My family lived on Slaughter Lane, which was in the country on the southern outskirts of Austin, from 1969 through about 1975. My brothers and I enjoyed wandering in the woods behind our house and walking up the hill to visit our friend Andy, who lived on a dairy.
The dairy is gone now, covered with apartments and town homes. Our part of Slaughter Lane is now Ralph Ablanedo Avenue, named after a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. And at the intersection of Cullen Lane and Slaughter, where I walked or rode by in the car many times as a kid, is–¦
A Yarn Store!!!! Oh, if my kid-self could have stepped through a wrinkle in time to see the yarn in that store! By the age of twelve, I was a confirmed knitter and crocheter. Even then I would have sighed with pleasure!
The store is The Knitting Nest. You can knit or crochet, sitting comfortably on the couches and upholstered chairs. Or you can sit at the long table and spread out your patterns and charts under the hanging lamps. I was there to sign copies of Crochet Bouquet, and I covered that table with crocheted flowers. It’s a cheery place, and Stacy, the owner, serves refreshing drinks.
Aside from its generally good selection of yarns, The Knitting Nest has a complete selection of Cascade 220 wool. Yes, you read right–every single color there is of Cascade 220. Stacy orders weekly to keep her stock current. She offers mail order to customers who live far away.
The Knitting Nest was a stop on this year’s Hill Country Yarn Crawl, and probably will be again next year. In the meantime, be sure to stop by next time you’re in South Austin.
The Knitting Nest, 160 Slaughter Ln W #200, Austin, TX 78748, (512) 291-8866.