For nearly five decades Nadel Kunst was a popular New Ulm shop for yarn, embroidery floss, notions, patterns and other knitting accessories. Since 1983, Cindy Hillesheim operated the knitting shop out of the building at 212 N. Minnesota. Hillesheim died suddenly on Oct. 9. Hillesheim was the sole employee of Nadel Kunst. With her passing, the longtime Minnesota Street business will close shop one last time.

A special business closing sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 through Saturday, Nov. 9 and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 at the shop, 212 N. Minnesota Street. The goal of the sale is to sell the remaining inventory, but also give the community a chance to say goodbye to the store and for customers to share memories of Hillesheim.

Anne Earl has helped run Nadel Kunst since the sudden passing of Hillesheim. Earl said it is still difficult to accept a friend she has known her whole life is gone. She was texting Hillesheim a recipe.

“It’s so hard,” Earl said. “I am still picking up my phone to text her when I find out about something she might want to know.”

Friends, family and regular customers of Nadel Knust have visited the knitting supply shop in recent days before the store closes. Nadel Kunst owner Cindy Hillesheim died last month. Many visitors have dropped in to make final purchases from the shop as a way to remember Hillesheim and her store. L to R: Deb Hanson, Deb Blaising, Peggy Starz and Sandy Walsh take one last through the shop’s inventory one last time.

Several of Nadel Kunst’s regular customers have visited in the shop in recent days to make a final purchase and talk about Hillesheim. On Wednesday, two of Hillesheim’s cousins, Deb Hanson and Peggy Starz, came to the shop, bringing along Sandy Walsh and Deb Blaising.

Hanson frequently visited Nadel Kunst to see her cousin. She said it was strange see the shop without her.

Starz said will always remember how important knitting was to her cousin. Her knitting was also important to their grandmother Ethel Holm.

“I believed Cindy wanted to carry on that family tradition,” Starz said.

Hanson and Starz both purchased some extra yarn as a way to remember their cousin. They both plan to use the yarn for family projects. Hanson said she planned to use the yarn to make a sweater for herself and a shawl for her daughter. Starz said she planned to knit a hat for her granddaughter.

Cindy Hillesheim, the late owner of the Nadel Knust knitting shop, seen in her shop in Feb. 2023. Hillesheim owned Nadel Knust from 1983 to her death on Oct. 9, 2024. This weekend a close out sale will be held in her shop to sell off the remaining inventory and give customers a chance to ay goodbye to the store and for customers to share memories of Hillesheim.

Though Nadel Kunst was primarily a knitting shop, Hillesheim often used the space to host gathers. She would clear off one of the tables in the shop and a few friends would knit together.

“There was a real camaraderie,” Earl said. “We would just sit together and knit.”

Hillesheim was always willing to loan out her shop space for people to work on craft projects, whether it was a quilt or paintings.

Nadel Kunst was also a place where fellow knitters could come to get help if they were stuck on a project. Hillesheim was well known as a “fixer.”

Earl said Hillesheim would help anyone who needed assistance.

“She helped a lot of people with physical disabilities,” Earl said. “She would help them fix anything. She loved helping people.”

Hillesheim’s dedication to helping others has led to an outpouring of support for the shop in its final days. Earl said many people in the area knitting community have come forward to help in the last few weeks; including other quilt shops.

“I am very proud of New Ulm for their support,” Earl said.

The close sale was timed to happen during New Ulm’s city-wide GnomeMade Market. Items for sale include yarns, embroidery floss, notions, patterns and gift items. Nadel Kunst still has several finished needlework projects created by Hillesheim for sale, including a few Minnesota Gopher scarfs. Earl said outside of knitting, Hillesheim was addicted to sports. Several of her knit crafts incorporated Minnesota sports team colors.

Earl said one thing she will always remember about her friend is the Christmas stockings she made for children.

“If someone she knew had a baby she would make a Christmas stocking and put the child’s name on it,” Earl said. “That’s something you can keep forever.”

After the sale, any remaining materials will be donated to charities. NUMAS Haus will receive some yarn. The Thimble Box has agreed to help distribute materials to fabric-based charities. Pro Kinship for Kids will also receive some knitting supplies.

Earl said Hillesheim was very active in the community and would want the inventory to be used for something good.

“She was a good, fun-loving person,” Earl said. “She will be missed.”