Join Churchmouse Yarns & Teas for the 2019 LYS Tour

When Kit Hutchin realized that her “dream job” wasn’t her dream, she knew it was time to explore something new, however, she didn’t know what that “something” would be, so she decided to find out. After leaving her corporate position at Nordstrom in Seattle, she began volunteering at her church, assisting with their lending library and coaching knitting groups. Her husband, John Koval, affectionately referred to her as “Churchmouse”.

When a friend suggested that Kit open a yarn store, she was hesitant, after all, opening a small business is no easy task, but with the encouragement and support of her husband, she decided to do it. She began by finding the perfect location, she wanted to be in the heart of Bainbridge Island’s downtown community, someplace that was easy to access, yet offered a comfortable and welcoming environment. She found the perfect location on Madrone Lane, just off of Winslow Way, and a short 10-minute stroll from the ferry terminal—and in September of 2000, Churchmouse Yarns & Teas was born.

The shop’s footprint is generous, allowing the visitor to peruse the many shelves and antique armoires, filled with colorful fibers, just waiting to be knitted, crocheted, or stitched into something beautiful. In addition, the shop offers a pantry, filled with wonderful unique teas from all over the world, as well as several grocery items and tea related housewares to pair with your tea. Of course, the shop also offers patterns, tools, notions and a large selection of accessories.

By 2010, Churchmouse Yarns & Teas had grown exponentially, serving customers locally, nationally and internationally. That’s when Kit’s husband, John, decided to close his own corporate business and join CY&T full-time to build their website and expand their on-line presence. In that same year, they also began publishing their own knitting and crochet patterns. Today, they offer more than 130 patterns from their CY&T designed collection, such as Churchmouse Classics, Wee Ones, At Home, and Classroom patterns, which are sold in more than 700 yarn shops across North America and around the world.

Churchmouse also offers a variety of learning experiences, such as Drop In Circles, Open Tables, Charity Circle, Kids Knitting, First Wee Sweater, Learn to Knit – Step 1, and Introduction To Lace. For more information, click here.

Kit, John and their staff thoroughly enjoy the business of making people happy and successful in their creative endeavors, both in the shop and through their website offerings.

To learn more about all that CY&T, visit their website: https://www.churchmouseyarns.com/

THE 2019 PUGET SOUND LOCAL YARN SHOP (LYS) TOUR is just around the corner (May 15-19) and Churchmouse Yarns & Teas is proud to be part of it.

What is the LYS Tour? In 2006, a couple of yarn shop owners, “who liked to party” (their words, not mine) founded the tour, consisting of 12 shops (many of which still participate). It began as a three-day weekend event, but has grown to five days, with 24 shops located in the Puget Sound area participating. Pick up your Tour passport (click here for details) and visit any or all of the participating shops.

At each shop you visit, you’ll receive a stamp on your passport, a souvenir pinback button, a free knitting pattern, and a free crochet pattern. The patterns are being debuted on the tour, and each shop is offering their recommended yarns for the patterns at a 10% discount.

The Grand Prizes: There are three levels of Grand Prizes available – if you get your passport stamped at 8 member shops, you can enter to win a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the shop of your choice. Get stamps at 16 shops and get entered for one of two $250 gift certificates to the shop of your choice (as well as the $100 gift certificate for 8 stamps). If you get stamps from all 24 member shops, get entered to win the $500 prize – and you can split that one among up to three of your favorite shops (as well as the $100 and $250 prizes)! In addition, each shop will be doing a daily drawing, – if your name is selected as a shop’s daily winner, you’ll receive a limited edition Tour tote bag that contains approximately $150 USD worth of goodies from our sponsors and in-kind donors.

Churchmouse Yarns & Teas
118 Madrone Lane N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 (206) 780-2686
Open every day from 10 ‘til 6 (New Hours) / Closed: Easter Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day & New Year’s Day.

*Content and logo for CY&T provided by John Koval
*Content and images for The 2019 Puget Sound Local Yarn Shop (LYS) Tour provided by Nona Davenport, President of the LYS Tour