Learn about how these two friends turned their passion for knitting into an inclusive knitting shop-meets-cafe where patrons can discover indie yarn brands, hand-crafted garments, locally- sourced crafts — or simply leave with a dose of inspiration and encouragement.

1
Our roots...
Zaïri: I’m of Caribbean descent. I was born in London, England and moved to Brooklyn when I was nine. In 2019, I moved to Windham after opening up the store. May: I was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. I came to New York in 1999 and bought my house in Windham in 2015.

2
Falling in love with knitting...
May: I learned to knit from my grandmother, but it didn’t catch on until I was 28 and lived with a roommate in New York who was a fantastic knitter. She encouraged and inspired me to begin again. Zaïri: I fell in love with knitting on a theater tour. I needed something to keep me busy on the tour bus and got some yarn and needles from Walmart during a stop. I already knew how to knit, but the free time allowed me to get to the next level.

3
Our personal knitting philosophies...
Zaïri: My fiber philosophy is working with wool and natural fibers as much as possible. Making your own yarn, knitting, crocheting, and weaving are all wonderful ways to pass the time. My life would feel empty without knitting and I love introducing and encouraging people to partake in this beautiful craft. May: To me, knitting is a lifestyle. The repetitive movement provides a focus that is helpful and meditative, while keeping you creative and productive. Gifting a hand-knitted item is incredibly satisfying.

4
How we met...
Zaïri: We met over 10 years ago on a film set in the wardrobe department. We started hanging out at a yarn store in between jobs, going to knitting groups, and even making the same sweaters.

5
Ending up in Windham...
May: In 2015, my husband and I bought a weekend house in Windham. After a few failed attempts at snowboarding, I decided it’s not for my Israeli blood and started looking for interesting ways to pass the time during winter. In July 2018, I inquired about a vacant store. Over brunch, I convinced Zaïri to open the store with me and the rest is history. Zaïri: Living in Windham is like living in a small-town TV show, and I love it. I’ve always loved the mountains.

6
City life vs. country life...
Zaïri: The most city thing about me is that I wear all black most days. The most country thing about me is that I now drive every day. May: The most city thing about me is that I knit on the subway. The most country thing about me is that I now garden.

7
Favorite place to knit...
May: My living room couch in front of the TV. I knit daily, but I never feel like I do it enough. Zaïri: On the couch in front of a fire, while watching a fun TV show or listening to a podcast. I try to knit every night.

8
The Knitting Room philosophy...
May: A friend of ours said, “It’s not a store, it’s a movement” and that really resonates.

9
Our point of difference...
May: With retail largely moving online, we wanted to carry products that can only be found in our store. We focused on indie-dyed and locally sourced yarn and quickly discovered that these small yarn producers are largely women and BIPOC owned businesses, which made us want to support them even more.

10
A growing interest in knitting...
May: Since COVID-19 hit, we’ve seen a lot of parents come in looking for more activities for their children at home. People also have more time to invest in craft, and we see that they are enjoying how creative and productive they can be.

11
Slow is better than fast...
May: Our background in fashion and costume design informed us of the massive waste the fashion industry generates, so we wanted our business model to line up with the growing slow fashion movement that embraces DIY culture and the maker community.

12
Our hope for the knitting industry...
May: We would love to see it continue to move in the direction of sustainability and supporting the production and cultivation of more locally raised and farmed fiber.

13
When you walk in the store you might hear...
Zaïri: Relaxing reggae and Harry Styles. May: Arlo Parks.

14
One of the coolest things we’ve seen a customer make...
May: A stunning outfit with yarn spun from a few different batches of alpaca and trimmed with raw alpaca fibers.

15
Our dream travel destination for fiber/knitting inspo...
Zaïri: New Zealand.
May: Peru.

Find @the knittingroomny in Windham

By Anna Deutsch

Photography Courtesy of the Knitting Room/ Joseph Belschner

Volume 6