Two Austin businesses are featured, although one goes unnamed, in this Economist article subtitled “What Texans do when they’re not herding steers” (February 4-10; volume 378, number 8463; U.S. edition page 29). Named is Hill Country Weavers, the fiber-hobbyists’ longtime haven on South Congress. The unnamed business is most probably Book People, which doesn’t discourage select community groups from meeting there informally in the cafe space or sometimes, more formally, upstairs.

Hill Country Weavers is described as “Austin’s main yarn shop,” but Austin’s main yarn shops are really Michaels, Garden Ridge, and the Hobby Lobby. HCW is Austin’s main source of unusual not easily found material, whereas the others carry in-depth stocks of well-known national brands, with their stodgier colors.

The named local knitter posts about this in her blog and the posting contains links to much of the subject-matter of the Economist feature, including its full text.

This is a favorite quote from the story: “[I]n Texas, there is not much demand for hats or scarves.”