Fair Knits and Following Purls
If I had to choose a photo and a project to sum up my time at Purl Soho, it’d be this one. Just an overall fun knit and a great beard. Unfortunately, alopecia dashed any future hopes I had of regrowing magnificent facial hair.
In the Navy, whenever someone transfers off of a ship or retires, we wish them fair winds and following seas. It’s a traditional farewell among sailors. The idea is that you’re wishing your friend a peaceful and prosperous journey. That’s exactly how I felt when I was first attempting to navigate the treacherous waters of civilian life. Except, I was hoping for fair knits and following purls. Especially the purls. That was when I found Purl Soho.
I was browsing the fiberspace on Instagram one day and happened upon a job listing by this beautiful yarn store. I hadn’t worked retail before and would have been committing to a two hour commute by train (each way), but I was, and still am, so passionate about this craft that I couldn’t not apply. I felt like I had nothing lose and quite a bit to gain. So, I submitted my application along with a knitting portfolio and, to my pleasant surprise, they wanted to interview me! I thought my chances of getting this job were pretty slim, but I am really happy that wasn’t the case.
I started working there in May of 2019. I felt like a bit of a pioneer because there weren’t as many men in the knitting world as there are now. I absolutely loved the experience of working at Purl. I got to meet some incredible people, talented artists, established designers, and some wonderful customers. I got to talk about my favorite hobby and share my experiences with people who cared just as much about this stuff as I did. I was surrounded by beautiful yarn and beautiful people. It felt like I was in a world where all of us had the same interests and hobbies. I think this was the only job I truly felt fulfilled in. I also got to learn about fabrics, sewing, and got to help other knitters or crocheters coordinate colors and pick out good patterns to work with. I even taught some customers how to knit and crochet. It was an exciting time and I made a lot of great friends along the way. I also met a celebrity once.
This was exactly what I looked like when I met Katie Holmes.
To add to the euphoria of working at this yarn store, I got to increase my knitting knowledge exponentially. In order to continuously provide my customers with the best service, I would read knitting books and learn new techniques. I learned Fair Isle, Fisherman’s Rib, short rows, double knitting, and I also learned how to mend dropped stitches and brioche from an incredibly talented coworker. The best part was I got four whole hours on the train each day to knit and work on my projects. This was the time to grow and learn.
A great policy the employers had was that they would give each employee two free skeins of yarn every time they released a new line for the brand. These donations were great for my yarn stash and helped me experience working with different fibers. This was how I got to work with alpaca, rayon, mohair, cashmere, and silk for the first time. I was so inspired. Wool is still my go-to fiber, but I absolutely fell in love with alpaca. I ended up diving headfirst into Fair Isle knitting by designing and making my own alpaca beanie. I still wear it to this day, six years later, and refuse to gift it to anyone. It is my favorite beanie to wear in the winter.
This job became a fantastic catalyst for turning my life around. I was still in a general funk from the stress of having just left the Navy and having concerns for my future. One of the methods I used to cope was cigarettes. I picked the habit up in high school, and, unfortunately, kicked it into high gear while in the service. Obviously, cigarettes and yarn are not a good combination. I couldn’t serve customers while smelling like an ash tray and certainly wouldn’t be able to sell the product if it carried that odor. So, I made a huge effort to not smoke during working hours, and actually succeeded. This was the first step in curbing my bad habits. It was a big step, but I still hadn’t fully quit yet.
The next step was cancelling my Audible membership. I had that membership for a while, but never used it, so I went to cancel it in order to save money. That was how I found out I had enough credits for seven free audiobooks. I figured I might as well use them. I thought this would be a more productive use of my commute than just listening to music while knitting. That proved to be the case. The first audiobook I listened to was called Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. I was, and still am, skeptical about reading books by former SEALs. I thought it was just going to be fluff, self-promotion, and common sense knowledge. That was not the case with this one. I’m actually really glad I took a chance on this audiobook because it proved to be an absolute game-changer. In Extreme Ownership, Jocko and Leif catalogue their experiences in the SEALs, on deployment, and in helping clients through their leadership consulting firm. They talk about the importance of discipline, being intentional, and taking ownership of your actions. Their words flipped a switch in me. Although I was not a SEAL, I realized that just being in the Navy gave me the same foundation to build the discipline and drive for excellence that these guys had. All I had to do was use it. That was exactly what I did. From that point on, I was much more intentional in my day-to-day life. I took ownership of my time from start to finish. I kept looking for new was to grow, new things to learn, and good habits to cultivate. As a result, I became even more productive at work and at home. I was more pleasant to be around, and became happier overall. Needless to say, I didn’t cancel that Audible membership and got even more audiobooks. This was the beginning of my love for reading, learning, and growth.
Sometimes we would be asked to model some samples while working. This particular one is the Triangle Garter Wrap. I was actually very self-conscious about this picture when it was taken, but now I kind of like it. It’s very nostalgic.
Because of the audiobooks I was listening to, I began to see the good in life. I no longer felt shackled by the problems I had. Instead, I was able to find the strength to work through them. I began ditching the post-service depression and embracing the growth. Ultimately, this culminated in my quitting smoking on July 22nd, 2019. I’m happy to say that to this day I have yet to touch another cigarette, cigar, vape, or anything else that contains nicotine or tobacco. The way I actually quit was by making a bet with a friend. I don’t make bets I intend to lose. Now, almost five years later, I’m still winning.
This bet provided the behind-the-scenes push and accountability I needed to stay smoke-free. I’m choosing to share this detail so I can show others that it’s okay to use a “crutch” to get where you want to go. Nobody succeeds in any great undertaking alone. We all need help at one point or another. After kicking cigarettes to the curb, I discovered just how much this habit was keeping me from tapping into my full potential. Suddenly, I had unlimited energy. I could breathe better. I had an easier time focusing. I could think more clearly. I had more money in the bank. My quality of life improved dramatically. Quitting was absolutely worth the effort. I would strongly recommend it.
From that point on, it was just unfettered growth. By the time October rolled around, I felt like I was outgrowing my environment. I wanted more from life and wanted to explore what other potential I had. So, after a brief series of unfortunate events, I decided to leave Purl and go back to school. I also started making plans to move out so I would be away from my family’s unending chaos. I was riding high on my newfound growth and had equally high hopes for my future. I also began returning to church and rebuilding my spiritual life. Little did I know, COVID was just around the corner and it would redefine the world as we knew it. That, however, is a story for another post.
You can read the story of how I met Katie Holmes here.
Thanks again for indulging me and my stories. I hope to see you in the next one!
