Warm & Wooly is owned by Kaitlyn O’Connor — wife, mom of three, coffee drinker, and yarn lover!

I first learned to knit when I was 12, though I never actually finished a project. In 2019, I picked up a crochet hook for the first time, thinking I wouldn’t enjoy it, and made a washcloth as a gift. I borrowed hooks for my first two projects and only learned the bare minimum to get them done decently. Little did I know that would spark a passion for crochet and fiber arts that has only grown since.

With a bachelor’s degree in Youth Development Studies, I spent several years working in residential youth care and in a non-profit after school program. After experiencing firsthand the positive impact crochet had on my own mental health, I began teaching youth how to crochet, eventually moving online through TakeLessons in 2022. Each new student made me fall more in love with teaching and with fiber arts.

When our local yarn shop closed, I knew I didn’t want our community to lose access to beautiful yarns and the creative connections that come with them. At the same time, I felt North Branch was missing something more than just yarn — we didn’t have a cozy, welcoming hangout space.

Warm & Wooly was born out of both of those needs: a place where makers can find the materials they love and a community hub where people can connect, create, and feel at home.

Since moving to North Branch in 2022, I’ve been deeply committed to making Warm & Wooly something special for this community — a place where creativity and connection thrive. I hope when you walk in, you find not only your next project but also something wonderful you didn’t know you were looking for.