They’re an eclectic bunch, the dozen or so women gathered around the large wooden table that’s tucked into a corner of Bella Filati Yarns, a luxury yarn shop in the center of downtown Southern Pines. Their fingers flash with knitting needles and crochet hooks — or not, if their colorful assortment of yarns falls to the table in favor of chatter and laughter.

Since Bella Filati moved into its current location, next door to the original, about 15 years ago, this is what it looks like most days: A community gathers around that table. Experienced knitters and patrons strike up a conversation with a first-time customer who just moved to Southern Pines. Two crocheters at the end of the table show off the tote bags that they made during one of the shop’s Thursday morning crochet-alongs.

Former owner Holly Floyd (center) still visits Bella Filati to take part in the camaraderie of knitters and crocheters working on their fiber projects. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel

Mother-daughter owners Amy Gustafson and Paige Bulko say that having an alternative to big-box yarn stores is invaluable to knitters and crocheters — for yarn quality, yes, but more importantly for the group of people that tends to gather around a love of fiber arts.

The store opened 20 years ago, and Gustafson and Bulko believe that it was just what Southern Pines needed. The duo took over in July, when longtime owner Holly Floyd retired, and they plan to maintain the store’s reputation as a welcoming gathering place.

“Bella Filati” loosely means “beautiful fibers” in Italian, and the fibers around the wooden table are as beautiful and as tightly intertwined as the threads of this loyal community.

Bella Filati
277 Northeast Broad Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
(910) 692-3528
facebook.com/bellafilati