Knitting Community Hones Their Craft At Village Yarn Company
Photographer / Ron Wise
Whether you’re into crocheting and knitting or not, you will be after visiting this adorable shop in Zionsville Village. Village Yarn Company has been around about eight years, and they’ve already grown so much that they’ve moved to a second location.
When you walk in the doors of the quaint shop, you immediately get a warm, homey, cozy and comforting feeling, just like being in your own family room. In the center of the store is where it all starts. A couch, several comfy chairs and a coffee table form the building block for this knitting community. Cubbies full of dozens of spools of yarn line the walls, and they have a large selection of notions, accessories and patterns for the knitter’s every need.
While you’re there, don’t leave without meeting the shop’s new owner, Katie Marsh. Marsh bought the store in March 2018. Though she didn’t have plans to buy a small business, the purchase happened fast.
“I’ve been a knitter for years, and I followed the shop online,” she says. “Then one day, I saw that the store was for sale. So, I daydreamed about it a little, made some inquiries and turned it into reality.”
Buying the shop was a perfect fit for Marsh, who’s not just a knitter, but she’s taught many classes. The shop offers a variety of classes like the ones Marsh taught, engaging knitters from beginner level to expert. While the popularity of the art of knitting has endured its ebb and flow, it’s solid now.
“Knitting has enjoyed a resurgence in the last 10 or 15 years. It never really lost its popularity,” Marsh says. “Our regular customers are very regular. Most are in the knitting groups and in our classes. People realize there’s more to the art than just what your grandma used to do.”
Among the things adding to the art’s appeal are the variety of vibrant colored yarns, new patterns and designs and the wide selection of yarn fibers and weights. You can choose from yarns that range from high-quality fine yarns for special projects to more affordable yarns for everyday type projects.
“People have the stereotype that knitting is just for hats and baby blankets,” Marsh says. “But now you can make some pretty trendy clothes.”
As appealing as Marsh and the rest of the knitting community make the craft sound, there are plenty of folks who are too intimidated to try it.
“Some people are always going to say it’s too difficult to learn to knit and they could never make something beautiful,” Marsh says. “But it truly is easy. Knitting begins with two simple stitch types: the knit stitch and purl stitch. Once you get started, you can make your projects as simple or challenging as you want it. There’s a pattern for every skill level of knitting.”
Marsh can relate to the reluctance to learn the skill. She learned while in college from her grandmother who passed away a short time after teaching her. Inspired to keep her grandmother’s knitting spirit alive, Marsh bought a knitting book, gradually learned the skill and found a knitting community to join.
“I want to offer the same welcoming place for our knitting community,” Marsh says. “We get a few people each week in the shop inquiring about getting started and signing up for classes. Try it. It’s fun.”
Marsh suggests exploring the knitting website ravelry.com, which offers a database of patterns and a forum for all your knitting questions.
Stop by the Village Yarn Company today for your knit and purl fix. The shop is located at 209 S. Main Street in Zionsville. Visit them online at villageyarncompany.wordpress.com and follow them on Facebook.
