For small business dreamer Pati Stone, purveyor of fabric and yarn via Louisville Fiber Supply, the specter of turning 60 was her impetus for action. At the age of 59 while walking with a friend in Vermont, Stone turned to her companion and said “I want my life to be what I want it to be by the time I turn 60.”
Having lived for years ‘up East’ where she married, raised her kids and subsequently divorced, Stone longed to be nearer her siblings. She knew that the time was now to create the life she longed for, so with her children grown and gone—one to Portland, Maine and the other to Austin, Texas—Stone quit her job as art director for a small publishing company, sold her Vermont home and headed south, fully expecting to find another job and another house “back home” with her family in Kentucky.
Unable to find work that interested her or a home to purchase in a crazy housing climate, Stone re-directed the gains from her Vermont home sale to the self-funding of her dream—the opening of a one-stop-fiber-shop in a downtown Louisville neighborhood that Stone says is full of fond memories. Tapping into genetics passed down through a long line of fiber-loving women, Stone has created a well-rounded lineup of eclectic fabrics to inspire the sewing crowd, locally and nationally sourced natural and sustainable yarns for knitters and crocheters and all the tools needed to turn the raw materials into wearable works of art. Visitors and delivery men alike are greeted at the door by Bennie, Stone’s enthusiastic Border Collie mix.
“Dad’s mom did needlepoint, and my mom’s mom was always crocheting,” Stone recalls. “My mom taught me how to knit and to sew on an old Singer Featherweight. She made a lot of our clothing when we were growing up, and my aunt did a lot of sewing as well.
“I think in high school I was a little more “fashion forward” than the rest of Louisville. I worked in clothing stores, and since I liked wearing unique clothing, I made a lot of my own. I made my prom dress and my wedding gown, which I was still hemming the night before my wedding.”
In high school, one of Stone’s teachers told her she should pursue graphic design in college. Stone recalls her flippant response, “I’m not selling out my art!
“So,” she laughs, “I studied art history so I could sell out other people’s art.”
Stone eventually changed her mind, earning a degree in graphic design which she has drawn upon to curate all the visual elements of her business—like the colorful wares displayed throughout her shop. Located at 622 Baxter Ave., the area is also home to craft breweries, quirky restaurants, a bakery and other specialty shops.
As Stone got serious about her entrepreneurial pursuits, her search for educational resources that would help bring her small business dreams to fruition led her to the website of the Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center of Kentucky (WBC), hosted by nonprofit Community Ventures.
There she connected with WBC of Kentucky’s Executive Director Devanny King, who pointed Stone to the Business Builder workshop, a four-week online series of classes designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs build a thriving business. King also provided no-charge, one-on-one business coaching to guide her through the start-up phase. According to Stone, King became both a sounding board and her cheerleader—alternately helping her think through all the details while instilling in her the confidence that “You can do this!”
Stone also attended the WBC’s ‘Women in Business Expo’ in Louisville, which featured local business resource providers alongside a panel discussion showcasing successful local business owners. The Expo also offered an opportunity for Stone to network with others on the same entrepreneurial journey. And Stone frequently attends WBC’s monthly ‘Strong Women, Strong Coffee’ roundtables where featured speakers discuss relevant business topics as they benefit from additional networking.
While the sale of product is one aspect of Louisville Fiber Supply, Stone is working to cultivate a love of fiber arts in a whole new generation while simultaneously nurturing seeds already planted in more experienced crafters—effectively ensuring her own customer base.
To that end, Louisville Fiber Supply has implemented Craft Night each Wednesday from 5-8, and Crafternoons, held on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2-6. Stone notes that that both have been well attended and give makers of all sorts ample opportunity to fellowship and make new fiber friends as they craft together.
As far as classes go, Stone says Intro to Knitting and Beginner Sewing are popular and always fill quickly, but more advanced classes are offered as well. Stone plans to expand her classes to include felting, natural dying of yarn and fabric and other fiber-focused crafts. Class offerings are updated monthly and published in the Louisville Fiber Supply newsletter, which can be subscribed to online at Louisville Fiber Supply or by stopping by the shop.
Today, all of Stone’s hard work is paying off. Just shy of two years into her entrepreneurial adventure, Stone is excited about the possibilities for the future. The steady growth of Louisville Fiber Supply means that expansion is necessary, so Stone has now leased the entire building to provide more classrooms and workspace for her burgeoning customer base.
“Now that I am two years down the road in business, I want to re-take the Business Builder series, which I can do free of charge,” Stone said. “I want to review all the things I learned initially, now that I have actually experienced first-hand much of what we were taught in the online course.”
King is thrilled that WBC’s Business Builder Series, Roundtables and Expos have contributed so much to the success of Louisville Fiber Supply. “In the vibrant tapestry of Louisville’s business landscape, the resilience and innovation of ventures like Louisville Fiber Supply illuminate our city’s entrepreneurial spirit,” notes King. “Pati Stone is a testament of how channeled passion, determination, and commitment are not just creating enterprises, but also weaving the fabric of a stronger, more emboldened community.”
Louisville Fiber Supply can be reached at (502)384-1900, via email at hello@louisvillefibersupply.com, or on Instagram @louisvillefibersupply.
If you are an entrepreneur seeking assistance to launch or grow your business, visit https://www.wbckentucky.org/ or call (859) 231-0054.
Photo credits: John Stone, Shon Wylie
