As one of the South Sound Yarn Crawlers, I chose to write a review of my observations of the shops, and surroundings of those shops, during the 2008 South Sound Yarn Crawl (SSYC).
At first, I just planned to do the review for my own personal benefit, but then thought about sharing my views with the SSYC. Once I got the ‘ok’ to do the review for the SSYC website, I started telling the shop owners that I was doing a review of the yarn crawl and for those who asked where the review would show up, I told them that it was going to be on the SSYC website. Since that time, there being at least a few negative reviews (Who’d have thought that others would share my thoughts of it being a good idea to write my opinion to share with the world?), I was told that my review wouldn’t be placed on the website. So, I’ve decided to put this in my personal blog and still share it with everybody, including the shop owners.
First, let me get the disclosures out of the way…
I am only one person and am presenting only my own personal opinion and observations. My thoughts and opinions are not necessarily shared by anyone affiliated with or who participated in the 2008 SSYC. I have strived to write this as unbiased as possible and to be as honest as I can. The order in which I have listed the ten shops involved in this year’s SSYC is not in any particular order of preference; but simply the order in which this writer visited the shops. To answer any curious questions…the reason behind the order had to do with careful planning concerning geographical location in reference to my home, shop hours and the price of gas.
Each shop owner was simply handed a short questionnaire and told that I was writing a review for the SSYC and asked if they’d please fill it out. Everybody was happy and cooperative to do their part by participating. Each entrepreneur was also given the opportunity to tell us anything else that they might like us to know about their small section of fiber ‘heaven’.
In reading the review, please keep in mind that anything written in purple are my own words. Anything that is in black print is written either exactly the way the shop owner wrote it in my notebook, or rewritten by myself to work the shop owners notes into complete sentences and changed to be written in the third person. If I’ve misprinted something or ‘gotten the information wrong’, please bare in mind that I am not a professional writer and let me know so that I can make the changes as soon as possible.
Starting out the day and having just recently taken some anti-inflammatory medicine to help me get through the day, I started out with my double canes. What a surprise when I got to the first shop!
Shop #1
1) Name of Shop: Amanda’s Art-Yarn/Paulsbo, WA yarnstore@silverlink.net
2) Shop Owner: Amanda Richardson
3) Years in business: 18 Years
4) Years at this location: 18 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Spin, Knit, Weave, Felt, Dye, Crochet, Design Patterns
6) How did you get started in this business?
Amanda shared that ‘years ago’ she raised rabbits to sell for meat. Then she started raising
Running out of room and not liking the idea of storing her product in boxes, Amanda started the shop to have a working studio to have an area to spin and dye her own yarn. Thus…a full service yarn shop, Amanda’s Art-Yarn, was born.
Amanda’s Art-Yarn does have a mailing list.
Amanda’s Art-Yarn is located in beautiful downtown, ‘touristy’
Amanda’s Art-Yarn is located on the second floor but, there’s a back entrance with only seven steps. If you can negotiate those seven steps you’ll be amazed at what you find once you enter the back door. Although a small shop, Amanda made every inch count. And, talking with Amanda about the inconvenience of the steps, she let me in on her secret. It’s by maintaining the shop at its present location that she’s allotted more floor space and able to keep competitive prices on her products.
Oh, I’d almost forgotten to mention the classroom which is the home for some weaving apparatuses, a hand-cranked carder and at least one spinning wheel. Oh, I was blissfully pleased before I’d taken more than a few steps. I couldn’t believe all the wonderfully dyed roving (although she had some natural), yarns, wools and mixed fibers. She had drop spindles and dpn’s in size #17. I snatched those things right away. I left there with my purse about $70 lighter but I had a huge smile on my face for all the booty I’d acquired. Oh, definitely a MUST SEE if you get up near Paulsbo.
I loved Amanda’s brilliantly colored roving in bulk and the large variety of crafts she catered to. And, who couldn’t love Amanda’s wonderful personality. She was not only fun to talk with but, she was knowledgeable and willing to go get the items that I wanted and didn’t see, so that I didn’t have to walk any more than was necessary. What a Sweetie!
Next was a short jog down to Silverdale.
Shop #2
1) Name of Shop: Linda’s Knit N’ Stitch/Silverdale, WA
www.lindasknitnstitch.com Linda@lindasknitnstitch.com
2) Shop Owner: Linda Johnson
3) Years in business: 12 ½ Years
4) Years at this location: 3 ½ Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Knit, Crochet
6) How did you get started in this business?
Linda worked at Yarncraters for five years. When they went out of business she decided to open her own shop. She states ‘the rest is history’. But, she can, and does, boast that theirs is the only yarn shop that offers a rose garden, and that they are housed in an old church that is one hundred years old. Their ‘upstairs’ neighbor isn’t quite ‘the man upstairs’ but, rather, a bead store. And, every other Tuesday they have ‘Chicks with Sticks’ in for a potluck. The ‘Chicks’ not only enjoy good grub but good fellowship while eating and laughing. Oh, yes, they also get a few stitches of knitting and crocheting squeezed in there as well. The second Friday of the last month of the quarter (for those, like myself, who aren’t too good at calendars and quarters…that means March, June, September and December—I think!) they do the Silverdale Art Walk, where a local artist hangs their art work and pays them a personal visit.
Linda’s Knit N’ Stitch does have a mailing list.
The Gathering Room: A large room intended for gatherings as described above.
The youngest ‘regular’ to Linda’s Knit N’ Stitch is Grandson , who’s been ‘tending the store’ since he was three months old.
Linda’s Knit & Stitch had a comfortable laid-back atmosphere with her grandson there. I walked in during his mealtime and it was a joy to see the little one. He was fascinated with my cane. Linda had many things to brag about but a few are the remodeling of her bathroom, which was a surprise gift for her (I especially liked the bathroom lamp made of a canning jar with little balls of purple yarn inside of it), secondly she has a huge rose garden out front and the ‘granddaddy’ of all is the uniqueness of her shop being housed in an old church. How cool is that?
Then came the gorgeous drive to Allyn. This was absolutely beautiful with the sunshine, clear atmosphere, perfectly blue lakes and great company of another yarn ‘petter’.
Note: By this time my pain medicines were kicking in and I graduated to using my cane. Wheee!!!!
Shop #3
1) Name of Shop: Allyn Knit Shop & Spinning Supply/Allyn, WA
www.allynknitandspin.com Allyn Knit Shop & Spinning Supply can be emailed via their website
2) Shop Owner: Lois Henderson
3) Years in business: 6 Years
4) Years at this location: 3 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Spin, Weave, Felt, Knit, Crochet, Needle Felt
6) How did you get started in this business?
Lois has been doing knitting and crochet since the age of five (no, she didn’t give enough info-such as a number of years she’s been crafting-to let us figure how old she is now. A lady never gives away her age). When the previous owner was going to close the shop, in 2005, Lois couldn’t bear to see it close. So she not only stepped up and took notice, she also took over.
Allyn Knit Shop & Spinning Supply does have a mailing list.
Allyn Knit Shop & Spinning Supply is another quaint shop but it’s well packed with a wide variety of craft items. In the back area is a marvelous area with ‘Walton’s’ style of table for crafters to sit and enjoy their craft of choice. And tucked in the corner are some looms for weaving and I found very interesting (since I’ve never tried that art). Speaking with some of the ladies at the table, I found some multi-talented ladies in the community of Allyn.
Although we enjoyed the scenery, it was just a short drive down to
Shop #4
1) Name of Shop: Fancy Image Yarn/Shelton, WA www.fancyimageyarn.com
2) Shop Owner:
3) Years in business: 22 Years
4) Years at this location: 10 ½ Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Hand-Dyed Yarns, Knitting, Weaving, Crochet
6) How did you get started in this business?
Interest in Knitting that turned into Spinning yarn from my own sheep &
Fancy Image Yarn does have a mailing list.
A quaint shop with an easy atmosphere. The shop contains a 2nd, bottom, floor; which the shop owner assured this disabled writer that the best was ‘up-top’, housing home spun and hand-dyed yarns. A co-yarn crawler attested to the fact that there was some special deals to be found for taking the trip down the flight of stairs to the floor below.
Fancy Yarns has bragging rights on sitting areas both inside and out. While inside makes for a cozy place to sit and work with the ‘yarn of the month’, outside stands a festively decorated wooden alpaca which watches over the flower boxes and herb garden, inviting those of the ‘yarn persuasion’ to come inside.
And, what seemed like even less time, we were soon in
Note: Hobbling, but I was able to leave my cane in the truck. Yippie! I could move around the shop without a third leg.
Shop #5
1) Name of Shop: Canvas Works/Olympia, WA www.canvasworks.net
2) Shop Owner: Nancy Graybeal
3) Years in business: 30 Years
4) Years at this location: 5 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Knitting, Crochet, Needle Felting, Spinning, Sewing
6) How did you get started in this business?
Simply put…a love of fiber arts and handwork
Canvas Works does have a mailing list.
Located within just a few blocks from Washington’s State Capital and also within walking distance of at least two gorgeous city parks, I found this shop worth a return trip to enjoy the local surroundings as well as to be able to take time to enjoy looking over the city’s hidden treasures; which I know I had to have missed today.
Nancy’s love of Knitting, Crochet, Needle Felting, Spinning and Sewing cannot be denied when you look around Canvas Works. From the front and all the way to the back of this hugacious of huge craft stores, each nook and cranny are filled with fiber arts and the tools to go with the trade. Some of the items you’ll find in Nancy’s craft store are yarns of too numerous brands and mediums to mention, pattern books, unique instrumental tools, material (from delicate print quilting cotton to outside fabrics and vinyl’s).
Canvas Works was the largest of all the shops that I saw on the 2008 SSYC. Therefore, the layout was very spacious and there was plenty of room between the isles and turnable racks.
Note: Okay, I was starting to feel the pain in my knees and back again but, I decided to do another shop without the cane so that I could keep my hands free for the camera.
Shop #6
1) Name of Shop: Lamb’s Ear/Tacoma, WA www.lambsearfarm.com rockfarm@gte.net
2) Shop Owner: Roxi Willoughby
3) Years in business: 9 Years
4) Years at this location: 8 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Mostly Knitting, also Crochet, Spin, Dye, Weave, Felt
6) How did you get started in this business?
It seems that Roxi was taken by surprised into entrepreneurship. Although she’s crocheted since her childhood, she learned to knit in the mid 1990’s. Within a year she had learned to spin on a drop spindle. And, just a couple of months later she had acquired her first spinning wheel. Following the pattern of ‘moving along quickly’ Roxie was the proud mamma to a spinner’s flock of six sheep and an Angora goat. Admittedly, she was addicted. Roxie’s husband must be a ‘real keeper’-definitely one in a million-since he gave up claim to that outside room that women call a ‘garage’ and converted it into a fiber studio just for her.
It was about this same time that the local yarn shop, at the Tacoma Mall, was closing. And, having the supportive husband that she does, her hubby came up with another brilliant idea and they began to stock some yarns and needles for their “local knitting community”. It wasn’t long before they outgrew the ‘outdoor room’ hand moved to their current location.
Lamb’s Ear does have a mailing list.
Classes Taught: Magic Loop Socks, Dropped Stitches, Artfelt, Basic Brioche Stitch Scarf, Introduction to Continental Knitting, Worsted Weight magic Loop Socks, Circular Needles; Why We Love Them, Cast On Clinic, Drop Spindling
Roxi, at the Lamb’s Ear, had a selection of patterns from Annie’s Attic and Leisure Arts. Some people consider these publications to be ‘lower scale’ but, does it really matter who published the pattern if you like the item? Not to me! In the past, I’ve spent $21.00 on one book just to get one pattern, because I really wanted that pattern. I’ve also turned down a book that was priced at next to nothing, because there just weren’t any patterns that I was interested in. While I enjoy the high-end books on crochet it’s also refreshing to find the fun things found in the inexpensive booklets. It was nice to find a variety of pattern styles that will encompass not only the experienced needle crafters but, the less experienced as well.
Getting late in the day, we decided to call it ‘a day’ and venture through the rest of our crawl tomorrow.
The first shop on day #2 took us way out in the country. Did I say WAY OUT in the country? But, it was another wonderful drive and tucked away was a cute little Alpaca farm.
Shop #7
1) Name of Shop: Alpaca Spin/Auburn, WA www.SpinAlpaca.com
2) Shop Owner: Eva Gallagher
3) Years in business: 10 Years
4) Years at this location: 10 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Shear & Raise Alpacas, Comb, Card, Dye, Spin, Knit, Crochet, Weave, Felt Alpaca
6) How did you get started in this business?
In 1998 we moved to the farm, bought three Llamas and three bags of fleece, and a pair of English wool combs. After processing and selling the fleece, we bought more inventory, tools, Alpacas and fleece. We’ve enjoyed growing our business and now have an e-commerce site, travel to trade shows and special event and host summertime yarn arts.
We will host our fourth annual 'Yarn Arts Happy Hour' Wednesday evenings June 18 - August 13 from 4 - 8pm.
The spinning wheel I use to generate our handspun alpaca yarn is a 1999 Watson “Marie” hand made in
I had met Eva, and her daughter, last year at the open house for a
And, let’s face it…how many places can you go to and pick up Alpaca roving or home spun yarn fresh from the farm?
Back across the
Shop #8
1) Name of Shop: Yarn Garden/Gig Harbor, WA www.theyarngarden.com
2) Shop Owner: Tracy Patton & Trish Gereb
3) Years in business: 5 Years
4) Years at this location: 3 Years
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Knit, Crochet, Beading, Needle Felting
6) How did you get started in this business?
My sister and I chose to open this store when her first grandchild was on the way. We realized there was no yarn shop in
If you’ve never visited the
Though the drive from
Shop #9
1) Name of Shop: Shibori Dragon/Lakewood, WA
www.shiboridragon.com shiboridragon@juno.com
2) Shop Owner: Becky & Joe Scellato
3) Years in business: 1 Year as a yarn shop but started out as a quilt shop
4) Years at this location: 1 Year
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner:
6) How did you get started in this business?
The proprietors of Shibori Dragon were away during the day that I visited their shop during the yarn crawl. Because the shop owners opted out of filling out the questionnaire, their selves, I can only supply the information given to me by the shop clerks. But, of course, I also have my own information that I gathered from walking through the store.
The first thing I noticed upon entering the shop was the diversity of items within the shop. There was yarn, beads, fabrics, sewing patterns, needle felting fibers, scrapbooking supplies and oh too many things to mention. The specialty of the day (at least that’s what I assumed it was for) was the cutest little ‘kit’ for socks-some wonderful sock yarn, a pattern, chop sticks and graffiti paper in a Chinese ‘to go’ carton. If I wasn’t already in the middle of designing a pair of socks I’d have been tempted to purchase the kit. Shibori Dragon had a wonderful table full of baskets of yarns and patterns. All were marked at terrific discounts. Oh yes, the patterns were mostly cross stitch; which reminds me about the little ‘in between’ room full of all sorts of yarns and threads for cross stitch, needlework and (I’m sure) more crafts that I’m unaware of or forgetting at this moment. There was wonderful knit and bead work all over the fiber room and in the fabric room my eyes were drawn to the quilts that hung either from the ceiling (or maybe just were up so high that it seems that they hung from the ceiling) or were hanging on the walls.
The craft room was huge and what was most impressive to me was that this room supplies the students with a mini kitchenette. Not only is there a coffee pot but, there’s also a dorm sized refrigerator, microwave and a sink. Who wouldn’t find this a comforting area to do crafting in?
Throughout the shop was hints of the Shibori Dragon theme; miniature framed kimono’s, dragons, figures of at least one geisha girl and much more. And, getting back to the beads; other than Ship Wreck Beads, this was the largest selection of beads that I’ve seen in the Pacific
And, the last shop on my passport, being just a short drive away, in the same town….
Shop #10
1) Name of Shop:
www.yorkshireyarns.com info@yorkshireyarns.com
2) Shop Owner: Sonya K. Acord
3) Years in business: 1 Year
4) Years at this location: 1 Year
5) Fiber arts done by the shop owner: Knit
6) How did you get started in this business?
We’re a full service shop with yarn, patterns, buttons, notions and classes. We have a comfortable 1500 square foot shop with plenty of space for groups and social events.
What a wonderful way to end the day. Sonya’s shopkeeper welcomed us with an open smile. Upon seeing that she was putting the last stamp on our passports she even placed her hand (shaped to form a circle) to her mouth and gave us her imitation of a trumpet call. Who couldn’t laugh at that? It was just what we needed at that moment and time. Then, we noticed the refreshments and the huge suede (?) recliner sectional set inviting us from the other room. But, first we had to pass by the treasure chest that housed wonderful yarns with a sign displaying 60% off. Somehow we both seemed to find renewed energy…at least enough to remove a good amount of yarn from the trunk. LOL Sorry if we didn’t leave a whole lot for the rest of ya, but…oh who am I kidding? NOT!!!!!!
Although Sonya admits to only doing knitting; I personally know that she has people around her who know how to do most of the other needle arts (if not all of them). Therefore, she’s able to provide class instructions to almost anybody who desires to learn.
My ‘overall’ opinion of the shops and the SSYC:
I do wish that the hours were more uniform and maybe longer than the usual business hours as some of us traveled a great distance. I spent 178 miles the first day and only managed to get to six shops. Then, on the second day, I had to back-track to a shop that I missed on the first day, because of shop hours.
Although I knit, tat, cross stitch, needle felt and do various other crafts, I also crochet. Crochet is one of the biggest needle arts but I found very little crochet items on display-even from the shop owners who said that they crochet along with their other crafts. Also, (and keep in mind that most crocheters realize that knitting is much more popular than crochet-right now-there are still a lot of crochet books and pattern leaflets/booklets in publication), on the whole, there just was very minimal crochet patterns to be found.
And, although many said that they crocheted, upon searching out the store web sites, I found that crochet (and the other needle arts) was either not mentioned anywhere at all or was mentioned in a limited degree. Knitting, on the other hand was everywhere. I’m hoping the shop owners will take heart and realize that we crafters are a very diversified group and do multiple needle arts. We’d like to see a little bit of everything to be featured in your stores. I, personally, don’t mind that knitting is more expressed than the other crafts. It’s just more popular, right now. But, we do other things and would like to be able to get the supplies and especially the patterns.
I found two shops that sold thread small enough for tatting and three that sell the equivalent of a size #10, #20 or #30 thread. These can be used for tatting, crochet and knitting. And, then, there’s the art of bobbin lace making that uses threads.
Here, I’ve mentioned a few negatives but, all in all, I loved every one of these shops and look forward to visiting them again…when I have ample time to look around and see everything. I was totally overwhelmed with all the color, texture and yarn types that I saw in the two days that I did the crawl.
Shop Owners:
I’d like to personally thank all of the shop owners who participated in the 1st annual SSYC and I hope that it brought you much business, new customers and new friends. I know that it must have been a lot of work for you to get set up for all the traffic into your stores and the discounts you offered were greatly appreciated. I also hope you enjoyed it so much that we’ll have a 2nd annual SSYC next year.
Yarn Crawlers:
I’ve listed the shop owners web sites and email addresses, where provided, so that (now that the rush is over) you can take the opportunity to contact the entrepreneurs and let them know how much you appreciated the hard work they all put into making this years SSYC a huge success.
SSYC Coordinators:
I’m sure that I couldn’t even imagine how much effort went into scheduling this event, making arrangements with the shop owners and encouraging them to participate, advertising, setting up the website with all the shops information, printing passports, setting rules for the yarn crawl and all the ‘behind scenes’ things that had to be taken care of. My hats off to you and I look forward to doing it again next year.
