Bob Kelly looks like he'd be more comfortable changing a tractor tire than helping a woman and her mother select yarn for their knitting projects. A big guy, and one of the few male owners of a yarn store, he is more than comfortable; he's on a mission. The two women are having a little trouble selecting colors, so he grabs a few skeins and puts them together on the counter. "What do you think of this?" He asks. The women like what they see and leave with their purchases.

Since 1997, when he and his wife moved to Virginia from the West Coast, Bob Kelly has pursued his love of color and texture that started in art school, but was sidetracked by a Silicon Valley career in software application engineering. Now happily surrounded by a shop stuffed with bright colors and a variety of textures, Bob enjoys helping people start their first project or find that elusive last skein of yarn needed to finish a knitted gift.

"People knit because it's relaxing, kind of like meditation. It's also a way to utilize time that would be wasted, like riding in a car, or watching TV or a movie. I was taught at age 10 by my uncle, but really got into it in college. Since I was trained as an artist, I've always been interested in color and texture, so I buy yarns based on what I think looks good." A customer chimes in, "This store's got great yarns!"

With hundreds of loyal customers, Hunt Country Yarns is strong on service. Special orders shipped across the country, no problem. Have some yarn left over and want to return it even years later, no problem. Need classes to learn new techniques, Bob teaches 'em. "I run my store how I like to be treated myself." Apparently this is a winning formula, and Bob Kelly is in the right place at the right time. "There is such a strong demand for yarn and supplies we can't keep up." For those interested in learning how to knit, or for long time fiber aficionados, you won't find a more pleasant resource than Bob Kelly at Hunt Country Yarns.