A beginner knitter has delved right into her new craft by opening up a specialty yarn shop in Rossland.
Offering an array of products from fine yarns to blends and silks, fair trade to synthetics, Jan Beck’s LooLu’s Lost Sheep is a one-stop shop for crafty folks.
“I felt there was a gap in the market. People from here were having to go all the way to Nelson to get anything equivalent, or Kelowna,” she said Tuesday. “It’s a craft that a lot of people are getting back into.”
With a passion for making jewelry and crocheting, it was a natural progression for Beck to spend more time knitting.
Impressed with the number of boutiques that are establishing themselves in the Golden City, Beck decided to add one more to the mix in November.
“I’ve always had a desire to open up my own shop but I didn’t know what it would be,” she said. “There is quite a large community of knitters and I hope they’re going to come and support my store.”
She’s heard nothing but good comments about Rossland’s downtown, the main message being that visitors can now kill about five hours there – stopping for coffee, indulging in chocolatier Trish Dyer’s creations, checking out other specialty stores and taking in the local art scene.
Prior to moving to Canada, Beck lived in the UK where she worked as a teacher. She began creating jewelry when she moved to Calgary and continued to do so when Rossland’s mountain lifestyle brought her here.
Along with a tremendous yarn stock, her store also offers locally-made creations, which she hopes to expand on in the coming year.
LooLu’s also hosts knitting lessons with Barb Robinson, which can be arranged by calling the shop, or residents can take part in drop-in knits Thursdays from 1:30-3:30 p.m. for a $2 donation with proceeds going to a local charity.
The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at 2123 Columbia Ave., the shop can be reached at 362-5383.