Serendipity Fibers moves into new location on Fourth Street
It’s almost been five years since Serendipity Fibers opened on Fourth Street and looking back, Melissa Ilgen says she’s learned a lot in that time.
“It’s been a lot of trial by fire,” she laughed. “I’ll be honest, I don’t think I knew anything when I started.”
She attributes her success to her customers and the people that have rallied around her over the years to support her yarn and knitting supply shop in Huntingburg.
“It just means the world to me,” Melissa said. “There are a lot of places they could go, but they continue to support me.”
These days, she’s a bit savvier and enjoying her new location at 415 E. Fourth Street. While the former location of her shop was beautiful, she decided she needed something a bit more cozy. The recently vacated building between Game Knight and Purple Plum fit the bill. With a bit of renovation, Melissa moved in over a single weekend with help from several people who regularly show up for Open Stitch Night — her community knitting sessions held Thursday evenings.
“I love the people that come in. I do call them my shop family for a reason,” Melissa said.
The new store is brighter and although she actually has less stock, it seems to be filled to the brim with yarn and necessities for her customers. The brighter building draws attention to the new stock she’s carrying that comes from independent dyers.
Melissa has started carry more yarns from these indie dyers as they have become better at producing quality natural yarns. She’s had a lot of luck introducing these new yarns to her customers who may have grown up using larger yarn manufacturers’ lines.
“With so many new blends and so many new manufacturing methods, we are able to get a soft touch and a soft fabric with more wool in it as opposed to the manufactured nylon or acrylic,” she explained. “It’s been fun watching people go from Red Heart to looking for the new fibers like alpaca and others.”
The new store has a classroom in the back that Melissa is looking forward to opening up for instruction in the near future.
“I feel like this is a fresh start in a way,” Melissa said. “Everyone seems to love it so far. Everyone loved the other space as well but we have to look at the longevity of our business and this move supports that.”
The store has a Facebook Page here and can be contacted at 812-684-8033.
The building she left won’t stay empty for long. According to Melissa, a new business is set to move in in the next couple of months but she remained mum on what that business will be.
If you want to see the new store, Melissa is hosting a free showing of the movie, “Eddie the Eagle,” this evening as part of a program with the IU Center for Rural Engagement.
