The Yarn Bodega - Launch Support

Before the pandemic, I tried to visit local NYC yarn shops as much as I could, but none were in the Bronx. In fact, the Bronx is the only NYC borough without a dedicated yarn shop. In 2020, during the pandemic, the only Bronx-based Michaels closed, effectively cutting off local access to fiberarts supplies. Very reminiscence of when the only Bronx-based Barnes & Noble closed in 2016, cutting off local access to books until The Lit Bar opened in 2019. This sparked my dream of creating a safe space to build community and awareness, as well as accessibility, to the fiberarts in the Bronx.

The Yarn Bodega, ties back to my roots and pays homage to my father who owned a bodega in the South Bronx for 30 years. I’ve lived in the Bronx for over 23 years and have been inspired by many makers and entrepreneurs to share my story and passion, so others can have their own fiberarts journeys locally. My goal is for The Yarn Bodega to be a storefront yarn/fiber retail space and community center. I plan on achieving this in three phases, detailed below:

Phase 1

• File for an LLC via LegalZoom.

• Order bulk materials to make handspun yarn inventory (fiber, roving, combed top, etc.).

• Build a website and set up an online shop via Shopify.

• Shipping supplies (boxes, mailers, shipping labels, business cards, custom packaging, etc.).

• Marketing fees (subscriptions to Canva, Later, and Meta Verified, printed and digital ads).

• Branded merchandise (pins, totes, notions bags, stitch markers, tees, mugs, notebooks, etc.).

• Virtual Meetups via Zoom to connect with new and established makers.

Phase 2

• Vend at in-person fiberarts events, such as Kings County Fiber Festival, Queens Fiber Festival, and Rhinebeck.

• Host in-person meetups for crafting and demos with local makers at various Bronx locations.

• Collaboration projects with other makers.

Phase 3

• Open a centrally located storefront accessible via mass transit (as well as driving), which will serve as retail and community space with creative resources in the Bronx.

• Offer low-cost beginner classes for knitting, crochet, spinning, and other fiberarts.

• Host trunk shows for indie makers.

Fiberarts and the community that welcomed me have been my saving grace. I took up crochet as an adult when I was stuck in a rut. The rhythmic hand motions as I turned yarn into functional items became therapeutic to my body and mind. It also connected me to my lineage of women who worked and made things with their hands. I felt a renewed sense of purpose that filled my soul with passion. Crochet introduced me to the world of indie dyed yarns, which then lead to spinning. I got my first spinning wheel during the pandemic, and again fiberarts helped pull me out a serious rut. I felt the anxiety-driven tension work its way thru my hands into the fiber, where it built up twist that created yarn. Spinning turned the chaos inside me into something beautiful, tangible, and useful. With The Yarn Bodega, I hope to provide others with a much-needed creative outlet thru the fiberarts.

Your investment will help me get the ball, aka yarn, rolling to make The Yarn Bodega possible. All donors will be included on the donors list posted on The Yarn Bodega website. If you prefer to opt out of having your name listed, please make sure your donation is anonymous.

Thanks in advance for helping me bring my fiberarts goals to life as The Yarn Bodega and bring a much-needed creative outlet to the Bronx. I will be documenting the progress on the @TheYarnBodega Instagram account.

Disclaimer: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to my GoFundMe.