CLEVELAND, OH SUBURBS - Day 2: Aurora

Cars and yarn...

My favorite words when my husband is considering traveling to a car show?  “There’s a yarn shop nearby.” Imagine my delight when we were making plans to attend the Midwest Z Heritage Fest—a regional car show for Nissan/Datsun Z-car enthusiasts like my husband— in Aurora, Ohio and I discovered a yarn shop right in town!  DestiKNITions powers, engage!

Longtime DestiKNITters know I’m a fan of going out for breakfast, especially to a good bakery.  I was pleased to find an excellent spot in Aurora:

Pumpkin Seed, Sweets and Treats

238 East Garfield Road

Aurora, OH 44202

216-215-3949

twcakes.com

I’m a pushover for a good lemon bar, and this one was scrumptious.  This spot is more than just a bakery, it’s also a coffee bar as well as an event venue—you can host a shower or a small wedding reception right here.  Baked goods, some exquisitely frosted cookies, and a selection of chocolates are all here to tempt your tastebuds (you know I’m a fan of dessert for breakfast).  T’Cakes, the other half of the business, handles custom occasion cakes.

Next head to our yarn fix for the day:

The Knit Shop

226 Chillicothe Road

Aurora, OH  44202

330-562-7226

ediesknitshop.com

The no-nonsense name reflects owner Edie Tait’s straightforward approach to knitting—offer quality products and spot-on technical advice.  After all, she’s been in the business for over 20 years, so she’s learned what works.  

The shop is a small, multi-roomed house with two fireplaces and packed to the gills with fibers and sample projects.  Every object you see in the store is knit by Edie herself—she’ll also “knit for hire” if you need to outsource your latest unfinished project, by the way.  

A renowned fair-isle master with a strong eye for color and a vast knowledge of fibers, Edie has a diverse selection stocked to suit her customers.  “I fill the store with an eye for quality and a good knitting experience,” Edie says, so you know you’ll come away with something that works, not just the newest fad yarn.  While she does design, Edie’s preference is to adapt patterns to suit her tastes.  “I don’t think I’ve ever worked a pattern exactly how it's written.”  That means she’s eager to put her vast technical skill to use for you, giving lots of help to customers whenever they need it.  

That doesn’t mean there isn’t fun and whimsy here—ask to see the baby booties and the golf club covers—they’re amazing!  And if you’re a needlepoint person, this is THE place to score hard-to-find Paternayan yarn.

Some projects you should consider:

Blue and Green Cardigan and Boxy Tee

Both a design of Edie’s, this sweater takes any tape or ribbon yarn like Katia’s Rumba and works it into a season-less, eye-catching sweater set.  Ask Edie’s advice for color combinations, or stick with a solid for a more subtle effect.  Either way, the texture’s the star for these pieces.

The Wedding Top

Made by Edie for a special occasion, this gorgeous top is a special occasion all in itself.  Look at the splendid stitch work and the graceful, fluttering trim!  Stick with a light colored fingering weight silk fiber to get the best effect and drape.  This one strikes me as a family heirloom in the making.

Glam Scarf

This fringed wonder works up in 250 yards of any fiber, but Edie offers a kit if you want to ensure great results.  The versatile pattern could be light and draped or warm and lush, depending on the fiber you choose.

Neckwarmer

In my hometown of Chicago, we take our neck warmers very seriously.  Who wouldn’t want the luxury of this angora wool blend around their neck on a brutal January morning?  Again, you’ll want to pick two skeins of a light color to show off the cable work.

Ulta Alpaca Afghan

This sample uses sixteen different colors of Jameson Simply Shetland, but you don’t have to go to such extremes if you don’t want to.  In true Edie adaptation fashion, she reworked an existing Sonoma Mountain Wrap pattern to become this stunning linen stitch afghan.  Wouldn’t that make a great gift (for someone you love enough to stitch up an entire afghan)?

Shoulder Wrap

Sometimes the design makes all the difference.  Edie designed this wrap to be more square than most, allowing it to sit nicely on the shoulders.  Another highly adaptable piece, you can make this heavyweight for warmth or lightweight to fend off summer air conditioning.  This will be our knit-along from The Knit Shop, so I’ll be working it up in 600 yards of Juniper Moon Findley Dappled merino/silk blend with a touch of Kidsilk Haze for the accent stripes (I didn’t go for the “sparkly” accent stripes of the sample).

Stocked your knitting bag?  You won’t have to go far to get a little more shopping—as a matter of fact, you don’t even have to move your car if it's a nice day like I had.

Abbagail’s

178 S. Chillicothe Road

Aurora, OH  55202

330-995-0320

www.facebook.com/abigailsaccessories

Head to the big red barn just down the street for an amazing accessories store.  You’ll find familiar names like Trollbeads and Vera Bradley, but also some new finds.  They had some of the most amazing, inventive umbrellas I had ever seen, and a collection of very artful handbags.

The Secret Garden

196 S. Chillicothe Road

Aurora OH  44202

330-562-7198

pinterest.com/secretgarden196

Sometimes you walk into a store and you just know you’ll want to explore every nook.  This “antiques and uniques” store is an inviting combination of old and crafted items from fifteen different co-op members. I was particularly drawn to the vintage items, the wood carvings, and the delightful Bijon dog who serves as the store’s mascot.

Ready for lunch?  I recommend you end your Aurora adventure at:

Mad Jack’s Grill & Pub

204 S. Chilicothe Road

Aurora, OH  44202

330-348-0058

madjackspub.com

Given the name—and the reputation for great burgers—I was expecting something a bit more “tavern-ish” than the casually elegant restaurant inside.  The phrase on the website says it all:  “comfort food with a twist.”  You know I set great stock on how a restaurant handles a solo diner, and the service here was top notch.  Not a big burger fan, I opted for the Pan Seared Salmon Salad and was rewarded with an excellent meal.  

There you have it—a charming, fiber-filled, delicious half-day in Aurora Ohio.  Who knew it held such treasures?  Well, now you do!

CLEVELAND, OH SUBURBS - Day 1: Chagrin Falls

Falling for Chagrin Falls...

When I was little, we had family friends who lived in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  I still remember my visits there.  Life was kind enough to afford me a return visit earlier this summer, and I was delighted to discover an excellent yarn shop among the ice cream, popcorn, and other treats I remember getting as a kid.  This chock-full-of-charming town is a nicely contained day trip while you’re in Cleveland on business, or a lovely day away all on its own.  You can do the whole town in a matter of hours if you’re expedient; all day if you really take the time to explore.

Let’s start with breakfast:

Lemon Falls Cafe

95 North Main Street

Chagrin Falls, OH  44022

440-247-8000

lemonfalls.com

Tucked onto a street corner, this tiny, friendly restaurant is the perfect place to start your day.  If it’s lunch, my sources say go straight for the lobster roll.  If it’s breakfast, there are several egg plates and a very good breakfast wrap.  Excellent coffee, tea, and espresso drinks round out the menu.  If you’ve got vegan or gluten free dietary needs, this place is perfect for you.  Skip the sweets, though, because we’ve got other plans to satisfy your sweet tooth:

Jeni’s Ice Cream

67 N Main Street

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

440-247-2064

jenis.com

I discovered this yummy stuff on my last venture in Ohio, and I couldn’t get back to my salted caramel ice cream sandwich fast enough.  You could try any of the truly inventive flavors of ice cream, but this will always be my favorite. Splendid!

or, you could try:

Sugar Me Desserterie

45 West Orange Street #5

In CoachHouse Square

Chagrin Falls, OH  44022

440-247-7228

sugarmedesserterie.com

Any bakery with a frequent buyer program and french macarons is a hit with me!  Cupcakes, a decadent-looking German Chocolate Cake, and other yummy baked goods round out the scrumptious menu.  It might take a little effort to find down there at the end of River Street, but it’s well worth it.

First shopping stop for any DestiKNITter is, of course, the yarn.

The Artful Yarn

Step North

100 North Main Street, Suite 230

Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022

440-321-9754 

http://www.theartfulyarn.com

Find your way off the street into the little set of shops at Main and Orange Streets, and you’ll discover a lively, friendly yarn shop that’s built on “killer customer service.”  Owner Cathy Hougan exudes a “let me help you” energy that clearly launches the many “fiber friendships” at the store. “It’s a meeting space—we’re your yarn concierge,” Hougan says, and it’s easy to see why.  With events like “K@12—“Knitting at Noon” that offer a fiber-friendly take on the old office “lunch and learn” model, this store builds a loyal, adventuresome customer base.  

Color and texture abound in the bright, clean-lined store, and the atmosphere has a definite “have fun and play with yarn” personality.  There’s a customer loyalty purchase program, and you get a discount on your birthday!  Cathy vets her fibers carefully, offering only organic, fair trade products that meet her high standards for integrity.  Like all good DestiKNITions, this is the kind of store where you could hang out for hours and not only leave with great yarn, but gain a few new friends in the process.

Looking for some project inspiration?  The Artful Yarn has lots to choose from:

The Alsace Cardigan

This lovey design from Knit 1 Crochet 2 gets worked up from only four skeins of Soie et Lin —that’s a selling feature in my book!  I love the open, scooped neck and the delicate trim at the bottom and sleeves.

Felted Clogs

Need to keep some toes warm this fall?  These colorful felted clogs from Fiber Trends will do the trick.  The left one in this photo is before felting, the right after.  Perhaps in school colors of a new collegiate you know?

Knit Happy Club Slouch Hat

Slouch hats are all the rage, and they are much kinder to a hairstyle than a watch cap.  This one knits up from Shepherd’s Wool Crazies.The trim on the headband adds a nice detail.

Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole

Entrelac is one of my favorite knitting tricks—once you grasp the essentials, you always get dramatic results with a minimal amount of technical fuss.  The trick is always to use a great self striping yarn, and Cathy will gladly guide you to a successful choice.  I especially like the snazzy fringe on this one.

Holden Shawlette

Our Knit Along from The Artful Yarn pays homage to the area’s Holden Arboretum.  Designer Mindy Wilkes says The Holden shawlette draws its name from Holden Beach, South Carolina, but I can easily see the ripply lace evoking an arboretum’s leafy treasures as well—especially if you use one of Malabrigo Sock’s botanical color-ways like Lettuce or Arbol.  

I went for the ocean vibe myself.  With a yarn like this, it’s great that you only need one skein, as dye lots can vary widely.

Yarn purchases safely in hand, you might want to pamper those stitching hands by walking next door to: 

The Village Herb Shop

17 East Orange Street

Chagrin Falls, OH  44022

440-247-5029 or 1-800-836-9120

villageherbshop.com

This charming store is one of those great shopping experiences you can’t get in a chain retail establishment.  These people are passionate about their products!  I took a wonderful tour with owner LeeAnn Halley and was delighted to hear all the stories about the partnerships she’s established with artisans and product lines.  Gifts, decor, classes, trinkets, culinary goodies—this store has a little bit of everything.  You won’t leave without a few “oh, this is just perfect” purchases!

Can’t wait to cast on?  Just steps down the street is a perfect place to knit outside, listening to the soothing sounds of the picturesque Chagrin Falls.  Walk down off the sidewalk level by the bridge to the gorgeous falls that give the town its name.  Even on a warm afternoon, the little parks beside the falls stay cool and calming.  

Don’t linger too long, however, because some other fun shopping awaits.  In the main triangle and surrounding streets you’ll find a nice variety of specialty shops and boutiques.  Make sure and look up, though, to take in the town’s famous flower baskets hanging from light poles.  It makes the whole area look post-card perfect.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Hedges

13 North Franklin St.

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

440-247-2344

hedgeschagrinfalls.com

I’m into Pandora bracelets, but I have plenty of friends who crave Alex and Ani bracelets.  We’d all be happy at this boutique, which showcases an impressive selection of both lines.  Lots of other goodies catch your eye here, too.

Fireside Books

29 North Franklin Street

Chagrin Falls, OH  44022

440-247-4050

www.firesidebookshop.com

Okay, DestiKNITters, you know the drill: patronize good local independent book stores!  We need them in our world.  And for them to stay, you need to get off the internet (later, of course) and get yourself in their doors to shop.  ‘Nuff said.

Nola True

15 South Franklin Street

Chagrin Falls OH  44022

440-247-8980

While I love boutique shopping, sometimes the price tags can be too steep for me.  I was pleased to find several items that I not only wanted, but that I could afford without remorse.  The styles easily suited a woman of my “seasoned” age, not just a younger, hipper shopper like some boutiques I’ve visited.  The place was stylish, friendly and accessible.

YARNY BONUS!  If you visit on a Saturday, are very lucky, or have called ahead, you may get a visit to the Alpaca Fiber Studio and get to meet fiber artist and educator Robbie Grodin.  It’s on Bell Street next to the Valley Arts Center.  More luscious fiber goodies!

Once you’ve shopped your way around town, consider ending your day with a meal at:

Gamekeeper’s Taverne

87 West Street

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

440-247-7744

www.gamekeepers.com

If the weather’s fine, take in the award-winning outdoor courtyard of this longtime Chagrin Falls fancy favorite.  If the weather’s not friendly, the place boasts cozy fireplaces as well.  The exceptional menus change with the seasons, so you know the cuisine is fresh and locally-sourced.  Game lovers will especially like this place (hence the name), but there is a wide enough menu to suit any taste.  Sources say the salads are first-rate.

Especially on a warm summer evening, it’s hard to bid goodbye the picturesque falls of this little Ohio town.  Even if I can’t get back soon, I know I’ll soon have a lovely shawl as a keepsake and a reminder to return.

Next episode, we’ll visit another Cleveland suburb, Aurora.