Fashion-knit in Walnut Creek Crafts Event That Gives Back

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
California, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) October 11, 2011 -- Media Contact: David Mitroff, Ph.D., Consultant
t: 510-761-5895 e: david@piedmontave.com
Business Contact: Jeanine Johnson, Owner
t: 925-943-3994.e:knitress@fashionknit.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fashion-knit in Walnut Creek Crafts Event That Gives Back

October 11, 2011 -- Walnut Creek, CA -- Like many passionate knitters, Jeanine Johnson, Owner of Fashion-knit in Walnut Creek, had always considered her hobby to be extremely therapeutic. In April, when her father passed away, she realized that she needed her craft more than ever. Recognizing that an important part of her personal healing process was to connect with elderly, Johnson began volunteering at several Walnut Creek retirement and assisted living communities, doing what she does best- teaching knitting workshops.

Shortly thereafter, Johnson decided that their store needed a little “face lift”, which meant getting rid of a huge stockpile of yarn that had been accumulating over the years to make room for a new, updated collection. This became the inspiration behind a new one-of-a-kind event, aptly named The Yarn Garage. The May 2011 event called for local knitters to do a little spring cleaning, collecting their unwanted yarns, books and needles, and selling them garage-sale style along with Fashion-knit’s own excess inventory. In exchange, participants would earn “Fashion Cash”, or store credit, so that they could freshen up their own knitting arsenals. The Yarn Garage event was an enormous success, producing over 22,000 yards of yarn, enough to make nearly one-thousand knitted hats. It was then that Johnson, along with daughter Jeanne, made the connection between her recent volunteerism and her business.

“Initially The Yarn Garage was created simply as a way for us to purge,” says Johnson. “The community element was added as an extra incentive for our customers to come in to the store.” It wasn’t until afterwards, when the Fashion-knit staff realized just how much they had acquired, that Johnson began reflecting on the work she had been doing within the community. “I realized that a donation component was the piece of the puzzle that had been missing all along,” she says. Immediately following the event, three car loads of supplies were split up and donated to Antioch High School’s “Knitting Squad”, a teen knitting circle that creates garments for children in foster care, “The Compassion Knitters”, an online group who crafts clothes for homeless teens in San Francisco, and the Rossmore Knitting and Crocheting Group, who donate their finished wares to local children’s hospitals.

Johnson and Fashion-knit have since been donating supplies on a regular basis, including yarn, needles, and accessories for continuing workshops with the elderly. These supplies typically become items such as helmet liners for the troops abroad, knitted caps for newborns in hospitals, and warm clothing for the homeless.

Fashion-knit will be hosting another Yarn Garage event in February 2012.

Fashion-knit is your one-stop knitting boutique offering an up-to-date selection of today’s most exciting yarns, a wide selection of stylish patterns, and instructive classes – all housed in a friendly, spacious, and creative atmosphere. Stop by, browse the shelves, get ideas, and meet the friendly staff, located at 675 Ygnacio Valley Road Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Visit www.fashionknit.net for store information, current offers and class schedule, or call 925-943-3994.

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charity     community event     knitting     knitting store     Walnut Creek