Accessibility
I am committed to making my store and studio as accessible as possible. I hope that these descriptions and photos of the space help to answer questions that you may have regarding accessibility. If there's any other aspect of the space or of classes that you'd like to know more about, please contact me (gobsmackedyarn@gmail.com) and I'll do my best to help.
Moving into and around the store:
The front door opens directly onto an active parking lot; please use caution when approaching the door. The door swings inward on a very heavy hinge. If you have difficulty with balance or you use a mobility aid, just knock and I'll come hold the door open for you. The door is 35" wide (89 cm). There is a small concrete threshhold (1.5"/ 3.8 cm) up from the parking lot surface, plus a 0.75" (2 cm) bump of metal weather-stripping at the bottom of the front door frame.
There is a low-pile utility mat (less than 2 mm deep) at the front door. The floor in the store is painted commercial tile and concrete, so it is a hard, smooth surface, with a few pitted or uneven places due to wear. The store dimensions are approximately 10 feet x 16 feet and the space is relatively free of obstacles.
At the front of the store, there is a table with a few different kinds of wooden chairs for folks who would like to sit down. A 24" high wooden stool is also available to use during classes or any other time that someone might like a higher place to sit.
The yarn is on shelves that range in height from just above floor level to about 6 feet above the floor. I'm happy to bring items to you at the table or at the front counter if the shelf configuration isn't comfortable for you to browse.
The dye studio is approximately 10 x 16 feet, with an additional L-shape in the sink area that is approximately 4 x 8 feet. There are commercial rubber anti-fatigue mats on the floor in front of the dye studio stoves and sink. If the mats might prove a problem for you during a class or event, please let me know and I will remove them.
Washroom:
A 36" wide (91.5 cm) hallway leads to a washroom with sink and toilet at the back of the studio. Unfortunately, the washroom is not wheelchair-accessible; it may also prove difficult for folks with other mobility aids. The room a very small, narrow space that measures 45.5" wide x 65" deep (116 x 165 cm). The door frame is 23.5" wide (60 cm), but the configuration of the room means that there is just 22" (56 cm) of clearance for entering the washroom and moving past the sink to the toilet. The distance from the front of the toilet bowl to the facing wall is 18.75" (48 cm). An additional sink that can be used for hand washing is available in the studio area, with about 4 feet (48"/ 122 cm) of clearance in front of the sink.
Air quality:
Gobsmacked is a yarn store with a working dye studio at the back of the space. I ventilate the store and studio to the best of my ability, by having the front door open and/or running a HEPA air filter. I do most of my dyeing on days that the store is not open; however, it is always possible that the store might humid or hot from having the dye pots on the stoves. This is particularly a problem on very hot summer days, when temperatures in the studio may exceed 80 F/ 27 C with humidity in the 60-70% range. The space is not air conditioned.
I always wear an N95 mask when the store is open and during classes. Masking is welcome but not required for most events. Stitch Nights (Weds. night) are always masks required, with masks provided in a variety of sizes and shapes for those who need one.
Scents:
I do not use scented products in my dye process, in the studio, or in the store. In the studio, I use Down East unscented dish washing liquid, unscented Soak wool wash, Orvus Paste (which is unscented), and Synthrapol (also unscented). I dye yarn using professional quality acid dyes (Sabraset and Washfast), which are generally low-odor and safe in liquid form. The combination of wet wool and dyes has a mild smell that is somewhat earthy (not perfumey nor chemically). I fix the dyes with citric acid, which does not produce irritating fumes when it is heated (unlike the vinegar that some dyers use). Materials Safety Data Sheets are available in the studio. I do occasionally scrub my dyepots with Mr. Clean, which has a strong chemical odor; I do this only on studio days when the store is not open.
The washroom is stocked with liquid hand soap from the Unscented Company. I sell Soak wool wash in the store, in both unscented and scented varieties. There is a set of testers for people to smell; these are kept tightly closed when not in use. Please note that scented laundry detergent smells are sometimes in the air outside the store, as there is a laundromat located next door. In the afternoon and evening, it may be possible to smell food cooking in the kitchen of Goya's Pizza, located next door.
Lighting:
The lights in the store and studio are LED lights set on the warm end of the spectrum (ie, yellow rather than glaring blue light).
Sound:
I occasionally play music or listen to CBC radio in the studio; I always turn the radio off when other people enter the space, as I find it distracting. There are a variety of ambient sounds in the studio, such as ticking and bubbling sounds from the stoves, whirring of fans/ air filters/ dehumidifier, and spinning and clunking sounds from the spin dryer. On windy days, the ceiling tiles shift and creak with sounds that are a bit like a ship's rigging creaking overhead. Sounds from adjacent apartments and businesses are often noticeable, including washing machines, water running, creaking floors, and occasionally muted conversations or music. When the front door is open, parking lot noises such as car engines, doors closing, and conversations are quite noticeable.