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Fiberworks’s new location retains home-style charm

Maddie Frye, 8, learns about felting tools from Fiberworks instructor Esther Bechler. The dolls on the table are examples of the craft. Maddie was attending the class with her mother, Katrina, of Beavercreek.

Contributed photo Maddie Frye, 8, learns about felting tools from Fiberworks instructor Esther Bechler. The dolls on the table are examples of the craft. Maddie was attending the class with her mother, Katrina, of Beavercreek.

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By Sue Moning, Contributing Writer Updated 2:58 PM Wednesday, July 8, 2009

BEAVERCREEK — Expect to be needled a bit when you visit Fiberworks

After a few minutes in the larger location, with a helping of owner Arlene Graham’s cherry crunch topped with vanilla ice cream, the place feels as cozy as a handmade sweater.

Graham said she has been in the location for a month, tucked behind the Sunoco station at North Fairfield and Dayton-Xenia roads. She started with a home-based business in Beavercreek in 1982, but soon grew out of her limited space.

She opened a store on Dayton-Xenia Road, but this year she decided to move. Customers have few problems finding Fiberworks and a handful of customers actually helped Graham make the move.

“The impetus to look for a new location was the new construction on Dayton-Xenia Road,” Graham said. “It was taking away what small amount of parking I had. But I really wanted to stay in Beavercreek.

“My wonderful customers showed up on a Tuesday afternoon in April,” with trucks and vans to help Graham’s husband and son move the shop, she said.

The shop offers a variety of classes and materials for people interested in knitting, needle felting and spinning, the original craft that led to Graham opening her first store in the mid-1970s in New Mexico. There, she sold spinning wheels and supplies, and homespun wool and fibers.

She still carries those items, in addition to other wools, yarns, knitting supplies, books and patterns.

Fiberworks hosts a number of classes, workshops and regular fiber arts clubs and members banter among themselves. Laughter is in steady supply, even as Graham rings up a customer.

“Ah, $19.12, the year I was born,” she tells a customer.

A pen on the counter reads, “Knit Happens.”

Fall class schedules are in the works, but Graham said regular events will continue. “The Knit Doctor is In” Monday evenings to assist customers with knitting problems, pattern conversions and tips on breathing new life into an abandoned project, she said. Tuesdays and Sundays will still feature “Knit and Knibble” groups, including men and children. Thursday evening offer classes in needle felting and Graham is still working on plans for a summer class for children.

Fiberworks is located at 1350A N. Fairfield Road. For more information, call (937) 429-YARN (9276), or visit  Arlene Graham's Fiberworks .

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Arlene taught me to spin about 18 years ago, and I bought my first (and second) wheel from her... and developed a "fiber addiction"! We became good friends as well... watching our sons grow from boys to men. The new store is a delight, with lots of new goodies! if you like to spin, crochet or knit - make sure you visit!

Cheryl
2:52 PM, 7/8/2009

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