Photo Essay: Annie & Co. Needlepoint and Knitting
Annie Goodman, the owner of Annie & Co., stands in front of a colorful section of thread used for needlepoint, a form of embroidery on canvas. Her passion for the craft and her desire for a welcoming environment influenced Goodman to open her own store. Now, 18 years later, Annie & Co. is one of only two needlepoint stores in Manhattan and the largest knitting store in New York City.
Annie & Co. offers 500 types of yarn and 30 types thread. Knitting and needlepoint enthusiasts from all over the world come to check out the store's extensive collection.
Over a dozen "regulars" attend the store's weekly "Sip and Stitch" event, held every Wednesday after the store closes, to enjoy drinks while completing their crafts. The store also offers other activities each week, including beginning and intermediate group knitting classes as well as a one-on-one with a knitting expert.
John, a regular at the "Sip and Stitch" event, demonstrates his cross-stitching project. John follows a pattern on canvas by creating small crosses with thread. Once finished, this project will be made into a section of a quilt designed by John and a group of fellow cross-stitchers. The quilt will be gifted to a victim of the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
The contemporary Slow-Fashion Movement, or the socially and environmentally conscious creation of clothing, has influenced a trend that involves people making their own clothes at home. This movement led to an increase in knitting and crocheting clothes for oneself and for others, especially among young adults.
Unlike knitting, needlepoint is dwindling in popularity. Goodman attributes this to the costly nature of the craft; since each needlepoint canvas is hand-painted, they can be extremely expensive to obtain. This is deterring many young people from giving needlepoint a chance as a hobby. Goodman believes that, by keeping knitting and needlepoint in the same vicinity, her store can foster an interest in both crafts.
Hundreds of passionate knitters and needlepointers participate in the annual NYC Yarn Crawl. Described as, "Like a bar crawl, only with yarn," the three-day event features 12 knitting and needle-craft locations scattered around Manhattan and Brooklyn. Each store offers a variety of sales on nearly every item in the store. Annie & Co., being the largest and one of the most popular locations, offers over 50% off on most of its collection.
The 2019 NYC Yarn Crawl gathered nearly 800 people of all ages, genders, and nationalities. Offered at the event was a tote bag souvenir, individual store raffles and a scavenger hunt that consisted of finding hidden crocheted acorns at each location. The event created a strong sense of community and celebration for the craft throughout the Annie & Co. store as each person excitedly envisioned their next big project.