the blue blog archives: my first yarn crawl

Wee one, all ready for her first yarn crawl! Johanna and I took the kiddos on a North Shore yarn crawl - a trip up the coast, a few stores, babies... good times.

Our first stop was A Yarn Over Marblehead in Marblehead (of course). Cute store, very friendly, and a nice mix of yarns. Some of my faves in the store were Southwest Trading Company's Karaoke yarn (they had the cutest little sample knit up), Mission Falls wool (it's great to see this back in the stores again), and the locally hand-dyed Marblehead merino. The owner is working on a big Charmed Knits window display, so you know I'll be back up there soon to check it out and sign a few books.

Next we headed down to Salem (a whole like four miles away) to Seed Stitch. We'd heard raves about this store and it was lovely. It reminded me of purl in NYC with a table full of luscious swatches to greet you at the front door and all kinds of samples labeled with beautiful little tags. There wasn't nearly as much yarn there as at purl (even though purl is only about a quarter of the size), but like purl, they have only chosen the best yarns so every single yarn in the store is a gem.

We made a longer stop in Salem at Crunchy Granola Baby (love that name!) for some baby time. You know you can do a little nursing and diaper changing at an organic baby store! And what a fabulous baby store this is - so friendly and welcoming, and stocked with cloth diapers, natural baby products and cutie patootie organic baby clothes. There was lots of space for a feeding and some tummy time. We all loved it!

Last on our mini-yarn crawl (I had to be home by early afternoon to pick up the boys from school) was Cranberry Quilters in Hamilton. One of our most fabulous knitsmith knitters, Terri, recommended this store and since she always knits beautiful things, we knew that the store wouldn't disappoint. And it sure didn't. You'd never know that this unassuming house on the roadside would be filled with such wonderful yarns! It's not fancy, but they've got a large selection of yarns with lots of Debbie Bliss and Rowan and a huge space for sitting and knitting. I love it when yarn stores are in houses and the yarn is divided up in different rooms. It's so cool to wander into the next room and discover even more yarn. I wish I had a few extra rooms in my house...

All in all, it was a great trip. It's amazing that there can be so many stores so close to each other (and because of our limited time, we only visited the stores we happened to hear good things about) and yet each of them was so different. Your friendly local store, your high-end luxury store, and the place you know you can go to find the yarn for your next project. As far as yarn stores go, we've got it pretty good up here.

posted by alison at 9:46 am | in fantastic fiber voyage

Comments

Looks like a good time by all! Love the pic with the kiddos out in front of the store. And I SO want a store around by me with organic baby items! We had to order H's cloth diapers off the internet through internet reviews. I would have loved to see stuff in person before hand.

Posted by: Deana at May 16, 2007 9:57 AM

It was a great day AND the babies did wonderfully... we'll have to do it again soon and hit the other stores we've heard so much about and didn't get to yesterday. We are definitely living in a fiber friendly area!

Posted by: Johanna at May 16, 2007 10:06 AM

Wow, two of my favorite yarn stores AND my favorite baby store in one trip (I live less than 15 minutes from all of those places)! I haven't been to Yarn over Marblehead since they changed locations. I wasn't that impressed with their store at the old location but it sounds like it's a lot nicer now that they've moved so I will have to check it out!

Don't you love Crunchy Granola Baby?? A little on the pricey side, but the stuff is so cute, and of course worth it since it's all organic/fair trade etc...still stings a little that I spent $24 on an organic onesie that June got to wear ONCE before she outgrew out, but c'est la vie!

Posted by: Bertha at May 16, 2007 10:47 AM

Sounds like a great time!! I wanted to let you know that your book arrived at my house the other day and I LOVE it!! What to knit first??? I think that my daughter and I need matching Weasley sweaters for fall.

Posted by: J. Denae at May 16, 2007 11:06 AM

I'm so glad you got to check out Cranberry Quilters, they've really expanded their yarn section (all the yarn used to be down stairs in one room where all the quilting stuff now is) and it's right around the corner from where I work (danger, danger). Next time you guys come up shoot me an email and I'll meet you for lunch. I'm trying to make it to Knitsmiths this week so maybe I'll see you there :-)

Posted by: Terri at May 16, 2007 11:43 AM

I saw charmed knits for the first time yesterday, in Waterstones (bug Uk Book shop chain). The only problem was that they had put it in the embroidery section :(
I was so excited I almost tapped a shop assistant on the shoulder, to say "I know her!", then realised that she probably wouldn't have understood :(

Oh well, I have put the book on my birthday present list, cos if I buy it now I simply won't get anything finished, but it was great to finally be able to have a flick through.

Posted by: sarah at May 16, 2007 11:48 AM

Awww - such cute wee ones & what a great idea to take them on a yarn crawl. My grandsons love to go to yarn shops with mommy & grandma. Our favorite one has a toy area at the front for them & they also love the great colors & soft fibers. Crunchy Granola Baby looks like a great shop. I noticed that they carry Haba toys which are just about the best baby, toddler toys I've bought for the wee ones. I just bought a few baby toys for Baby M since the boys have an entire room full of Thomas (& other toys) & she has almost none & she has reached the age where she can use her hands well & enjoys her toys. The Haba Sheep is great - I love anything sheepy & this is just the right size for baby hands to hold & manipulate (a little less than 4" high). It has a soft furry fleece & the head & feet are made out of hard wood with non-toxic shellac - great for a teething baby to chew on. It was Baby M's favorite of the new toys.

Posted by: Donna at May 16, 2007 12:12 PM

Oooh she looks so happy to get going on the yarn crawl!
Sounds like a great time! It's so nice to have days out like that! I am looking forward to one at the end of the month!

Posted by: Denise at May 16, 2007 1:41 PM

That sounds like such a great time, she certainly looks like she enjoyed it!!

Posted by: allie at May 16, 2007 1:43 PM

Could your little wee one be any cuter? I don't think so. Sounds like a fabulous day.
~Liz

Posted by: Liz at May 16, 2007 1:43 PM

it looks like a fun day but you missed one of my favorites - yarns in the farms! (www.yarnsinthefarms.com i think)
seed stitch is moving across the street next month and beadworks is supposed to move in (like the one on newbury st. in boston!)
also, to the earlier commenter - cranberry quilters doesnt have fabric anymore. i learned that the hard way. but they have lots of nice yarn still.

Posted by: sari at May 16, 2007 2:08 PM

Congratulations on getting out and about with the babies. My book came! I think there's an Errol in our future - both my grown-up daughters are Potter freaks. Since Knit Wit in Rockport closed, it has been necessary to range further afield in search of yarn. Haven't done Seed Stitch yet, but Cranberry Fiber, as you mention, now has a big (but not all-inclusive) selection. Yarns in the Farms (afternoons only during the week, anyway) is great fun and very charming to visit - they have lots and lots of books, too. They also just love to have babies visit! Once you get in there, you'll have to stay a while.

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at May 16, 2007 3:06 PM

I've been spending a fair amount of time up in Salem, and definitely like the store up there. The space is well managed. And they're moving across the street soon!

Posted by: Amber at May 16, 2007 3:10 PM

Looks like a fun adventure!

Posted by: Nadia Lewis at May 16, 2007 3:20 PM

Yarns in the Farms was on our list, but we had to skip it for time reasons. Thanks for recommending it - now we have a reason for another yarn crawl! :)

Posted by: ALISON at May 16, 2007 4:13 PM

I love ABBOTT YARN SHOP in Beverly on Cabot St. Pretty old-school, the owner has all of these great instruction booklets, she has amazing prices and last time I was there I got 10 balls of jo sharp silkroad aran for 1.90 apiece!!!

Posted by: katy at May 16, 2007 6:47 PM

Yarns in the Farms is my favourite also. I spent last summer near them and they were awesome! Well worth a trip!

Posted by: Tanya at May 16, 2007 6:51 PM

You went very close to my old hometown of Beverly. It's been 13 years since I've lived in MA and reading your post made me a little homesick for it. Your crawl sounds like it made for a wonderful day.

Posted by: Ingrid at May 16, 2007 7:34 PM

Oh babies - wee one has such a sweet little smile, I took my toddler to the yarn store and he was into everything. He tripped over the reinforcing yarn display once and then tipped it over on purpose two minutes later. Can we just skip two and head right to three?

Posted by: Sonya at May 16, 2007 9:12 PM

wow ! it really seems to me an adventure.

i enjoy reading articles like this. i hope you will find good educational href="http://www.babies-home.com/">baby toys
for your child

Posted by: mujju at May 17, 2007 12:16 AM

Wee One is too cute.

I loved the photo of her sleeping. It's soooo comforting.

Posted by: Anita at May 17, 2007 1:40 AM

Baby L is getting so big! And you did all that, on the North Sho-ah, before early afternoon? You rock!

Posted by: colleen at May 17, 2007 7:15 AM

Look at how thrilled she is for her 1st yarncrawl!

Crunchy Granola is the best name! I love it.

Posted by: Miss Scarlett at May 17, 2007 10:34 AM

Looks like a fun trip with well behaved little ones. Future knitters I'm sure! You'll have to try Butterfly Yarns in Wakefield. Great store and wonderful owners. Can't stay away.
Lisa

Posted by: Lisa at May 17, 2007 9:40 PM

Oh dear, you missed YARNS IN THE FARMS! You must make another trip! Not only are there beautiful, yummy yarns, books, bags and buttons in the most cozy environment, but, Jill and Carolyn love babies! Next stop.

Posted by: slip at May 18, 2007 9:13 PM

Oh My Gosh she is adorable.. and i be the boys are totally bonkers over her!! ??
I can't believe it has been solong since i've been on here.. congrats to you and the FAMILY!!
ps i'm doing odds and ends for SWTC.. out here in phoenix.. and loving the heat! :-) lots and lots of hugs Karola

Posted by: Karola at May 18, 2007 9:47 PM

Hi Alison,
I met you once at Knitsmiths and have been an avid follower of your blog since :)
I just wanted to let you know that you can get Karaoke closer to home if you ever need it - I work p/t at Circles and we sell it. I went through an obsessive Karaoke phase - it's great stuff. Just a heads up for ya :)

Posted by: Hannah at May 22, 2007 11:28 AM