New Bedford Fiber Arts Shop on Purchase Street will soon open in downtown New Bedford. The warm and cozy space invites knitting enthusiasts to create, explore, and collaborate with the shop owner. The grand opening is set for January 18 and 19.
The shop was intentionally designed to be independent from big-box yarn shops. Its design, color scheme, and operations were founded on one person’s dreams. New Bedford Fiber Arts also plans to incorporate classes and other unique opportunities to help the business stand out.
New Bedford Fiber Arts Founder
The shop’s founder, Blaine Bacchiocchi, was surrounded by women passionate about crocheting and knitting. Unsurprisingly, Bacchiocchi became an artist, too. After a successful past in the arts and academia, she was inspired to found a shop based on her vision for like-minded artists.
Bacchiocchi says, “I’ve always been a maker, a creative person,” and “My mother did basket-weaving when I was a young child. My aunt is a painter. I grew up around a lot of very creative women, and I would say that inspired me in my early days.” Bacchiocchi’s artistic path led her to study at the Art Institute of Boston and Lesley College, now known as Lesley University College of Art and Design.
Bacchiocchi’s college career eventually led to a teaching position in art. When the recession hit, she struggled to find another teaching position, and she decided to pause her career to reevaluate. She says, “After my last teaching position, I needed something else. I was just so burnt out, and I couldn’t make anything. So, I taught myself how to crochet, which saved me.”
New Bedford Fiber Arts: A Creative Hub Downtown
Bacchiocchi’s passion for fibers and the arts led her to open a shop for like-minded artists and promote creative thinking. New Bedford Fiber Arts is located at 761 Purchase Street and has a warm and inviting atmosphere. The interior design is intentionally painted bright, with rows and bins packed with brightly colored yarn.
Bacchiocchi says, “I chose a color palette that I believe gets people excited. It’s very brightly colored on the inside. I hope they feel like it’s a warm and welcoming environment where they can return if they need help, just want to hang out and make with me, or want inspiration for a new project.” The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday from lunch into the evening. Bacchiocchi plans to start offering classes such as embroidery, felting, and spinning, along with being a retail shop.
Bacchiocchi continued, “I did not want to design the space like another white box yarn store. I want people to feel cozy and their creativity to be sparked. I want them to be inspired just by being in the space.”
What Defines New Bedford Fiber Arts
According to Bacchiocchi, her new shop stands apart from others because of her fine arts and teaching background. She is also a resident and has a keen eye for community needs and shopping preferences. Her business goal is to make the shop easily accessible and affordable for everybody. She aims to provide an inviting space for people to shop and feel comfortable enough to inspire and cultivate creativity in the community.
Bacchiocchi says, “I don’t want to be too out of budget for people, or I don’t want people to feel afraid [of] coming in. I’m trying to stock price-conscious materials and be able to serve a wide array of folks.” New Bedford Fiber Arts provides a service to novices and those more experienced in the craft. Bacchiocchi hopes to inspire people to experiment with other art in her space, which is favorable for both the shoppers and the yarn shop.
