Why I love Local Yarn Stores

Happy Local Yarn Store Day!

There comes a time in a crafty person’s life when they venture outside the big box store bubble and discover the wonderful world of local yarn stores. Local Yarn Store Day is an annual celebration of the small businesses that make that possible.

In honour of Local Yarn Store Day, I’ve compiled a list of reasons why local yarn stores are so special to me:

• The staff: specialty stores of any kind need folks who know the very specific tricks of the trade to run the show, and yarn stores are no exception. “Fibre arts” can mean anything from knitting and crochet to rug-making, embroidery, and cross-stitch, and the staff members of every yarn store I’ve ever set foot in have always wowed me with their considerable wealth of knowledge. They are exceptionally helpful and willing to guide you to your next project.
• Indie inventory: while big box craft stores are rife with a few big brands of yarn (almost exclusively in combinations of cotton, acrylic, and generic wool), local yarn stores carry boutique, independent, and small-batch yarn — much of which is dyed by hand. Some stores even have their own in-house exclusive yarns they dye themselves or have their own one-of-a-kind yarn colourways made for them by other yarn dyers. Double supporting local, double the fun.
• Squish factor: It was at a local yarn store where I first discovered merino wool, and subsequently learned not only how biodiverse sheep are, but also that not all wool feels like sandpaper. It’s an expensive habit, but Malabrigo will always take precious, squishy space, in my heart and in my stash.
• Have a seat, and stay awhile: It’s not often these days that retail spaces will double as community hubs, but you’ll often see comfy couches to sit and stitch at in a local yarn store, classroom spaces for workshops, and weekly social nights are advertised in the window. Some even have a cafe built into the store. All these choices further cement local yarn stores as more than a place to get your stuff and get out; they are a gathering place.

On this day (but also every day, really), I encourage you to shop small and shop local where you can. Yarn stores are so special, and an integral part of my knitting experience.