Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Boesen.
Hi Megan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have been crafting and making for as long as I can remember. After moving to Minneapolis from Des Moines, IA knitting became my main craft. With that came the large Twin Cities community of knitters. They were always willing to lend a hand, answer a question, or just hang out and knit.
That lead me to a little shop called Crafty Planet and eventually to work there. In 2017 the owners decided that it was time for them to close. I didn’t want to lose the crafty community I had found in NE. So I asked them if they could hook me up with the landlord, buy some of their stock and fixtures, and Knit & Bolt was born. Through the shop, I was able to bring more local yarn to our crafters. We were able to help folks move from garment making to quilting and vice versa. We were able to create a welcoming community for all crafty types.
I have done retail all my life, but owning a shop is very different from working in one. It has been a steep but rewarding learning curve. And every once in a blue moon, I get to knit at work.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Things were hard but going well and then there was a pandemic.
Our community rallied around us during the closedown. Their encouragement and online purchases kept us afloat when so many craft shops were sinking.
I don’t hide my ideals and my truths from anyone. That Black lives matter, that Trans Rights are Human Rights, that no human is illegal and that science is real. And our community has grown because of that. We have been able to hold space for hard conversations and create a safe space for our crafters. There have been a few dissenting voices, but they are easily outweighed by the folks that say “Thank you for speaking up”.
It hasn’t always been easy, but every day it gets easier.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Knit & Bolt?
Here we focus on local yarns, natural fibers, and fun fabric.
You should have a joyful time when you are making. We are also a place where younger crafters feel comfortable. Younger as in the 20s-30s. I would say I’m most proud of our ability to help get folks into more than just knitting or sewing. We recently have been able to expand our class offerings to things like macrame, needle felting, and tatting.
As well as having more beginner and advanced classes for everyone. Services we offer, classes in many crafts, privet lessons, and help sessions on the fly. And we are always willing to share an opinion on a project or color choice.
Being a small store that offers both yarn and fabric can be tricky. So we carefully curate what we bring in.
How do you define success?
Success is hitting a goal. What’s the goal? Learning a new stitch. Finishing that quilt. Teaching someone how to crochet. Paying myself.
Hitting those goals = success.
Pricing:
- Yarns range from $2.50 – $65
- Quilting Cotton averages $13.99 a yard
- Classes start at $50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.knitandbolt.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/knitandbolt
- Facebook: facebook.com/knitandbolt
- Twitter: twitter.com/knitandbolt
- Tiktok: @knitandbolt
Image Credits
Louisa Podlich and Megan Boesen
