Welcomed In

Celebrating the yarn shops that make us feel seen, supported, and inspired

Local Yarn Store Day is this Saturday, April 26 — and I’ve been thinking a lot about what these small but mighty shops really mean to us as makers. I asked readers to share their favorite LYSs, and today, I’m excited to pass those recommendations along. But first, I want to share a few thoughts of my own — because while my experiences at yarn shops haven’t always been picture-perfect, they’ve made me even more passionate about supporting the shops that get it right.

If you’ve ever walked into a yarn shop and felt a little out of place, you’re not alone. I’ve had my share of not-so-great experiences — especially early on in my yarn journey. For many years, I was lucky enough to have a yarn shop within blocks of my apartment, but I stopped going because every visit left me feeling unwelcome. Every time I went in, I was ignored completely. And the one time I had a question, the owner gave me a condescending reply.

More than once, at different stores, I’ve been asked “What are you knitting?” and been met with funny looks when I say that I crochet. One staff member straight up walked away when they realized I was a crocheter. Another told me she didn’t think they had any yarn that would be suitable for crochet and maybe I should try the big box store. Really?

This kind of treatment always baffles me — don’t they know that crocheters are some of the best yarn customers? Crocheters are powerhouse yarn users! We tend to use more yarn per project and often finish quickly — meaning we’ll be back in no time to buy more yarn for the next project.

Those less-than-welcoming experiences have only made me appreciate the great ones even more. And that’s what today’s newsletter is all about — I want to show some love to the Local Yarn Stores out there that make everyone feel welcome, those who believe that your project is special just because you’re making it, and those who will do whatever it takes to provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to accomplish your goals.

I’ll get the ball rolling by giving a shout-out to my local yarn shop, Knotty Twist, located inside Cottonwood Junction at 141 North Main Street, Pocatello, Idaho. The owner, Alana, is knowledgeable, friendly, and possibly the sweetest person I’ve ever met.

But I’d also like to give a shout-out to my previous LYS, The Tangled Ball in Edgewater, Colorado. Marcia and her team are absolute wonders! In addition to creating a warm and welcoming space filled with a remarkable selection of yarn, they’ve also put together some fabulous special events like Yarn Around the Fire and Maker’s Night Out.

And now, here’s the list of Local Yarn Shops recommended by you

“Just wanted to pipe up here as a New Englander to say that Webs is also a brick and mortar store that is my local here in western Massachusetts. It was family owned until maybe 5 years ago (I still see the now-retired original owners driving around town in their cars with WEBS1 and WEBS2 license plates :). The local staff is wonderful, they host very cool classes including online, and they have an incredible clearance section that's also available online (look for me prowling around in there--it's a huge barnlike space). I highly recommend Webs as a yarn field trip!” ~Jody

Randy gives a shout-out to Knit 'n Purl in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.

“Circle of Stitches in Salem, Massachusetts, is the cutest yarn shop! Unfortunately, they had a flood so their physical shop is closed right now, but the online store is open. They offer an online concierge service to help you pick out the right yarn for your project. For a small fee, you can also book live online appointments for knitting and crochet help.” ~Maddie

Cindy gives a shout-out to Calico & Ivy, Swanbourne WA, Australia.

“Skein Sisters, 721 New Canterbury Rd, Dulwich Hill NSW, Australia. Go to the store if you can – it’s a good spot to be. Their online store is great too and they have a nice newsletter.” ~Barb

Jeannie gives a shout-out to Needlepoint Joint in Ogden, Utah.

“I love going to the Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia. It’s a charming store. Friendly and knowledgeable folks there.” ~Natalie

Cheryl gives a shout-out to Stix Yarn in Bozeman, Montana.

Sara gives a shout-out to The Fibreworks in downtown Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, UK.

“I travel for business a lot and if I have time I like to check out local shops. Was in St. Paul and stopped by The Yarnery on St. Claire. A wonderful shop. Well organized and inspiring. Friendly staff too. I recommend it!” ~Marina

Finn gives a shout-out to Morris and Sons on York Street in Sydney (Australia).

“Warm Valley Orchard on Orcas Island, WA is a lovely place to visit, including for spinners and weavers!” ~Rebecca

Austin TX: Hill Country Weavers. I feel so lucky to have this shop close by. ~Jordan

I really enjoyed visiting Stephen & Penelope in Amsterdam. ~P.K.

Thanks to everyone who shared a story, recommendation, or kind word about their local yarn store. If you’re able, stop by your LYS tomorrow — they might have something special planned for Local Yarn Store Day, and I can just about guarantee they’ll be happy to see you.

Let’s keep showing up for the places that make our creative communities thrive.

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Having you in my crochet circle means so much to me. Sent on the first Friday, the monthly newsletter features new patterns, new stitch tutorials, tips and tricks, hot topics in the yarn industry, book and yarn reviews, customer projects, and a peek into my design process. Additional special mailings (like this one), which delve deeper into these topics, are sent on the Fridays that follow. Contact me at any time by replying to this email or to crochet@JenniferOlivarez.com. I would love to hear from you!

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