New London — Paulette Meijer of Niantic was browsing the selections at Dagmar's Yarn Shop last month looking for material for a knitting project when she stopped to contemplate why she wasn't in a big-box store.

"It's nice having a local shop," she said. "It's like going to 'Cheers.'"

Meijer recalls one time calling up the Montauk Avenue shop on a Sunday when it was closed, but owner Dagmar Rouisse happened to be there and agreed to wait for her to come in and make a purchase. It's that kind of service you can't get at discount stores, she added.

Unfortunately, though, Meijer will have to take her business elsewhere at the end of the month because Dagmar's is closing after two decades. It simply became too hard to fight the Michaels and AC Moores of the world, Dagmar said.

"It's been hard for the last few years," she said. "You can't compete after a while."

The hardest part, she said, is leaving her longstanding customers behind. In addition to selling material, Dagmar was known to help people with their projects and teach them various knitting techniques.

"I'm always here," she said. "Now it's time to say thank you to the customers who have supported me throughout the years."

Dagmar is currently holding a going out of business sale. She has wool, acrylic and other hand-dyed yarns in row after row in her small shop. The business also sells hats, shawls, hand warmers and other knitted accessories to an admittedly mostly older clientele.

"If I could, I would be here forever," Dagmar said. "I love it.... Hands-on is a much, much nicer thing."

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow