There’s a particular feeling you get when you walk into a craft shop that actually gets it — not a fluorescent-lit chain store with acrylic yarn in fifty identical skeins, but a place where the people behind the counter genuinely understand why you spent three hours last night frogging a cable knit and starting over. That feeling is exactly what made Wollwirrware a beloved fixture in Bern’s Wyler quarter for nearly two decades.
Today, that same space lives on under a new name: fraukuhn. And the story of how it got there — involving a crowdfunding campaign, a passionate new owner, and a knitwear designer whose roots in the shop go back years — is worth knowing if you care about where craft culture is actually heading.
A Shop With Nearly 20 Years of History
Wollwirrware operated out of Wylerstrasse 53, 3014 Bern — right in the heart of the Wyler neighbourhood. For close to twenty years, it served as a local hub for knitters, crocheters, and fibre artists in and around the Swiss capital. The shop built its reputation slowly, the way handmade things do: through word of mouth, regular workshops, and a community that kept coming back.
It wasn’t just a retail space. Walk in on any given week, and you’d find someone troubleshooting a half-finished shawl, a group comparing stitch patterns over tea, or an instructor patiently explaining gauge swatching to a complete beginner. That mix of commerce and community is hard to manufacture — and even harder to replace.
The Takeover: Simone Kuhn and the Summer 2022 Crowdfunding Campaign
When the original owners decided to step away, the shop’s future was genuinely uncertain. Enter Simone Kuhn, a Bern local who saw not just a business opportunity but a chance to preserve something meaningful.
In summer 2022, Simone launched a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of CHF 16,000. The response was immediate. Eighty-nine backers contributed, pushing the total to CHF 16,155 — slightly over target. That might seem modest in crowdfunding terms, but for a single neighbourhood craft shop, it was a clear signal: this community wasn’t ready to let the space disappear.
The funds went toward practical improvements — brighter lighting, expanded display areas with modular fixtures, and renovation of the lower-floor workshop space for classes and events. Simone took ownership and registered the business under Simone Kuhn GmbH, establishing it as a legally distinct entity from the original Wollwirrware.
fraukuhn: Same Spirit, New Name
The shop now operates as fraukuhn. The name change wasn’t cosmetic — it reflected a genuine fresh start. Because fraukuhn is a separate legal company from the original Wollwirrware, old Wollwirrware vouchers are unfortunately no longer valid. Worth knowing if you’re sitting on one in a drawer somewhere.
But the spirit has carried through. The shop still stocks sustainable yarns, still runs workshops, and still serves as the kind of gathering point that fibre arts communities thrive around. Simone has added her own sensibility — a sharper eye for curation, an expanded online presence, and partnerships with designers who share her values around sustainability and craftsmanship.
You can browse and order through the fraukuhn online shop, with delivery across Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Shipping comes in reusable bags — a small detail, but one that tells you a lot about the shop’s priorities.
Asimina Saranti: The Designer Woven Into the Shop’s Story
If you’ve spent any time in the Swiss knitting community, you’ve likely come across Asimina Saranti. A textile designer and knitwear expert with over ten years of experience and more than 60 published patterns, Asimina has deep personal ties to the Wollwirrware space — she taught knitting courses there for years before the transition.
Her connection goes beyond professional. As she’s described it, the shop served as an integration point — a place where she could connect with the local creative community after settling in Switzerland. That kind of relationship doesn’t end when ownership changes hands.
After the transition to fraukuhn, Asimina created “Collection One: Origins” — a set of six designs (two beanies, two mittens, and two shawls) that pay tribute to her time in the shop. The patterns are available in both English and German, and they’re designed with sustainability in mind — ideal for what crafters call “stash busting,” using up leftover yarn from previous projects instead of buying new.
She also runs her own knitwear brand, Über den Traum, and offers online knitting classes at 70 CHF covering advanced techniques like Fair Isle, Intarsia, Brioche, cables, lace knitting, double knitting, sock construction, short rows, and professional finishing and garment construction. Reviewers like Gloria Scarano have praised her teaching style for making complex techniques genuinely approachable — the kind of instructor who explains why a stitch works, not just how to do it.
If you want a taste of her work without committing, check out the “Ruut” pattern — a modern crochet top in sport-weight hemp, available for free on Knitty.com. It’s a good example of her design sensibility: clean lines, natural materials, and a pattern that actually fits into a real wardrobe.
What You’ll Find Inside (And Online)
The shop balances carefully between accessibility and curation. Here’s a snapshot of what’s typically available:
| Category | What’s There |
|---|---|
| Yarns | Sustainable wool, bulky weights, sport-weight hemp, linen blends, international brands alongside in-house selections |
| Tools & Accessories | Stitch markers, project bags, crochet hooks, knitting needles |
| Publications | Laine knitting magazine, craft books, pattern collections |
| Exclusive Collections | Designer collaborations like “Collection One: Origins” by Asimina Saranti |
What’s notable is the emphasis on sustainable materials. The yarn selection leans toward natural fibres — wool, hemp, linen — rather than synthetic blends. That’s partly a philosophical choice and partly a practical one: natural fibres hold up better over time, which matters when you’re investing hours in a handmade piece.
Learning, Community, and Why It Actually Matters
The class schedule at fraukuhn covers a wide range — from beginner sessions and swatching workshops to project-specific troubleshooting and advanced technique classes. This isn’t the kind of place where you buy yarn and leave. It’s designed to keep you coming back, learning, and connecting.
The shop also maintains a presence on Ravelry, the online knitting and crochet community, where you can browse historical community projects and patterns associated with the shop. For fibre artists, Ravelry remains one of the most important platforms for pattern discovery and community engagement — and fraukuhn’s continued presence there keeps the Wollwirrware legacy accessible to crafters worldwide.
There’s something worth pausing on here. Independent craft shops like this play a role that’s easy to underestimate. They preserve traditional textile techniques that might otherwise fade. They give local designers a physical space to teach, experiment, and build an audience. And they create the kind of in-person community that no online forum, however well-built, can fully replicate.
When Simone ran her crowdfunding campaign, the 89 people who contributed weren’t just buying into a business plan. They were voting for the kind of neighbourhood they want to live in — one with independent shops, creative spaces, and room for slow, meaningful work.
Is a Shop Like This Worth Visiting — Or Supporting Online?
If you’re anywhere near Bern and you knit, crochet, or even just think about starting — yes, absolutely. Walk in. Touch the yarn. Take a class. That physical experience matters in a way that scrolling through an online catalogue simply can’t replicate.
Not local? The fraukuhn online shop is well worth exploring, especially if sustainable materials matter to you. The selection is curated rather than overwhelming, which honestly makes the shopping experience better, not worse.
And if you’re an experienced knitter looking to level up, Asimina Saranti’s online classes are a genuinely worthwhile investment. At 70 CHF per session, you’re learning advanced techniques from someone with a serious design portfolio and years of hands-on teaching experience. That’s fairly priced for what you’re getting.
One practical note: if you’re interested in visiting for a specific event or class, check the fraukuhn website or their Ravelry page for current scheduling. Workshop dates and availability change seasonally.
Final Thought
The transition from Wollwirrware to fraukuhn is, in a small but real way, a story about what happens when a community decides that a place matters enough to fight for it. Simone Kuhn didn’t inherit a thriving business — she stepped into uncertainty, asked for help, and built something new on top of something old.
Nearly two decades of craft history live in that space on Wylerstrasse 53. The yarn on the shelves has changed. The name above the door has changed. But the thing that made people keep coming back — the combination of real expertise, genuine community, and beautiful materials — that’s still there.
And in a world where most shopping happens through a screen, that’s worth something.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Wollwirrware?
Wollwirrware was a yarn and craft shop located at Wylerstrasse 53, 3014 Bern, Switzerland. It operated for nearly 20 years in the Wyler quarter before changing ownership.
What is fraukuhn?
Fraukuhn is the current name of the shop that was formerly Wollwirrware. It’s operated by Simone Kuhn through Simone Kuhn GmbH, a legally separate company from the original business.
Can I still use old Wollwirrware vouchers at Fraukuhn?
No. Because fraukuhn is a legally distinct entity, old Wollwirrware vouchers are no longer valid at the new shop.
Who is Asimina Saranti?
Asimina Saranti is a textile designer and knitwear expert who taught courses at the original Wollwirrware for years. She has over 60 published designs, runs the brand Über den Traum, and created “Collection One: Origins” — a six-piece collection for fraukuhn. She also teaches online knitting classes at 70 CHF.
Does fraukuhn ship internationally?
Currently, the fraukuhn online shop delivers across Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Orders ship in reusable bags.
What kinds of classes are available?
Beginner sessions, swatching workshops, project troubleshooting, and advanced technique classes covering Fair Isle, Brioche, Intarsia, cables, lace, double knitting, sock construction, and finishing techniques. Asimina Saranti also teaches online at 70 CHF per session.
Where can I find the shop?
fraukuhn is at Wylerstrasse 53, 3014 Bern, Switzerland, in the Wyler neighbourhood.
Is there a community page I can browse?
Yes. The shop maintains a Ravelry page where you can browse historical community projects and patterns associated with both Wollwirrware and fraukuhn.
