Multicraftual
When I was in middle school, students took what were called “explorations” each quarter of the school year. In sixth grade, I took a unit on weaving. We made belts on small portable looms, and though my memories of the actual process are vague, I do remember the intricate two-color patterned belts and that I utterly loved the class—so much so that I took it again in seventh grade. It’s the only quarterlong session I remember taking except for typing (which has definitely come in handy). Since then, weaving has always been something I aspire to do—someday. I have friends with looms—big floor ones that take up precious real estate in their modest New York City apartments. They show off their finished scarves and blankets and I (along with dozens more of my friends who decry their lack of space) see the with jealousy. Someday, I think to myself. Someday. That day may be coming sooner than we all think. There’s been a rise in the popularity of weaving and spinning, stitching’s sister crafts, lately, and the industry is taking note. Looms have gotten smaller and more portable—actually accessible for those of us who have the weaving bug and closet-size apartments. My friends who are spinners aren’t shy about bringing a travel wheel along to a knit night, and I find myself coveting the beautifully dyed braids of roving I’m seeing more and more. So we felt it was high time we devoted an issue to the “other” ways that yarn enthusiasts use yarn (or make it, in the case of spinning). You’ll find in this issue lots of mentions of TNNA’s recent inclusion of the Spinning and Weaving Association. This month you’ll see these folks in Phoenix along with all the old regulars, and I suspect you’ll be seeing and hearing even more about spinning and weaving in the year to come as consumer demand increases. So with that in mind, we’re taking a look at yarns you already have on your shelves that are appropriate for weavers (page 22). In her article “Bob(bin) & Weave” (page 54), Leslie Petrovski looks at the rise of both spinning and weaving and shares some tips on adding them to your shop. And on page 36, Carrie Melago explores another rising “other-crafts” trend: carrying fabric in your shop. But we’re not expecting everyone to immediately add new product to their shelves, so we have plenty of articles on other subjects, like the last entry in our three-part series from Daryl Brower on store staging (page 56). This time we’re zooming in on the details: displays and more. In-store merchandising isn’t the only way to get the attention of your customers, and Cheryl Krementz writes about ways that advertising has changed as the world becomes more digital (page 60). Additionally, the Smart Advertising column about QR codes on page 40 goes in-depth on their benefits. Meanwhile, I finally did get myself a small starter loom and have been enjoying the addictive pursuit. Spinning just might be next for me.…
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Editor's Letter
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THIS MONTH'S COVER