5 simple steps to organising your own yarn crawl

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When Let’s Knit asked us to write a blog post about organising a yarn crawl, the first question was: where do we start? As far as we know, yarn crawls originally started in knitting communities in North America – usually in cities where there were a variety of shops to choose from. Think of a yarn crawl as the knitter’s version of a pub crawl – it’s an opportunity to visit a number of shops, each with different offerings, and to experience what makes each shop special.

Yarn crawls are a great way to bring the knitting community together and make new friends. But you don’t have to wait until there’s one in your town to participate – why not grab some knitting compatriots and do one on your own? Below are our top tips for organising one yourself:

1) Figure out which shops are in your area

We use Google as well as the Let’s Knit Yarn Shop Day map to get a sense of what yarn shops are in the area and where exactly they’re located. Decide whether you’ll be using public transport, driving or cycling on your yarn crawl as it may make a difference in how many shops you can include!

Also – are you multi-craftual? If there are only one or two yarn shops in your area, it might be possible to round out your day by visiting a fabric or quilting shop, or general haberdashery stores.

2) Plan your route and timings for your visits

Once you know what shops you’d like to visit, plot your route. Yarn crawls typically finish with some kind of party, so you might to end up in a pub or café to cast on a new purchase, or admire what your friends have bought and have a piece of cake! If you know where you’re going to finish, start with the shop the farthest away from that point.

Depending on how many shops you’re visiting, you’ll also want to pace yourself. Think about how much time you’ll want to spend in each shop, how much time you’ll need to get to the next one, and what time the shops are open. This might mean you can only visit one or two shops in the morning before needing a break for lunch, so plan accordingly.

3) Do your research

Check out the websites for each of the shops that you plan to visit. What do they offer that’s of interest and different from the other shops you’ll be visiting? Make a list of anything specific you’d like to see. If you’re shopping for a specific project, make sure you note yarn weight and yardage quantities that you’ll need, as well as any notions or needle sizes.

4) Wear comfy shoes!

Make sure you factor in time for a break for lunch or snacks as needed. It’s also a good idea to carry a bottle of water and some extra snacks, in case you need a pick me up along the way. Comfy shoes are also a must if there will be any walking on your journey, and don’t forget to pack a travel knitting project for those breaks!

5) A few final notes…

Yarn crawling is also an excellent way to support local shops and economy, but it needn’t break the bank! If budget is an issue, smaller purchases like buttons or patterns are a great way to show your support – or make a note of something that you’d like to come back for on another visit.

If you’re going to be yarn crawling with a large group of knitting friends, we’d also suggest calling ahead to the shop to let them know you’ve a large group coming in, just out of courtesy!

But most of all, have a wonderful time exploring and getting to know new and different places in your own yarn community that you may not have seen before. Who knows, you might just find a new favourite local yarn shop!

The Great London Yarn Crawl takes place this year on Saturday 5th September; visit www.yarninthecity.com for more information or follow #GLYC2015 on Twitter for the latest updates. Don’t forget to find your local yarn shop using our interactive map!