Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Arkansas Crochet

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cro grey goat 0814

This is a picture of Pearl, the pet rabbit of a very cozy, cute yarn shop in the historic downtown of tiny Van Buren, Arkansas.  While I was in the shop a few weeks ago, I also got to meet Pearl’s human, Margaux, one of the yarn artists that operate the shop named Grey Goat Fibers or Who’s Got The Button.  Still kinda confused about the names.

So, how did I wind up in a yarn shop in Arkansas?  It’s all because of a husband and his love of trains.  There’s a great 8 hour round trip rail excursion that runs between Springdale, Arkansas and Van Buren, Arkansas.  My husband and I took a long weekend to ride the train across the beautiful countryside of northwest Arkansas.  If you’ve never been, you should go.  Eureka Springs is a high light in that area as is the Crystal Bridges (free art museum) in Bentonville.

We had a three hour ‘layover’ in Van Buren during which we ate lunch, walked the old down town streets, and did a bit of shopping.  When I saw the yarn shop, I wasn’t even sure it was open.  My very tolerant husband seated himself on a bench while I tried the door and gained entry to this charming little shop.

You can see more about it on their Facebook page as I didn’t take any pictures myself.  If you’re in those parts, be sure to stop in and say hello.  They support local farms and crafters, including selling fleece from locally sourced Wenslydale, Gotland, and Icelandic sheep.  And, NO!  I’m not going to learn to spin.  No!  I’m sticking to buying the yarn.

Comments

  1. Jd you are bringing back a lot of memories!! My husband has been with the UP for his whole career and his early years were spent all over Arkansas and Missouri! I know every town you spoke of like old friends. This shop sounds like a place I’d love to go but it’s a trip from Omaha ! Glad you shared with us!

  2. Sheila,
    I’m actually from a small town about 60 miles from Springdale. I have cousins in Springdale and the environs. It’s actually growing so rapidly that your husband would not recognize it! Your trivia for the day: Springdale has the largest population of Marshallese (people from the Marshall Islands) in the world, outside of the Marshall Islands themselves. Don’t know if they crochet.
    jd

  3. The kids might like to start with a really simple headband. Girls seem to love cute things to wear in their hair.

Have you read?

Crochet Baby Beanie – A Sweet Beginner-Friendly Hat Pattern for Baby Showers and Handmade Gifts

This Crochet Baby Beanie is one of those simple little patterns that makes a really lovely handmade gift. It uses soft Bernat Softee Baby yarn for the hat, a fluffy Pipsqueak edging, and an optional crochet flower on the side, giving it that cute baby-shower-ready finish.

What makes this one appealing is that the shape is worked in easy rounds, starting with a magic circle and increasing up to 48 stitches before moving into the textured post-stitch section. The fluffy edging softens the whole look, and the added flower gives it a sweet decorative touch without making the project feel too fussy.

I also like that it feels like a pattern you could easily customize. You could skip the flower for a simpler baby beanie, change the colors for a more modern look, or keep the pink-and-white version for a classic handmade baby gift. It has that practical “quick weekend project” feel, which is always handy when a baby shower sneaks up on you.

If you’re looking for an easy crochet baby hat pattern with a soft, cozy finish, this one is definitely worth a look. It’s cute, giftable, and the fluffy trim gives it a little extra charm.