A recent visit to the new location of Artfibers in beautiful downtown Pinole

Huh? Where you ask? The town is Pinole, it’s located in the SF Bay Area and ironically it’s also the town where I grew up – I even graduated from Pinole Valley High School. I’m not going to tell you the year. You can probably figure that out on your own. In any case, I spent a lovely July fourth afternoon at the new headquarters of Artfibers. I met the owners, Nyle and Rox, and even asked them for a job. I don’t waste anytime now do I?

Nyle and Rox hosted a lovely pot luck picnic in their garden on the fourth and I got a chance to see their new studio facilities up close. Formerly located in San Francisco, Artfibers has settled into their new home in a neighborhood of old victorians quite nicely.

There is still lots of inspiration everywhere you look.

Still lots of cones of colorful yarns on steel wire shelves. The yarns are one of a kind and conceived by Nyle and Roxanne exclusively for Artfibers. You won’t find these yarns anywhere else. The blends and colors are unique with many pairings that I had never encountered before. Linen and mohair? They have it here.

The design studio is in the back near the garden, and here you can create a custom pattern with your chosen yarn, your measurements and the help of computer software.

Books and resources in the design studio aid in creating your custom look and pattern.

Another unique service offered by Artfibers is free swatching. You can actually “test knit” every yarn in stock and get a true “feel” for the yarn before even making the purchase. Needles are also provided for use.

Anne and Barbara who drove up from San Jose participated in a little swatch knitting outdoors on the patio. You might notice that all the yarns are offered on cones and the advantage is no knots and fewer ends to weave. You calculate how much yarn you need for your project, whether a sweater, scarf or skirt, and the exact amount is then wound onto a cone. I purchased 350 yards of “Sylph”, a silk, mohair and wool blend in an awesome shade of purple all in one long strand on a cone.

Artfibers isn’t just for knitters. Anne was doing a little inpromptu weaving which I found fascinating.

All in all, a lovely way to spend the fourth of July. Do stop by Artfibers if you are in the Bay Area. It’s not hard to find. Just take the Pinole Valley Road Exit from Hwy 80 and drive West on PV Road until you reach San Pablo Avenue. Parking is free! Open Studio hours are from 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday, Wednesdays from 6-9pm and by arrangement. I’m headed over tonight myself!