Graff opened her current storefront on McCowan Street in downtown Montgomery in March 2018 and expanded to occupy the accompanying suite in February 2020, she said. Graff said she has found a dedicated community in the city and surrounding areas.
“When we started the online [store], there weren’t a lot of local buyers, but I knew from different guilds that there was a decent amount of community here,” Graff said. “They’ve just come out of the woodwork. There’s so many local crafters of all types that come and hang out.”
Graff, who previously worked in corporate event planning, said she makes an effort to be involved in the city, including helping with fundraisers for local groups and hosting beginner knitting and crocheting classes.
“It’s been really fun to see the diversity in who comes and hangs out,” Graff said. “Anyone can come join us, whether you’ve knit for 50 years or you’ve knit for five minutes.”
Graff said she sells a variety of yarns from across the country and all over the world. Most of her yarns are wool based, she said, but she also has yarn made from alpaca, goats, camels and yaks and plant-based yarn made from cottons, linens and bamboos.
“That was one of the goals from the very beginning: to bring in yarns from all around the world so that people could experience something that they’ve never seen before,” Graff said.
Graff said she has enjoyed being a part of the community in Montgomery and helping to bring more people to the area.
“It’s been great, especially doing events. It just gets more and more people out to Montgomery,” Graff said. “Once you come and hang out in Montgomery, you want to come back, even if it’s not just for the yarn store. There’s a lot to offer.”
The Modern Skein
208 McCowan St., Stes. 100-110, Montgomery
936-436-3615
https://themodernskein.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu. 10 a.m.-8 p.m., closed Sun.-Mon.
