Hip Knitter

Chloe Kestermont, a mohawk and tattoo wearing knitter represents the antithesis of the grandmother stereotype. Kestermont is a co-owner of the yarn store Purlescence in Sunnyvale. She's part of a group of yarn and fabric retailers who have become part of a trendy movement that involves and new, hip yarn stores knitters being online -- there's wireless Internet in shops -- and using fashionable eco-materials such as soy and bamboo. She plans to use soap bubbles at the Purlescence booth for the Stitches West trade show this week in Santa Clara. (LiPo Ching/Mercury News)