A New Decade

Dear Beloved Customers,

With a new decade comes big change.

Twisted is transitioning to become an online-only shop. At the end of March I will be closing Twisted’s brick and mortar location on NE Broadway to focus on our online store, as well as foster a healthier, more sustainable personal life. Store credit, gift cards, and loyalty points will all remain valid and easy to use online.

This hasn’t been an easy or quick decision, to say the least, so I wanted to share with you more about why this is happening. You can also read more here.

A KNITTER’S STORY

I began my knitting journey as a child, learning from my mother and grandmothers. During a year abroad in college, I took it up in earnest. After college I worked for several years in the Mental Health Division at the Portland VA Medical Center, a particularly taxing (and rewarding) job. To unwind, I would knit in a group with coworkers. I found myself drawn not only to the act of knitting, but also to the sense of community I experienced knitting alongside others.

That knitting group is where a friend, Shannon Squire, and I hatched the idea to send our lives on a hard left turn and start a small business. We wanted to create a yarn shop where knitters of all ages, genders, and skill levels could gather, a welcoming place where experts could help them find the best products for their projects. Twisted opened in 2007. It’s been a dream come true, and a labor of love—humbling, hard, joyful, and everything in between.

Thanks to an incredibly talented and generous staff, who I can never ever possibly thank enough, the shop thrived. I couldn’t be more proud of the welcoming environment we created in our shop.

A TIME FOR CHANGE

Running a small business of any sort isn’t easy, especially one so focused on providing exceptional service for luxury goods. After over 12 years of running a retail shop on NE Broadway in Portland I have come to realize that my passion for Twisted means I am neglecting far too many aspects of my personal life. This is not how I want to move through the world, and it is time for a change. Having been unable to find a buyer for the shop, I’m choosing to re-balance my life by closing the brick and mortar shop.

I am so thankful to you for your support over the years. This dream would have never been possible without you. It has been a true joy getting to know you.

COME CELEBRATE WITH US!

These next few months will be amazing, if bittersweet, as we wrap up projects in the shop and prepare to bid farewell to the space. We hope that shop hours will remain the same through the end of March, though that could change as our staff members begin to move on to new opportunities.

Twisted will still participate in the annual Rose City Yarn Crawl March 5-8. Always an extravaganza, this year will be an extra special thank you to the Portland knitting community for its years of support. Stop by to share your memories and chat about your projects. We’ll share more information on our social media and in upcoming store newsletters.

ONLINE STORE + STORE CREDIT + GIFT CARDS + LOYALTY REWARDS

Accumulated store credit and gift cards and loyalty rewards points are valid both in-store and online! The online shop will continue to sell many of the same brands, though some we will not be eligible to carry any more after the retail location closes. The brick and mortar shop will be open through the end of March - about three more months. After that you will still be able to earn and spend your store credit, gift cards, and loyalty points online just as always.

STAY IN TOUCH

I know this change may be hard for you, as it has been and will be for me. When you're feeling sad, please still be kind to and supportive of the Twistedistas, each and every one of whom is an extraordinary human who I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work beside. If you have any questions, you can contact us at 2020@twistedyarnshop.com.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Emily Williams