ADRIAN — Michelle Beechler never imagined she would one day be running her own yarn shop. She simply loved knitting and was looking for a career change. That change led her to first purchasing and then rebranding Ann’s By Design in downtown Adrian. 

Tink & The Frog formally opened its doors on March 1 at a new location at 117 N. Main St. Beechler purchased Ann’s By Design from Ann Hughes, who died last September. With a new owner and a new location, Beechler decided to rebrand the business, maintaining many of the concepts that had made it so successful under Hughes’s ownership while still adding her own flair, a news release from the craft shop said. 

Part of that flair is the shop's name, which comes from the knitting terms tinking — to undo a row of knitting one stitch at a time, in order to correct a mistake — and frogging — to rip out or quickly unravel rows of one’s needlework to correct a mistake or completely disassemble a project. Tink is the word "knit" backwards.

Tink & The Frog offers a full range of knit and crochet supplies, classes and events while promoting the benefits and enjoyment of crafting. Beechler’s vision is to create a community of friends and fellow artists and to encourage them to find joy in crafting. She has brought in yarn for every project, from hand-dyed merino/cashmere yarns to hard-wearing acrylic/wool blends. She offers wool top, craft kits and gifts, most from small, women-owned businesses. She provides space for in-person social groups and crafting classes while creating new community-building activities at the store. 

The path to entrepreneurship was a rapid one for the Adrian resident. Beechler first discovered the love of knitting in 2017 when a friend taught her at the famous Miller’s Pub in Chicago. She was hooked immediately and found that depending on the project, it could be fun, challenging or meditative. Beechler eventually left her full-time job as a tenured professor of psychology at Adrian College to open her store with the help and support of small business organizations such as Lenawee Now, the Michigan Small Business Development Center and the Great Lakes Women’s Business Council. 

Beechler’s sister, Veronica Bark, a digital marketing and branding expert, is supporting Beechler with strategic business support. Her instructors and volunteer support staff at the shop includes Jan Parson, an expert knitter, and Melissa Willnow, who worked with Hughes for many years and now creates her own crochet patterns. 

“It has been incredible to have the support of my family and friends as I’ve moved on to this next exciting chapter,” Beechler said. “We all need to find ways to enjoy the company of others doing something we love. Knit, crochet and other crafts are fun and therapeutic for me, and I believe they will be for others as well.” 

Classes are now up and running and include beginner knitting and crochet, sweaters, hats, socks, and accessories. Beginner embroidery classes are starting in July. The shop will be offering spinning classes in the late summer/early fall. 

While the shop is open for people to drop in and stitch, the official social stitching times are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, Beechler said.

“We have a great social stitching crowd," she said.

Beechler has a Christmas in July series coming up and she participates in the city’s First Fridays. 

“This week for First Friday, we’re offering 20% off class signups and 15% off red, white and blue yarn because the theme is Americana,” Beechler said. 

Business has been good, and the shop is positioned in an ideal space, Beechler said. 

“It’s (business) been pretty good actually. I have a lot of regulars that have been very supportive and then I have a lot of new people that come and visit,” Beechler said. “Business is pretty good. I have a great location. I’m on Main Street so I have foot traffic, but people also will travel to different knitting stores and make day trips and go to lunch and stuff like that.” 

WHAT: Tink & the Frog yarn shop

ADDRESS: 117 N. Main St., Adrian. 

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday