A yarn shop is not normally the first stop when looking for a meal, but the signs for lobster rolls outside of Yarn Farm Kingston (YFK) pull in hungry and curious customers. This was the vision that Jocelyn Songco, owner and founder of YFK, had when she moved out of New York City in 2022: to combine her two passions into one unlikely destination. After 14 years working for Soros Economic Development Fund, she had decided to take a voluntary separation package to start her own business in Kingston.
“My career was investing in entrepreneurs. I could see people who had their own businesses who were so fired up and so passionate,’ says Songco. “I thought ‘wow, I want to be on that side of things.’”
YFK is a fully integrated yarn store and wine bar. The retail shop is densely packed with crafting materials spread atop large wooden tables. Brightly colored yarn hangs from the walls. Behind the wooden tables sits the long bar, equipped with stocked beverage fridges, an Instapot, and crockpot.
Songco’s love of fiber arts was sparked during her time in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1996 to 1998, when a friend taught her how to knit. After returning to the US and visiting a number of sheep and wool festivals, her interest in the art form continued to grow. In the meantime, Songco graduated from Columbia in 2003 with an MBA in finance and economics, as well as a Masters in economic and political development from the School of International Affairs. When moving to the Hudson Valley, with its large community of fiber artists, it seemed natural to Songco to combine this passion with the business skills she had gained from her studies and career.
With her expertise in business and fiber arts, Songco needed a partner with experience in the food industry to open the wine bar. “I came down kicking and screaming,” says Todd Rowe, Songco’s boyfriend. “I didn’t want to mess up our relationship.” But any starting concerns that the couple may have had about working together have disappeared since YFK opened in early November 2022. “We stay in our lanes,” explains Rowe, who manages the menu and cooking while Songco operates the retail shop.
Rowe began cheffing five years ago after leaving a 15-year advertising and marketing career in New York City and moving to Hudson. His passion for the work has only expanded as he has spent more time in the kitchen. “I just like feeding the people,” he explains. “I like hospitality.”
Classes, Events, and Community
On the day of their grand opening, November 2, Yarn Farm Kingston hosted its first knit night, a weekly Wednesday evening community gathering where individuals can socialize and work on personal creative projects. That first night they had 10 visitors, but numbers quickly grew as weeks went by and the word got out. “Our community was created instantly,” says Songco. “It’s one of the main reasons why we do this.”
The diversity in age and experience in YFK’s community is encouraged by the wide variety of activities and classes offered. Alongside the weekly knit night gatherings, YFK hosts events such as trivia night twice a month, paint and sip nights, and monthly open mics.
Beginner crochet and knitting classes are taught each Saturday by shop assistant Natalie Probst. Visiting teachers from the area frequently lead workshops on different fiber arts, such as needle embroidery, weaving, and felting. Many of these skills are being taught in this summer’s adult craft camp, which launched during the last week in June, and will continue through July and August. In addition to classes, learning kits with materials and instructions on specific projects are sold in the shop to encourage beginners to learn new skills.
Fiber Arts and Culinary Arts
The wide selection of crafting tools and yarns sold at Yarn Farm Kingston are all carefully curated by Songco for their quality. “It’s such a small space,” explains Songco. “Everything has to be amazing.” Many of the products come from local companies, such as Battenkill Fibers which produces all natural wool from upstate New York farms, Buckwheat Bridge Farm in Elizaville, and Crafter Gamer Geek Yarns, owned by Highland resident and knit night co-host David Freer. Any products imported from outside the region or country are chosen by Songco for quality, sustainability, and organic production. Materials are sold for a wide range of fiber arts activities, including crochet, knitting, embroidery, felting, and weaving.
Within the products sold at the shop, as well as the food and drink offered at the bar, Songco and Rowe have made sure there is something available for everyone. “It was really important to me that we be super inclusive,” says Songco. “So our bar has great non-alcoholic drink options. We also try to have a vegan dish once a week.”
The bar offers a variety of quality wines from France, Italy, and California ($8 to $14 per glass), as well as locally sourced beers and ciders ($7 to $9). The food menu changes frequently, with some recent features including street tacos; sausages and peppers; and vegan soups, stews, and chillies. A consistent menu favorite is the charcuterie board ($15), which includes a choice of three cheeses and meats from a menu including brie, truffle pecorino, calabrese salami, prosciutto, and more.
Throughout the summer, the bar will be serving lobster rolls ($25), and as a part of Kingston’s Rondout Waterfront Night Market every fourth Saturday of the month, they will be serving oysters on the half shell. “We use great ingredients,” says Rowe. “That’s the key.” The food is sourced using the Connecticut-based company Chef’s Warehouse.
Evident in the way they describe their business is the care that Songco and Rowe feel for their constantly growing community. “I want people to feel like they’re in my house,” says Rowe. “No one is going to sit here and feel like they aren’t wanted.”
