Patsy Engelhard, owner of Knit1, poses for a photo. (Photo/Logan Kirkland)
The city of Oxford is home to Knit1, the only store in town which caters to fiber enthusiasts interested in knitting, crocheting, weaving and more. For the past four years, Knit1 Oxford has resided just off of Courthouse Square on North 13th Street. Knit1 reopened Monday at a new location on West Jackson Avenue.
The quaint, standalone building is located next to DocuMart and has been used for multiple businesses, included a hookah bar and a t-shirt printing shop. The building is situated in front of the Jackson Avenue Center and only feet away from the Fraternity Row intersection.
The Knit1 Oxford staff, including owner Patsy Engelhard and manager Lynn Wells, believe the business’ new location will increase visibility compared to its previous location, which was situated behind the Square with no neighboring businesses. Beforehand, the occurrence of a customer going to Knit1 Oxford without previous knowledge of the store was a rarity. With the move to Jackson Avenue, more people will be exposed to Knit1 Oxford, especially with its eye-catching storefront.
Inside the new store, customers are greeted with an inviting atmosphere that is perfect for Knit1’s fiber classes. Owner Patsy Engelhard has given a comfortable feel to the store by not only selling fibers and handmade goods, but also inviting those interested in knitting to come and learn the methods behind fiber-based creations.
Although Knit1 Oxford is the only store of its kind in the area, its unique business model brings customers in and keeps them coming back. The sense of community is strong and has created a strong customer base since the Knit1 Oxford’s original opening.
“People feel as though it is their store,” Engelhard said on the community atmosphere at Knit1 Oxford. The Chicago native opened the store after falling in love with knitting, but realizing there were no stores in Oxford which catered to enthusiasts like herself. After Knit1 Oxford’s opening in August 2010, the town became a haven for people who shared Engelhard’s love of knitting and other needlework.
For those frequently involved with Knit1 Oxford, knitting itself has proven to be extremely beneficial. Not only is it a method to express creativity and artistic ability, but it is also a way to bond with different people from the area.
“Knitting is a wonderful way to meet people you would usually not encounter,” Wells said about the social aspect of Knit1 Oxford.
Indeed, all walks of life frequent Knit1 Oxford, women and men, old and young. There are several days when groups of knitters will spend entire afternoons in the shop with each other. From Wells’ observations, the knitters share not only skills and techniques, but also life advice and stories.
The West Jackson Avenue location is open and ready for business. The store is open Monday through Saturday with different classes offered throughout the month. Look out for a grand opening of the new location in August, correlative to Knit1’s fourth anniversary.
