614 Knit Studio

 Having a day off riding bikes worked out well for the timing of my visit to Columbus, Ohio.  I visited the shop 614 Knit Studio on Indianola Avenue.  NOT Indiana Avenue!  

My first impression as I walked in the door:  a neatly organized riot of color and texture. 

The creator and owner of this space is  Andrea Panzica. 

 Andrea began her career teaching in one of the other knitting stores that previously was in the Columbus area.  When it closed,  she opened a teaching space a few doors down from her current location. Just after she opened, her business partner, Jennifer, moved to Chicago. This was due to her husband's career transfer, but fortunately was able to continue to provide support by telecommuting even prior to the pandemic!  It was a relatively small space, and a survey of her customers revealed that they wanted to buy yarn from her. So she needed more space, and was able to arrange with her landlord to move into her current space just as the pandemic closings began in 2020.  

It was clear from talking to Andrea that she has a passion for developing a local fiber community, both among her clients and also among her local suppliers.  Her store  is filled with locally produced yarns, both natural and dyed by independent dyers,  and she personally knows the farm source of many of her yarns.  She related that her customers really wanted to see her succeed in her new location and supported her throughout the pandemic.  While I was there, this was evidenced by the knitters in the back picking up the phone and responding to inquiries.  She encourages and supports local and artisan suppliers for truly one-of-a-kind fibers.  

Since I'm in Columbus, an analogy comes to mind.  If you are in the mood for a beer, you can buy something from Anheuser Busch, and it will be good.  Or you can go to a craft brewery, and it will be awesome!  The difference  between a mass-produced product and an artisinal one is the difference I see in Andrea's shop. 

Andrea pointed out the "Pride of Ohio" natural colored yarn which is from Wooster, Ohio, from the farm of Don and Linda Reichart.  They have a small flock of 35-40 sheep, and they were instrumental in creating the Great Lakes Fiber Show. 

Vest knitted from the Pride of Ohio Yarn.

Dyed Roving from Molly Girl 

There are many yarns in the shop that are unique, custom-made for 614 Knit Studio.  Andrea has spec'ed her own private label "Studio Dog Fibers", which is spun by Battenkill Fiber Mill, in New York. 

Locally produced soaps.  I was standing next to this display and the aroma was enveloping me in a warm and fuzzy, happy place.  

Burst of colorful yarns! 

You have to check this sock yarn out.   

I quickly became overwhelmed by the diversity of the various yarn weights, and the rainbow of colors.

Andrea does also stock some higher-end commercial yarns, such as those by Berroco. 

A worsted-weight yarn from Jill Draper.

A yarn that uses recycled bits from other yarns from Echoview Fiber mill. 

Feederbrook Farm outside Baltimore, Maryland specializes in Border Leicester and crosses.  Their yarn is custom-spun in a rainbow of delicious colors. 

Andrea is an Ashford dealer, so if  you are in need of a spinning wheel  or  weaving loom, she can hook you up. She'll be in Rhinebeck in October.  

Andrea does not sell yarn on her web site.  You have to come visit the store.  She does not have space to keep separate stock for an internet store.  Likewise, she publicizes her classes online, but you have to contact her to register for them.  She takes the time to get to know you as a knitter or crocheter to make sure that you are in a class at the right level.  She called herself a "gatekeeper", but I think of her as a curator of a marvelous collection of yarn, people, and tools.   I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.