Bored with the winter gear you’ve already been in for months? Tacoma resident Kelli Story translates her knitting skill into wearable art in the shape of gloves, scarves and hats to give your wardrobe a pick-me-up. The vibrant color of yarns she uses is in such contrast to the stark landscape outside. Mastering knitting five scant years ago, Story shares, “I really struggled with patience and learning was hard. I thought, ‘I just can’t do this,’ but then slowly, I did.”



She now exudes beautiful simplicity in large, chunky loose knit wool capelet ponchos, shawls and wraps. She intentionally puts the spotlight more on the interesting yarn than on the actual shape of the garment. Inspired by the yarn itself, Story lets it speak to her and tell her what to make with it in addition to taking suggestions for items such as fingerless gloves from her young daughter. Wool (ranging from itchy to soft and alpaca to rabbit), silk, and bamboo yarn are what she prefers in making her Happy Knits.



Prices are based on yarn cost, but Story tries to keep it in the $40 to $60 range for gloves, hats and simple scarves. Larger, intricate items naturally cost more.



Story offers knitting lessons on a one-on-one basis both hourly and with a beginner’s package of knitting supplies and three 90 minute sessions for $70. Contact her at kelli@happyknits.com or 253.330.0090.