Paul Abell of Whiting recently opened The Golden Fleece on the north side of the Holton Town Square. The shop sells a variety of yarn and needles for knitting, crocheting and other fiber arts.

The Golden Fleece opens on north side of Holton Square

The Golden Fleece has opened on the north side of the Holton Town Square, offering quality yarn, needles and lessons for those interested in the fiber arts.

Paul Abell of Whiting owns The Golden Fleece, which opened Jan. 31 at 108 West 5th St. in Holton.

Abell has lived in Jackson County for about 20 years and owns some farm ground where he “runs” cow/calf pairs. He said the shop allows him to share and pass on his love of fiber arts.

“I’ve been knitting and crocheting since I was a kid,” Abell said.  “When I was in third grade, I was laid up for three months so to keep me from getting bored my mother taught me to crochet. Then she taught me to knit. I’ve always stuck with it. My favorite thing to do is knit, but I also spin my own wool and weave.”

A variety of yarns are sold at The Golden Fleece.

“I have everything from inexpensive acrylic to wool, alpaca, silk and linen,” he said, noting that he carries premium yarn brands such as Berroco and Rowan. “Cascade is my anchor line so I have more of that brand than any other.”

Abell said he plans to sell more organic and raw fibers, noting he offers locally spun and dyed yarn from Ivy Rash of Havensville.

“I can also do special ordering for people,” he said.

Needles and notion items are also sold in the shop. In the future, Abell said he hopes to sell spinning wheels and looms out of his storefront.

Abell has already scheduled open classes for the public to learn how to spin and crochet.

“Right now, my classes are scheduled in the day time, but I plan to start some evening classes,” Abell said. “Knitting is like music; it’s not something you can learn by taking a two-hour class. It takes a lot of practice.”

A beginning knitting class, developed by Abell himself, is offered at The Golden Fleece as a 12-hour course that encompasses two-hour sessions each week for six weeks.

“All the classes are free,” he said. “I really enjoy teaching and helping people with their projects. I want to also introduce these skills to kids. Knitting used to be life skill, and it originally started with men. Basically if you didn’t spin or knit you didn’t have clothes.”

Every Saturday, as well as each Thursday evening, the shop hosts an “open stitch” where anyone can come to the store and work on a personal fiber art projects.

“One Saturday I had 10 or 12 people here all day just crocheting, knitting and cross-stitching,” he said. “A few people brought their looms.”

Abell said that there are stitching groups that meet regularly in Jackson County and that it’s a growing hobby in the area.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Thursdays, the shop is open until 8:30 p.m. Cash, check and credit cards are accepted.

For more information, call 785-362-7490 or visit www.the-golden-fleece.com.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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