Mother of purl
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 27, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 Photos by JANA SUMMERS Edith Eig (left)
the owner of La Knitterie Parisienne, speaks to her knitting circle
while Summer Smith learns the ropes.
By Terry Tang
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In typical Los Angeles fashion, Edith Eig knows that on this
particular Wednesday evening, fewer people will be packing
themselves into her shop. With the Grammy Awards set to air in a
few hours, most of her regulars will be watching or attending
pre-Grammy shindigs. But that’s what happens when most of
your clientele work in the entertainment industry.
“The day of the Oscars, I might as well close the store at
one in the afternoon,” Eig said while unwinding a new ball of
yarn. “Nobody’s going to be here. They’re all
going to be watching.”
Nestled amid the bustling streets of Studio City, in an obscure
nook of other stores, is Eig’s La Knitterie Parisienne. Walk
in and turn right, past floor-to-ceiling shelves of fabrics, and
one will find a round table strewn with different kinds of yarn and
needles. Eig is usually sitting here, patiently instructing people
in the art of knitting and purling.
Its cluttered but homey atmosphere is the antithesis of the fast
pace and glamour of Tinseltown. Yet, La Knitterie Parisienne has
captured the attention and hands of various actors and talent
agents. Among the celebs who have dropped in on more than one
occasion are Julianne Moore, Brooke Shields and Jane Krakowski.
Justine Bateman (clothes horse Mallory on “Family
Ties”), who is carving her own career as a designer, comes by
almost every day.
A fast-growing trend, knitting looks to overtake yoga as an en
vogue, Hollywood must. One reason actors have taken to the needle
is to pass the time during lengthy movie and TV shoots. Knitting
can be done while watching TV or reading. Another factor is stress.
Eig’s customers vouch for knitting’s soothing
power.
“Once you really get into it, it’s like
meditation,” said Anel Gorham, who graduated from UCLA in
’97. “It helps me get my mind off silly
stresses.”
An actor who has appeared on shows like the WB’s
“Popular,” Gorham was introduced to La Knitterie
Parisienne a month ago by friend and former co-star, Tamara Mello.
Currently expecting with husband Christopher, a Bruin alum and a
regular on “Popular,” Gorham is already half-way done
with her second project: a cream-colored baby blanket.
Knitting, however, isn’t only popular with the females.
Eig estimates that 20 percent of her patrons are men. Although
people tend to associate the craft with elderly women, Eig believes
men should not feel sheepish about knitting.
 Summer Smith begins a scarf for her
first knitting project under the eye of Edith Eig
at La Knitterie Parisienne.
“Everybody has tension they want to release,” Eig
said. “Some (men) are a little embarrassed. But once they get
past that, they go in full-time.”
Besides releasing stress, knitting provides a sense of
accomplishment and creativity. People can knit a myriad of stylish
wares for themselves or thoughtful gifts for others. As Eig said,
knitting gives an ego-boost.
Others may want to consider the economic benefits. For example,
a wispy scarf made out of Eyelash and Charm yarn, sported by stars
like Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow, can cost as much as $295
at a boutique. To knit one from scratch costs about $22.
Eig often helps people design knitted articles of clothing based
on something they see in a catalogue. She also gets calls from
international designers asking for advice.
Dubbed the knitting guru to the stars, Eig picked up the art of
stitching when she was 5. Born in Paris, she went to a school where
knitting was a mandatory part of the curriculum. Like most
children, Eig found no enjoyment in being forced to learn. But when
she began raising a family with husband Merrill in New Jersey, Eig
needed an outlet for relaxation.
Her passion for knitting inspired Eig to open her own shop. The
Canvas Pad, which mainly focused on needlepoint, brought in
business for more than 20 years. Eig closed the store upon moving
to California in 1996 to be near their three kids. But she was
confident that knitting would take off with the L.A. crowd.
“We figured we’d give it a try. We were lucky enough
that it went like a ball of fire,” Eig said.
“Everybody’s knitting and there’s a much bigger
public that’s knitting now.”
Besides actors, La Knitterie Parisienne attracts college
students, young working professionals and retirees. The shop is
very much a family operation. Although Merrill teaches knitting
too, he primarily aids in business matters such as keeping
inventory.
Besides having every textile available at their fingertips,
people at La Knitterie Parisienne can get free lessons. Eig prides
herself in being able to teach anyone who walks in. She dotes on
customers with the personal attention of a ballet instructor,
trying to get each person into a comfortable rhythm. This
one-on-one contact is why Eig says she will never turn the shop
into a chain.
“People come to see me,” Eig said. “No matter
what, I have people who knit and say “˜I’ll wait.’
So, I can’t cut myself into pieces.”
With such high-profile customers, Eig sometimes gets to see her
work on-screen or in print. Often, she’ll flip through a
magazine and see an actor clad in a piece of clothing she either
knitted herself or taught them to make. A purse she knitted was
even snapped up as an accessory for Lucy Liu in
“Charlie’s Angels.”
Unlike the hand-dyed yarns being bought, Eig’s shop offers
an ambience that just can’t be manufactured. Similar to a
quilting bee, the customers gathered around the table chat about
everything ““ politics, current events and anecdotes. Although
some show biz networking does occur, a family atmosphere generally
reigns.
“I’ve run into friends here. I didn’t realize
they knit as well,” said artist Debbie Winard.
According to Eig, people will even knit on the floor if all the
chairs are taken. Many regular customers knit at La Knitterie
Parisienne simply for the company
“We have a motto,” Eig said, “‘Come as
strangers, leave as friends.’ This is exactly what
happens.”
LEISURE: La Knitterie Parisienne is located at
12642 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. For more information call (818)
766-1515.
