Yarn shop with wine bar opens on Kingston’s West Strand

KINGSTON, N.Y. — For nearly two decades, Jocelyn Songco has plied the art of knitting, spinning, sewing, and crocheting.

The 47-year-old Connelly woman isn't exactly a wine expert but is an "oenophile," or a lover of the stuff.

Today, Songco — a former New York City resident and impact investor — combines fabric artistry with wine sipping in her new Rondout shop, Yarn Farm Kingston.

"Our tagline is, "A creative community space for fiber artists and a wine bar welcoming to all," Songco said in email. "It's a hybrid business, a combination of a local yarn shop and a wine bar, and we plan to offer a spectacular experience for people who come in for either or both.

"A unifying thread is community," she added. "Through the yarn shop as well as the wine bar we intend to promote inspiration and inclusivity, for locals and out-of-towners, makers and curious creatives, for an in-person experience that you’ll never get online or through social media."

Songco said she got the idea a while ago.

"My inspiration came from the original yarn shop and wine bar in New York, La Casita in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn (since closed)," Songco said. "It was a warm and cozy environment and my own local yarn shop when I lived in Brooklyn."

The 730-square-foot Yarn Farm Kingston at 21 W. Strand St. is awash in a colorful array of mostly area-made yarn rolls, mini-rolls, and cones as well as accessories such as hand looms.

"My priority in selecting the yarn and other crafts materials and tools to offer, from effectively an infinite pool of options, is to choose things that are beautiful and high-quality, with an emphasis on small batch or locally made," Songco said. "Said differently, if something is readily available on Amazon, it's unlikely to be featured at YFK."

Songco added that the yarn will tend to be natural materials — wool, alpaca, silk, cotton, etc. — as opposed to synthetics like acrylic. Knitting, spinning, and crocheting classes will soon be offered.

"I’m also thrilled to be creating new makers, through beginner classes in knitting, spinning, weaving and dyeing, to start," Songco said. "Finally, we intend to offer drop-in sessions that go beyond the fiber arts, and where people can come for an hour and pick from a menu of options for people to practice a craft at their leisure. This is through a kit and support from a YFK team member on site, e.g., watercolors or creative lettering."

And then there is the wine, served up at a newly-installed bar.

"To me it makes tremendous sense, even beyond the anecdotal evidence that many crafters like their adult beverages, and the fact that each business in itself promotes community," Songco said. "That is, paired together, the two businesses promote a sustainable business even more, particularly if you then consider that it's located in Kingston in the Hudson Valley"

Songco's boyfriend, Todd Rowe, who works at a Hudson wine bar, is helping to manage it.

"We will have a variety of Old World and New World wines, and intend to spotlight a New York State wine quarterly," Songco said. "I’ve lived, studied or worked in a few strong Wine growing areas and am delighted to bring wines from these regions into my wine bar (e.g., France, South Africa, Argentina)."We’re sampling now and intend to launch with around 3 reds, 3 whites, a sparkling, and possibly an orange wine," Songco said.

And that's not all.

"The wine bar will also offer New York craft beer and a healthy selection of non-alcoholic beverages, so everyone can find a drink to satisfy their palate," she said.

While Yarn Farm Kingston is not a full-service restaurant, some food will be available.

"We’ll have cheese and charcuterie boards, and snacks, soups, sandwiches, and empanadas," Songco said.

Yarn Farm Kingston, Songco hopes, will become a beacon for community activity.

"We had a soft opening (in Mid-October) and it exceeded our expectations and was a dream come true," Songco said. "The flow of enthusiastic fiber artists from Kingston, the Hudson Valley, and visitors from around the US and the world was absolutely heartwarming and a complete confirmation that what we are doing is spot on."

Yarn Farm Kingston is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Visit yarnfarmkingston.com or call (845) 514-2693 for more information.

Photos: Yarn Farm Kingston on West Strand Street

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