All About Yarn in Coon Rapids is a new shop for the 2013 hop!

“All About Yarn” is in it’s eighth year of business and my name is Roxanne, the proud owner of our Coon Rapids-based shoppe. Most people call me Rox at the shop and when you visit and check us out as part of the 2013 Shop Hop, I think you’ll find an exceptionally friendly, warm and helpful environment. We have a beautiful fireplace setting in the center of the shop where classes are held nightly and fiber enthusiasts likeyourself can sit and enjoy. My staff and I love new knitters as it just seems like yesterday we were just beginning as well.

In the beginning there were four of us, who opened the shop, each of whom brought something different to the table and to our customers. But after six years together change was in the air and with the support of my family and friends I decided to keep “All About Yarn” going.

As a new owner one of my goals was to bring in new yarns to enhance our selection ofspecialty yarns and I think the shop’s selection of Madelinetosh and Malibrigo is second to none. Another highlight of the shop are the classes we offer, specifically our very unique “Pick your own Project” classes which take place each day (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) as well as Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Each class is a mini social group in which many long term friendships have been developed. Whether you become a new member or have been coming for years, teaching help is provided on as many projects as you desire.

I am very excited to be part of the 2013 Minnesota Shop Hop in April for the first time and I look forward to meeting you! If you have never been to All About Yarn I know you will enjoy your visit. Each shop has something new and different to offer our and we are always changing by adding new yarns, patterns, accessories and samples!

It is definitely “ALL ABOUT YARN” up here in Coon Rapids. I welcome you and hope you become a shop regular!

Unwind

Unwind is a new addition to the yarn shop hop this year.  Welcome Unwind! Here is her story...

Like many of you, I was taught to knit by my Oma. I must have been about 7 years old when she came to visit from Germany one summer. At first my stitches were not very square. But in the morning my stitches sure looked much better. I’m sure there had to be a knitting elf working through the night.

My Oma and mom were also very good stitchers and needlepointers, so the needle arts were a way of life for me growing up. This lifestyle followed me all the way to college. I put off studying for more than one final in college by working on my stitching.

I was bitten by the knitting bug once again when my older daughter was in middle school. Remember those fuzzy scarves? “Mom, can you make these instead of buying them?” and out came my old knitting needles and away I went and went and went….

Knitting by myself or with a class were both such great ways for me to unwind. I often tell people I will never be a “type B” person. As a “type A” person, I am always working or thinking about the next thing that I should be doing. By knitting I can calm down to at least an “A-“ personality type.

A while back, some of my friends suggested to me that I should open a yarn shop. At the time I hadn’t even thought about. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. And as the saying goes “the rest is history.” With the support of my family and all the gals at the shop, we have created a wonderful place to play with yarn all day. My store is a place where people come to unwind while we help them to unwind their yarn.

What did they win?

Here is a picture of our lovely grand prize winner and her new stash.

Kay our Grand Prize Winner

 We also drew 14 first place prizes from the finisher cards. Check out the goodies in this basket!

Thanks very much to all our sponsors who helped make our prizes amazing!

Thank You

A BIG thank you goes out to the awesome knitters, crocheters and needle artists who participated in the Minnesota Yarn Shop Hop this year. 

You raised $4,880 in cash and 5,700 pounds of food!

AMAZING!

Donations at Needlework Unlimited

We all couldn't be more proud of our very generous fiber community!

Food Bank Partners

We are excited to be partnering with local food banks in our areas again this year!

 Remember to bring a food shelf donation item or $5, to each shop to receive your charm.  Each shop has 500 charms this year, more than double what we did last year!

Thanks in advance for your participation.  Fiber junkies are a generous lot; let's fill up the food shelves!

Amazing Threads - CROSS in Rogers/Maple Grove
A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe - White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf
Coldwater Lakeside Yarn - ICA Foodshelf
Crafty Planet - Senior Food Bank, a service of Eastside Neighborhood Services
Darn Knit Anyway - The Salvation Army; Grace Place - Somerset, WI 
Double Ewe - Centennial Community Food Shelf
Lila and Claudine's - Mahtomedi Food Shelf
Needlework Unlimited - Joyce Methodist Food Shelf
Shepherd's Choice - ACBC Food Shelf
Skeins - Emergency Food Shelf Network
Steven Be - Emergency Food Shelf Network
3 Kittens Needle Arts - Neighborhood House, W. St. Paul
Yarn Garage - Emergency Food Shelf Network
Yarnery - Second Harvest Heartland

Yarn Garage

The sisters from Lila and Claudine's aren't the only sibling shop owners on the hop.

Welcome to the Yarn Garage.

"We are a full service - yarn, knitting and needlework station located in Rosemount, Minnesota. The Yarn Garage is owned and operated by Steven Berg & Monika Oeltjen, a brother and sister team who were both trained in this craft by their mother.
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Monika Oeltjen & Steven Berg have dubbed themselves, “The Stitch Mechanics”, as they are always helping knitters and the needlework challenged. They are a brother and sister team, who were taught many types of needlework from their mother as children. They come from a strong background of knitting and crocheting, as well as embroideries, macramé and any other trendy craft.
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Their credits include creating knits for Hollywood celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston. Local projects include the Lori Line Christmas Concert accessories, the Macy's (Daytons) Eighth Floor Holiday show. Together, Monika & Steven have put a modern twist on some great old traditional crafts!

Knitting and crocheting are the “Hot Trend” right now and Steven and Monika have made these trends extremely fun by teaching with novelty yarns and thick needles, giving projects a unique personality, Chunky Funky!
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Monika & Steven have the technical background to help students at any age and any level and encourage each to work at their own pace with a project of their choosing. Parent and child team participating is a favorite of theirs. Join them for an exciting season of creative needlework.
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Monika & Steven started the Yarn Garage in 2003 as the roving, gypsy yarn and fiber art studio. Their private knit nights have become all the rage. Make sure to schedule a private night at the Yarn Garage."

Lila and Claudine's

The sisters tell the story of how Lila and Claudine’s came to be.
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"While we were sitting on the stairs to the lower level of 86 Mahtomedi Ave, a friend said “Why don’t you open a yarn store here?”  After swallowing hard,  our response in unison was we could never do that.  There was just no way.
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But the seed had been planted and over the next few months the yarn shop began to take on a life of its own.  Yarn was ordered and shelves were filled.
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Then magically, we opened the doors of Lila and Claudine’s Yarn & Gifts, named after our grandmothers in March, 2009.  And we have been blessed with the most awesome customers ever since.  Thanks to all who have supported us.  We are having so much fun."
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Kirsten (Sister) & Polly (Sister)