I decided to spend my lunch hour hunting down a yarn store I hadn’t been to yet - Ann’s Yarn Gallery in Tigard. It’s actually just 15 minutes or so away from work, though it’s not the kind of store that carries everything you need. The Yarn Garden is that kind of store (when their stock is filled) - you need yarn, whatever it is, The Yarn Garden typically has it. Ann’s is more of an eclectic boutique with lots of sales. I met Ann herself, a pleasant English woman, who was, understandably, a little scattered as she taught a class and ran the store single-handedly. (Why is it I feel like yarn store owners are celebrities? I guess just because I’d like to be one of them).
I gave Ann $43 and in return she gave me 5 skeins of Alice Starmore’s Scottish Campion, 1 coordinating skein of Jamison (just to mix up the bad blood), 4 skeins of cream Classic Elite Waterspun, 1 burgundy skein of Brown Sheep Handspun, an 1 grape-colored skein of Brown Sheep Prairie Silk. Sales are fun. I did, however, promise myself sometime ago that I would stop buying yarn that I didn’t have a specific project in mind for, especially as I’m trying to shrink my overflowing stash. I may have to come to the conclusion that it’s okay to just own the pretty ball of yarn and hold it and play with it - I don’t always have to make something with it - is that reasonable or am I insane? (there is a theme for the day)
January 31st, 2003 at 3:57 pm
I thought you lived near/in Portland. Have you been to Molehill Farms in Lake Oswego? or the place in Sellwood? I, too, go to YG quite a bit. (Too much! I just bought some purple Lopi for the felt-a-long yesterday!)
January 31st, 2003 at 4:01 pm
Ingrid, I didn’t realize you lived in Portland! I live in SE but I work in Beaverton - nice little 45 minute commute to and from everyday. I’ve been to Molehill (they have lots of Rowan yarns the YG doesn’t) but I didn’t even know of the one in Sellwood - wanna go?
February 1st, 2003 at 12:10 pm
I’ve been to Northwest wools and they carried a few things that YG typically doesn’t carry. I was thrilled to find that YG did start carrying the Mission Falls 1824 wool though — it comes in such great colors. I’ve also visited Ann’s but only when I was stone cold broke. I haven’t been to Molehill farms yet nor have I even heard of the place in Sellwood. What’s it called? If it’s the Playful Needle… that’s not far from my house, but the YG is just 3 blocks away(I am so spoiled).
February 1st, 2003 at 3:37 pm
too far for lunch break but another fairly local fun spot is woodland woolworks in carlton. they have a big big room of yarn sales. its a rather pretty trip from where i am in salem, but a yucky blip sw from portland, tho there may be a funway i am not aware of.
February 2nd, 2003 at 2:32 pm
I feel that you can never have too much yarn. The fun part is trying to use it all and get down to nothing so you have to buy more, but, oddly enough, that never happens. I believe the yarn in my closet is mating and creating new yarn I’ve never seen before.
February 2nd, 2003 at 7:45 pm
Molehill Farms in in a house, with a bathtub full of sale yarns. It doesn’t feel "retail" - I’m not sure waht it feels like. Maybe like someone’s house with a severely out of control stash. Very friendly people, though. Woodland Woolworks is now on my list of places to visit and Ingrid, what’s this place in Sellwood? I can’t find it listed anywhere?
February 4th, 2003 at 12:14 pm
Gosh, I was there about 3 years ago — I wonder if they are still there? Is SW Troy in Sellwood? It might be NW Wools. . .Is the Playful Needle the needlepoint shop? I’ll check around– if I remember correctly the one I went to was near Annie Bloom’s books– and yes, I’d love to go if it is still there.