Great Escape: Look no Further than Montrose's Needle in a Haystack

I have this amazing talent of being able to twist just about everything into a knot. From seat belts to necklaces and even my shoelaces, I can knot it. With my awesome and sometimes frustrating talent, I decided to see if I can "channel" it into something a little more productive.  has been catering to Montrose for the past 30 years, offering classes in crocheting, knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, and even needlepoint. So I thought why not take my penchant for knotting and turn into one of these more productive uses of what, at its basest level, is knotting.

Jody Budman, the current owner, is incredibly helpful and full of knowledge concerning all things "string." I took a tour of the store to see all that she offers. Incredibly soft yarns from all over the world adorn the walls. Needle in the Haystack carefully hand-picks all of the yarn from environment-friendly mills and spinners all over the world. You can choose from Italian natural fibers like wool and cotton, or hand-spun and hand-dyed Noyo yarn from Japan. Soft alpaca from Peru and natural yarns from Turkey and England add to their impressive collection.

Inspiring samples of sweaters, hats, and scarves are displayed throughout the store and make me actually think I could make a wearable creation; maybe I can finally embrace my knot-tying talent! Think of all of the possibilities! A section of the store is devoted to creations for infants, featuring numerous light, airy in pretty pastel colors. All the material is perfect for crafting the softest baby blanket or pint-sized outfit.

"Knitting just relaxes you. It takes you out of your normal routine and let's your mind take a break," states Budman. "It is fun to own this store where people can let their creativity run wild and they can make something new or re-invent something old."

While I was in the store a customer came in with some old needlepoint pieces from a pillow. She wanted to do something with them, but needed some direction. Budman helped her choose out some coordinating fabrics and lace that they worked together to create a couple of beautiful wall hangings.

Cross stitch and needlepoint patterns are in countless books all over the store and they also have some that are hand-painted patterns from local artisans across the Unites States. Needle in a Haystack prides itself on its immense thread collection which can embellish any artistic creation. There are metallic threads, bumpy threads, and unique multi-colored threads, just to name a few.

Needle in a Haystack offers several classes and workshops in their store, complete with expert instructors to help you a long. Most of the classes are catered to groups wanting to learn how to do needlepoint, knitting, and crocheting, but some classes cater to those who have already mastered the basics. Private lessons are available and they are taught by Evelyn Van Orden, who even makes house calls!

I thumbed through a couple "how to" books and picked one on scarves because I figured that would be an easy place to start. I picked out a teal-based, multi-colored Noyo yarn and some knitting needles, and signed up for beginning knitting with Evelyn. She offers classes on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to try and accommodate different schedules. Maybe if I start on my scarf now I will have it done by the time we actually start to have cool weather again.

Needle in a Haystack is located at 2262 Honolulu Ave. You can call them at 818-248-7686 or visit their website at www.​needhay.​com.

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