about us.
tl;dr
A mom and pop yarn studio operating out of our home studio in Philly. At Woolen Boon, we make beautiful hand-dyed yarn accessible at an $18 price point. We believe color is an act of everyday liberation.
before the boon
a little bit of history
I taught myself to knit as a young mom in 2009 off of YouTube. I had two little girls, a small budget, a love for handmade crafts, and the, "I wonder if I could make that?" spirit that would essentially begin the trajectory of my life’s work in the fiber arts.
Before Woolen Boon was ever a blip in my brain, I was well on my way down a yarn rabbit hole. I started as Heart Punch in 2010 and then Skeinbow in 2014, both adventures in selling knit accessories I created, and my first of many lessons in handmade business. Specifically, pricing in hand knits - iykyk, it’s pretty bleak and I’ve always been a slow knitter.
When my youngest was born and I was learning about cloth diapering to save money, I ran across my first experience with hand-dyed woolen yarn. Woolies and cotton flats, anyone? Back then, my hand-dyed yarn knowledge existed in cloth diapering forums, but I was curious. By the time I walked into my first yarn store and picked up a skein of Manos del Uruguay, I was hooked.
Woolen Boon was born in the spring of 2016, with $500 from our tax return to purchase supplies, a love for art and color, and a heck of a lot of hope.
2016-2020
the early years
From there, it grew into something I could have never dreamed. We were stocked in yarn shops around the globe, in thousands and thousands of stashes, and so many skeins dyed. I worked with incredible artists, designers, shop owners, and so many of you along the way. I built a beautiful thing that I’m so proud of and even more grateful for.
But in 2019, I broke. Deeply. And it’s become a years-long healing and learning/unlearning process that I’m not sure will ever really end. A mix of mid-life, motherhood, survival mode, and a gaggle of mental health questions that made themselves known when I finally felt safe in my life. But I’ve also learned that many others have collectively had to do this as well. For me at least, that helps lessen the shame and guilt associated with it, and it's why I try so hard to share despite my instinct to hide. 🦀
I took a long break from dyeing and knitting back then, and coming back has felt like coming home in so many ways. I wasn’t sure what the future would ever be for Woolen Boon, or myself really, but something held me back from ever selling the business and closing that chapter for good. I’m still a bit wonky, but my time away has allowed me to really narrow in on what I want for the future and the priorities I want to keep as a foundation, both personally and as a business.
our values and our future
where we're headed
Art. It’s always been about beautiful, artistically dyed fiber. It’s about keeping the main thing the main thing, you know? 😉
Community. Previously operating mostly online, this is our biggest change. We want to grow out of our private studio and into a physical, public storefront and community fiber hub here in Philly. Being able to see and talk to other creators on a regular basis sparks more creativity, more collaboration, and more joy for me.
Accessibility. Because I know exactly what it feels like to be a young mom with a tight budget and big beautiful fiber dreams, I wanted to find a way to make hand-dyed yarn more accessible. For years, we sold our yarn wholesale to amazing shops worldwide. We loved those shop owners and value the vital spaces they provide, but by leaving wholesale behind, keeping in-stock yarns ready for local markets, and selling directly to you online, we can pass those exact same wholesale savings straight to the people.
Our Purpose. Reconnecting with my Puerto Rican roots from the diaspora is a deeply personal, ongoing journey. Using Spanish expressions in our branding is a quiet way to honor my ancestors and state our commitment to the future. Our long-term mission isn't just about selling fiber—it is about using the growth of Woolen Boon to lift up communities, bridge the gap between the diaspora and the island, and actively contribute to Puerto Rican progression through our work.
We can’t wait to see what the future of Woolen Boon holds. My hope is lots of classes, workshops, knit nights, and collaborations, and I just want you to know that you’re always welcome. Your ideas, your thoughts, your creativity. We make each other better together.
Para los que viven libre y en color