GUEST SPEAKER: Kiana Malekzadeh, Owner of LYS West Village Knit & Needle
Saturday, Jan 11, 1–4 PM
Kiana Malekzadeh has 25 years of experience working and teaching at two New York City yarn stores. She is the author of Nantucket Knits for Kids and Nantucket Knits for Women and has 35 knitting patterns on Ravelry. After earning a master’s degree in gallery retail and art administration from the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kiana ran a successful contemporary abstract art gallery. In January 2021, she opened LYS West Village Knit and Needle (WVKN) to serve the knitting, crochet, and needlepoint communities. Kiana is passionate about all three crafts, having learned them as a very young child. WVKN offers yarn lines such as Blue Sky Fibers, Malabrigo, and Manos Del Uruguay for knitters and crocheters, and hand-painted needlepoint canvases that are small works of art. Four years in, she is considering opening a second location in London!
Program
Check-in begins at 12:30pm.
Kiana will discuss the challenges of opening a yarn store during the pandemic in addition to other business decisions she has made, such as addressing the distinct needs of practitioners of three fiber arts, and focusing on products that are ethically sourced, from makers that are socially and environmentally conscious. Kiana will also speak about her first-hand experience of the impact of social media on small businesses.
A YARN SALE LIKE YOU’VE NEER SEEN!
Due to the super-generosity of Guild members over the past few years, BAKG has built a mega yarn stash of epic proportions. Our yarn closet is filled to the brim, and it’s time to deaccession the collection. You will not want to miss this clearance sale—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to purchase beautiful yarn at unbelievable bargain prices! All yarns are priced to sell. Make your list of yarns you want and bring a tote to carry your purchases home. Tell your friends to do the same! Bring cash or check.
Show and Tell
What have you been up to since our last in-person meeting? We can’t wait to see what you created. As always, only one Show and Tell item per meeting, please.
Charity Table
Drop off the knitting you have done for charity since last we met. Or sit and knit at our Charity Knitting table with Charity Chair Barbara Beckley.
Bring a Guest
Guests are welcome! A guest’s first visit is free. Subsequent visits are $10, which may be applied to annual dues if paid on the meeting day.
BAKG general meetings are photographed. By your presence at these meetings, you consent to the
photography and use of your image in print and social media.