Address: 312 E. Main St.
Hours: Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday and Monday
Phone number: 765-744-5867
Editor's note: Muncie Origins is a Ball State Daily News series profiling various businesses that originated in Muncie.
The sign on the front of an eclectic, colorful shop in downtown Muncie called Yarn Stories reads “Come in, we’re awesome.”
Yarn Stories sells a variety of knitting and crocheting supplies, along with other needles and fabrics. The store's goal is to fit every budget, with items starting at low as $3.
In August 2015, Lauren Back bought the store and joined as a co-owner. When the original owner decided to move, Back was left with the store all to herself.
Erica Ussery has more than 20 years of experience when it comes to a needle and yarn. She and her husband also own another business in Muncie, Monkey Paws Studio. Her business prints many of the designs for Yarn Stories and she is a teacher at the store.
When it comes to working at Yarn Stories, there's a lot that Ussery loves about the job.
"Oh god, [I love] everything," she said. "Lauren is absolutely wonderful. The community is absolutely wonderful. It's not just Lauren and I and the people who work here, it's everyone."
Yarn Stories is community focused. Its three main goals are to educate the community, bring together and support the local fiber community and offer better quality and selection of fibers.
Aviva Haltom said Yarn Stories has done exactly that for her.
"I recently moved an hour away and I still come back here to spend time with the people I've met here and stay a part of this community," Haltom said.
She is currently working on a project of colorful socks.
Focusing on the community has fostered friendships between the workers and patrons of Yarn Stories.
"I've met a lot of really good friends here," Ussery said. "It's great because it's people from all walks of life. No one is better than anyone else here when it comes to crocheting or whatever you're doing. No one is here to judge."
The store has classes anyone can take, which cover basic skills of crocheting and knitting, among other skills.
Yarn Stories also hosts a Knit Night every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. This is a way for people in the community or those who already have a hobby in one of the skills to come and hang out while knitting.
There is always coffee and tea and a variety of people to talk to, something that Jonel Groscost, who is currently a stay-at-home mom, enjoys.
"This store is a great way for me to get out of the house and talk to other adults while I enjoy myself," she said. "Everyone is really supportive and interested in what you're doing and what you're making."
The excitement that Back, her employees and customers have for knitting, crocheting or any other skill is infectious and one can't help but contemplate starting a hobby of knitting. Plus, who doesn't need a nice fuzzy pair of colorful socks?
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