The Point - Basic with a Modern Twist
By: DIY City
tags: crochet, diy, knit, knitting, manhattan, nyc, village, yarn
Category: Fav Stores, Map it Out
The Point - Basic with a Modern Twist
Stepping into The Point Knitting Cafe, you almost feel you’ve just stepped into your best friend’s kitchen for a small get together. Fresh coffee greets you and the staff draw you in. You feel as though you could spend the entire day there, and in fact many do.
I made an appointment to speak with Patty Lyons, and arranged to visit one Saturday morning after Thanksgiving. To my surprise, I got a chance to meet and interview the owner, Helane Blumfield. Helane was eager to chat with me about DIY and knitting.
Helane shared her story of how she came to own a knitting store. Helane was one of many New Yorkers affected by 911. Helane, and her then three year old son, were unable to return to their apartment in Battery Park City. She taught herself to knit with the help of Real Simple Magazine and never stopped. From there her love of knitting blossomed and she opened her own knitting store.
Knitting stores in NYC run the gamut, many are known for less than friendly service, The Point is certainly different. It is considered to have the strongest beginning knitting classes in the city. Beginning knitting classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The morning I went there was a full class, there was even a guy in the bunch. Helane sees a growing group of guys knitting these days. The classes are very communal, with students getting to know each other and often meeting up long after the two-session classes are done. Many of the students become part of her customer base. Other advanced classes are available for knitters in technique as well as classes in spinning and yarn dyeing.
Having never really caught on to knitting myself, I watched closely to see if I might like to learn after the holidays. I was hooked, the instructor was very engaging and patient. Everyone picked right up and followed along with her step-by-step instructions. Maybe, it was having the familiar coffee cup sitting next to you that helped, well it would for me anyway. Many of the students had never picked up a needle before, some had experience with crocheting, some had tired to learn from DVDs or the Web, but all seemed to be looking for some 1-1 instruction, which they received in this small group setting.
The cozy shop is located at 37A Bedford St. between Carmine and Downing. You will see the “Eat, knit and be happy” sign in the window. Helane’s background in fashion advertising is evident. Big baskets of colorful, luxurious fiber line a whole wall, she stocks the yarn with an eye to the color forecasting for the current season. She also has a knitting designer on staff who provides free patterns of some versions of the latest styles in hats and other accessories.
The Point is also very intentional about giving back to the knitting community. Each month the shop promotes a different charity. I mentioned to Helane that I was from Louisiana and we spoke somewhat about Katrina - she noted that they stitched squares for blankets for victims of the hurricane. They also participate in Headhunters, Afghans for Afghans, among others.
