Five Yarn Stores, One Week, Three States

Oh yeah, baby, and they were all new to me!

The first three came rapidly.  We hit them while at Spa, and they were all on Congress Street in Portland Maine.

Firstly, not a yarn store per se, but there is nothing lacking for the fiber enthusiast that walks through the doors of the Portland Fiber Gallery.  Fiber to spin and felt, yarn and gadgets, looms and wheels.  I didn't take in as much flavor as I could have, because I was distracted by a mission. 

An hour earlier I had decided that the DT Louet S51 was the wheel for me.  I would have made small compromises on the model, but it had to be a DT, and it had to be a Louet.  I walked in and asked Melody, the owner of this fine place, if she had any double treadle Louets.  She told me that she had "that one" and pointed to a wheel being used by a woman who immediately looked as though she could take it and run. "That's a 51, isn't it?"  "It is!" Melody and I talked price for a few moments.  She had me try out the wheel and then another, an Ashford Traveler.  The woman who had fallen in love with my Louet was behind me trying out other wheels 100%, as you can imagine.  I could have gotten used to the Ashford, but I loved the Louet at first spin.  So it came home with me.

The shop is clean, but not sterile, well organized, full of wonderfully knowledgeable people, and an absolute joy to spend a large amount of time it.  I will be back in the future to explore their fiber selection (I had Spa waiting for me back at the hotel.) 

The next shop, on the next day, was Knit Wit.  What a cute shop!  It's streamlined and hip, with working space the entire length of the store.  It's bright and inviting, and it has a coffee bar!  I am absolutely in love with how they handled this fairly narrow space.  If Ikea sold yarn that you'd want to buy, they'd do it in this space. The selection was great and the guy behind the counter was fantastic.  Very wonderful and highly recommended.

Next we rolled into Central Yarns (so. absolutely. jealous. of. Portland. knitters.  These stores are all withing 5 minutes of eachother).  Central yarns is cozy and bright.  The company is good and the selection is great.  The owner is a doll, and she runs a big open house on the Saturday of Spa.  I'm definitely stopping in next year (she feeds us). 

There, one state down.

Last week I was on the road, and Wednesday I decided that I was going to find a yarn store come hell or high water, and I did!  Great Yarns in Raleigh NC was a treat.  I walked in through their bright, pink door and said "I'm from NH, I just bought a wheel, I miss my knitting buddies, and no one understands!"  The sympathy and necessary coddling of my soul was instantaneous.  The store was great, good selection of everything you could need, little light on the sock yarn, but had a little bit of everything in that smallish space, so I don't gripe.  The company was top notch.  I got my fix, and it held me til I got home.

And finally, back home.  Yarn and Fiber sprung up like a mushroom after a rain shower.  I heard about a new LYS in Windham, NH and I figured it would be cute and small.  No, this woman means business (and she's selling my soap, so she's obviously a genius).  Every day everything found is 10% below retail.  She has a great selection with strong points on Noro and Cherry Tree Hill.  She offers all kinds of classes and an atmosphere that makes you feel like gearing up, relaxing down, getting to work, and exploring the creativity within.  I am truly glad to have her in my back yard.

OK, I think I'm going to pull down that Secret Pal Questionnaire and start looking at it.  I'll link to my last one and we'll check for evolution. 

And remember, kids: any bad day can be saved by a yarn store.

Comments

[Amanda]

Hi, Erika!

2 things... how did you like the Raleigh area? We are possibly visiting NC in the next several months (Cary, just outside Raleigh)...

2nd: I was at group one night after you had made a batch of soap, but was on the other side of the circle! My MIL loves lilac, and I was wondering (with Mother's day coming up in a few months) if you will can make batches like that with lilac?

I'll be there Wed night if you want to talk turkey...

Amanda :-)

[Arleta]

I'm so jealous! Sounds great.