Two T.O. businesses put emphasis on homemade, personalized gifts

Trendy teens, mod moms— and perhaps a dashing dad or two—should follow Grandmother’s lead and learn how to knit, embroider or crochet. Or they can visit local businesses dedicated to creating homemade gifts for just about everyone on their holiday lists.

Even in sunny Southern California, knitted scarves, hats, sweaters, “capelets,” slippers—and of course the tried and true baby gifts of booties and blankets—are back on the fashion scene with a vengeance, and people are willing to pay top dollar to don stylish and unique creations.

In Thousand Oaks, two businesses are ahead of the curve in knitting and embroidery trends.

Knitport, located on 768 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., opened 14 months ago and has already developed a loyal clientele. My Phuong and her daughter, Brenda, offer knitting lessons and sell knitting supplies and an array of finished pieces in their shop, including home décor items, clothing, even dog sweaters. The one-of-a kind finished items do not come inexpensively: a woolly scarf was priced at $80, while a baby’s hooded cape and bootie set cost $285.

The supplies offered at Knitport include everything needed to launch a personal knitting craze, including an array of glittery, feathery, hairy, and fuzzy wool, nylon and acrylic yarn in every conceivable color, some with many colors weaved together, knitting needles, patterns and other supplies.

“I learned how to knit when I was 6,” said My, who passed along the tradition to her daughter when Brenda was that age. Brenda, now 29, was a financial analyst for five years, but said she said she tired of corporate life and wanted to explore her “creative side.”

“The opportunity allowed me to use my business skills and be creative,” she said.

The cost of three, two-hour knitting lessons is $70. The fee includes materials.

The Embroidery Studio, which opened last March at 763 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks, focuses on personalizing products for the home, corporate clients and sports groups. Partners Mark Goldstein and Ed Sandoval combined their businesses because they believed they “could do a better job together.”

Perennial embroidered favorites for

he home, Goldstein said, are Christmas stockings and towels, but corporate gifts

hat feature

he client’s name and “ c o m p l i ments of”

he giver make up a burgeoning niche market. The company also does silk screening and private labels for monogramming. “We ship all over the country,” said Goldstein, who previously operated a

home-based embroidery business. “People are finding out abouus every day.” “You get to be reacreative,” said Sandoval, who enjoys the variety that’s part oowning and operating an embroidery business.

Custom service is the hallmark of the Embroidery Studio. “We have a retail (section in the) front of the store open to the public, but a lot of people have wish lists they bring in,” said Sandoval. “We help them fulfill that.”

For more information, call Knitport at (805) 496-6705 and the Embroidery Studio at (805) 4940451.