For the past two months, folks — and some bewildered dogs — walking by the Pier 7 Mall in La Conner may have met the sheepish gaze of Gertrude, the mascot of Watson Woolen Co.
The life-sized sheep display alone is a hint at what is sold inside the little shop: lots of woolly goodness.
Bonnie Sullivan, a Blaine resident who opened the business in early March, said the idea of owning a sweater shop came to her on a melancholic day, as she sat on a chair with a cup of tea in hand and a sweater keeping her warm.
For the name, she chose “Watson,” her birth name before she was adopted by her stepfather, and a word that sounded just right when paired with “woolen.”
Gertrude came into the picture before Sullivan even placed her first order. When she isn’t greeting people outside, the little sheep likes to warm up by the shop’s fireplace heater, flaunting a flower crown or modeling in a sweater.
“She doesn’t talk back, she never complains,” Sullivan laughed. “She doesn’t even charge for her hours.”
In the early months of Watson Woolen Co., Sullivan struggled to find a place that was within her budget and close enough to her home in Whatcom County, so she began selling at a few markets in Blaine. Much to her surprise, the markets were a success.
“I knew that I was doing something that other people would want,” she recalled.
A year and a half after her fateful epiphany, Sullivan came across the perfect spot while visiting La Conner.
Although it’s an hour away from where she lives, she can be seen chatting with customers about anything wool related four days a week, with two friends from Whatcom County stepping in two days a week.
Sullivan said she strives to keep most of her products 100% natural as she dislikes synthetic materials, which are made with toxic chemicals and are not biodegradable.
In recent years, she has noticed more people ditching fast-fashion for longer-lasting and ethically produced staple garments.
Wool sweaters, for example, never go out of style.
“I think there’s nothing cuter than a guy in a sweater and a pair of Levi’s,” Sullivan said.
Wool comes with numerous advantages. It’s a breathable and odor-resistant fiber that provides great insulation and some UV protection, ignites less easily than other materials, is biodegradable, and, if well-taken care of, can last a lifetime.
On top of being almost entirely natural, most of Sullivan’s collection has a Celtic flair, in part due to her interest in Celtic culture and her Irish and Scottish heritage.
Inside the 400-square-foot shop, men and women can find Aran sweaters (an intricately knitted sweater that was first created in Ireland), sweaters from Norway and Scotland, worsted wool sweaters, wool socks from Ukraine, as well as wool hats, gloves, handwarmers and scarves, and even wool shoes with rubber soles, with some of these options available for children.
For an extra Celtic touch, the Harris Tweed bags and tartan scarves are also worth checking out.
One of the shop’s newest arrivals is a sock made of Angora wool — a soft and fluffy fiber produced by the Angora rabbit.
For spring and summer, Watson Woolen Co. sells cotton T-shirts, as well as sweaters made of a blend of cotton and wool. Sullivan said she is also bringing capes made of linen and wool, which she said are ideal for chilly mornings and evenings in the warmer months.
More products, including felting supplies and wool bedding, as well as sweaters, jackets and socks made of boiled wool (which doesn’t shrink in the washer or dryer), can be found on Sullivan’s online shop, watsonwoolen.com.
Watson Woolen Co. is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
