7 Reasons To Love Yarn Shops

Find out why yarn shops are our favourite places on the high street!

1. They sell yarn

It’s an obvious point, but an essential one. Us knitters love yarn and that means we also love people that sell it. We can walk into yarn stores and purchase wonderful fibres for our next project. What more can we want? Oh, did we mention they sell needles, patterns and notions too? Hurrah!

2. The staff are really clever

Whether you’re stuck on a pattern or aren’t sure on the care instructions for the yarn you bought last week, there are knowledgeable folk in yarn shops who are just waiting to help you out. Not sure on which yarn to buy for your latest pair of socks or baby blanket? Just ask at the counter and they will be more than happy to show you the way.

3. They are treasure troves of inspiration

We’ve all wandered around clothes shops waiting for something to jump out at us, and more often than not, those garments stay vexingly grounded. That never happens in yarn stores. It might be something scientific to do with the gravitational field in such premises, but we like to think it’s because there are so many colours, fibres and textures that it’s impossible not to be inspired. Sometimes whole packs of yarn just float into your basket. Amazing!

4. They let you touch the stock

There are none of those ‘Do Not Touch!’ signs here, get stuck in and see which fibres take your fancy! Squeeze, smell and stroke the skeins until you find the perfect yarn. We find under the chin or the inside of your forearm the best places for testing softness.

5. Other shoppers are interested in what you’re buying

No, they really are! If you’re in the green grocer’s and start telling a random stranger about your latest courgetti spaghetti recipe invention, the other shopper might start edging away. But in a yarn store, they’ll respond in kind. It’s a great way to get ideas and inspiration too!

6. The staff don’t think you’re crazy

In other shops staff may see you wandering past the same shelves again and again and assume you are casing the joint ahead of nefarious activities. Yarn shop staff appreciate that you are actually performing the impressive feat of simultaneously visualising your pattern, calculating how many balls you’ll need, remembering what’s already in your stash and trying to recall if Jenny wears purple. Whilst walking. And breathing.

7. They celebrate Yarn Shop Day!

That means brilliant special offers, exclusive patterns, goodie bags, freebies, raffles, and more! In some shops there’ll even be the chance to meet some of the industry’s favourite authors and designers. Find out if your local shop is involved by checking out our interactive map!