During Tracy Herman’s time in the corporate world, crafting was a way to unwind.
“Scrapbooking was my first love,” says Herman. “I was fortunate to have many amazing experiences and got to travel all over the world for work, and it was a wonderful way to preserve those memories.” Over time her interests expanded to all kinds of crafts, from painting and woodworking to crochet and macrame. She’d become a true crafter, always interested in new techniques, materials, and things to create. When the pandemic prompted a rethink of her life goals, she decided she wanted to bring crafting joy to others. The result is Knot & Purl, which is opening on Saturday, October 26 on the second floor of 17 Lincoln Street in Newton Highlands (next to Otake Sushi).
The Knot & Purl studio is bright, airy, and comfortable, with multicolored worktables of various sizes and heights, an impressive paint bar, and a candy-store-like wall display containing a wide range of craft materials. There’s also a cozy area equipped with a couch and armchairs, as well as a sidebar of hot and cold beverages. The space reflects the many varied offerings Herman hopes to provide, such as:
- Crafting sessions for children and their caregivers;
- Parties for birthdays and other special events, for both children and adults;
- How-to workshops for adult beginners in popular crafts like
- Special craft circles for seniors; and
- Sip-and-snack craft nights for singles, in partnership with local independent food and drink vendors.
“It’s all about creating community and having fun,” said Herman, who says that customers familiar with paint-n-sip or pottery-painting studios will find more variety at Knot & Purl. “We’re focused on home décor,” she noted (rather than, say, clothing or jewelry). “But within that, we’re open to everything: dot mandalas, knitted planters, wooden signs and string art—just ask and we’ll see how we can do it!”
For all her enthusiasm, Herman understands that some people find crafting intimidating, and she sees it as part of her mission to make it more accessible. She explained her outlook with an analogy.
“Crafting is like cooking,” she said. “Just as anyone can follow a recipe and make a decent meal, anyone can learn to do a craft.” She has plans for lots of fun, two- or three-hour classes that will allow people to acquire a new skill and go home with an object they’ve created, gaining a sense of achievement. “Then when you get really good at cooking and you start to add your own unique spin, you become a chef – an artist of food. It’s the same way with crafting. You might find a craft that you enjoy and with practice, start to add your individuality to it. Then without realizing it, you’ve become an artist.” Her studio’s walls and shelves are adorned with a variety of finished craft items by local artisans that prove her point, and all of them are for sale.
Knot & Purl’s grand opening celebration will show Newtonians the full range of Herman’s creativity and business savvy. Timed to coincide with the city’s Halloween Window Painting contest on October 26, the celebration will include studio tours as well as face painting, live music, food and drink, and children’s activities in a tent behind the Knot & Purl building. During the following week, Knot & Purl will be holding a series of spooky craft workshops in honor of Halloween and the Day of the Dead – all of them 50% off the regular price. Herman also suggests people subscribe to the calendar on the studio’s website, since new workshops and events will be added every week.
Finally, Herman believes her new business may contribute not only to her customers’ entertainment, but to their mental health. A recent, widely reported study in Frontiers in Public Health demonstrated that crafting is associated with greater happiness, satisfaction, and a stronger sense of life being worthwhile. Those are benefits Herman aims to offer at Knot & Purl.
