Ep 154: A Return to Community

Text the Show!After a short hiatus, Knit A Spell returns with a brand new season centered on one essential question: With fewer places to gather in person and shifting online spaces… how do we find each other now?In this opening episode, Katie sets the stage for a season focused on community — what it really means, why it’s been harder to access, and how we begin rebuilding it in a changing fiber arts landscape.Drawing from her nearly two decades in the knitting industry, including her time as Creative Director at Skacel Collection, Katie shares insight into the major shifts affecting the fiber world today — from local yarn shop closures to the impact of private equity and large-scale marketplaces on once community-driven brands.This season, she takes you on location to experience community in real time at the Fiber Witch Festival in Salem, Massachusetts, bringing you along for conversations, spontaneous moments, and the magic of gathering together again.---What You’ll Hear in This Episode• Why connection feels different right now• The disappearance of traditional crafting spaces• How the yarn industry is shifting behind the scenes• Why community doesn’t “just happen” anymore• What to expect from this new, immersive season format• How to prepare and get excited for the festival• An invitation to reconnect with your own creative community---Get Ready for the Season!Want to get hyped before we arrive in Salem? Check out these episodes from last season!Interviews with festival coordinators Ana Campos & Emily O’Brien:• Ana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSXw8TsS0AU• Emily: https://youtu.be/h3hQaIIsEWgVendor spotlight with Ro of Home Row Handcraft:https://youtu.be/Mx7A8RTuB_0These will give you deeper insight into the heart of the Fiber Witch Festival and the people behind it!---Join Me at the Fiber Witch FestivalApril 25–26 | Salem, Massachusettshttp://fiberwitchfestival.comCome say hi if you see me! I’d love to meet you, take a photo, and gift you a Knit A Spell sticker.Let me know in the comments if you’ll be there!!---Explore & SupportBrowse my knitting patterns on Ravelry:https://www.ravelry.com/designers/light-from-lanternSubscribe to the Knit A Spell YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LightFromLantern?sub_confirmation=1---Join the Knit A Spell Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/knitaspellLearn more about the Fiber Witch Festival:https://fiberwitchfestival.comSupport the show