NYC Crochet Guild
(Editors note: this store is now closed)
You can imagine my surprise when I eyed the notice about Close Knit in the BAKG newsletter. A new yarn store and finally, one in my own neighborhood!
Off I went, as soon as I could, to find out what it was all about.
At first glance, Close Knit appears to be a gift shop. Peering in the window, I saw wreaths, trays, candleholders and lovely needlepoint enhanced pillows and thought, “Very nice but…where’s the yarn?”
Once through the door, however, centerpieces and bridal items soon gave way to baskets of fabulous yarns, a crocheted shawl here, a knit scarf there, beautiful fabric needle cases and project bags …until I walked past the small service counter and into the shop’s pleasant and well lit “living room”.
There I learned that Close Knit is aptly named. Activity flows around the very oversized coffee table with “comfy” chairs for up to a dozen crocheters and knitters at a time.
One side of the room is given up to a wall of yarn, featuring a wide array of fibers from Berocco, Lang, Filatura di Crosa, Karabella, Blue Skies Alpaca, and many others. The opposite wall holds displays of Clover and Susan Bates needles & hooks, pattern books, and a selection of Patons and Wendy yarns, alongside gifts for baby.
In such a relaxing environment, it didn’t take me long to get acquainted with the owners, Roseann DiMaria and Janet Guerra and some of the other patrons. And it didn’t take me long to find some fabulous yarn and get started on another exciting project!
Close Knit offers classes in the afternoons and evenings. Our member, Arlene Mintzer will be teaching there in September and October.