On Madison, Linda Morse Spins Yarns
Where in New York do you find hand-dyed cashmere, subtle silk yarns, not-so-mainstream merino and mohair, even beaver fur yarn in fantastic citrus colors?
String, a small upscale knitting boutique tucked away in the lobby of 1015 Madison Avenue, is Linda Morse's brainchild. Always a passionate knitter, she used her artistry with needles to relieve the tedium of long flights during a career that took her from academia - she was Assistant Dean of Faculty at Princeton University and Assistant Provost at Columbia University - to the position of CEO of a dotcom in information technology. Two years ago, she decided the time had come to leave the rat race and turn her lifelong hobby into a business.
String is a sanctuary for knitters, a haven of comfort and artistic inspiration. It features a stunning selection of natural and synthetic fibers from all over the world, but specializes in high-end wool, especially cashmere. "We probably have the largest collection of cashmere of any yarn store in the country," Ms. Morse says.
High-end wool is expensive. But for committed and sometimes passionate knitters - and they include Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker and, some say, Russell Crowe - knitting is not negotiable. It is also occupational therapy of sorts. Avid knitters will tell you that it can help you relieve stress, lose weight, stop smoking and stop biting your nails. And you've something tangible to show for your labors.
Baby clothing is a very large part of the hand-knitting industry today. Mothers and grandmothers knit baby blankets and one-of-a-kind tiny outfits using the most elaborate and expensive wool. Cashmere may be dear, but nothing's quite as soft for baby's sensitive skin. Samples littering the shelves at String show what the finished product might look like, and are available for sale. But the women seated round the oval table in the middle of the room are doing their own knitting, comparing notes and encouraging one another.
String's in-store designer, Lidia Karabinech, taught chemistry in Ukraine before choosing the alchemy of knitting and moving to New York in the early nineties. She's worked for Donna Karan and Ellen Tracy, and now creates custom patterns and teaches knitting at String. The store manager is Ivete Tecedor, a young Brazilian who studied finance and also opted for knitting.
String offers group or private knitting classes to help you release your inner fashion designer, knitting kits that include patterns and yarn, and a supportive environment for knitters at any level of expertise who might just want to drop by to knit and chat.
String, 1015 Madison Ave., (212) 288-YARN www.stringyarns.com.
