Celebrating 15 Years, fibre space Earns Growing National Attention for Needles, Yarn, and Community Involvement
Alexandria, VA – At first glance, the façade of fibre space appears to be a curious architectural structure with a colorful story to share—a striking historic flatiron design and a bright blue brick exterior with an iconic mural of a knitter floating in space that covers the entire length of one side of the building. But that would be judging the award-winning business by its cover, as inviting as it is.
It would also overlook the charm of the red-brick plaza filled with whimsical, life-sized white and black sheep and comfortable lime-green Adirondack chairs.
On closer inspection, the thriving indoor hive of a knitting store—typically filled with shoppers, knitters, and the shop’s yarnistas (expert tech support)—offers a comfortable and warm atmosphere. Even if a person has never held a pair of knitting needles, fibre space is an exciting place to visit, as noted in local, national, and international media testimony for the store’s personnel, stock, knitting classes, and community outreach. During the pandemic in 2019 and 2020, fibre space was featured prominently in a New York Times article praising owner Danielle Romanetti’s resourcefulness and knitting ministry as “people were turning to needles and yarns” as renowned stress relief.
Inside the two-story, light-filled space, walls of yarns offer a breathtaking palette of intense and softer colors and textures. The store’s exposed antique-brick walls resemble a mural with artistic stretches of mortar and miles of carefully displayed yarn skeins, yielding a tactile kaleidoscope of wool, cotton, and other fibres.
Romanetti started her first yarn business, Knit-a-GoGo, Inc., in 2006. In 2009, she opened fibre space at its first location at 102 N. Fayette St. She taught knitting classes in various locations around the region, including at Alexandria’s St. Elmo’s and Buzz Bakery, before finding a permanent home in Old Town’s historic flatiron building at 1310 Prince Street.
Romanetti also started Old Town’s Black Friday event (renamed Plaid Friday), which now has “over 50 businesses that participate each year on the day after Thanksgiving.” Not surprisingly, fibre space received the 2010 Chamber ALX Business of the Year Award.
The fibre space business model was featured on MSNBC for its business philosophy. The shop does not generally sell its yarn online, preferring to interact through knitting classes and serve customers personally by phone, email, or in person rather than through a website. Classes and workshops have never had a problem filling up. (Spring class registration begins in early February.)
Romanetti’s business policy, structured knitting classes, and achievements with fibre space have been acknowledged in Alexandria and farther afield. She was honored by The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and the Virginia Theological Seminary in 2018 as a business owner willing to pay a living wage to her small group of full-time employees. She gained national attention in 2021 as a successful recipient of the Small Business Covid Relief Act to support the ongoing operations of eligible restaurants and similar establishments. Danielle Romanetti earned the 2021 Chamber ALX Small Business of the Year award.
In addition to soft and plentiful skeins, fibre space offers a variety of intriguing objects and tools, a large nook of knitting patterns and books, wooden spinners, and skein and wool winders. During the winter college break, two Temple University students, Katie Santella and Lucas Kolva, found their way to the store’s upper floor to select from more colorful whirls of yarn while checking their phones for knitting styles. Lucas said his mother’s friend had recommended that he and Katie, an avid knitter, check out the store during her visit with his family in Alexandria.
Katie, who knits and crochets, removed her jacket to reveal a colorful squared sweater she had created. Admiring fibre space’s atmosphere and yarn skeins, she texted her mom in Bucks County: “You’d love to be here!”
Area Knitters Have Many Opportunities to Knit and Purl—and Perhaps Donate
The Alexandria Library System offers many opportunities for knitters of all ages and levels—experienced, relatively inexperienced, and beginning knitters. Knitting meetings are varied in location, days, and weekends to accommodate active schedules. The groups include opportunities for those just learning to knit.
For additional information, contact the librarian listed. Donations of yarn or other materials and cash to support the creative projects of knitters and crocheters are most welcome.
Carefull Knitting
Contact: Megan Zimmerman, [email protected]
Meets: 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the month at 3 PM
Location: Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen St.
Ages: Adults and seniors
Handcraft Tuesday: Evening Edition
Contact: Jessica Shea at [email protected]
Meets: Tuesdays at 7 PM, Virtually
Ages: Adults and seniors
Handcraft Crafternoon
Contact: Jessica Shea at [email protected]
Meets: Every other Thursday at 4 PM, Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St.
Ages: Adults and seniors
Handcraft Tuesday: Weekend Edition
Contact: Jessica Shea at [email protected]
Meets: Every 3rd Saturday at 2 PM, Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St.
Ages: Adults and seniors
Nerdy Knotters
Contact: Kayla Payne at [email protected]
Meets: Every Thursday at 6 PM, James M. Duncan Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Ave.
Ages: 12+
Knit Nite: A Knitting Club for ages 8-18
Contact: Christian Reynolds at [email protected]
Meets: Every Wednesday at 6 PM, Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St.
Ages: 8-18
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