Madison has long been a mecca for knitters, and the pull of the wool just got stronger with the launch of a new knitting store on Madison’s west side.
Thanks to a Kickstarter campaign this spring in which 468 donors provided start-up funds of $32,449, Madison yarn-dyer Jaala Spiro was able to move her dyeing business, Knitcircus, out of her house and into a studio that also features space for retail, classes and community events.
“We are just so amazed and grateful for this much support,” says Spiro.
Jaala Spiro hand-dyes colorful yarns that have inspired a cult following.
Yarns ranging from circus bright to delicate pastels are grouped on shelves and tables at the new store, 634 Grand Canyon Dr. All the yarn is hand-dyed and -painted by Spiro. Shawls, socks and hats crafted from Knitcircus yarn are scattered throughout the shop, providing inspiration for knitters.
Knitters, and those who buy gifts for them, will also find Yarn Pop cloth project bags in contemporary patterns, ceramic yarn bowls and buttons by Madison potter Jenny Blasen, and knitting-themed cards by Carole Kane, also a Madison artist.
“They’re all small businesses,” Spiro says, “and we’re looking for more local vendors to feature.”
In the crowded field of indie yarn dyeing, Spiro has developed distinctive gradient yarns in which one color flows smoothly to another. Spiro’s color combinations are unusual, and her gradient stripe yarns can be positioned to form different patterns. She uses merino and cashmere bases for buttery-soft fibers.
Spiro achieves her original look with the help of a machine for prepping and processing yarn that was built by her father, Madison artist Steven Spiro, who makes wood furniture.
Although the store is only open from 1 to 3 p.m. weekdays now, the hours will expand this fall to include some weekday evenings and Saturdays. Spiro will be adding knitting needles and notions, too. Pop-up shops featuring other small business are also planned.
The store is a shared venture with Amy Detjen of Mount Horeb, a nationally known knitting teacher. For 20 years Detjen has been Meg Swansen’s assistant at Swansen’s renowned Knitting Camp in Marshfield.
Knitters all over the country tune in to the biweekly Knitcircus podcast hosted by Spiro and Detjen, who chat about all things yarn-related. And Spiro is widely known for Knitcircus magazine, which launched as a print magazine in 2005 and later switched to an online format. She closed the publication in 2012 because online knitting patterns saturated the market, and turned to yarn dyeing. It has turned out to be a good move for her, both artistically and business-wise.
“Creating gorgeous yarn that changes color on its own underpins everything we do,” she says, “and we’re thrilled that now we can be a community resource for fiber arts enthusiasts.”
Knitcircus Studio and Store 634 Grand Canyon Drive, 608-841-1421, 1-3 pm Mon.-Fri.
