February 8, 2016 at 1:49 p.m.
Just Yarnin' becomes social hub for knitters
Just Yarnin' becomes social hub for knitters
The store is owned and operated by Kim Christensen and Nancy Anne Miller who are well-known knitting enthusiasts in the area.
Christensen and her husband have owned a store in St. Germain for 20 years and "run back and forth" between the two. Just Yarnin' is located at 446C State Highway 70 East.
Only four businesses within an hour's drive of St. Germain specialize in knitting and crocheting supplies and instruction, they said.
"We are carrying different yarn then the other two within a 15-mile radius, bringing in different kinds of fibers," Miller said.
"We're sort of the same, yet different," Christensen added.
In addition to a variety of yarns, the two offer classes in the form of "knit alongs" and the very popular community table.
"We have the community knitting table where anyone can come in and knit anytime we're open," Miller said. "And if you need help on something, we will help you."
It is the community table that has become the focal point of the shop. It draws customers of all ages and experience levels.
"We had a mom and two daughters in earlier today," Christensen said. "And we had another girl come in, she's learning two colors and she came in (to) knit with me this morning. So we've actually had four at the table today."
"Yesterday we had quite a few,' Miller said. 'It goes up and down."
The community table and weekend hours have helped the store weather what is normally a slower period for Northwoods retail locations.
"Sundays, because we're open on the weekend, we're averaging four to six gals that come in and knit with us," Christensen explained. "So the community table is growing even at this slow time of year."
In the summer, when more people are in the area, the table was really busy, the women said. However, the shop has been a success with more than the seasonal residents.
"I'd say we've had great success with locals," Christensen said. "It's just that there are more people here (during the warmer months) with second-home owners and snowbirds, all of those folks are here from like May to September. Now we're down to just a few locals that stay here year-round. We've even lost a few that are gone for the month of January because they go down to Florida or they go out to Arizona for half of January and all of February."
Word of mouth has been key to the shop's continued success. Miller said local residents who don't knit have even been known to send people their way.
"A lady was at a party Saturday night and complained about no knitting and she was in that Sunday afternoon," she said. "We ask people how they heard about us because we want to know if it's Facebook or ads that we have out. She said 'To tell you the truth, it was a lass who doesn't knit (but) had heard about you.'"
Christensen said the Facebook page has also helped get the word out about the business, as they have been posting customer's and student's finished projects. Those projects are often "liked" and "shared" by well over the page's 314 "friends."
"On the last post I did a couple days ago, 785 saw it," Miller said. "And I did that Jan. 25 at 5 o'clock at night."
"I think people are starting to look forward to when someone gets something done, we post a picture real quick," Christensen said. "So Nancy tries to post as fast as people finish things."
Christensen said social media is something she and her husband haven't used to promote their other venture.
"We don't do anything with social media down there (at the other store), but it's unbelievable how fast a picture of somebody will go all over, everyone is liking it or sharing it," Christensen said. "She also posts pictures of new yarn and those go over real well, too."
Classes are offered at set times on set days for a certain number of weeks and are available for all skill levels.
The two have tried to be flexible in scheduling the classes. Many classes have been repeated on weekends to accommodate people who can't knit during the week.
And if the class is large enough to fill the community table, anyone just working on a personal project just moves to one of the nice "husband chairs" the store has, Christensen said.
"We've had as many as 13 around our table," she added.
The two said that knitting is an activity that can be done to pass the time while waiting for a doctor's appointment, vehicle servicing or even during a child's sporting event.
"The two of us have been found knitting at the Plum Skeeters water ski shows," Miller said. "And many people have seen Kim as she has followed her children through sports at Northland Pines."
"I've had my knitting with me forever," Christensen added.
Knitting has gained popularity with millennials, who like the creativity the activity affords. Through social media and websites such as Etsy, knitters can even sell their creations.
"In the last 15 years, you've seen visibility of people who are in the limelight knitting," Miller said. "So you see an actress sitting on a movie set knitting and then the magazines pick up on it and then the trade magazines promote it. Most recently, people have been following knitting and the therapeutic value of it."
Miller added that sometimes she has to pick up her knitting to get her brain to release the answer to a question someone has asked her.
"The more brain research that goes in people who take it up, it is very therapeutic," she said. "It helps them through high stress levels and helps them focus. Even little kids who pick up on it, they are almost naturals and just go with it."
The two say that they have seen many three generational groups of knitters in some families, and sometimes non-knitting mothers have picked it up after watching their daughters get started.
The community table often includes a wide age range from as young as 7 to as old as 75.
"They will talk about their projects or community events," Christensen said. "It's truly where knitters connect."
The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
The store is closed on Tuesdays. Those hours have been constant since the store opened and do not vary by season.
The phone number is (715) 479-YARN.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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