Jillian’s Request: Driving Directions
Jillian just wrote: “Hey, let the rest of know where Woven Art is so we can go & shop ; ) ”
Okie dokie, you can tell I’m not thinking beyond my own circle here. It’s in downtown East Lansing, 210 Abbott Rd., upstairs (suite 32). Not too hard to find if you can find downtown East Lansing. The closest intersection is Abbott and Grand River (it’s about 2 blocks from the MSU Union).
From Detroit/Ann Arbor I’d take 96W to 127N (don’t take 496 when they split, stay north), and I think the 3rd exit on 127N is Michigan/Kalamazoo. (It’s a little trickier from the North, contact me if you need help from that direction.) The first light at the bottom of the exit is Kalamazoo, the second is Michigan. Turn right on Michigan. You are taking a diagonal toward MSU (you will pass Altu’s restaurant on the left side, just past the Silver Dollar Saloon). When Michigan reaches Grand River, they merge and you need to get to the far left lane. That first light is Abbott. Woven Art is a stairway up, in the first block (two doors before the alley, just before Beggar’s Banquet).
To find parking, turn right at the first light (Albert) and the parking lot #1 is on your right. Park there (free on Sundays, and Woven Art is open noon to 4 on Sundays, so think about that option) and cut through the alleyway at the corner of the parking lot to get two doors from the stairwell. When you go up the stairs at 210 Abbott, Woven Art is the first door on the right.
The strength of Nancy’s shop is artfulness and color. She handpaints most of the yarns. There is color in all senses. There are textured yarns good for stoles, scarves, throws. There are some mohairs, and a few smoother yarns like the one Tony got, which was perhaps a sportweight 100% merino…which comes in a wonderful rainbow colorway as well as the subtle colorway Tony chose.
She also has other textured yarns, including ribbons and eyelash yarns. She carries Swallow casein needles (I finally gave in and bought some shiny turquoise double points, they were too pretty not to try them). So even the needles are colorful.
Once you’ve had sensory overload at Nancy’s shop, you may still want more wool, in which case you should continue to wander down Grand River to Yarn for Ewe. These shops could be no more different than they are. I think the only thing I saw at Woven Art that I might also see at Yarn for Ewe, was printed goods (Knitters Magazine and a few books).
These stores complement each other in every way. You can find commercial yarns in solid colors, smooth textures, supplies for sox, fairisle knitting and aran sweaters, at Yarn for Ewe. There is not a lot in the neon colors I prefer, but then I’m not the average knitter. I particularly love the Debbie Bliss washable merino DK yarn, and the selection of sockyarns which never fails to please.
I actually do the website for Yarn for Ewe, and we just put up the new newsletter/class schedule about a week ago… before the paper copies were printed for mailing. Their website has a fairly good map to help you find them, but basically continue east on Grand River from East Lansing, past Meijer on the right and the Meridian Mall on the left. The light just past the Meridian Mall is Marsh Road. Turn left on Marsh. Pass about 2 mall-entrance lights. At the very back of the mall is Central Park Drive and you should turn right at that light. Turn in to the parking lot at the next left and Yarn for Ewe is almost directly in front of you, to the right of a fishing shop. It’s in a brick building, a small complex called Central Park Place.
If anyone decides to actually do this lovely jaunt (Yarn for Ewe is not open on Sundays, so if you want both spots try Wednesday through Saturday) let me know and I’ll meet you, and make sure you can find Altu’s wonderful eatery for a meal before you leave.