On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about running a brick-and-mortar yarn shop with my guest, Ali Dillingham, owner of A Yarn Market.
A Yarn Market is a welcoming space based on the mission to make knitting and crochet accessible to all. With over 20 years of knitting experience, Ali is passionate about sharing the joy and therapeutic benefits of mindful making. She often refers to knitting as her form of ‘yarn therapy.’
As a former speech-language pathologist with experience in educational settings, Ali has a deep understanding of how people learn. This background benefits her inclusive teaching style, making her a patient and effective instructor. Ali is known for her ability to empower students of all skill levels.
At A Yarn Market, along with providing access to local yarn, Ali has created a space where creativity and community flourish.
This episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.
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Ali is a former speech-language pathologist who opened a yarn shop in Carmel, Indiana, after realizing her passion for teaching knitting and crochet.
A Yarn Market (the name is meant to evoke a farmer’s market) is in a quaint neighborhood with easy parking and a vibrant community atmosphere.
Ali values collaboration and creativity, drawing parallels between her previous career in education and her current business. She highlighted the shop’s focus on empowerment and self-expression through crafting, and discussed the challenges and rewards of transitioning from a stable career to entrepreneurship.
Ali shares insights on the current difficulties faced by small businesses, including tariffs and the need for creative solutions. She also emphasizes the significance of leases for yarn shops, noting the high costs in her area and the challenges of managing inventory and other hidden expenses.
Ali explains the layout of her small yarn shop, emphasizing the importance of creativity and cost-effective solutions, such as using IKEA furniture. She highlights the need for flexibility in a small space and the importance of offering a diverse selection of yarns, including local hand-dyed options, to cater to both knitters and crocheters. Ali emphasizes the value of in-person gatherings and community events to strengthen connections between yarn shops, designers, and customers.
Ali discusses the challenges of balancing store hours with community engagement and networking, noting the challenges of attending local meetings and events when you’re the only employee of your business. She highlights the importance of offering classes for all ages, including children, as a creative outlet and coping strategy. Dillingham also shared her experience of teaching classes with multiple generations of family members attending together.
Ali discusses the popularity of Malabrigo Rasta yarn, which has been used in a viral cardigan project. Ali shares the special challenges faced by new yarn shop owners, particularly regarding pricing and inventory requirements from yarn suppliers, and suggests the need for more affordable options for smaller shops.
In this conversation, we reference:
- Cozy for a Cause
- Small Business Saturday
- Saskie Knits bunny sweater pattern
- Sally Moore from Parker Avenue Knits (listen to our podcast interview with Sally here)
- the Craft Industry Alliance ebook about how to open a brick-and-mortar shop
And, of course, I ask Ali to recommend great stuff she’s loving right now. Ali recommends:
Keep up with Ali on A Yarn Market’s website and Instagram account.