Annette Corsino is the founder of the Knitting Tree, a yarn shop and community dedicated to fiber-based crafting. And many of these crafts, like knitting and crocheting, are not just your grandmother’s hobbies anymore. Prompted by the pandemic, online videos, and niche influencers, the community of yarn crafters has exploded in recent years. “People were home, they’re bored, they had YouTube, and they wanted to create,” Corsino explained of the new, often younger and more diverse community that knitting and crocheting now attract.
The Knitting Tree hosts classes for beginners who want to learn how to knit, crochet, and weave and also offers dedicated hours for creators of all abilities to craft independently and as a group. And the shop sells all the fibers and materials necessary to do so. “I consider my store like an empty journal. It’s just filled with potential. It’s like all these materials can be turned into amazing pieces of art, pieces of clothing, gifts,” Corsino said of the Knitting Tree, which will host its annual Rhinebeck West fiber festival this month. “I’m always trying to bring in people who do things maybe just a little bit differently.” The Knitting Tree has also sponsored yarn-dyeing fellowships for local crafters, expanding its network of creators. And now the store is busier than ever. “It’s just so fun,” Corsino said. “It’s great. I feel like I host at least one party a week.”
Check out these links to some of the topics Corsino and Beth Spotswood brought up this week.
- Check out Alta Journal’s newest issue, Made in California, which features a crafts special section.
- Learn more about the Knitting Tree, including its classes.
- Attend the Knitting Tree’s third annual mini–fiber festival, Rhinebeck West, on October 15–16.•
