Tall ships and . . . yarn? It’s a hit in Bay City

A local retailer has found a unique way to represent the place that they call home.

It goes back to 2016, when yarn shop A Piece of Ewe decided they’d offer an exclusive skein of yarn inspired by the 2016 Bay City Tall Ship Celebration.

A photo was taken of a tall ship in Bay City. That photo was then sent to a yarn dyer in Montana, who then created a line of yarn made of colors from that very photo.

Three years later and that line of yarn is still as popular as ever at A Piece of Ewe. So popular, in fact, that when the store announced a new skein of yarn for the 2019 Tall Ship Celebration, customers expressed concern that they would no longer be able to purchase the 2016 version.

Susan Glenwallis, who opened A Piece of Ewe in 2004, says that offering exclusive skeins of yarn is an important facet of her business.

“It’s always good to have something that customers can only find here at our shop,” Glenwallis says.

“We’re always looking for something that will set us apart and that embraces Bay City at the same time.”

In addition to their high-quality yarn selection, A Piece of Ewe also offers knitting and crocheting classes, which pick back up in the fall. The community is also invited to just hang out at the store and knit as they wish.

For this year’s Tall Ship Celebration, Glenwallis went with a photo taken from the inside of a ship, rather than of its exterior. She says the 2019 Tall Ship skein of yarn will feature shades of black, blue, brown, and cream.

She estimates it to arrive sometime between the 4th of July and the Tall Ship Celebration, which begins Thursday, July 18.

“It’s been very exciting. People are coming in every day and asking us if it’s here yet,” Glenwallis says.

“This yarn is exclusive to us. You can’t find it anywhere else.”

A Piece of Ewe is located at 506 Columbus Ave. in Bay City.

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