Friday, January 11, 2008

HK Handknit.

I found out a couple of days back that HK Handknit is closing down.

I'm very sad about this. It was our last "destination" knitting shop in Edinburgh, really, our last shop that even visitors from abroad had marked down on their list of must-visit places. It came through troubled times a few years ago when the last very delightful owner (whose name I have shamefully forgotten) died most unexpectedly and very young, and the current owners Janette and Carol took it over and made it even better, if that was possible. It was bursting with unusual and exotic (for us, anyway) products, the atmosphere was lovely, Janette and Carol were lovely...well, it was a great place. I would have liked to go there every week, but frankly as every time I went I spent far too much money I had to ration my visits.

I don't think that they're shutting down through lack of business but rather due to ill health, according to the word on the street. I don't want to pry about this, of course, so no idea otherwise. I wish them both well for the future, however it goes. And I will miss HK.

It just so happens though that I had a visit to HK planned for yesterday, with thereyougothen. She wanted needles, I wanted needles and a nose round the sale. I'm supposed to be on a yarn diet till SkipNorth but, you know, a sale is a sale! And once I found out that they were closong their doors PLUS all the yarns that were not already reduced for the sale were 30% ...well, no hope for it, really. I bought a sweater's worth of Kid Classic in "Bear" and some odd balls of Felted Tweed, to go with some other reduced balls of this I already have. (There's some sort of striped Felted Tweed sweater in there somewhere but I haven't quite made up my mind on this yet.) I could have bought a LOT more as they had Silk Garden in a yummy colour, plus lots of nice sock yarns, Louisa Harding yarns and lots of Rowan Scottish Tweeds but...well, I don't have £200 to spare, the stash is reaching a silly level and there is of course SkipNorth and Coldspring Mill coming up.

Tomorrow is my 2nd year Blogging Anniversary, btw. Shall I have a contest?

9 comments:

Herzblut said...

ry to hear HK Handknit is closing...and yes, have a blogiversary comp! Great fun. Thanks for popping in at the Midden :)

a'ra'best!

Helen said...

That's really bad news; it was a good place. I see you've beaten me to the Kid Classic again. Probably just as well. I think you should have a contest to cheer us all up.

Unknown said...

Oh no! No more HK! That's sad.

Yes I think you should have a blogiversary competition ......

yvette said...

That is so sad the HK is closing, so if Jenners has closed the yarn dept too, do you have somewhere else to shop?

Sian said...

You must have a competition. You think of the darndest tasks :D

gourdongirl said...

Bloody Hell, THAT is a blow. I know I don't go often but you could always guarantee some great stuff. Might have to pop up next week sometime....but money is tight this month....so maybe not. I shall see!

Rosie said...

That is sad news (especially as I've still not managed to get to Edinboro' even tho it is top of my list of places to visit). Glad you found some bargains, though!

ikkinlala said...

Even though I've never been there (and would probably have never gotten a chance to go), I'm sorry to hear that HK is closing.

zippiknits...sometimes said...

AW, contests are fun, I must admit, but just let us all wish a very happy blogiversary! It is sad that HK is shutting down. Illness closes many small businesses because of the tremendous energy that has to go into making them run on a daily basis.

Hope things are going well with your project to dejunk. Tomorrow I get to pack up the jewelry bench. Oh Joy! Take care Val. Thanks for blogging.