About Us

The Owners, Jennifer Arbuckle and Angela Zaikowski

The Manager, Bella Butzirus

The Origin 

Must Love Yarn opened its doors in November 2015 on Shelburne Road in Vermont as a collaboration between Jennifer Arbuckle, Kelly Otty, and Angela Zaikowski—three women from different professional backgrounds who shared a deep love of knitting. The trio had first met at a knitting group at the Charlotte Library, and while each had thought about opening a yarn store, they struggled to find the time and resources to make it happen on their own. After talking it over, they realized that together, they could actually pull it off. With a lot of planning and teamwork, they brought their dream to life.

Six years after the store’s opening, Kelly Otty decided to leave Must Love Yarn and pursue her longtime dream of becoming a shepherdess and fiber producer. In 2020, she established Fern Bridge Farm in North Ferrisburgh, Vermont, where she raises a flock of Shetland sheep. Must Love Yarn is now proud to carry Fern Bridge Farm's beautiful yarns, all processed at Vermont woolen mills and dyed on the farm.

Today, Must Love Yarn continues to specialize in locally sourced yarns and accessories, supporting New England sheep farms, fiber mills, and artisans. It also serves as a thriving community hub, hosting classes, events, and twice weekly yarn crafting nights. The store remains dedicated to creating a warm, inclusive space where people from all walks of life can gather, create, and celebrate the fiber arts.