Owner Reba Maisel poses with customer Rachael Lawrence during a open house celebrating the Fiber Loft’s 35th anniversary. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)

Sandy Daries (left) and Chris Perry try their hands at felting at an exhibit by Sharon Chandler (not shown) at the Fiber Loft’s 35th anniversary open house.

Nestled under the pines on Mass. Ave. for 35 years, the Fiber Loft is the knitting world’s best-shared secret. Ask almost any local knitter or weaver why this is, and she might say it’s the cheerful encouragement and expertise of owner Reba Maisel, or the bountiful displays of colorful yarn lining the walls, or the many classes and groups that gather there throughout the week. What is certain is what began as an almost accidental enterprise in 1974 has blossomed into a sturdy business with a regional clientele.

A weaver, knitter, and lover of all things woolly, Maisel first leased the upstairs loft as a private art studio. The setting was perfect, she said, since sons Bill and Bruce—now married with children of their own—could come over and visit after school. It seemed logical to buy extra yarn and sell it as a way to make the $11 a day she figured she needed to cover the rent, she says, and everything she does today just grew from there. The store now comprises the entire second floor and half of the first, where large groups of knitters often gather to chat, stitch, and engage in grown-up show-and-tell.

Over the years Maisel has taught an enormous number of people to knit, weave, crochet, and felt. An elementary school teacher by training, Maisel began teaching rug-hooking and needlepoint from her home in the early 1970s. Once she began teaching at the Fiber Loft, she added classes in everything from beginning knitting to advanced techniques in virtually all the fiber arts. She also lends her presence to the two knitting clubs she offers on Thursday evening and Friday morning. While she has yet to start teaching the children of former students, she said, that day isn’t far off. In the meantime, granddaughter Emmie seems to have the fiber “bug,” she says, and recently finished her first potholder.

Gathering knitters and weavers together is important to Maisel, who founded both the Nashoba Valley Knitter’s Guild and the Nashoba Valley Weaver’s Guild. Both groups meet for a monthly program, often learning about new techniques from accomplished local artists. Helping her keep all these groups and projects on track are three part-time employees, one of whom, Carol Quinn, has been with the Fiber Loft for the past nine years.

Maisel is also an accomplished artist in her own right. Under the name Changeables, she knits and weaves high-quality accessories for the Handworks gallery in Acton. Keeping the Fiber Loft going might keep one person busy enough, but Maisel likes the opportunity for fresh inspiration. “It makes me keep creating and generating new ideas,” she says. And while her favorite item to knit is a sweater, she often has three or four projects going at any one time, unable to pick a favorite between knitting and weaving. “They fit different times. Weaving is more rhythmic; knitting is more stimulating,” she says, adding that she loves nothing more than a really challenging pattern.

Celebrating three and a half decades in business has given Maisel inspiration for a number of special events this year. This weekend the annual fall sale features many yarns at a 35 percent discount, with many others on sale at up to 75 percent off regular price. Another event she is excited about is a “yarn tasting” with the sales representative from the renowned Westminster Fibers company on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. “The rep puts out samples of yarns on plates and knitters can try different yarns,” Maisel explained, lighting up at the thought of all the colorful yarns.