Over the last two years, Sister Lakes’ June Nemeth has worked to spin her longtime passion for knitting and crocheting into something the entire community could share.

On Saturday, her visions of brightly colored bundles of yarn, neatly woven sweaters and caps, and the bright, smiling faces of those who share her love of needle and thread became a reality.

Nemeth officially opened her new shop, Yarn on Front, that morning, in conjunction with the national Small Business Saturday event. The store, located downtown next to Rosy Tomorrows, hosted a busy and successful opening day.

“I actually opened the shop a few minutes early because there was already someone waiting outside,” Nemeth said.

The new store sells numerous spools of yarn from brands such as Cascade or Berroco, spun from materials such as cotton, wool and alpaca fur in a variety of shades, Nemeth said. The shop also offers notions, or tools used for knitting, and will offer classes aimed a people interested in working with yarn beginning early next year, she said.

The shop will also host open yarn nights every Wednesday, where people are encouraged to come in and enjoy some company while working on their projects, Nemeth said.

Yarn has been a passion for the Sister Lakes woman since she was teenager, learning how to knit when she was 16 years old while living in Australia, Nemeth said.

“I am a lefty, so it was kind of challenge but I learned it, nonetheless,” she said.

After moving to Michigan in 1986, she continued to develop her skills. Becoming a regular customer of Ivelise’s, a yarn shop in St. Joseph, she eventually learned how to crochet as well, she said.

After she was laid off from her job working at a rehabilitation counselor in 2010, she developed an even greater appreciation for her hobby as it helped her get through a difficult time.

“Working with yarn helps calm the chaos of the mind — and you get something beautiful as a result,” she said. “All I need is a cup of tea and some yarn, and I am in my happy place.”

The closing of her favorite yarn shop two years ago gave her the idea to take her passion to the next level by opening her own business, eyeing the storefront inside the Masonic Lodge building on Front Street. Nemeth finally had her opportunity to take over the storefront in spring, in preparation of opening her yarn store in the fall, she said.

In addition to allowing her to share her love for yarn with others, the shop also allows Nemeth to work alongside her daughter, Andrea, who graduated from North Pointe Center’s special education program earlier this year.

After spending many long nights alongside her family preparing to get Yarn on Front up and running for Saturday’s opening, witnessing the strong response mere hours after opening the doors for the first time was a surreal experience for Nemeth.

“It’s been overwhelming,” she said. “I cannot express the love I have for the community, my family and my friends for supporting me.”

Yarn on Front is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information people can contact the store at (269) 462-9094.