TULSA, Okla. — Knit Stars opened a flagship store in Tulsa at Center 1 in Brookside.
Shelley Brander, CEO and Founder of Knit Stars, believes at 6,000 plus square feet her store is the largest yarn store in the world, more than doubling her previous store near 61st and Yale. They signed the lease last year knowing there were going to be challenges due to the pandemic.
Brander launched the store Loops in 2005 but has since become an author and ambassador for fiber with Knit Stars, producing documentaries and workshops with international knitting celebrities and designers.
Brander said they could have gone fully online with sales and the classes they teach but said they believe in the power of in-person experience.
“When people are learning to knit its really helpful to sit down one-on-one with somebody, so we wanted to preserve that experience,” said Brander.
She says they want to spread hope for the other yarn shops all over the world and for retailers to know they believe in the power of an in-person experience.
“There’s nothing like sitting next to someone and knitting together and learning that craft together,” said Brander.
Knit Stars focuses on selling yarns from all around the world with an emphasis on artisan yarns and luxury yarn blends. They also have online classes and free on-demand classes where anyone can walk-in, get materials and have video tutorials to help them.
“I wanted to create a space that people could come in, find a great project, get going and create,” said Brander.
©2022 Cox Media Group
Sign Up
