February is the month of love, but we tend to focus on a person, our kids, friends, or pets (which, of course, is natural). But what about our communities?
We’re all part of certain communities that bring us joy, peace, laughter, and growth, yet they don’t often get much attention — or love — in February. Because of that, I wanted to share a love letter of sorts to the fiber community. In 2026, Indie Untangled will be celebrating its 12th year in business, and there is absolutely no way I would be here without this incredible fiber community we’ve built together.
Finding My Way to Fiber
Many knitters have stories of their mothers or grandmothers teaching them the craft when they were very young. Rather unusually, my knitting obsession didn’t begin until I was in my mid-20s.
I started knitting in 2007 after a friend, who was a young adult librarian, organized a class at the library where she worked so the kids there could learn, and so she could, too. She began making fun hats and accessories, and I asked if she would teach me.
At the time, I needed something to do during my long commute from New York City to Connecticut, where I was working as a newspaper reporter. I was also already drawn to handmade things. I loved buying and wearing handmade jewelry and discovering makers at craft markets, so the idea of creating my own clothing felt like a natural extension of that interest.
Before that, I spent a lot of time walking into yarn shops and admiring the rainbow of colors from a distance, fantasizing about wearing sweaters and scarves made by my own two hands, and longing to meet new friends at the Stitch ’n’ Bitch groups popping up all over New York City. I wanted both the craft and the community, even before I felt confident enough to fully participate.
Then I found Ravelry. And hand-dyed yarn. And through those, I found my community.
There were in-person knitting groups in both New York City, where I lived, and Connecticut, where I worked. Through those groups, and through Ravelry, and later Instagram, I started forming real connections. The friends I made shared my passion for finding incredible yarns, especially the beautiful colors created by indie dyers — people like me, with a love of art and pop culture, not just faceless yarn manufacturers. I became fascinated not only by the yarn itself, but by the people behind it. We bonded over those discoveries, and eventually over traveling together to fiber festivals, which deepened those friendships even more.
Over time, those connections grew into several different groups of fiber friends, each a little different, but all rooted in the same shared passion for fiber, color, creativity, and community.
That’s when I realized this was more than a hobby.
Making Fiber Friends & Finding Community
At my Connecticut knitting group, I got the encouragement to knit my first sweater using a striking pink Madelinetosh yarn. I still remember trying on the start of a different pattern and feeling immediately overwhelmed by the shoulders. Instead of simply pointing out that it wasn’t working, my friends patiently walked me through why it wasn’t right and what might be better. I learned how to choose the right pattern and adjust the shaping so it fit my body.
That kind of generosity — sharing knowledge without judgment — became a defining part of my experience in the fiber community.
Eventually, when I had the idea for Indie Untangled, I talked it through with dyers and makers who were finding it challenging to sell online, and with shoppers who wanted an easier way to discover the yarns they loved. It felt like a natural extension of the conversations we were already having as a community.
Later, after organizing a few popular Rhinebeck events and deciding to expand, I connected with a fellow yarn lover through Instagram who also happened to be an event planner. Together, we built the show that has since become a Friday tradition.
You know that feeling when you walk into a party or a room where you don’t know anyone, and how intimidating that can be? The fiber community has always made me feel more comfortable. I know I can walk into a room full of knitters and yarn lovers and find an instant point of connection. It isn’t always effortless, but that shared passion comes through and makes me feel at home.
Creativity Through Shared Passion
I’ve always said that the fiber community is a microcosm of the world at large, and it’s shown me what true support looks like: celebrating each other’s wins and life milestones, showing up during hard moments (knitting blankets for new babies and shawls after a loss), and creating spaces, both online and in person, where people feel seen and valued.
All spaces have work to do to be more inclusive, and the fiber community has been having hard conversations about this for years. They’re not always easy, but they’re grounded in a shared passion for this craft and a collective desire for people to feel like they belong.
So much of the community I’ve built began online, and I’ve found that the online and in-person worlds continually fuel each other. Getting to know people through forums, group chats, and social media makes meeting in real life feel more natural — and even more special.
What the Fiber Community Has Taught Me
This community has taught me that the joy of making is just as much in the process as in the finished object. And not just in the stitching, but in the adventure of buying yarn — at a frenzied festival, or from a shepherd on the remote Aran Islands — choosing the right patterns, and even taking pride in the stash we’ve built (even if we won’t use all of it in our lifetimes!).
It’s taught me patience (though I know my fellow crafters share in their favorite expletives when things go wrong!). In 2013, when I had knit most of a sweater only to realize it was far too big, my friends encouraged me to unravel it and start again. Letting go of all that work wasn’t easy, but it taught me to trust the process, not cling to sunk costs, and remember why I was making it in the first place.
With Gratitude, Stitch by Stitch
My heart is full of love and gratitude for the fiber community, and I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for helping me build Indie Untangled and for showing up in some of the most meaningful and generous ways, whether through emails, events, quiet encouragement, or shared afternoons.
The fiber community has a very special place in my heart, and I’m so honored to be surrounded by all of you incredible indie dyers, stitchers, and artists.
