Three Local Crafters Launch Kickstarter to Bring Local Craft Store & Community Space to DC

A new retail and community space for hobby crafters is coming to Northwest D.C. — Merry Pin.

Merry Pin will be a space where hobby crafters of all ages and experience levels can buy supplies, learn, and craft together with friends and neighbors. To bring the space to Ward 4, Merry Pin is raising funds on Kickstarter and needs your support!

The three co-owners behind the project — Megan Flynn, Madeleine Odendahl, and Michele Molotsky — are all avid hobby crafters themselves and noticed that D.C. lacked local options for hobby crafters to get supplies and to meet up in-person to craft together.

“While there are a few craft-related stores in D.C., they are all very specialized — like yarn stores or high-end art supplies,” says Madeleine. “And there aren’t really any spaces where people can gather to work on their crafts together without being afraid to make a mess.”

Merry Pin will feature a mix of high end, affordable, and upcycled/consigned products; crafting workshops and experiences; equipment, like sewing and cricut machines, that you can rent on-site; and snacks and beverages to bring people together.

“We also wanted to increase access to crafting equipment like sewing machines and cricut machines,” explains Michele. Merry Pin intends to have at least one sewing machine and cricut machine when they launch, with plans to add additional equipment such as a heat press at a later date.

Merry Pin’s Kickstarter launched on May 8, with the goal of raising at least $45,000 to help the co-owners open up a brick-and-mortar location within Ward 4. A priority is finding a space that is very accessible via public transportation so that everyone in D.C. can enjoy Merry Pin.

Merry Pin, and the people behind it, are committed to diversity and inclusion, particularly working to create more equity and accessibility in the crafting space through the store and offerings. Their hope is to use the store to highlight and promote others, particularly queer crafters and crafters of color, creating a space where everyone is welcome to share their knowledge and learn something new.

“To be ‘in Merry Pin’ means to be happy and in good spirits,” says Megan. “That is the feeling we want to evoke with our brand and our space.”

Learn more on the Kickstarter page, at merrypindc.com, or visit the Merry Pin Pop-Up at Logan Hardware on Sunday, June 4!