Robyn Chachula mentioned she was coming to my little part of the country so I offered up some must see's beyond the usual. Visit her blog to see her recap. There's a photo of the new Seattle Library (all glass), which I love but it costs too much to park there.
So, if you're coming to town, here's the scoop.
Yarn:
1. Weaving Works - U. District, right by Univ. of Washington. Love this shop! It's yarn, raw wool, roving, dyeing supplies, basket weaving supplies, spinning supplies, really friendly knowledgeable people.
2. Acorn Street - also near the U. District. Really great selection of mid - high end yarns. They have a nice balance of cottons, wools, and novelty. They have a small bit of dyed roving, spinning supplies, and buttons. They're so nice, you will have a warm fuzzy feeling when you leave.
3. The Fiber Gallery - Fabulous neighborhood, near the Zoo, Ballard. This store also has a great selection of mid - high end yarn but in a different way. They have a great selection of alternative and organic yarns at the front, bamboo, linen, hemp and hemp blends, shosenji, silks. I can barely get past that section. I also love their cotton offerings. Of course wool is represented. On a side note, I like this store because there is a small area for kids to play and I can actually look around and the kids will be busy for an hour!
4. Churchmouse Yarns and Teas - My favorite warm and fuzzy store. It's not necessarily the yarns, which is a good selection, mostly wools last time I was there, but it's the store, staff, and location. I ask to be taken here by my family for Mothers Day. It's a short, but beautiful trip, by Ferry to Bainbridge Island. Ferries leave directly out of downtown Seattle. The small village where Churchmouse is located is quaint. Churchmouse is just off the main street and directly below it on the main street is a fun fabric shop. First yarn, then fabric, then fish and chips on the bay is my routine. Churchmouse usually has a themed exhibit every month where local islanders knit and crochet the gallery samples. They also have an extensive tea and tea supply area within the shop. Their staff is fabulous!
Those are my favorite shops. Other shops of interest:
Hilltop Yarns - Queen Anne Hill, north end of downtown above Seattle Center and Space Needle. I used to think this shop was too snooty for me. Then, I participated in a Stitch N Bitch event there, got to meet the staff, and really looked around. Now, I think it's a very nice shop. They have a good selection and the staff is friendly. The neighborhood is great for other shopping as well, gifts, art, kids, and apparel.
Tricoter - Madison Park (just South of U. District) very high end shop with lots of novelty yarns. The staff is knowledgeable, but the atmosphere is a bit snooty. Their yarns are by color, which I don't like. They do have great store patterns and kits and a fabulous button selection. They've published a few beautiful books under the Tricoter brand. Small store, beautiful location right next to the Washington Arboretum and Japanese Gardens and not far from the U. District if you're going to the other two area shops.
Shops I really need to get to but haven't yet. So, if you go you have to tell me all about them:
So Much Yarn: Belltown (right next to the Space Needle and Seattle Center).
Stitches: Capital Hill, East end of Downtown. Fabric and Yarn, retro.
Yarn Gallery: West Seattle (a small trek from downtown). Supposed to have a great selection of all types of yarns.
Here's a list of stores from the Seattle Knitters Guild:
Places I think you must go while visiting Seattle:
First hit Ballard then jet back over Phinney Ridge to Fremont
Ballard - Scandanavian neighborhood; shopping; food
Archie McPhee's - totally weird stuff from rubber ducks to science beakers
Cupcake Royale - fab cupcakes and coffee
The Chittenden Locks - the locks that connect the freshwater lakes with the saltwater Puget Sound. You can see the salmon ladder and watch boats - big and small - go through the locks. Fish and chips and clam chowder nearby.
Fremont: lots of funky shops and a year round Saturday Market (usually featuring Croshay Design!)
Fremont Troll
Blue C - if you like sushi rolling around on a conveyor belt.
Gas Works Park
I've been to all 3 of your "haven't yet"s.
ReplyDeleteSo Much Yarn is right by my office, so I go there a lot. Small with a decent selection of yarns at average prices. The staff are very nice and there is always a variety of yarns on sale. Knitter-centric, but they do carry a few crochet hooks, books, etc.
Stitches is cute and funky but doesn't have much of a selection of yarns. They also sell fabric and notions. A bit pricey the last time I was there, so I didn't purchase anything.
Yarn Gallery is near my home, so I'm there nearly every weekend. Largish store, excellent variety of yarns, supplies, and notions, but the staff is a bit odd - the same person might be perfectly nice and helpful one weekend and the next, well, not.
Both So Much Yarn and Yarn Gallery have punch card programs. In addition, Yarn Gallery's annual sales (2006 was about a month ago) is well worth saving your egg money for, as almost everything is at least 50% off - go on the Sunday and they take an additional 20% off of everything. This year I got nearly $1K retail worth of yarns for under $200.
Julie- your collective of stores was perfect! I really enjoyed the Fiber gallery, they were super nice. And we hit everyone of your must do's, and had a fanastic time! Thank you again.
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