Yarn Store of the Month: 3 Kittens Needle Arts

Basic yarn store info: Name, Location, Hours of operation

3 Kittens Needle Arts
750 Main St, Ste 112-113
Mendota Heights (suburb of St Paul)
651-457-4969
www.3kittensneedlearts.com

Full-service needle arts shop offering notions, threads, yarns, needlepoint canvases, patterns, books, embellishments, and more. Wide range of classes in needle arts & crafts.

Hours –

Yarn Dept – Tue/Thu 1-am-7pm, Wed/Fri/Sat 10am-3pm
Needlepoint Dept – Tue-Sat 10am-3pm

Tell us about your team or would you like to highlight someone special?
In our Yarn Department, we have 3 staff people. Elizabeth is a certified Master Knitter and loves to knit short rows, cables and to design (she designs for Webs and Cascade Yarns as well as independently – you can see her patterns on Ravelry). Kirsten enjoys playing with color and tubular cast-ons, and is willing to try any technique. Victoria is our resident crocheter (amigurumi, bags, clothes), and she is thrilled to be learning more about knitting and yarn! One of our owners, Laura, is also an avid knitter and designer (you can see her designs here).
We have a great group of instructors as well. Elizabeth teaches a wide range of project classes suitable for beginners to advanced knitters. Jane teaches Beginning Knitting and Basic Socks. Mary Ann teaches a variety of classes, including stranded knitting. Shelley teaches Beginning Crochet. All four instructors also have “Studios” where students can bring their own project and get help – or just enjoy knitting or crocheting with others.

What yarn do you stock that you feel doesn’t get the attention it deserves?
We have some great yarns that we’ve brought in from Europe that need more love! Tukuwool DK is a lovely Finnish Wool in amazing colors. Laura finished a Douglas Cardi by Andrea Mowry out of it, and it looks fabulous . Tibetan from Pascuali is a luxurious worsted weight yarn made from a blend of organic ultrafine merino wool and yak. It’s so soft and beautiful, especially in the Cardigan Tenpa by Pascuali Designs.
light blue cardigan with a cable design down the bottom half of the sleeve
What class offerings do you have coming up?
In the summer, we don’t have a ton of classes. Our Studios run year-round, so those are always available. Later in the summer, we will do Harvest by Tin Can Knits. In late summer or early fall, we’ll have Basic Socks (we typically do that one every 6-8 weeks August-May) and we’ll add more project classes.

Do you have any upcoming trunk shows or other events?
We will do a Knitalong for the Olive Knits 4-Day KAL in July. We start on June 30 and go through the end of July (we don’t expect people to actually knit a sweater in 4-days!). And, we don’t limit it to just this year’s Marie Greene sweater pattern (Lemon Spritz). Participants can choose any Marie Greene sweater pattern to join our KAL. We will meet on Zoom for the KAL on Friday, June 30 and each Thursday in July from 6-7pm. Participants can register here. Bonus: If you purchase your yarn from 3 Kittens, start your Marie Greene sweater on (or after) June 30th and finish it by July 31st, 3 Kittens will give you a $10 gift card!
We also have a weekly in-store Stitch Social on Fridays from 1-3pm. This social knitting time is free, but because we have limited seating advance registration is encouraged.

Mossy green cardigan with a gray bottom on the body and the sleeve
shawl with pink green yellow and white stripesWhat is your favorite sample?
A couple of our most popular samples are the 1 Audrey Cardigan by Isabell Kraemer that we knit with Peace Fleece Worsted and Les Marmites by Lucinda Iglesias knit with Berroco Ultra Wool for the MC and Berroco Tiramisu for the CC.

Do you offer a MKG discount or a frequent buyer club?
Our loyalty program is called the 3K Club. Every time a 3K Club member accumulates $250 in purchases of full-priced merchandise or classes, they get a $25 reward to use within 6 months. In addition, members receive a 20% off coupon for a purchase during their birthday month. The 3K Club costs $9.95 to join (one-time fee), but MKG members can show us proof of their MKG membership for a FREE 3K Club membership.

Other than shopping, what are the best ways we can help support your yarn store?
Like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Like and/or queue our patterns on Ravelry. Bring your out-of-town yarnies to visit us when they’re in town! Keep knitting

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?
We also carry needlepoint – one of only a few stores in the state. We have a wide range of handpainted needlepoint canvases and many, many threads.

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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