What are Fiber Arts?
You are probably asking why do fiber arts matter. You don’t knit, crochet, or sew. You would rather go to the store and buy a given garment or art piece already completed. We completely understand, however, there is a secret society of fiber artists around you who enjoy creating. And that is how Yarncom: Community Through Creation was born! We know that the world goes around because each of us has different interests. So if you aren’t currently into the Fiber Arts, why are they important? Because without the innovation of fibers in our textiles we wouldn’t have fun outfits to wear for business meetings or working out, for starters.
When you are in your next meeting or event, look around at the finish on a chair or the clothes you are wearing. Fiber arts live among us every day in all aspects of our life. The Fiber Arts are creative endeavors performed by novice and professional artists alike, using various types of materials that include yarn. These arts include crochet, knitting, weaving, spinning, felting, macrame, sewing, quilting, and anything else that manipulates materials into designs for displays, home goods, and apparel. The Fiber Arts are alive and well all around us! The curtains hanging in your living room are made of fiber and considered to be part of the fiber arts.
Yarn is created by spinning the material (cotton, silk, hemp, wool) so that it will adhere to itself. It sounds so simple, and yet is so fascinating. Ropes start with thin pieces of yarn that are spun together to create strength beyond our imagination.
About Heather
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 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!