally, the duo support Knitted Knockers, a charity benefitting women who have had breast cancer and are recovering from mastectomy surgery. And finally, the international charity is Mother Bear Project, donating knitted teddy bears to third world countries for children who are suffering from AIDS.
All things considered, Ewe and I is about food, friendship, and community. You may enter Ewe and I as a stranger, but you’ll leave as a friend.
Ewe and I
556 N Market Blvd in Chehalis
360-345-1506
eweandiyarns.com
Open Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sponsored
