Back Roads to Never Not Knitting

September 25, 2017















In Atascadero, a small inland town in the California Central Coast, there is a teeny tiny knitting store. It may be the tiniest knitting store in the world, but it is as sweet as it can be. The Never Not Knitting store, owned by Alana Dakos of the blog and podcast of the same name, is also known for her popular books, Botanical Knits 1 and 2, Baby Botanicals, and Coastal Knits. Alana has filled her shop with a scrumptious variety of locally made knitting accessories and adorable notions, and of course there is yarn.  Scattered around the store are many knitted sweater samples from her patterns, plus files of her individual patterns and her books. The featured yarn is Quince and Co.'s Owl, Chickadee, Willet, Kestrel, Puffin, and perhaps a few others, but those are the ones I remember. She also had a yarn that was new to me, a hand dyed yarn from Canadian Jane Asselin which was very pretty. Alana was not there, but the saleslady was very pleasant and didn't mind me taking pictures. She invited my husband to sit on the "husband chair" in the corner where he fiddled with his phone. After ten minutes he stood up, and just by doing that he consumed all the space in the main part of the shop and I knew it my signal to exit. If you're a knitter and are traveling by Atascadero, the little shop is just minutes off the highway. Stop in, you'll be enchanted.


How did I happen upon this little shop tucked away in a small central coast town? On one of our frequent trips driving home from visiting our daughter, we like to cruise up the scenic coastal route taking an extra day and night to explore. Either we'll stop for the night at an inland town in a wine growing region, or just as often we'll stop at a beach town. This time we stayed in Morro Bay, famous for the massive Morro Rock that resides just off the harbor, it has a mellow, California-beach-town-vibe that is perfect for a quick getaway. Even one day and night in Morro Bay is enough to sooth the soul. As we headed into town I checked out hotels on my phone. One that got particularly good reviews was a block from the beach and very well priced. Our room was clean and bright and I would recommend Pleasant Inn in Morro Bay to anyone. There are dozens of restaurants within walking distance a block down on the waterfront and we had a lovely time eating our fish and chips while watching the sun set over the rock.  Next morning after breakfast, I googled "knit shops near me" (don't you love to visit knit stores while traveling?) and saw Alana's shop was right on our way home and it was OPEN! My husband is one of the greats and only rolled his eyes once before he agreed. :)

When we travel my husband drives and I'm in charge of the radio (and the singing-along if necessary, and it often is), the snack dispensing (sunflower seeds, MMs, Good N Plentys and Cheetos were this trip's treats), and the all important knitting. I knit masses during those four days and finished two projects! FO posts coming soon.





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9 Comments

  1. LOVE Morro Bay. Used to run track in Atascadero as a high schooler. Hope to someday make it to this shop.

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    1. No kidding! What a small world! Then you probably know just where it is--right around the corner from an old hotel, maybe called the Carlton? I really do love the entire Central Coast. We have stayed in just about every small beach town several times each by now. Cambria is another favorite, but if we stay there we like to drive home on Hwy. 1 and maybe you've heard that that is closed now with a massive mud slide. :(

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  3. So many thoughts. What a charming shop. Was the husband chair the one where the quilt was folded over the back of it? I always love your pictures of California. Such a beautiful state. As only a visitor there over the years, I have many happy memories of driving along the more southern part of the PCH. Chloe

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    1. Yes, that was the husband chair! I love every bit of PCH!

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  4. What a gorgeous shop! Thanks for giving us a peek at it. My 2 loves yarn and fabric in one store!!!

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    1. She has done a really great job curating and decorating her shop. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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  5. That shop is fabulous.
    Marilyn

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  6. I would never move out of that shop if it was local to me! My husband is another of the greats. If we're on a trip he checks out if there are fabric or yarn shops for me to visit. Love that man!

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