Genius Tips
The Many Departments of MDK
Dear Kay,
I’m deep into The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel at the moment, a delicious binge of time travel back to the late 1950s in New York.
I love the scenes where our hero Midge Maisel is working at B. Altman dispensing rouge and one-liners. It makes me remember my own time in New York and the many hours I spent wandering the grand department stores that were such a fixture: Bergdorf Goodman, Lord and Taylor, Gimbel’s, Macy’s, Saks, and the terrifyingly chic newcomer, Barneys.
I loved department stores, back in the day.
I mention all this because I’ve been thinking about MDK and how best to describe it to people who are new to it.
After watching Midge Maisel at B. Altman, I’m thinking that maybe MDK is a department store for knitters.
We certainly have departments—you can see them across the top of every page. Please have a look around.
The Departments of MDK
Shop: We offer the things we really love. Yarns, books, notions, and gifts. Most of our suppliers are small businesses, often a single person, so you’re not only supporting MDK, you’re also keeping these talented makers in business.
How To: Techniques, tips, hacks. Videos, in-depth tutorials. You will learn something here, we promise. There are 215 posts in here, enough to get you through Safer At Home and emerge a better knitter.
Projects: Watching a project come together is our idea of a spectator sport. The thrill of victory, the agony of a bad sleeve. 119 posts that include gloating, bragging, and big doses of humility.
Inspiration: 436 posts to give you something to think about, to love, to make. This is basically the shoe department, where you can spend all afternoon.
Fun: Food, podcasts, music, movies, TV binges are all chronicled here. 449 opportunities for diversion.
Travel: Sometimes we come here simply to get away for a minute. These 59 posts show us the world, from contributors who share with us their journeys to beautiful places. All seen with the knitter’s eye.
Contributors: The easiest way to deep dive with your favorite contributor. Click on a contributor’s photo and you’ll see all their writing for MDK.
The Lounge: This is the equivalent of a department store tea shop. Rest your feet and hang out with knitters. Solve your knitting problems, share the glory, be a part of one of our frequent knitalongs. If we can’t be together literally, we can hang out virtually, 24/7.
Letters: A vestige of our original blog, the Letters are where we write to each other—and to you. This archive goes back to 2003, in an unwieldy form, which is honestly probably for the best.
We cordially invite you to hang out at our department store. We’re so glad you’re here.
Love,
Ann
Thank you for providing this store that is always open, that surprises, delights and informs, and provides comfort, inspiration, recipes and yarn. You touch our lives in so many ways. ❤
Thank you for information, inspiration, fun, music and rabbit holes a plenty. You are appreciated!❤️
I, too, really appreciate your writing, store and general wonderful thoughts! Thank you for being here!
I love that Ballband Dishcloth 103 is listed among your Contributors! I appreciate your sense of humor along with all your wonderful departments. Yours is one of the emails I look forward to daily!! Thank you
There is one more “department” not mentioned that lifts MDK to levels above those other stores, including the great Lord and Taylor. It’s not a physical place. It is in the friendship, the caring, the kindness, the sense of humor and sense of fun, the sincere love of knitting between two friends who share all of this and the above departments with all members of the knitting community. Working from the heart, touching all of our hearts. I don’t think Lord & Taylor could hold a candle to all of this. Thank you Ann and Kay.
Yes! This!
Well said!
You (both) continue to consistently give us free and Wonderful places to go when we come to MDK. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
How are you watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? I’ve tried Brit Box, Acorn TV and Netflix. Couldn’t find it:(
Thank you for all that you do… your emails are th highlight of my day:)
I also love what this site offers. Thanks ladies. I watched all of Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Hi Louise!
Thanks so much for your kind words–makes my day to know you’re reading MDK.
I’m watching Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime!!!! I thought it was Netflix but I am delirious with coronabingeing!
Thank you for the department summary of MDK. I’ve been knitting for a couple of years with limited skills, and eager to grow. Knowing that your ‘department store’ has much to offer, you are my new favorite! Also, as a small business entrepreneur, I know full well the value of doing business with other small businesses. It is my passion. So thank you for pointing that out as well. I look forward to getting to know you.
I couldn’t say anything better than the lovely responses already here. Your website is spectacular and me go to like a library. When our days are no longer crazy (maybe never) I come here to look at you beautiful yarn.Knitting is a little difficult right now and I don’t understand that. Maybe because there are so many phone
calls and news shows to watch and magazines to read!
Thanks for the peace and color.
Alas, I can only window shop, as I live Down Under….