Monthly Yarn Store Spotlight

beWoolen

Shop Phone 763-205-0380

11444 Marketplace Drive N

Champlin, MN 55316

Mon – Thurs  10am – 8pm
Friday – Saturday  9am – 6pm
Sunday  11am – 4pm

Just off Hwy 169 and 114th Ave, next to Cub Foods
Tell us about your team or would you like to highlight someone special?
beWoolen is owned and operated by longtime besties: Angel Randall and Michelle Como. Friends that met through a shared love of knitting together, laughing together, and then had the dream of opening a store together. In 2019, it was time to make it all happen – and things fell into place so smoothly; it was like the universe telling you a big resounding YES! We conceived of the ideas and the name in early summer; and by September the dream was realized in our Champlin location. Of course, we had no clue what 2020 was about to serve up. The silver lining: Through a lot of hard work, we launched our website last April, and organized our thoughts into a weekly newsletter to share with our customers.  With the support of our exceptional community, we were able to expand our store in 2020: doubling our size by adding space for Classes and gatherings. Our store is wonderfully accessible – shopping space and class space are all on one level; with extra chairs for those that need to hang out while shopping is underway.

What special yarn and products do we stock?

We have worked side by side with a longtime friend and hand dyer to create our own line of yarn; currently it is available in two bases:

beWoolen DK – a 100% merino super wash wool with a generous 280 yards per skein. It is wonderful for everything:  from sweaters to hats to baby blankets, we are just thrilled with the reception that this yarn has received.
Last summer, we brought out our beWoolen Twist fingering – 100% super wash wool in a 2 ply twist and 480 yards of hand dyed shades that mix and match to create glorious works of hand crafted art.
In addition to our special yarns, we are working with a fantastic and talented local resource to handcraft a selection of gorgeous beWoolen Totes, drawstring bags, and more. We like to mix and match natural materials in wool, cotton, and linen to make these special and of the highest quality.

We have curated a selection of yarn at ALL price points: check out the full variety on our website. We like to carry all the colors in the lines we choose to stock to help our stitchers craft the projects of their dreams.
What class offerings do you have coming up?

The demand for class has been high; currently we are scheduling classes for Learn to Knit, Learn to Crochet, Intermediate Learn to Crochet, Tunisian Crochet, Yoke Sweaters, Colorwork Christmas Stockings, and Fireside Tweed Poncho. We host several Knit Alongs and a few social stitch times too: we recommend calling us to reserve your spot for all in store gatherings. We can take special requests too! We add classes frequently – we post about them on our Facebook page in the events section.

Are you offering virtual classes?

We offer social Zoom time; all of the details are in our newsletter with links to make it easy to join us on Monday eve’s with Miss Janel, and every other Wednesday evening to knit socks with Miss Chhristine.

We are hosting the upcoming Malabrigo Temperance Shawl KAL both in store and virtually: Monday eves starting in April from 6-8pm. We have a few spots remaining for in-store knitting. We can have an unlimited number virtually via Zoom.
At this time, we are scheduling class in store. Our large classroom allows students to have their own table to work at – fireside with a complete kitchenette.

Do you have any upcoming trunk shows or other events?

We love to spotlight our vendors as well as designers, and have trunk shows OFTEN – the best way to know what we are featuring week by week is to sign up for our newsletter. For instance, we have been featuring local designer Cori Eichelberger’s KnitWords items along with her latest blanket design: Pump up the Plaid.

Even if you didn’t know you needed a blanket, you find yourself selecting colors to make one of your own. We are hosting an in store KAL as a result.
We have trunk shows and samples on display from all of our major vendors: Rowan, String, Tahki, Cascade Yarn, Malabrigo, and Wonderland Yarn. We hear over and over from our customers remarking on the vast array of samples we have here – we love to show endless possibilities for the yarns that we carry.

What is your favorite sample? photos encouraged

This is a tough question – there are so many things to love about different samples! One of our favorites is our beWoolen Made Me Do It Luxe Wrap,  with five skeins of beWoolen DK, it is large enough to cuddle into with a fringe twist ending. It is very thrilling to have fellow knitters work up your pattern and see their smiling face when they visit your store with a finished item, or share it on social media. We LOVE seeing the creativity everyone brings to the table.

Do you offer a MKG discount or a frequent buyer club?

We offer a Yearly Stitch Club Membership – for $75 you receive discounts on yarn, needles, notions, and a few freebies. You also receive an exclusive skein of our hand dyed beWoolen yarn along with a pattern: the first year we featured beWoolen DK and a cowl pattern; this year we are featuring beWoolen Twist Fingering and a scarflette to knit. Once you have accumulated $500 in sales at our store, you will unlock 10% savings on all your regular priced yarn, needles and notions purchases. You can join Stitch Club at any time.

Other than shopping, what are the best ways we can help support your yarn store?

Of course, shopping is always wonderful; in addition follow us on Facebook and Instagram and share the word with fellow yarn enthusiasts!

 
Is there anything else you’d like us to feature? ie: are you committed to providing extra benefits to employees? are you involved with a local charity? are you committed to being green?

The most important aspect of owning our store is helping our community come together – it does not matter if you live near or far from us, we want to support you in your craft.

With guidance from the wonderful Laura Menssen, a longtime Knitted Knockers ambassador – we kicked off a Knitted Knockers Campaign in support of Breast Cancer. Our initial goal was to help knitters donate 50 pairs of Knockers to be distributed in MN, and nationwide. Well, our community really came out in a full support of this endeavor and we received well over 400 pairs of knockers. It was AMAZING! We continue to be a drop off location for Knitted Knockers.

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Headshot of Roxanne RichardsonRoxanne Richardson is a knitting communicator who lives in Minneapolis. Her YouTube channel explores a variety of knitting-related topics, including knitting history and techniques, and she writes technical knitting articles for Interweave publications. She’s a certified master hand knitter and certified knitting teacher, and she can’t wait to answer your burning knitting questions.

Currently Open

Marketing Director

The marketing director position is currently open. For more information contact the Guild President, president@knitters.org

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Kelly

President

(Term 1, Year 2)

A visiting friend from Seattle taught Kelly the very basics of knitting (a twisted loop cast on and just the knit stitch) in 2008 before flying home. Turning to the internet (thanks knittinghelp.com!) Kelly taught herself through a lot of trial and error. Uncontent to keep knitting the scarf she’d started as her first project, she jumped into knitting a pair of striped mittens for her non-knitter, but very knitworthy, twin sister. Twelve years later the mittens are still in her sister’s glove box, and Kelly is usually horrified when she pulls them out and sees the mistakes she made using double pointed needles for the first time. Kelly loves knitting socks and is thankful for the many months of cold weather when she gets to exclusively wear her handknits. (she, her, hers)

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imkelliente

Kendra

Secretary

(Term 1, Year 1)

Kendra lives in the Twin Cities and learned to hand knit from her mother in middle school. In the last few years, she has also learned crochet and machine knitting. Kendra enjoys knitting items to donate and challenging herself with new techniques. She prefers knitting in the round with colorful yarn. (she, her, hers)

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Rose

Treasurer

(Term 2, Year 2)

Rose learned to knit from her mother at the age of ten. She started knitting on the ends of small paint brushes. She continued to knit off and on through her teenage and young adult years and became a more avid knitter after taking a Norwegian sweater knitting class through community education. Today, knitting has become a passion and she knits for charity, herself, and her family her stash. She enjoys meeting other knitters and learning new techniques.

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tobel

Open Position

Programming Director

(3-year term)

This position is currently open. If you are interested in volunteering for the Guild board, please contact our president, Kelly, at the email me link below.

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Betsy

Service Director

(Term 1, Year 3)

Betsy never had patience for knitting, until she found herself spending a lot of time at little league games and waiting for the last kid to emerge from the locker room after swim practice. With her background in graphic design, stranded colorwork has a natural appeal. Not to mention the practicality of an extra layer of warmth. Betsy has recently begun publishing her original hat and cowl patterns, which are available on Ravelry. (she, her, hers) (See our Service Knitting Page for more information about our current projects and donation process.)

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FingerpressArt

Nikky

Membership/Programming Director

(Term 2, Year 1)

Nikky was first introduced to knitting in 2012 when her visiting sister-in-law taught her the basics of casting on and the knit stitch. A few weeks later, she learned how to purl from her mother-in-law. From there, it quickly became a passion and she has taken on each new project with a desire to expand her skill and discover new techniques. She loves a good mystery (knit-a-long) and knits way more shawls than a single person can wear in a month.

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FroggyGirl72

Melissa

Technology Director

(Term 1, Year 2)

Melissa has been knitting for 15 years. She loves socks and sweaters. She is a new member who hopes to use her marketing background to lift up the MKG. While she isn't local to MN, she really loves the atmosphere created by the Guild. Melissa and significant other Al enjoy traveling, wherein Al graciously offers to drive so Melissa can knit in the passenger seat. (she, her, hers)

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oneoftheminterns

Anna

Yarnover Committee Chair

While Anna learned to knit at some long-forgotten point in time, her commitment to the craft really began her freshman year of college. Sitting still has never been Anna’s strong suit, and giving her hands something to do while chatting with friends or watching movies in the dorm brought a sense of calm during this new chapter of her life. Once the sense of calm wore off (and no one else needed a scarf), she began trying new techniques, patterns, and projects, and until 2018 was primarily a self-taught knitter. After being intimidated early in her crafting, Anna feels strongly about creating a welcoming environment within the fiber community for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. She enjoys knitting and fiber traveling, test and service knitting, a good challenge (knitting or otherwise), and is likely to have at least 3 WIPs at any one time. She is also learning to spin and ply her own yarn! (she/her/hers)

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amturk13

A photograph of hands knitting green yarn against a black background.Project HandWork is an exhibit of photos by photographer Christopher Dykes. Using flash, a backdrop, and the infinite human variety, Christopher is collecting a series of images of hands at work in the fiber community. Manicures, hangnails, tattoos, wristwatches, cheap yarn, expensive silk, easy socks and exquisite lace all show the human diversity and the compulsion to create.

Yarnover attendees may have their hands photographed for a $50 sitting fee. Each sitter will receive an edited photo via email. The sitting fee goes to Help In Crisis, his local domestic abuse shelter. 

Anne

Librarian

Bio to come.

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soxanne

Laura Haave

Great Guild Getaway Committee Chair

Laura learned to knit in 2003 by taking a four-week class during MIT's annual January Independent Activities Period. The class project was a striped hat knit in the round, and since that time, Laura has been a big advocate of 1) helping other adults learn to knit for the first time, 2) hats as a manageable first project, and 3) circular needles for everything. She enjoys thinking about knitting and planning her next project almost as much as she enjoys actually knitting. Laura is highly motivated by knit-alongs and loves to knit in community. (she, her, hers)

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Birdette

Thyra

Newsletter Editor

I grew up watching my mom knit. She tried to teach me as a kid and I never enjoyed it, but after finishing college I found myself with extra time and no hobbies. In the last 20 years I have dove in all the way and love to learn new and challenging techniques. As my fiber love has grown, I have also started raising sheep in order to go from sheep to sweater. I love interacting with the sheep who have big personalities and learning to process and spin the wool has been a great adventure.

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Meg

Vice President

(Term 1, Year 2)

Meg grew up surrounded by makers. Her mom, a master quilter, former Home Ec teacher, and 4-H club leader in Duluth, taught her to sew, embroider, and cook. She won a trip to the State Fair as the Dress Review Princess at 13! Another MKG member taught her to knit continental style 15 years ago. Meg can’t sit still and NOT be knitting, embroidering, rug hooking or sewing. Favorite thing to knit? Mittens! She loves taking classes and learning new things – absolutely amazed and inspired by all the amazing knitters in the guild! (she, her, hers)

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finchgirl

Get Bentz Farm LogoOur spinning demonstrations are sponsored by Get Bentz Farm. 

After growing up in the city and suburbs, the owners of Get Bentz Farm felt a need to be closer to nature and to be more connected to where their food came from. 

In 2014, they found a farm house for sale and later that year they decided on and purchased their first two Icelandic sheep. 

Once they had a good size flock they began marketing the amazing meat and wool. Initially, they found that many mills in the area do not process dual coated long wools, which slowed down their growth in yarn, but they did find a great market for wool filled bedding products and batting for spinning. 

Today, they have a variety of yarns, batting and roving as well as finished products like dryer balls, sheepskins, and wool bedding. Most recently, they opened their own Get Bentz Wool Mill as well as their own line of yarn – Badgerface Fiber.

Mona McNeely been a certified Iyengar Yoga instructor since 2016 and has studied yoga since 2002.   

She has three grown kids and two, almost three, grandchildren. Her grandma taught her to knit when she was seven. She picked it up again in her early 20’s and hasn’t put the needles down since. She is also an avid spinner and has woven her share of rugs. In her spare time, she volunteers at a non-profit called We Can Ride where they use horses as therapy for people with disabilities. She also works full time as a Treasury Analyst for a fairly large company.  Somehow it all balances out.

Midwest Machine Knitters' Collaborative logo

The Midwest Machine Knitters’ Collaborative (MMKC) is a Minnesota based fiber guild established in 2011. We envisioned the Collaborative as a way to connect with other machine knitters who like to think (and knit!) outside the box. MMKC provides a forum to promote fun, interest, appreciation, education, inspiration, and camaraderie in the art of machine knitting. We welcome all levels of experience, as this is the best way to learn and inspire. We will all become better knitters through collaboration.  https://www.midwestmachineknitters.org/

Kathy

Webmaster

Kathy has always been into crafts, but didn’t teach herself to knit until after college. She really got hooked while living in San Francisco when a friend opened a knitting store. To pitch in, Kathy started knitting up fun (and odd) things for window displays, as well as teaching classes. In the last couple of years, she has started designing her own knitting patterns (many of them available for free on Ravelry!) with toys and mittens being her primary obsessions. (she/her/hers)

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katbaro