Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Swan. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Heather Swan has dreamed of owning her own business since she was a teenager. She still possesses journals where she sketched out ideas for her first restaurant. She has worked since she was 11 years old babysitting. Yet her focus in her adult life was always bringing alive other people’s dreams.
In 2021, Heather’s husband was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and her world literally flipped upside-down. At the time she was running the operations teams for a company in Chesterfield. She had to step back and take on a support role because of her husband’s dire condition. Fortunately, he survived and is working today to regain his health.
In the summer of 2021, Heather realized that she was spending all of her time building someone else’s dream and very little time building her own.
After assessing all the factors, she resigned from her position and started working on opening a local yarn shop and launching the Midwest Fiber Festival. Amidst the thrill of opening her own yarn store, Heather’s greatest excitement is introducing the fiber arts to those who have never experienced them. She will be hosting events for Girls’ Nights Out and Date Nights, as well as kids’ classes. She will also be working with local homeschool, scout, and church youth groups. If this sounds fun to you, let Heather know!
We hope to see you at the shop when it opens this Fall!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Permitting with the City of Creve Coeur has proven to take much longer than anticipated. Construction for the site is quite minimal and the plumbing needed is mostly roughed in. Due to delays, we are fortunate to be able to spend our holiday at Chesterfield Mall in the lower level. We will be opening November 1, 2022 and remain there through the holidays.
Other challenges have been making sure we have the right partners for the shop. We don’t want to just have whatever vendor we can get into the shop but are mindful of what products are offered and the missions of these companies. We know that we can’t always agree on everything, but we try to find partners that are in the same mindset for growing the arts in the St. Louis area and supporting not only professionals but all of our novice makers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Yarncom is putting together two of Heather’s loves – yarn and community. Heather is happiest when she is creating and surrounded by other makers that enjoy playing with yarn. And through all of the making, we hope to make an impact in the community.
Yarn is used in everything that is around us whether it is thinner as a thread or thicker as a comfy sweater or blanket.
Fiber Artists use many different types of products to create lovely decorations hung in your home, office, or worn on your body.
Community is so important in all our lives for our physical, mental, and emotional health. Community comes in many different ways and Yarncom hopes that when you walk through the doors, whether you have never picked up a knitting needle or are an artist, you feel welcome and want to hang out.
Yarncom offers classes and events for the yarn lovers out there as well as a group of gals wanting to hang with their pals or a dad and daughter date night to create something fun. We have classes offered for ALL ages. And, when you purchase yarn and a knitting needle set or crochet hook you will be given a 1:1 lesson to get you started. We hope that you will love it and then will get you signed up for a more detailed lesson and tips and tricks. But, if you decide it isn’t for you, you haven’t made a huge investment.
Yarncom also features 6 local fiber artists each year with a gallery show. They have a gallery opening event and will also offer other opportunities for artists to work with the community to share their love of the fiber arts. A call for artists in 2023 will be coming soon!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Overall, the industry goes through peaks and valleys, and currently, we are moving towards a peak. When people were forced to stay home, many found fiber arts, such as knitting, crochet, weaving, and felting could provide calm or peace during uncertain times.
When in the industry of creation, it’s so important to continue to foster creative energy and have an inclusive environment. There are new makers coming to market every day, and new shop providers such as Yarncom fill the voids.
As we transition to more in-person activities it’s anticipated to see the surge in interest plateau. It’s our responsibility as shop owners, pattern designers, artists, and other makers to continue to keep the door open and invite our new fiber friends into these handcrafts that can provide fun and community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yarncomstl.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yarncom
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yarncom/
