Howdy

 

DALE HAGEN, OWNER

“Knitting is challenging and relaxing, all at the same time”—-Dale Hagen, owner of Port Hadlock Yarns 

One of the beauties of knitting is that you can take it anywhere you go, which – in the case of Dale Hagen – is everywhere. A native of Seattle, she moved to San Diego to attend UCSD, then on to Madison Wisconsin for a masters in communication. After working 20 years in the entertainment industry in L.A., Dale moved back to the Northwest, bringing her knitting with her.
While visiting family and friends on the Olympic Peninsula over the years, Dale did what traveling knitters do – checked out the local yarn shops. When Dinah Reed announced she was closing her doors, Dale sent her an email – and voila! Dinah’s Yarn Shop became Port Hadlock Yarns without dropping a stitch.
Knitting had been a hobby since childhood, but Dale really became hooked after joining a knitting group and studying independent and fearless knitting techniques under Wildfiber’s Mel Clark in Santa Monica. And then there was Lori Lober -a certified Master Knitter who makes you want to learn new things and take on new knitting challenges and is one of the most creative, funniest, and fastest knitters alive!
“You get to meet all different kinds of people who share an obsession with knitting. Everyone’s really friendly and helpful and it’s like a quilting bee used to be in the old days…where it creates your own community.“
That’s the goal of Port Hadlock Yarns – to be a resource where knitters can come together for supplies and to meet new people for instruction, inspiration, help with projects, and a lot of laughs. “I like the hanging-out-and-knitting thing”.

For a schedule of upcoming classes, visit the Classes page.  Or just stop by and see your old friends Jo Ann Lammers and Cindy Evanger.

And meet your new friend, Dale Hagen.

Bring your knitting…….

 

 

 

 CINDY EVANGER

“I’m not afraid to try things. What’s the worst that can happen? You make a mistake and learn.”

Like Dale, Cindy’s been knitting on and off for 30 years, “mostly crocheting”. It wasn’t until she started knitting in groups that she became hooked and sought out a mentor to advance her technique.
Cindy loves teaching “ I’m the first to say I don’t know it all – but I’m not afraid to find out – even if it means making mistakes. I love people and I get excited when someone wants to learn something new.”
As a three time breast cancer survivor, Cindy knows about stepping outside your comfort zone. She enjoys helping others get past their fear and take on a challenge. And knitting is challenging.
“You can make something like a sock as simple or complicated as you like”.
Knitting can also be a comfort “It keeps your hands busy, and your mind busy….and you can take it everywhere! You tell a knitter sitting in an airport there’s a flight delay and it’s like…No problem!”
What Cindy enjoys most is the camaraderie after so many years at Dinah’s. “It’s a beautiful bond that we create. Everyone’s there rooting you on, emotionally..and what you say here, stays here”
She’s glad to see the changes Dale has made since taking over the helm.
“Everything’s more current…New yarns, new patterns, Dale’s brought a lot of color to the store…everything pops.  People are always looking for something new, something current”
As for Cindy, she looks for something beautiful to fill each day.

 

Thank yous to Lori Lober, Mel Clark, Kendra McNally, Andrea Eyre, and all those crafty, creative people out there.