I will be co-owner of Acorn Street Shop!
June 1, 2026
I am so excited to share that, starting July 1st, I will be co-owner of Acorn Street Shop!
Acorn Street is a local yarn store located in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle. Founded in 1979, it was originally a New England country store. In 1992, it moved to its current location and expanded to include supplies for knitting and crochet. Today, the shop caters to the knitting, crochet, and needlepoint communities. As part of the 5th owner team, I am especially honored to carry the torch.
To me, Acorn is not just about knitting, but more so about the people who run it and the community they foster. Since I started getting involved with the store, I’ve learned that many others also consider Acorn to be the heart of their knitting community.
I first discovered Acorn in the spring of 2021, shortly after I began knitting. I went in just to browse and started chatting with one of the associates, Sönna. We quickly discovered we were both from Alaska and couldn’t stop talking. Later that day, another fiber friend I met online added me to an Instagram group chat, and Sönna was in it too! I’m not sure either of us knew the other was in that group, but I loved that we found each other in this small pocket of community among fiber enthusiasts from across the US. All during this period in the pandemic where we were seeking community and belonging.
I kept going back to the shop— for yarn, of course, but sometimes just to hang out. I quickly got to know Mary Rourke and Janet Charbonnier. They are witty, fun, and importantly, kind.
(Left to Right: Mary, Tyler, Janet)
They took a chance on me when I first began dyeing yarn. I was already selling a few skeins online when I had the idea of bringing some to Acorn. I showed up with a few colors and essentially asked Mary and Janet: “I’ve been playing around with dyeing yarn and would love your thoughts: is this any good?” Both of them were enthusiastic. They proposed: why don’t we let the customers tell you what they think? They scheduled me for my first trunk show in February 2022. It ended up doing really well. I’ll always be grateful that they took a chance on a random guy who showed up one day with skeins.
In November 2023, I received a diagnosis of adult ADHD. It was life-changing and made me realize that the way my mind worked may not be best suited for a corporate career, which had been my trajectory at the time. I love dyeing yarn and knitting, and I began to wonder how I could bring the skills I’ve developed in corporate into the world of fiber arts.
After a trunk show at Acorn in late 2023, I started asking Mary very pointed questions about what it was like owning a yarn store. Little did I know, Janet had recently told her she would be retiring in a few years. I was serious about taking over once Janet planned on leaving, so they brought me as an associate so I could gain familiarity with the store. Since then, I’ve loved helping customers plan projects and select yarn during work hours and getting to know other members of the community at the shop’s Tuesday and Thursday knit nights.
Over the years, I’ve learned an incredible amount from Janet and Mary about how they run a business with compassion. They’ve made the shop truly special: they listen to their customers; they don’t try and sell people products they don’t need; they give honest guidance to anyone asking for help on a project. I think that’s a remarkable way to approach business, and a genuine model for what it means to be a community space.
It’s astounding what Acorn has become under Mary and Janet’s stewardship. I can’t wait to honor what they’ve built, celebrate it, and carry it forward. I will continue dyeing yarn under Thought to Thread, which will be available at Acorn. The business, however, will remain independent. I look forward to seeing you all at the shop.
If you would like to support me in making this dream of mine come true, I am offering 3-ways you can support.
Cheers!
Tyler
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