RED BANK, NJ — Mother Knitter Yarn Studio is celebrating its first year as a retail business in downtown Red Bank.

And one of its owners, Vidar Brekke, says the growing popularity of knitting one's own sweaters or socks or mittens is a big part of the shop's success.

Part of the store's logo urges customers to "hook up with us," and they seem to do just that, especially the older and younger generations, Brekke said.

The popularity of knitting or crocheting seems to have skipped a generation, he observed.

"Most of our customers are over 60 or under 30," he said. And he said crocheting is particularly popular with the younger customers.

Mother Knitter Yarn Studio at 97 Broad St. is large enough for its stock of 1,600 square feet of yarn - yarn that comes in more than 3,000 colors, Brekke said.

And Brekke, who is from Norway, said all the yarns - wool, alpaca and mohair, among others, is completely natural for the best results.

Natural fibers are critical for garments to keep their shape and durability, he said. Plus, they are actually easier to work with.

Brekke said the company had been importing yarns wholesale and selling them online and they decided to branch out into retail. Laurie Brekke is the knitting expert, while Vidar handles the business and marketing, he said.

His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to start other businesses, too, and his instinct told him it was time open the store.

"We're very happy to be in the artistic community of Red Bank. It's a lot of fun," Brekke said.

The store is spacious enough to hold knitting and crocheting classes. There are talented instructors, he said, who can give classes to 12 at a time or in private lessons, if someone just needs a refresher course. And the store has been able to hire more staff.

The studio's website offers shoppers an array of patterns and other products, such as books and gift cards, as well as information about classes. It's Facebook site says to look for specials Saturday for the anniversary.

There is an emotional connection with knitting, as well. Knitters enjoy the peaceful, controlled motions that create a work of wearable art.

Laurie Brekke explains on the store's website how she became a knitter extraordinaire - and added some Norwegian terms for good measure in her description of her love of knitting:

She said her mother taught her to knit. But it wasn't until she visited Brekke's family in rural Norway that "I literally got hooked on knitting," she said on the website.

"With guidance from his grandmother (who didn’t speak a word English), we understood each other perfectly: she taught me to truly love knitting (strikke) and crocheting (hekle).

"Sitting in front of the fireplace, knitting with her is the definition of Hygge (coziness), and one of my most treasured memories," Laurie Brekke says.

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