Wasatch and Wool Yarns celebrates 10 years of knitting community together in Park City

PARK CITY, Utah — Wasatch and Wool Yarns, Park City’s only dedicated yarn shop, celebrated its 10-year anniversary back in November, marking a decade of community among knitters of all ages.

Founded by Margaux Kelleher, Wasatch and Wool Yarns started as many Park City businesses do: filling a gap in the community. After raising her three children in New Jersey and becoming empty nesters, Kelleher moved to Park City full-time.

“Our first time [in Park City] was probably 1991 and there wasn’t a yarn store out here, so I would take a day off from skiing and go down to Salt Lake, visit a few yarn stores,” she said. “I always thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice if Park City had a yarn store.'”

The shop, originally located in Kimball Junction, temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic before reopening in Park City’s historic district in 2022.

“I had been talking about opening a yarn shop for a while, and I think everyone was getting tired of hearing me talk about it,” Kelleher laughed. “I just wanted to make it a reality.”

Over the years, Kelleher has noticed a shift in the knitting community. While the craft was once associated with an older demographic, younger generations are increasingly embracing knitting as a way to create sustainable, high-quality clothing.

“I’m seeing more people in their 20s and 30s getting into knitting,” she said. “I even have customers whose daughters started are learning knitting now too.”

As a novice myself, Kelleher helped me pick out the correct style and amount of yarns (from the sale section, “especially for your first project,” she said)and needles for my first-ever project. She even wound my yarn into balls. Unbeknown to me, you’re not supposed to knit from the packaged yarn, it must be wound into a ball; Kelleher informed me that it would create a tangle from which there’s no return.

Wasatch and Wool Yarns carries a wide selection of high-quality yarns from across the world, including sought-after brands from Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, and the Netherlands.

“I’m pretty lucky being here in Park City. I definitely think I’m allowed to have a higher-end inventory than other stores, just given the clientele who live here, tourists who come in,” she said. “At the same time though, I am really sensitive to prices, especially considering the younger people.”

The shop also specializes in Utah indie-dyed yarns, including Maggie Fangmann’s Yarnaceous Fibers. A trunk show featuring Thingman’s hand-dyed collection will take place at the shop on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fangmann’s daughter, Trysten of Dragon Hoard Yarns is also carried in store.

Kelleher highlighted the “notions” section, which was any knitting or crochet accessory you could possible think of or need. Near the “notions” is a library of books for sale that you can peruse for patterns.

Beyond providing high-quality yarn, necessities and a space for brand new and experienced knitters, Wasatch and Wool Yarns is dedicated to giving back.

“During the first week of Sundance, thanks to our customers, we raised $516 for the Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund,” Kelleher said. “The funds helped support older adults impacted by the disaster, providing meals through Pasadena Meals on Wheels.”

The shop also regularly donates to local and national causes, including fundraising efforts for ski patrollers and knitting hats for the Adopt-a-Native-Elder program.

In addition to offering a curated selection of yarns, Wasatch and Wool Yarns fosters a strong knitting community through classes, workshops, and social gatherings.

Upcoming events include:

• Learn to Knit Class (March 6, 13, and 20) – A three-session course for beginners covering the basics of knitting, including casting on, the knit and purl stitches, and binding off.
• Help Sessions with Susan (Wednesdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.) – Assistance for knitters working on their own projects.
• Sit and Stitch (Wednesdays at 10 a.m.) and Prosecco and Purls (first Tuesday of each month from 5-7 p.m.) – Casual knitting meetups for customers.

As Wasatch and Wool Yarns enters its second decade, Kelleher remains committed to offering high-quality products while continuing to support the knitting community.