By Kristine Thomas
Celia Stapleton makes brandishing two, three, four or even five knitting needles look as effortless as talking, which she does quite a bit of while knitting with friends and customers at her shop, The Purl District, a yarn store in downtown Silverton.
Give Stapleton one knitting needle and she knows perfectly well she can’t create anything with it.
Thanks to the Purls of Wisdom members, Stapleton has learned it takes more than just herself to operate her business.
Last fall, Stapleton confessed to friends she was reaching the limit of being able to keep the knitting store open, financially and emotionally, and she was contemplating closing it.
“I couldn’t pay my rent and I spent all the savings, retirement and inheritance,” she said.
Jeanne Baldwin told Stapleton before she did anything she would think about options.
“Celia has worked seven years without a break,” Baldwin said. “Many of us believed it was important to keep The Purl District open so we put our heads together and came up with a plan.”
Marge Gritton, Laurie Chadwick, Jeanne Baldwin, Jori Halbirt, Paula Shull, Theresa Kelley, Kathleen McCanne and Linda Kirsch decided to become “Purls of Wisdom” and pool their talents to help Stapleton. Their ideas include starting a “Rent A Month Club,” where customers can help make a contribution toward paying the rent, agreeing to volunteer in the store so Stapleton has some time off and volunteering to teach classes.
Purls of Wisdom members act as a board to guide Stapleton and help her keep the shop financially stable for all to enjoy.
In an email to customers, the Purls of Wisdom members wrote, “We believe the beauty of a small-town business is that it creates community. At The Purl District our community is our big round red table. Younger women have learned from older women how to fix stitches, friends teach friends to knit around the table, people make new friends around the table, people come to visit with Celia and others and talk about what is going on in their lives. If you have never sat around our big, round red table, please join us. We all value this community and want to make sure the Purl District remains a part of our lives and Silverton.”
On a January afternoon, Stapleton sat around the table with several women. While it takes her little time to fix a glitch in a knitting project, Stapleton said it wasn’t easy to ask for help.
“No one wants to admit failure,” Stapleton said.
“We told her to just skip the pride part and see what happens,” Halbirt said.
Baldwin said The Purl District was one of several factors that influenced her decision to move to Silverton from California.
“It’s a place to come and be with friends and to work on projects,” Baldwin said. “The women at this table talk about their problems, share ideas and we learn from each other.”
Using a tissue to wipe away a tear from her eye, Halbirt said the women who are Purls of Wisdom are of a “caliber and integrity who believe in making a difference.”
Knitting shops are becoming scarce, Stapleton said, adding there no longer is one in Salem and the closest one is about 25 miles away.
Since the Purls of Wisdom formed, 45 percent of the rent has been covered by donations and sales have increased, Stapleton said, adding “it’s been a huge relief.”
Chiming in one after another, the Purls of Wisdom members said The Purl District is an important part of their community because it’s welcoming and friendly.
They invite knitters or those who wish to learn to stop by and see what they’re missing.
The reason why they are willing to invest in the store is because it’s more than a place to purchase yarn.
It’s a community.
“The Purl District is just a special place,” Chadwick said.
