Candler – Friends and Fiberworks is more of a community than a business. It is run by Robert and Lisa Mackey, with Robert listed on the website as the yarn dyer and Lisa described as “a mischief maker” and “tons of fun.”
The Mackeys started their business in 2009 with a storefront in Biltmore Square Mall, where they sold a wide variety of yarn, fiber, and tools such as needles, scissors, and items recognizable only to seasoned fiber artists. When the mall closed, they relocated to Westridge Marketplace at the corner of Smokey Park Highway and Sand Hill Road, operating there for five years before moving everything to their farm. They now sell from a 4,000-square-foot building on 17 acres in North Candler.
Lisa describes a laid-back, come-as-you-are atmosphere reminiscent of old-fashioned sewing circles. People are welcome to visit anytime and sit down to knit. The store is open from 10 AM to 4 PM most days, opening at 12:30 PM on Sundays and closing at 7 PM on Wednesdays. To get there, their website advises, “Go way out yonder, turn onto Brooks Cove Road, and it’ll be the big building past the 4th cow pasture on the right.”
While they do not raise their own animals for shearing, they sell dyed yarns and roving from local farmers. Most of their inventory comes from commercial suppliers.
One of their more popular brands is Noro. The Japanese characters on the labels make it stand out. The company was founded in Japan by Eisaku Noro, who speaks poetically about how his yarn is made from nature and mimics nature. It is processed as little as possible. “We want to reproduce the sheep itself in our yarn,” said Noro. Consequently, the thickness is inconsistent, and the hues are variable.
Mackey noted that people appreciate the brand for its “beautiful color changes.” One of their yarns is said to feature 31 colors per ball, although technical experts question whether Noro’s organic manufacturing processes can achieve such precision. Their Kureyon, or “self-striping,” 100% wool yarn is a favorite for its combinations of saturated colors suggestive of iridescence.
However, it’s the Malabrigo that truly attracts customers. Mackey mentioned that they have an entire wall dedicated to this brand. The yarn was initially made in Uruguay, but manufacturing has since moved to Peru. Like Noro, Malabrigo emphasizes keeping all phases of the manufacturing process environmentally friendly. The result is a wide assortment of colors and color combinations. The yarn is “incredibly soft.” Most products are 100% Merino wool, though some new yarns incorporate alpaca and silk.
Mackey stated that people come from all over to shop at the Malabrigo wall. The North Carolina Yarn Tour is taking place throughout July, with Friends and Fiberworks being one of six Western North Carolina yarn shops among three dozen participants statewide. Halfway through the tour, Mackey reported having already sold 400 yarn bags to trailgoers.
Although it seems Friends and Fiberworks has planned numerous special events for the trail, visitors will experience a typical day in the life of the shop. Knitters will gather “on the couch,” working on their hobby projects. Additionally, a more formal demonstration will be conducted by a staff member each day, allowing people to drop in without prior registration. Topics range from knitting and crocheting to basket weaving and felting. One trunk show remains for the 2025 tour, hosted by the Traveling Yarn Yogi on July 25-26.
The knitting community at Friends and Fiberworks is also invited to participate in cruises held a couple of times a year. Hosted by Maritime Knitting Cruises, these knitting intensives are led by world-renowned instructors like Mackey and take yarn enthusiasts to some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Upcoming cruises will tour Alaska, the Caribbean, and Eastern Mediterranean ports of call such as Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Ravenna.