Fostering a yarn-driven, creative community through inspiring classes, stitch nights, lessons, summer camps and innovative events is the mission of "Yarn Queen" Heather Swan, founder of YarnCom since 2023. Located in Creve Coeur at 12772 Olive Blvd., she confirms the name aptly conveys her shop's clear focus of yarn and community.
Heather says she learned to crochet and sew as a young child. She picked up knitting needles 15 years ago, but eventually returned to her crochet roots. At that point, her love affair with fiber arts became permanent. She also enjoys tunisian crochet, spinning and weaving.
"We offer a support system for new makers, providing beginning classes or private lessons to start them. We also provide community groups three times weekly to help them practice and develop skills. We have a variety of samples around the shop to inspire," she says. "And our staff work to understand each person’s goals and guide others through the process to create projects they love."
Recently, the team created passports for beginners to achieve goals and be rewarded along the way with a free private lesson and other tools that make yarn adventures easier.
What many people love about yarn creations is slowing down to create something from scratch, shares Heather who has more than 25 years of leadership experience in corporate settings and a passion for volunteerism, community building and event planning. Her additional entrepreneurial adventures include the Midwest Fiber Festival and The Swan Factor. She serves as West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce board of director’s vice chair of membership services and community engagement liaison for the Creve Coeur/Olivette Chapter.
"Being able to read words on a screen or sheet of paper that translates to using yarn and hooks or needles to go stitch-by-stitch to make whatever your heart desires provides a safe space for communing with other creators," she says.
During September, for those interested, Heather will host:
- "Potions Yarn Trunk Show" regarding hand-dyed yarns, Sept. 5-7.
- "Have a Ball Fall Crawl" to join 21 other yarn shops from North America to provide the opportunity for a Virtual Yarn Shopping Experience, Sept. 20-21 and 27-28. Heather says participants can shop from the comfort of their homes and win great prizes.
- "Open Stitch Groups" on Wednesdays 1-4 p.m., Fridays 6–10 p.m., and Sundays 1-3 p.m. every week.
636.628.6784
YarnComSTL.com
"We're the hub for local crafters to share their work, get supplies and teach or learn."